Where is He?

Rating: 6/10 (11 November 2005)

I enjoyed this film. The adventure, the fun and the excitement of childhood discovery are wonderfully captured on screen. The viewer really feels like he or she is caught up in it all. Several times during the film I was enveloped by the crisp, clean air, and could almost reach out and touch the rich white snow comfortably surrounding me. I was warm and snug with the children, sipping hot chocolate in the train, I was a ticket flying across the starlit sky, and I was an elf cheering and singing, eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of Santa Clause. It is most certainly worth watching at the cinema or on as large a screen as possible. I cannot comment on technical merits for I know little about the matter, although the scenery really is breathtaking.
But I simultaneously feel a certain sorrow. I have never read the book so I can only speak about the film. What is Christmas all about? What are we celebrating? I cherish the warmth, the belief in the joys of childhood (that can be 'carried on' to adulthood, as the film portrays), the splendor and the captivating wonder of it all. 'The Polar Express' is a magical, captivating journey and I did feel like a child again. But there is more Christmas than that. Where is Christ? We are after all celebrating 'Christ'mas. Santa Claus is just a dim, finite image of the One who came to save us. With all its beauty and gentleness, especially to the forlorn child who cannot even bring himself to join the merry group, 'The Polar Express' lacks the one reason we even have Christmas.