The Polar Express
By Jamie Clark -- Video Business, 11/7/2005
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The awe and wonder of The Polar Express also can be found in its digital incarnation. The disc kicks off with fun menus crafted by Creative Domain that repeat the excitement of the roller-coaster-styled rides that the movie's kids embark on. The supplements package has features for adults and children, but mostly they lean toward the older set, exploring the various technologies used to animate the movie. "A Genuine Ticket to Ride" gives kids a tour behind-the-scenes via two youthful guides who are riding the titular train. Split into an intro and five sections, the featurette delves into every aspect of the movie's production, from the motion capture used to animate the characters to the clothes that were created in the real world only to be scanned into the digital world. Each segment runs about two to three minutes, and although it's interesting stuff, kids might get bored watching interviews with the filmmakers. "You Look Familiar" reveals how it came about that Tom Hanks played most of the roles, showing plenty of split screens between the animation and the flesh-and-blood actor. Again, adults might find it more interesting than kids. The younger ones will enjoy the fun "Polar Express Challenge," a game wherein players have to keep the train on course over a lake of ice and then help Santa deliver gifts to kids. There's also the deleted sequence for Smokey and Steamer's song "It Takes Two," featuring Michael Jeter, who died during production. It's a fun scene, but it's a shame the animation wasn't finished—only the pre-visualization is shown. Overall, the disc looks fine and contains supplements that will offer answers to those with questions. The movie itself is the real star, and it will please the whole family.
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