(rated G)
In this imaginative night before Christmas tale, a little boy questions his beliefs in Santa Clause, then finds himself kidnapped on the Polar Express bound for the North Pole. Tom Hanks plays the train’s conductor, not to mention the roles of a Hobo and Santa Clause, but in total CG animation, the first computer generated film based on live actors. Brilliant director Robert Zemeckis known for magical rides (Back To The Future, Roger Rabbit) has had his share of movies starring Hanks too (Castaways, Forrest Gump) and this story could only have worked in non-live action. As typical Zemeckis style, there is a need for speed and sensation all thrown into one, as the train flies through cavernous peaks, frigid storms and icy lakes, yet delivering a wisdom carefully hidden belief and fantasy. Still in all its glory, something is wrong. Sure the tale is rated G and geared toward a small fry audience, but it’s “Harry Potter” dark feel that follow one scary mishap after another, eventually loses its tot audience, only chugging along but not quite derailing.
