The Polar Express [DVD] [2004]

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You don’t have to wear pyjamas, but if you really want to get into the spirit of the Polar Express experience, why not wear pyjamas like the little boy in the film? Wearing pyjamas is encouraged by the Polar Express. Location: Embsay & Bolton Abbey Polar Express location: Bolton Abbey Station, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6AF.

If you and your little ones love the Polar Express Movie, you are bound to love this Polar Express experience. Want the ultimate Polar Experience? Here’s how to book a DIY Lapland trip on a budget. The Polar Express: Two-Disc Widescreen Edition is, as its name points out, a two-disc set. The film appears on the first disc, while the special features are on the second. Duration: The train journey lasts about one hour, but it is recommended to allow 2 – 2.5 hours for the whole experience. If you don’t fancy wearing Christmas pyjamas, a Christmas jumper is a great alternative! What to expect from a Polar Express Train rideOne of the hardest things for a fantasy-flavored film or story to do is to retain its atmosphere of awe and magic even after the characters have interacted with the magical world and plumbed its secrets, so the fact that The Polar Express never sheds that atmosphere is very impressive indeed. For one thing, The Polar Express leaves some aspects of the story mysterious, never explaining who or what the hobo is; the result is that the train (and the experience as a whole) retains its magical aura even at the very end of the film. There's also the brilliant choice of never telling us the names of the characters. I've always held that one mark of a good film is that you don't need to remember names to fully engage with the story, and The Polar Express meets that standard completely, as all of the characters (except for Santa) are kept nameless in a totally natural manner: there's never any moment during the film in which we would need to know their names. It's an indication of polished storytelling, but it's also something more. By keeping the child characters without names, especially the protagonist, The Polar Express underlines the idea that this is a magical experience that could happen to any child, anywhere, at any time. The boy protagonist has his own personality, to be sure, but it's kept low-key enough that he can be an Everyboy, for any viewer (adult or child) to imagine as himself or herself. Enjoy a 30 minute performance in a heated marquee before setting off on your 60 minute Polar Express train ride. Meeting your favourite Polar Express characters on this magical journey to the North Pole will be a truly memorable experience.

The film uses a technology called "performance capture," wherein an actor actually gives a three-dimensional performance which is recorded digitally by a computer, to then be manipulated into animated art. Performance capture is an extension of CGI and, as used in films like THE LORD OF THE RINGS, further blurs the line between what is animation and what is special effects. The process seems to work fairly well as far as body movement goes; the animated characters move with genuine lifelike grace that is far superior to previous attempts, such as the animated action sequences in SPIDER-MAN or THE HULK. Indeed, a dance sequence involving a band of hyperkenetic waiters is a showstopper. But the process just does not work as far as detailing facial features.

There will be hot chocolate and a cookie served during the train ride and a gift of a silver sleigh bell.

There will be singing and dancing chefs and you will be encouraged to recount your own Christmas memories.The Polar Express steam train departs from Spa Valley Railway on a magical journey to the North Pole. The whole experience is very similar to all of the other Polar Express train rides with singing and dancing Polar Express characters.

When the closing credits roll and you think "I want to watch that movie again!" you know you've just seen something special. That's the case with The Polar Express: it's a polished little gem of a film that tells its story exactly right and leaves you feeling charmed and delighted... just like the protagonist, the little boy who falls asleep on Christmas Eve wondering if Santa Claus really exists, only to be woken up by the thunderous arrival of the Polar Express to take him on a trip to the North Pole to meet the great man himself. I am compelled to note that the menus for The Polar Express are highly annoying, as they are extremely lengthy and unskippable. I did discover later that when the anti-piracy screen is playing, if you press "menu" repeatedly you'll finally jump to the static menu screen.The Polar Express Christmas train ride is based on a lovely Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg (also one of the best Christmas movies for kids), The Polar Express. These Santa steam train journeys offer a fabulously festive Christmas family day out. There are currently 12 locations across the UK where you can find a UK Polar Express Train Experience. If you happen to be in the US, there are many more US Polar Express locations there! Birmingham is one of the best cities in the UK to visit at Christmas with kids and your visit would not be complete without a ride on the Polar Express. Duration: The Scottish Polar Express Train ride lasts about 30 minutes each way but allow 2 hours for the whole experience. To make the experience extra special, how about Polar Express PJs? Here are some cute options on Etsy: