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Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1, Dolby Digital (5.1), Dolby Surround Sound, English, French, Spanish Subtitled, 2 Discs
Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on children''s author Chris Van Allsburg''s modern holiday classic of the same name, "The Polar Express" revolves around Billy (Hayden McFarland), who longs to believe in Santa Claus but finds it quite difficult to do so, what with his family''s dogged insistence that all of it, from the North Pole, to the elves, to the man himself, is all just a myth. This all changes, however, on Christmas Eve, when a mysterious train visits Billy in the middle of the night, promising to take him and a group of other lucky children to the North Pole for a visit with Santa. The train''s conductor (Tom Hanks) along with the other passengers help turn Billy''s crisis in faith into a journey of self-discovery. A long-time fan of Van Allsburg''s book, Hanks also helped produce the film. This special Gift Set Edition includes a Polar Express Snowglobe and toy train.
Editor's Note
Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super-realism. A landmark technique Zemeckis and his Sony Pictures Imageworks team call "Performance Capture" perfectly suits the tenor of this wondrous children's Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg. A disillusioned little boy, just old enough to doubt the existence of Santa Claus, has the adventure of a lifetime one fateful Christmas Eve. Clad in his pajamas, he climbs aboard a magic train to the North Pole, driven by a kindly train conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks who starred in both of Zemeckis's Academy-Award winning films FORREST GUMP and CASTAWAY). Among myriad jaw-dropping moments, the train plummets brakeless through crystalline mountains in a simulated roller coaster ride. Going off the rails, skidding sideways, and snaking violently across a frozen lake, the train arrives at the North Pole (a vast, glowing city of brick buildings). At that moment, the car carrying the kids detaches and they're sent tumbling down never-ending chutes and slides until they land in the middle of Santa's Workshop. With its fascinating tale and impressive technical frolics, THE POLAR EXPRESS is destined to become both a holiday classic and a new turning point in the art of animated cinema.
| Features | Subtitles: English, Spanish, French | | The never-before-heard Smokey and Steamer song. | | Widescreen Presentation | | A Genuine Ticket to Ride: Behind-the-scenes secrets on Performance Capture, Virtual Cameras, Hair and Wardrobe, Creating the North Pole, and Music | | Audio: English Dolby Digital (5.1), Dolby Surround Sound | | Josh Groban Music Video: Josh Groban at the Greek performing the Academy Award nominated original song Believe. Also go behind-the-scenes! | | True Inspiration An Author's Adventure Interview: Chris Van Allsburg discusses his artistic background and how he conceived the idea for The Polar Express book | | You Look Familiar Featurette: Hear about Tom Hanks 5 unique roles, how each character was different, and what it took for him to bring each one to life. | | 2 Menu Challenges that kids can play |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Warner |
| Release Date: 10/30/2007 |
| Running Time: 100 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2004 | | Catalog ID: 73796 | | UPC: 00012569737969 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew | Peter Scolari | | Nona Gaye | | Eddie Deezen | | Charles Fleischer | | Tom Hanks | | Daryl Sabara | | Michael Jeter | | Doug Chiang - Production Designer | | William Teitler - Producer | | Rick Carter - Production Designer | | Glen Ballard - Music Supervisor | | Jeremiah O'Driscoll - Editor | | Don Burgess - Director of Photography | | Joanna Johnston - Costume Designer | | Alan Silvestri - Composer | | Jr. William Broyles - Screenwriter | | R. Orlando Duenas - Editor | | Jack Rapke - Executive Producer | | Robert Zemeckis - Screenwriter | | Robert Zemeckis - Producer | | Gary Goetzman - Producer | | Steve Starkey - Producer | | Robert Zemeckis - Director |
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| | Professional Reviews | Los Angeles Times
"[T}here is wonder for us to cherish, courtesy of a spectacular visual sense....It does nicely with its quieter moments, especially in the emotional scenes that close the story." 11/10/2004 p.E1Ultimate DVD
3 stars out of 5 -- "It's a technical masterpiece that is made primarily for kids..." 04/01/2008 p.64 |
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