Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super-realism. A landmark technique Zemeckis and his Sony Pictures Imageworks team call "Performance Capture" perfectly suits the tenor of this wondrous children's Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg. A disillusioned little boy, just old enough to doubt the existence of Santa Claus, has the adventure of a lifetime one fateful Christmas Eve. Clad in his pajamas, he climbs aboard a magic train to the North Pole, driven by a kindly train conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks who starred in both of Zemeckis's Academy-Award winning films FORREST GUMP and CASTAWAY). Among myriad jaw-dropping moments, the train plummets brakeless through crystalline mountains in a simulated roller coaster ride. Going off the rails, skidding sideways, and snaking violently across a frozen lake, the train arrives at the North Pole (a vast, glowing city of brick buildings). At that moment, the car carrying the kids detaches and they're sent tumbling down never-ending chutes and slides until they land in the middle of Santa's Workshop. With its fascinating tale and impressive technical frolics, THE POLAR EXPRESS is destined to become both a holiday classic and a new turning point in the art of animated cinema.

Theatrical Release: November 10, 2004

HD-DVD Features:

Elite Red HD Case
Widescreen - 2.40
Audio:
Dolby Digital Surround Sound Plus 5.1 - English
Subtitles - English SDH, English, French, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailer
Featurettes - 1. "Smokey and Steamer Song"
2. "You Look Familiar: The Many Polar Faces of Tom Hanks"
3. "A Genuine Ticket to Ride: Documentary Gallery - 5 Featurettes"
4. "True Inspirations: An Author's Adventure - Profiling Chris Van Allsburg"
5. "Believe - Josh Groban Performs at the Greek Theatre"
6. "Behind the Scenes of Believe: Bringing a Hit Song to Magical Life in the Recording Studio:
7. "Flurry of Effects Gallery - 5 Motion Capture Sessions"
8. "Meet the Snow Angels: The Moviemakers' Christmas Memories"
Interactive Features:
"THQ PC Game Demo with 2 Playable Levels"

Tom Hanks: Oscar-winning actor/director/producer
Michael Jeter: American actor
Peter Scolari: Henry Desmond/Hildegarde of TV's "Bosom Buddies"
Nona Gaye: Actor, ALI (2001)
Eddie Deezen: Quinessential movie geek; "Eugene" in "Grease"
Charles Fleischer: AMERICAN ACTOR
Daryl Sabara: Actor, SPY KIDS (2001)

Robert Zemeckis: American director/screenwriter

Steve Starkey: American Producer/ FORREST GUMP, CAST AWAY
Gary Goetzman: 
William Teitler: Executive Producer, TUCK EVERLASTING (2002)
Robert Zemeckis: American director/screenwriter

William Broyles: Screenwriter, APOLLO 13
Robert Zemeckis: American director/screenwriter

Alan Silvestri: Composer, VAN HELSING (2004)

Jeremiah O'Driscoll: Editor, THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
R. Orlando Duenas: Editor, THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)

"[T}here is wonder for us to cherish, courtesy of a spectacular visual sense....It does nicely with its quieter moments, especially in the emotional scenes that close the story."
3 stars out of 5 -- "It's a technical masterpiece that is made primarily for kids..."