Polar Express, The MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +3 Content: +3

Based on Chris Van Allsburgs 1985 classic childrens book, this film uses performance capture, a new technique that turns actors movements into computer animation. A boys (Tom Hanks, voice by Daryl Sabara) dream of sneaking a peek at Santa Claus (Tom Hanks) is about to come true when the Polar Express steam train stops in front of his house one Christmas Eve. Boarding several kids along the way, the Train Conductor (Tom Hanks) takes them on an unforgettable journey toward the North Pole, but they must face a dangerous problem the terrain of the arctic. Venturing across ice-covered lakes and plummeting down steep mountain cliffs, the Polar Express races to get the children to the North Pole to see Santa before its too late. This magical, delightful experience is a true holiday treat for kids of all ages. Most adults will cheer too.

The Polar Express is marked by creative genius and remarkable digital effects. The films theme is delivered through statements like these: the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart, sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we cant see, and the wonder of life is found by believing. It cleverly expresses the power of believing beyond the seen world. While this certainly can be taken to mean the power of our unseen faith in Jesus Christ, the object of faith is not made clear in the film although implications point to Santa. Children have an uncanny ability to believe in the unseen, but believing anything in ones heart is not necessarily good. If the distinction between unseen truth and unseen error can be communicated to children, watching this film will make for a great family night.

KidView: The Polar Express
(G)
KidView Rating: Okay
(based on rating system of supercool cool okay lame superlame)

The movie The Poler Express is a movie about a train that goes to the North Pole. The train has many problomes on the way but still makes it in time for Christmes Eve. The story is about a boy (I dont think they ever give his name) who got on that train. On the way many strange things happened but I will only tell you one. First one is when the boy met a girl the captian of the train took the girl to drive the train but the boy thought he was going to throw her off the train because she had lost her ticket. Later the boy found her ticket and climbed on top of the train to give it to her. He saw a light up in the distance so he tried to follow that light suddenly the light went out. Standing in front of him was a hobo. The boy and the hobo talked and ate. Finally the boy started off for the girl. Once he found the girl they went to the North Pole and they made it in time for the celebration where Santa Clause gave out the first presant.

I think this movie was boring at some parts and kind of funny. The message was to blieve in Santa, but there were also messages for each kid. The boys message was to blieve. The girls message was to lead. The other boys message was to learn. When they first go on the train the man punched two letters on there ticket. When they got back on the train, he punched the rest of the word onto the ticket. That showed them what they learned on the trip.

[Preview reviewer: 8-year-old Allie; Distributor: Warner Brothers]

Preview Reviewer: Troy Dandrea
Distributor: Warner Brothers