"Sometimes that light at the end of the tunnel is a train." - Charles Barkley
Although this quote has no significance to the film Polar Express, I like it and thought is was worthy of getting you to chuckle. Humor is great, it can add years to your life expectancy. And so can dreams and imagination especially when we were once little kids. For some reason all children like trains, everything from our first choo-choo train to having our very own model train that we could control as they railed around the tracks. I believe that is why this 2004 Christmas film has turned into a cult classic, not just for children but us adults who like trains too, specifically steam engine trains.
The Polar Express was the first film to highlight human characters animated using the live action performance capture technique, and stars Tom Hanks voicing six different characters in the film.
The dazzling visualization mixed in with a story of enchanting adventures aboard a steam engine train not to mention the music, makes this movie a delight for any age.
There is something to be said of dreaming of a steam engine train pulling up to the front door of your house, and the conductor suggesting you climb aboard to take a trip to the North Pole.
Why it's every child's dream now isn't it? And that's what the Polar Express does indeed, fulfill kids imaginations of taking a train ride to the North Pole.
It took me a while to notice, but of the three main children in this story only one name is given, that of Billy who lives on the poor side of town. Even though the three kids never ask for each others name, their relationships to each other begin to bond purely out of the actions of their hearts toward one another. That in itself is a message.
The first boy in this enlightening tale is referred to as hero boy within the credits.
One of the goals of riding to the North Pole was to get the children to believe in Santa Claus. Just as I noted in last week's film review, you need to get little children to believe in something at an early age, so when they become older they will believe in something greater. As hero boy wakes to the tooting sound of the train at his front doorsteps on Christmas Eve night, he runs out there and is warmly greeted by the conductor who reads from his notes about hero boy, "No photo with Santa. No letter to Santa. No cookies and milk for the big guy. So, you coming aboard?"
Hero boy is hesitant at first, which is another sign of his lack in believing.
"Do you know what kind of train this is? It's a magic train to the North Pole", says the conductor.
Hero boy climbs aboard. Once he sees a bunch of kids in the rail car, he becomes a tad more comfortable with his surroundings. When Billy the poor kid declines to get on board at first, the train slowly begins to pull away. That's when hero boy pulls the emergency brakes cord and the train suddenly stops. The once hesitant Billy climbs aboard.
One of my favorite scenes is when the conductor played by Tom Hanks asks the children if they are thirsty for some hot chocolate. All of a sudden in comes the singing and dancing waiters to serve the kids hot chocolate in mugs too big for their tiny fingers. What makes this train ride an enjoyable one is the music throughout the film. It will make you want to climb aboard your local Metra train and begin to sing and dance. On second thought, you may not want to try that unless your conductor is Tom Hanks.
Along the train ride to the North Pole the 3 main child characters experience various adventures along the way. This is what brings us to the edge of our seats with oooh's and ahh's, as we feel like we are riding along: the steam engine train whistling it's way round and round the bend of snowcapped mountains, the fast moving feet of wolves trampling through the woods along the tracks as we see their breath in the cold midnight air, the flight of a soaring eagle, and hundreds of caribou crossing the tracks and bringing the train to a sudden halt. These are just some of the wizardry that is experienced as you watch Polar Express.
Upon their arrival to the North Pole, and seeing the giant Christmas tree and hundreds of elves, all of the children are star struck at what awaits them, except for Billy the poor kid who exclaims,
"Christmas just doesn't work for me."
As the three children get lost in their adventure at the North Pole, they find sure delight in a surprise ride in Santa's sack of toys as they wisk their way through the skies above the North Pole. Once their visit and the wild ride comes to an end and the Polar Express is ready to take them home, all of the children including Billy can now exclaim, "I believe."
The conductor reminds them, "Sometimes seeing is believing and sometimes the most real things we can't see."
I love the advice Santa gives to Billy upon resurrecting his heart,
"You've made new friends. No greater gift than friends. The true spirit of Christmas is in your heart."
Whether you are a seven year-old child or an adult of seventy-seven you will enjoy this film, and if you should find yourself dreaming of a Polar Express stopping in front of your house to take you for a ride remember,
"One thing about trains, it doesn't matter where they are going, it's deciding to get on."
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