The Spirit of Christmas in High Technology

Rating: 7/10 (13 December 2004)

Tom Hanks rarely chooses a bad movie project to undertake, and the Polar Express is no exception. Motion capture is a developed technology that is presently being implemented into the cinema world. Those who have read the book will certainly enjoy this work of visual art. Of course there are some differences, the most obvious being the length of the feature, but the movie remains entertaining. One of the few shortcomings of the film occurs once the Polar Express arrives in North Pole City. At this point the film comes to a bit of a halt. Some scenes were pointless also, but adds for entertainment value nonetheless. Hanks plays numerous characters and fits well into all of them, this clearly demonstrates how flexible and ambitious of an actor he is. The movie takes place over the course of one night. The Polar Express takes children to the north pole who have questioned or lost some faith in Santa Clause. The journey to the destination is spectacular, with jaw dropping special effects. The movie is dark, however it does add to the mysteries surrounding the true meaning of Christmas. This film has reminded me and I'm sure as well as others, how fun it was to believe.