The Polar Express
Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on children's author Chris Van Allsburg's modern holiday classic of the same name, The Polar Express revolves around Billy (Hayden McFarland), who longs to believe in Santa Claus but finds it quite difficult to do so, what with his family's dogged insistence that all of it, from the North Pole, to the elves, to the man himself, is all just a myth. This all changes, however, on Christmas Eve, when a mysterious train visits Billy in the middle of the night, promising to take him and a group of other lucky children to the North Pole for a visit with Santa. The train's conductor (Tom Hanks) along with the other passengers help turn Billy's crisis in faith into a journey of self-discovery. A long-time fan of Van Allsburg's book, Hanks also helped produce the film.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
A movie for more than one season; it will become a perennial, shared by the generations. It has a haunting, magical quality because it has imagined its world freshly and played true to it,
An enchanting, beautiful and brilliantly imagined film.
A story that soars with breakneck pace but slows in all the tender moments. Visually, this train ride is both majestic and edge-of-your-seat.
It's hard not to wish this film were more of a piece and less like loud music at the wrong party.
Simple and evocative, yet teeming with intriguing visual effects.
Top Box Office Films
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (2005)
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Academy Awards (2005)
Best Animated Film
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (2005)
Animated Effects
Annie Awards (2005)
Best Feature Film
BAFTA Awards (2005)
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