The Polar Express (2004) * * *

Directed by:  Robert Zemeckis

Starring:  Tom Hanks, Nona Gaye, Michael Jeter, Eddie Deezen, Peter Scolari, Daryl Sabara

The "Hero Boy" of The Polar Express is at the age where he may or may not believe in Santa Claus anymore.   Even his younger sister questions how Santa can travel at two times the speed of light to deliver all of the presents to all of the world's children before sunrise on Christmas.    The boy would like to believe, but there are just too many nagging doubts.    Because of those doubts, the magic of Christmas is gone for this otherwise normal boy.    Then, a large, loud train rumbles down the snowy street in the middle of the night and stops at his house.    The conductor (Hanks) greets the boy, who has wandered outside from his cozy bed, and hints strongly that he should board the train.   Where is the train going?   To the North Pole, of course.    The boy's interest is piqued, and he joins other children on the train who are likely wondering where the feeling Christmas used to give them went.

Robert Zemeckis' The Polar Express is his first film to use "performance capture" animation, in which the actors were shot normally in front of the camera and then had their performances animated, giving them a lifelike effect while still being animated.    Zemeckis used this animation in his next two films, and we were beginning to wonder when the acclaimed director would return to live action again.    He did in 2012's Flight.    The Polar Express creates a unique atmosphere for a Christmas adventure.    It has things to say about Christmas, but those things aren't universal for everyone.    Is the holiday one of giving or receiving?   Of celebration or sadness?   Of having an actual Santa or one which symbolically lives on in your heart?    The Polar Express doesn't provide the answers, and it doesn't need to.  

I wasn't entirely enthralled with the film.   The train encounters some misadventures which seem more at home in Back to the Future than a yuletide tale.   But, once the train reaches the North Pole, the film sees the North Pole as a city which gives Santa a rock star sendoff when he prepares to depart with the heaping mound of gifts on his sleigh and his reindeer eager to fly off.    Santa is a kind soul, but not necessarily a jolly one.   He has a job to do, and he does it on schedule and efficiently.    As you must when you have to deliver gifts to millions of households.  

The Polar Express is colorful and vibrant, while still holding something back.    It isn't a tearjerker, but instead creates an almost haunting vibe.   The Hero Boy and Hero Girl of the story aren't given names, but many of you may know my take on such a screenplay choice.    Give them names!   For example, John and Sara only take up four letters, while Hero Boy and Hero Girl take up seven and eight letters each, plus a space in between the words.    Why do they want me to work so hard?   But, despite those silly objections, The Polar Express is satisfactory overall, but still sticks with you.