X
- 2004
- G
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
- 2004
- G
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
Summary 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. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
Written By: Chris Van Allsburg, Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles Jr.
- 2004
- G
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
- 2004
- G
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
The Polar Express
61
6.9
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Summary 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. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
Written By: Chris Van Allsburg, Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles Jr.
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 36 Critic Reviews
61
64% Positive
23 Reviews
23 Reviews
25% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
11% Negative
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 36 Critic Reviews
61
64% Positive
23 Reviews
23 Reviews
25% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
11% Negative
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
A movie for more than one season; it will become a perennial, shared by the generations. It has a haunting, magical quality because it has imagined its world freshly and played true to it,
It's a sensation - both a milestone in computer-animation and a likely Christmas classic.
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 285 User Ratings
6.9
65% Positive
185 Ratings
185 Ratings
25% Mixed
70 Ratings
70 Ratings
11% Negative
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 285 User Ratings
6.9
65% Positive
185 Ratings
185 Ratings
25% Mixed
70 Ratings
70 Ratings
11% Negative
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
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Nov 4, 2024
The Polar Express, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is one of my favorite holiday films and is a must-watch every Christmas season. Based on Chris Van Allsburg's book, this animated adventure to the North Pole beautifully captures the magic of believing in Santa Claus. From the moment the train pulls into view, I felt transported into a winter wonderland that feels very alive and full of wonder. The animation is stunning, and the use of animation technology gives the characters a unique yet realistic look that really draws me in. I find myself completely immersed in the snowy landscapes and great amount of detail in each scene. Tom Hanks stars in this film, voicing several characters, including the conductor and Santa himself. His performances tie everything together, perfectly portraying the spirit of the season. The film features many heartwarming songs, which adds an emotional touch that always makes me feel the Christmas magic, especially during the climactic moments. While some people may find the animation style a bit different, I think it adds to the film's uniqueness. For me, The Polar Express is a heartwarming reminder of the importance of belief, friendship, and the joy of giving. It’s a film that connects with audiences of all ages and always puts me in the holiday spirit. I highly recommend it for any cozy family nights, as it’s a timeless classic that will make you believe in the magic of Christmas all over again!
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The story offers lessons in faith and self-esteem; the darker passages of the child's journey are countered by shimmering, cascading beacons of light; and fine period detail adds to the nostalgic glow.
By Andrea Gronvall FULL REVIEW
A genuinely handsome film, and it tells a story that is well worth knowing. It's a kind, gentle and sweet holiday confection. But my Christmas wish is that the DVD comes packaged with the book.
The screenplay, by Zemeckis and William Broyles Jr., plumps Van Allsburg's simple fable about the purity of childhood faith in what can't be seen with all sorts of wholly invented characters, complications, and declarations.
As a spectacle, The Polar Express looks remarkable. As a film, however, it's the equivalent of an elaborately wrapped Christmas present containing a nice new pair of socks.
Feb 12, 2021
Easily the best holiday movie to be produced in the last few decades. I BELIEVE I can DEPEND ON this movie being played in my household every holiday season.
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Jan 12, 2020
Bueno, a esta película le tenia muchísima nostalgia, pero que se le va a hacer. El Expreso Polar se podría decir que cumple con lo básico en cuanto a película navideña, pero sin aspirar a nada mas. Tiene una animación decente, y buenas canciones, pero el resto de cosas no son lo suficientemente satisfactorias de ver. La historia en general se siente muy alargada artificialmente y no todos los personajes son tan explotados, siendo el único que destaca es el conductor del tren. Algo que El Expreso Polar hace realmente bien son en cuanto a las moralejas que enseña sobre la navidad, son muy buenas y tiene bastantes! Asi que si realmente estas metido en todo esto del espíritu navideño esta película realmente te gustara, aunque si eres mas neutral en todo este tipo de cosas, pues, no parecerá la gran cosa, ya que no ofrece nada mas aparte de lo mas básico que es ser una película navideña. Las mejores películas navideñas no solo destacan por ser eso, sino también porque tienen una buena historia aparte con la que defenderse.
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Sep 24, 2021
It was with some expectation that I decided to see this Christmas movie. I already had the perception that the film, despite being fresh and recent, quickly fell into a certain way of oblivion, with the television channels preferring other films during the Christmas season. Inspired by a book, which I have never read but heard about, the film addresses as a great theme people's disbelief, from a certain point on, in Santa Claus. In the film, a child whose name we do not know is invited to take a night trip to the North Pole, aboard a magical steam train, to meet Santa Claus and watch the old man depart on his annual trip to distribute gifts to the children of the World. He, however, does not believe in Santa Claus. Based on these premises, the film tried to build a kind of fable about the beauty of the Santa Claus myth. This never really worked: in addition to having no logic, the film has a terribly abrupt start: in the opening five minutes, we get a glimpse of the boy's life as he pretends to sleep, and we board the train without further explanation. The journey is lukewarm and uninteresting, the other children are bland or irritating and there is a character, somewhat ghostly, whose reason for existing is never really explained, but who helps the protagonist when he needs it. The ending is a kind of Santa Claus Superstar, with a show of aerial acrobatics of the gnomes. Although the film has a pitiful script and was notoriously the victim of radical cuts at the editing table, it's necessary to bow to Tom Hanks for an extraordinary vocal tour de force: the actor took full advantage of his vocal skills and gave voice to a handful of distinct characters throughout the film, with evident highlights for the train collector and Santa Claus. But in addition to all these voices, the actor also sang in several of the main songs of the soundtrack, which has its moments of quality, despite not being memorable, having a series of moments where it seems to copy the soundtrack of "Edward Scissorhands" and having a certain song, "Hot Chocolate", which I didn't like because of the extreme simplicity of the lyrics. Another aspect that deserves our positive appreciation is the extraordinary visual accuracy of the film, which makes the most of visual effects and CGI, providing us with elegant, colorful, vibrant and engaging animation. That said, I fully understand why this film came and went as quickly as a comet, both in theaters and on television, and ended up in the wastebasket of cinema history: despite director Robert Zemeckis having made a strong bet on visual effects and in a good animation, no film can't be sustained without a good story to tell.
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Oct 5, 2024
This is one of the greatest holiday movies of our century, and I stand by that wholeheartedly.This film perfectly captures the essence of childhood and has forever redefined Christmas culture, making it the best movie to look forward to during the holiday **** story deeply explores how we, as adults, think of Christmas and how this magical train transports not only children but also adults on a wonderful adventure to the North Pole. Tom Hanks delivered an incredible performance, as did the entire team.
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Production Company
- Castle Rock Entertainment
- Shangri-La Entertainment
- Playtone
- ImageMovers
- Golden Mean
- Cartoon Network Studios
- Universal CGI
Release Date Nov 10, 2004
Duration 1 h 40 m
Rating G
Tagline Journey Beyond Your Imagination
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 3 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Young Artist Awards
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
