The Polar Express Movie Review 2004

Your capacity to enjoy this Christmas story will depend on whether or not you find the so-called performance or motion capture animation technique (think Gollum from "Lord of the Rings") enthralling or creepy. An extended version of Chris Van Allsburg's popular children's book, the story opens on Christmas Eve when nameless skeptic Hero Boy is suddenly awakened by the steam train of the title, which appears outside his window. The train is leaving for the North Pole and Hero Boy, encouraged by a kindly conductor (one of Hanks' many roles), joins the passengers on their journey to meet Santa. There are various adventures intended to offer life-affirming lessons but this is a rather melancholy tale with which to entertain the tykes.

Distribution

Not Yet Released

Available on DVD
Running time 100 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Animation & Cartoons, Trains, Live Action/Animation Combos, Christmas, Top Grossing Films of 2004, Director/Star Teams: Zemeckis & Hanks

Cast

Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, Eddie Deezen, Charles Fleischer, Steve Tyler, Daryl Sabara, Leslie Zemeckis, Andre Sogliuzzo, Jimmy Bennett, Isabella Peregrina

Cinematography

Don Burgess, Robert Presley

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Music

Alan Silvestri

Other

Daryl Sabara, William B. Kaplan, Jeremiah O'Driscoll, R. Orlando Duenas, Alicia Maccarone, Tony Fanning, James Hegedus, Norman Newberry, Joanna Johnston, Rick Carter, Doug Chiang

Producer

Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman, William Teitler, Playtone Picture, Imagemovers, Golden Mean, Warner Bros.