This haunts us in our dreams

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2014)

The cartoon film The Polar Express is not a conventional Christmas picture. Then the question is: what is wrong, the film or Christmas? I like The Polar Express, because it is a very spiritual story and film. It retells the events, that so often come to haunt us in our dreams. You board a train, although you doubt if its destination is right. You lose your ticket, and when you have found it, you lose it again. The conductor is an unpleasant fellow. During a snow storm you are compelled to crawl over the roof of the train. And after the arrival of the train in a funny town with lots of small alleys, of course you get lost. It is a tale of doubt, loss, fear of failure, and inevitability. As such it revives the old Christmas message, where a Saviour is born to lead the way. Christmas was meant to be a time of reflection on the purpose of life, and an ethical or religious experience. But somewhere in the nineteenth century the message became blurred. Perhaps it started with Dickens, who changed the choice between good and evil into a choice between consumerism and greed. And after WW2 we just wanted to be happy and even this unpleasant greed was wiped out. What remains is a thick hairy old man with a beard and a red suit, a silly fatty, whose sole purpose in life is to distribute gifts on one evening in the year. It is the present that counts! We got films like "White Christmas", where Tiny Tim is replaced by a retired general. I welcome every attempt to regain something of the ancient Christmas spirit, with an honest incitement to search your soul and ponder over the road (not) taken. It is the human challenge to attempt to control your dreams. Imho The Polar Express sounds the right chord. I love the remark, that the destination of the train in itself is irrelevant: "The important thing is to get on the train" - and make something of it. Some times are good, for instance when the hungry kids can avalanche in the train (pun intended). Upon arrival in the town the train forms a beautiful question mark. But the end misses the point, because out of a sea of light emerges the obligatory fat dad in red. He is an impolite (hint: imp), He gives a bell to X, the main character. Of course X is delighted to avenue one. But the poor reindeer toil and moil to move fatty's sleigh. In the air he dives on the crowd like a fighter-bomber. If he is supposed to portray the Holy Father or the Lord, than it is blasphemy. Let us call these scenes irony, and conclude that The Polar Express is recommendable for those who appreciate a travel to the inner self. I contrite a thing, but perhaps you still enjoy this review. Don't forget to check off the "useful: yes" ballot. I love comments.