The Polar Express

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

We all know where computer animated features are taking us, to fantasy land. With talking animals, but more super realistic feature animation, film by film becomes more adept at bringing stunning movie magic. And without doubt The Polar Express is close to the brink of realism, it is a joy to see it has come this far. More and more films are taking people to computer animation (think of Final Fantasy, Princes Fiona in the Shrek movies) and here it happens again, at least Tom Hanks looks just like Tom Hanks. And the quality is, you believe it just as is it real. Now, Robert Zemeckis retelling one of those loved Christmas tellings is making it finally to the big screen, and perhaps a month before actual Christmas, it is just on time to make you believe in Santa yet again. Of course many people were not only looking forward to the movie, but also to the score of Silvestri, Bob's trusty sidekick. Yet, here Silvestri had the task to compose the score with his most sparkling music yet and at the same time, make sure songs were brought alive to sparkle the audience with its children sweetness as Christmas flavor. And he naturally took themes that easily could work as songs, score and of course presented that Christmas snow in a flash. And the effect is The Polar Express, the album that covers just 3 score cues, some 13 minutes but with at least several songs as joyous as the score too, and the other songs are those most known classic entries of the likes of Sinatra, Crosby, The Andrew Sisters, basically you heard them all before. And even if the second half is featuring those classics, most are a little boring to not hear them when its actually snowing. But they just set so accurately the mood of Christmas, it is the inclusion only that make them a must, if not for the fact they block more Silvestri music sadly in return.

But what is actually written by Alan Silvestri is more striking, and basically more what people wanted to hear. 'The Polar Express' is a fun fast paced tune with good accompanying by Tom Hanks and especially a children's choir, and gives the spirit this movie stands for. 'When Christmas Comes to Town' moves slowly around one of the 2 themes of Silvestri, and is a little sad yet nicely performed by the children stars. I don't care much for 'Rockin' on Top of the World' since it listens like Aerosmith on children's loud form, too crazy for my liking but 'Believe' is just perfect, based on Alan's main theme, Josh Groban gives the song the perfect atmosphere and carries that spirit just to town. In comparison, if the song for Troy was anything but inappropriate, then the song here is anything but appropriate. The more comedic 'Hot Chocolate' is for the kids to enjoy. Which leaves us to the actual Silvestri score material. 'Spirit of the Season' is a festivity song full of dancing choir and listens grand and exuberant, followed by 'Seeing is Believing' which lets some choir grow until the feast truly begins, with the melody of the previous track, the known songs of "jingle bells" and "deck the halls" in a fast paced orchestral rousing form and the main theme heard wondrously at the end with choir. Yet everything is put to even grander use in 'The Polar Express Suite' which truly sings of this album in Christmas wonderland. The main theme with choir, the theme of first song and second song returning to greet us in their orchestral form, then the choir stating track 6 again before the main theme explodes with grand choir again for the finish. To tell you Christmas albums have to sound this way is just stupid, this is Christmas on audio samples and Silvestri took every piece of its wonder into musical notes. I see The Polar Express going far in captivating people as fans, and Silvestri has every right to be joyous for his contribution, it is as wondrous as Christmas itself.

The Polar Express "Promo"

I guess The Polar Express started off slowly, but kept growing and growing the more it was played. The movie was released early before Christmas, but still was there after Christmas and the score went equally to enchant more and more near the period. So much that the demand for more score material quickly rised. Word is still there a score will be released someday, but for now fans will have to find the Oscar promo that captured different tracks from what was found on the commercial release. Meaning a small 30 minutes in 5 tracks and no tracks we heard already, of course consisting material that is heard on the commercial one, but considering the wealth of themes, ideas and especially racing action moments, The Polar Express Promo is especially there for the big fans of the movie. And even if 30 minutes is not enough for the money you have to pay for it, think off simply adding the songs composed by Silvestri as the 3 tracks to it, then you get a real fat Christmas bonus. I haven't done that, so I'm solely judging by the material on the promo, and surprisingly it feels differently from what we heard before. I mean it feels differently now, with the action music now heard that wasn't found on the original, not the sprightly Christmas cheer of 'Spirit of the Season' which gave a lot of exuberance to the commercial release, and basically that the songs equally got you settled in the mood. At first you wished more of this was heard, but now even the magic concerning Silvestri's action music is fast and strong, and the themes naturally return to state a part of that magic back. 'Track 1' is directly stating Believe's main theme, choir joins, themes we heard before enter, light comical music ala Home Alone but especially Edward Scissorhands lets us see a different side of the music, Silvestri's own style then returns with action music and new exciting themes, choir giving it a darker edge, all this shows it feels different then the Christmas cheers of the commercial release, but by god after a while does it sound equally satisfying.

We continue further with 'Track 2' and more instrumental versions of the songs are heard, namely 'The 'Polar Express' song, flutes setting the rhythm but its the thrilling ride of action heroics concerning variations on the theme that make it exciting, at times Back to the Future 3 like in tone, its choir at times stating light epic whooshes and the main theme with flutes softly fade the cue to an end. It all shows Silvestri didn't lose his earlier voice when still composing after all these years. Sadly 'Track 3' is the longest but equally the lightest of them all, stating basically the one song theme after the other, light and beautiful. Then luckily 'Track 4' is bringing back that fast rhythmic action suspense ala Silvestri, racing flutes and theme variations make it a short but great to listen to track. The soothing material is for the finale and here the main theme more then once enters that same magical feeling the suite contained, here especially too the real similarities are heard between Edward Scissorhands and Alan's composition, which was remarked earlier by fans. But still that 'Believe' main theme is so lovely when the choir performs it. And all this in just 30 minutes, it shows perhaps too little for the most fans, but considering you could just add the songs as the score material of the commercial on a disc like this, then I believe its gonna be a real thrill ride. Now we have to rate them separately, so both scores somewhat lack what the other possesses, the action music for the original, the sweet exuberance for the promo. Yet one day these 2 will meet and then Silvestri will bring so much joy to fans that action and magic are heard in the same row as The Polar Express promo riding before your ears with great class. Then fans will know what several people are already experiencing on 2 discs alone.

The Polar Express: ***1/2 Score: **** Songs: ***
The Polar Express "Promo": **** Score: ****

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Polar Express: Tom Hanks * (3.25)

2. When Christmas Comes To Town: Matthew Hall & Meagon Moore * (4.07)

3. Rockin' On Top Of The World: Steve Tyler * (2.35)

4. Believe: Josh Groban * (4.18) Excellent Track

5. Hot Chocolate: Tom Hanks * (2.33)

6. Spirit Of The Season (2.33) Excellent Track

7. Seeing Is Believing (3.47) Excellent Track

8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town: Frank Sinatra (2.35)

9. White Christmas: Bing Crosby (3.05)

10. Winter Wonderland: The Andrew Sisters (2.43)

11. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas: Perry Como (2.40)

12. Silver Bells: Kate Smith (2.39)

13. Here Comes Santa Claus: Bing Crosby & The Andres Sisters (3.04)

14. Suite From The Polar Express (6.02) Excellent Track

* Written by Alan Silvestri & Glen Ballard

Total Length: 46.41

The Polar Express "Promo"

1. Track 1 (5.02) Excellent Track

2. Track 2 (4.49) Excellent Track

3. Track 3 (8.46)

4. Track 4 (2.11)

5. Track 5 (6.14) Excellent Track

Total Length: 27.04

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Alan Silvestri ===