The Polar Express
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Nona Gaye
Based on the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, “The Polar Express” follows a young boy, on Christmas Eve, as he embarks on an extraordinary journey to the North Pole on the Polar Express where he encounters Santa Claus and discovers the true spirit of Christmas.
From the time they are very young, most children believe in the notion of Santa Claus; the jolly, old man with a red suit and a snowy, white beard who lives in the North Pole and delivers toys to the good children of the world in his sleigh pulled by reindeer. Over time though, children grow up and their belief in the magic of Santa Claus inevitably fades. This is the essence of the little boy’s dilemma in the story; he has forgotten the magic of Christmas.
Belief is a very powerful theme in “The Polar Express” and it is illustrated most strongly in the character of Hero Boy.
The greatest illustration of the child’s ability to believe is found in the sleigh bell. When the children first reach the North Pole, the little girl keeps telling the little boy that she hears sleigh bells ringing, but although he tries with all his might to hear the bells, at first, the little boy hears nothing. He couldn't hear the bells at first because he didn't truly believe. It was only when he believed in his heart that the spirit of Christmas was real that he could finally hear the bells ringing. That's also why he couldn't see Santa at first...because you must believe in Santa for him to become real. When Santa asked the little boy for his Christmas wish, it was not a mere toy that the little boy asked for; rather, it was the bell which illustrated his renewed belief in Christmas. And although his family and friends slowly lost their ability to hear the bell and their belief in the magic of Christmas faded over time, the boy's faith in it remained unbreakable, for he could still hear the bell even when he grew up and left his childhood behind.
Time is another strong illustration of the little boy’s journey to believing in Christmas again. All throughout the movie, the clock remains frozen at precisely 11:55. When we first meet the little boy in his bedroom, his clock has stopped at this time. When the children arrive at the North Pole, time continues to remain frozen at 11:55; and we see that it still remains suspended in that moment when the children meet Santa Claus. The clock only strikes midnight once the little boy believes in Christmas again and asks Santa for the bell; the very thing representing his belief. When he could hear the bell ringing, it symbolized that his belief in Christmas had been restored.
“The Polar Express” is a sincerely beautiful and heartfelt story that illustrates a child’s innocent belief in the magic of Christmas. The animation is absolutely stunning, the casting is exceptional, particularly for Tom Hanks who brings many of the characters, including the Conductor, the Hobo and Santa Clause, himself, to life, and the story is one that both children and adults can fall in love with. If you enjoy a good Christmas film, then “The Polar Express” is one I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Nona Gaye
Based on the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, “The Polar Express” follows a young boy, on Christmas Eve, as he embarks on an extraordinary journey to the North Pole on the Polar Express where he encounters Santa Claus and discovers the true spirit of Christmas.
From the time they are very young, most children believe in the notion of Santa Claus; the jolly, old man with a red suit and a snowy, white beard who lives in the North Pole and delivers toys to the good children of the world in his sleigh pulled by reindeer. Over time though, children grow up and their belief in the magic of Santa Claus inevitably fades. This is the essence of the little boy’s dilemma in the story; he has forgotten the magic of Christmas.
Belief is a very powerful theme in “The Polar Express” and it is illustrated most strongly in the character of Hero Boy.
The greatest illustration of the child’s ability to believe is found in the sleigh bell. When the children first reach the North Pole, the little girl keeps telling the little boy that she hears sleigh bells ringing, but although he tries with all his might to hear the bells, at first, the little boy hears nothing. He couldn't hear the bells at first because he didn't truly believe. It was only when he believed in his heart that the spirit of Christmas was real that he could finally hear the bells ringing. That's also why he couldn't see Santa at first...because you must believe in Santa for him to become real. When Santa asked the little boy for his Christmas wish, it was not a mere toy that the little boy asked for; rather, it was the bell which illustrated his renewed belief in Christmas. And although his family and friends slowly lost their ability to hear the bell and their belief in the magic of Christmas faded over time, the boy's faith in it remained unbreakable, for he could still hear the bell even when he grew up and left his childhood behind.
Time is another strong illustration of the little boy’s journey to believing in Christmas again. All throughout the movie, the clock remains frozen at precisely 11:55. When we first meet the little boy in his bedroom, his clock has stopped at this time. When the children arrive at the North Pole, time continues to remain frozen at 11:55; and we see that it still remains suspended in that moment when the children meet Santa Claus. The clock only strikes midnight once the little boy believes in Christmas again and asks Santa for the bell; the very thing representing his belief. When he could hear the bell ringing, it symbolized that his belief in Christmas had been restored.
“The Polar Express” is a sincerely beautiful and heartfelt story that illustrates a child’s innocent belief in the magic of Christmas. The animation is absolutely stunning, the casting is exceptional, particularly for Tom Hanks who brings many of the characters, including the Conductor, the Hobo and Santa Clause, himself, to life, and the story is one that both children and adults can fall in love with. If you enjoy a good Christmas film, then “The Polar Express” is one I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.