| Reviewed on 2004-11-16 |
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| Based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express chugged into theatres last week after much anticipation. Who can forget the scene as a young boy lays awake one snowy Christmas Eve waiting for sounds of Santa. As a thunderous roar startles him, he spots a train in front of his house. As he goes out into the night, he encounters a conductor who invites him along for a ride to the North Pole.
A special new technology called motion capture gives an amazing look to the film's characters. The movie was very expensive to produce, as Tom Hannks related, coming in at about a million dollars a minute. This brings to cost to over $150 million dollars.
I found the film fascinating and the technology breathtaking with wild train rides through perilous terrain. Since this will also be made into a 3-D IMAX format, the stunts will prove even more exciting.
Tom Hanks reunites with director Robert Zemeckis for this holiday favorite. Tom plays 5 different characters. See if you can identify them. I found the film satisfying and a good "G" rated film the whole family can enjoy. The soundtack is filled with a blend of classic Christmas songs and original contemporary holdiay music. The overall look of the film is breathtaking. The snowflakes seem real, the special effects are amazing and the total effect satisfying.
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