Based on the beloved picture book by Chris Van Allsburg, "The Polar Express" instantaneously became a classic Christmas movie when it first came out in 2004 (yes, it came out that long ago). Watching this movie is one of my favorite ways to get into the Christmas spirit for several reasons.
1. Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks is a fantastic actor. He plays an affluent role in "The Polar Express." He is the voice of six of the characters in the film. It's pretty remarkable that he voices six unique characters and brings them all to life. And, you can't even tell he voices all of them. My favorite role of his, though, is definitely the conductor. I think it's pretty cool that you can see the resemblance between Tom Hanks and the animated conductor, which brings me to my next point.
2. The animation
"The Polar Express" is a beautifully animated film. Everything, from the people to the scenery, all looks so realistic. The colors are vibrant. It's clear that attention was paid to all the details, and it certainly paid off. And, some of the scenes stay true to resembling the illustrations in the book. I love that the movie was able to incorporate those images.
3. The music
The songs in "The Polar Express" are super catchy and completely encompass the spirit of Christmas. I'd be lying if I said I didn't sing "Hot Chocolate" in my head every time I have hot chocolate. I love that whole scene of the movie. It really adds some energy, and it's always something I wish I could experience in real life. Another one of my favorite moments in the movie is when the hero boy, the hero girl, and Billy are on the train together, and Billy and the girl sing "When Christmas Comes to Town." This is such a special, bonding moment for the three of them, and it's a beautiful song. Finally, "Believe" by Josh Groban is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs. It's played during the end credits of the film, and it perfectly captures the message behind the movie, which brings me to my final point.
4. The message
There are several messages the characters learn throughout the film. These include learning patience and humility, that the greatest gift of all is having a friend you can count on, and that there's nothing wrong with embodying the spirit of Christmas and acting as a leader to spread that cheer onto others. But, the most important message of all is believing, especially in the spirit behind Christmas. As the conductor says, "Seeing is believing, but sometimes, the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."
