Review By J1 Reporter Maura Harrington

“The Polar Express,” directed by Robert Zemeckis, is a holiday classic that was released on Nov. 10, 2004. Based on the 1985 book by Chris Van Allsburg, the film tells the story of a young boy who is starting to lose his belief in Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, he boards a mysterious train called the Polar Express, which takes him on a journey to the North Pole. Along the way, he meets other kids and the Conductor, who help him rediscover the true spirit of Christmas.

          One of the most remarkable things about “The Polar Express” is its animation. At the time of its release, the film used motion-capture technology, which was a huge leap forward in animation. Motion-capture allows animators to capture the movements of real actors and apply them to digital characters. This technology allowed the characters to move in a more realistic way, which was a major achievement for its time and paved the way for future films that also used motion-capture.

          Tom Hanks, also known for his lead roles in movies such as Forest Gump (1994) and Cast Away (2000), voices multiple roles in the film. His roles in the film include Hero Boy, Father, Conductor, Hobo, Scrooge and Santa Claus. Hanks’ performances bring depth to each character, helping to keep the story engaging. The rest of the cast, including Nona Gaye as Hero Girl and Daryl Sabara as the Lonely Boy, also do a great job of bringing their characters to life.

          The movie’s story is supported by a beautiful soundtrack, featuring the song “Believe” by Josh Groban, which captures the film’s message of hope and belief. The film’s themes of imagination, wonder, and the power of belief still resonate strongly with audiences of all ages.

          With a run time of 1 hour and 39 minutes, this movie takes the perfect amount of time to tell an exciting story without boring the audience. The movie falls under many genres including fantasy, musical and children’s film. The movie is rated G and perfect for a younger audience as they are able to resonate with the main characters, as well as for an older audience who hopes to capture the Christmas spirit. 

          “The Polar Express” was a box office success, grossing more than $300 million worldwide. With a budget of $165 million, it was a bold project, and the ad campaign focused on its innovative animation. It received three Academy Award nominations, including for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.

          Overall, I would rate this movie an 8/10. In my opinion, this movie is a holiday classic that will always put me in the holiday spirit. It follows a fun plot that portrays an important message for children. However, I docked a few points because at times the plot can be hard to follow with so many different characters. I also took off points because, considering it’s mostly young audience, the animation can be seen as unsettling to some. 

          “The Polar Express” remains a holiday favorite that showcases the magic of Christmas and the importance of believing in the impossible. It’s a movie that’s perfect for family movie nights and is available for streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime and Hulu.