Robert Zemeckis is such a talented filmmaker. The man behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, the Back to the Future trilogy and acclaimed films such as Castaway finally decided to make a Christmas film, but not an ordinary Christmas film. In 2004 film animation was still in the process of evolving from the CGI beginnings with Shrek and Toy Story to the more sophisticated use of motion capture with Smeagol in The Lord of the Rings films. Then came The Polar Express.
The Polar Express is a beautiful film to watch in so many different ways.
I remember watching it on TV for the first time and immediately felt transported to another world, a magical world full of wonder and optimism for a bright Christmas.
Let’s take a look at some of my favourite shots from the film.
The colour palette in this film pops out of the screen in some moments, and in other scenes, it has a cold dark quality to it. This scene balances the two, with the light snowfall making the scene feel like a tender encounter. The first time we’re introduced to the Polar Express is from the young boy’s perspective, and the gigantic structure of the train is a marvel and the yellow lights make the scene pop. As a kid, you can’t help but be in awe, and the animation really helped makes this scene feel extra special.
This scene encapsulates the best qualities of Christmas. It has joy, excitement, hope and love. Throughout the film, we’re told we are travelling to the North Pole to see Santa. So the build-up to meeting Santa throughout the film means we are in for a big pay off at the end of the film. It’s this scene where the young boy can’t see Santa and he’s trying to jump up above the sea of people to get a glimpse of him, but he can’t, so he tries to find a higher viewpoint. Then he gets to finally meet him and it’s everything we hope for. Santa is the embodiment of joy and happiness.
Earlier in the film, we are treated to some marvelous shots of the wintry landscapes, of the train entering tundra after tundra. The set-pieces in the snowstorm and on the ice are amazing and gripping, but it’s these scenes that highlight the real magic of the film.
The technology used to make this film was brand new still and the filmmakers really went all out to make the film feel lived-in, real, and alive. Moonlight is a common tool used in the film, and its majesty can be seen in all its glory right here.
As you can tell I really do love The Polar Express. The colours, the themes, the animation, it all adds up to an experience you can’t get anywhere else. Other Christmas films focus on bringing the magic to everyday life, but The Polar Express brings everyday life to the magic. You know what, I might just go and watch this film again, and if you’ve not seen it yet, then go out there and find it and fall in love with it.
Thank you everyone for reading my blog today. I’ll be back again next year with another blog in the Shot-by-Shot series, but until then, Merry Christmas! 🎄
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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