The Polar Express

I’ve never covered this movie before so I thought it was about time…to add another to my Holiday Christmas marathon. 

When Bailey was four years old we went to the theater to watch this in 2004. For me, it was an instant classic. They used the new style motion-capture technology at the time and it worked. I don’t think they got the eyes quite right but other than that it was a great story and a well-done movie. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis. 

In 1985, Chris Van Allsburg wrote and illustrated the book The Polar Express. The book tells the story of a young boy who boards a magical train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. It is about belief, wonder, and the magic of childhood. The book received critical acclaim, winning the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1986 for its illustrations. In the movie, they stayed true to the illustrations. 

Polor Express Book

I watched the movie with 4-year-old Bailey and he really liked it…it was the Rudolph of his generation. The next Christmas we traveled to Watertown Tennessee to ride a Polar Express train they had set up to look like the one in the film. He has never forgot the movie or train ride. 

It’s a good story that kids and adults can like with the universal humor. Tom Hanks played many characters in this movie and as always does a great job. The kids on the train span a nice cross-section of kids including one known as “Know It All” and he was annoying. Eddie Deezen appropriately did the voice for the character. We had a neighbor kid at the time exactly like him. 

It’s a nice adventure film with some great characters including the big guy Santa. The North Pole was definitely my favorite place in the film. It looked like what you think it would look like in a realistic feel. In a surprise, Steven Tyler makes a short appearance on a unicycle…yes Tyler on a unicycle. 

If you haven’t seen it…stop reading now. 

The best part of the movie was the bell that came off of Santa’s sleigh in my opinion. That is what the main character known as the hero boy wants out of any present. Grown-ups could not hear it ring because they stopped believing a long time ago. If you could still hear it ring…you still believed in the magic of Christmas. In the movie he could still hear it when he grew up so he kept the magic intact. I hope all of you can still hear that bell ring. No matter how old or young you are. 

Merry Christmas to all of you…Max

Plot IMDB

Santa Claus does not exist. Or does he? For one doubting boy, an astonishing event occurs. Late on Christmas Eve night, he lies in his bed hoping to hear the sound of bells from Santa Claus’ sleigh. Then to his surprise, a train’s roar and whistle can be heard outside his bedroom window. The conductor invites him on board to take an extraordinary journey to the North Pole with many other pajama-clad children. There, he receives an extraordinary gift only those who still believe in Santa Claus can experience.

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

22 thoughts on “The Polar Express”

  3. It’s a good one, maybe falling short of ‘great’ (unless it has extra sentimental meaning as it would to you for seeing it with a young Bailey) but well worth watching every Christmastime. The ‘animation’ certainly is great though I think I may have noticed the eyes were a bit ‘off’ too. Should be a fave of Keith’s, that train went more or less by his door in Michigan,LOL

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  7. I’ve not seen it, but if Hanks is in it it’s usually worth a viewing. Some movies, good or bad, are markers, touchstones in family life. As the kids -like Bailey – grow up there is a build up of feeling for a particular movie, hat moment that the parents and child /children bond over. It’s all about nostalgia, but not in a sappy way. Good lingering memories that the kids of today may well remember and hand on, in their way, to their kids.

    (Jeez, not one Grinchy comment from me today- I must be full of goodwill to all, or something.)

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      1. You caught me with a wee tear momentarily in my eye. Must be all those damn pine needles, playing merry hell with my allergies???? Normal service will all too soon be resumed though…

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