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
DVD Features:
Region [unknown]
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Surround 5.1 English
Dolby Surround 5.1 French
Dolby Surround 5.1 Spanish
Distributor Notes: When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
Source: Warner Home Video
Costume Designer
Joanna Johnston: Costume Designer, THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
Director of Photography
Don Burgess:
Executive Producer
Jack Rapke: Producer, WHAT LIES BENEATH, CAST AWAY
Production Designer
Doug Chiang: Production Designer, THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
Production Designer
Rick Carter: Production Designer, THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
Music Supervisor
Glen Ballard: Producer/Music Supervisor
Review 1:
"[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."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.E1 11/10/2004
Review 2:
3 stars out of 5 -- "It's a technical masterpiece that is made primarily for kids..."
Source: Ultimate DVD
p.64 04/01/2008
Shopping Cart:
