This holiday season… believe.|Nov. 10, 2004|United States|100 Min.|G
Genre: Adventure;Animation;Comedy;Family;Fantasy
Description: On Christmas Eve in 1956, a young boy, skeptical about the existence of Santa Claus, witnesses a steam locomotive called the Polar Express outside his home. The train is headed to the North Pole. Despite his initial hesitation, the boy boards it and meets a lively girl and a know-it-all boy. Along the journey, they pick up another passenger named Billy, who sits alone in the observation car. The girl offers him hot chocolate to make him feel welcome.
The journey to the North Pole is filled with adventures. Passengers are served hot chocolate in a lively dance sequence, the girl loses her ticket but the boy retrieves it, and the boy encounters a hobo who skis on the train’s roof and shares tales of Santa Claus and ghosts. The trip faces challenges, such as a herd of caribou blocking the tracks, which the conductor clears by pulling Smokey’s beard, causing him to make animal-like noises. Another obstacle occurs when the train’s throttle fails on a sheet of ice, nearly leading to disaster. Smokey’s hairpin replaces the missing part, allowing the conductor to steer the train back to safety.
Upon arriving at the North Pole, the conductor reveals that one passenger will receive the first gift of Christmas from Santa Claus. The boy and girl discover Billy still alone in the observation car and convince him to join them for the ceremony.
Cast director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast actor: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, Michael Jeter, Josh Hutcherson, Daryl Sabara, Jimmy Bennett, Brendan King
Original name: The Polar Express