Using a brand new technology the filmmakers have dubbed ‘Performance Capture,’ “The Polar Express” movie - and I apologize for not being able to come up with a better descriptive term – is weirdly animated. Tom Hanks, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, and Michael Jeter (in his last role before passing on) acted out the roles, with their performances captured digitally and manipulated with a specially designed computer program. By use of this technology, it was possible for Tom Hanks (age 48) to play the young Hero Boy as well as The Conductor, Hero Boy’s Father, the Hobo, and the big man himself – Santa Claus. Adult actors Peter Scolari and Nona Gaye were also able to play kids.
Unfortunately, despite the millions invested in creating this new technology, the ‘people’ who populate “The Polar Express” are more frightening than life-like. The film’s beautiful story and breathtaking backgrounds are absolutely spectacular, but the human characters reminded me of the wax statues that populate Madame Tussaud’s Museums, adding a creepiness factor to the holiday film that had the affect of putting a damper on my enjoyment. Truth be told, there were a few scenes when it felt like this movie could have been more aptly described as a Halloween trick than a Christmas treat (the elves in particular may be the source of a few nightmares).
The faces of the children, The Conductor, and others can not capture any realistic emotions. When the film succeeds, it’s not because of the performance captured humans; it’s due to the warmth of the story and the absolutely stunning backgrounds. The wild train ride over frozen ice and through frigid tundra literally leaps alive on the screen. And it was easy to understand why the filmmakers thought it was necessary to use this form of animation to bring those visually dazzling settings to life. The North Pole with its thousands of elves and the mountain that nearly touches the moon are perfectly portrayed on the screen in keeping with the feel of Chris Van Allsburg’s “The Polar Express” book. But the filmmakers failed to get the people right. There’s a herky-jerkiness to their movements and a blank look to their little faces.
Will real flesh and blood actors be replaced by their digitally captured images in future films? Will adult actors be able to continue the ways of “The Polar Express” and take on roles meant to be played by kids? I can’t see that happening at any time in the near or even distant future. While we gobble up CGI animated movies like “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles,” this new style of animation will hopefully be no more than a passing fascination of filmmakers who just like to push the limits.
If it doesn’t scare the you-know-what out of kids, then youngsters will probably get a kick out of “The Polar Express.” My own reaction was mixed: I loved the story but the mannequin-like characters freaked me out. I do know that “The Polar Express” will definitely not be taking a spot on my list of movies to watch every holiday season.
GRADE: C+
“The Polar Express” was directed by Robert Zemeckis and is rated G for all audiences.
