In 2004, some crafty computer animation and very talented voice acting gave us one of the most visually exciting Christmas movies that kids could watch, too. It is called The Polar Express.

I don’t know why, but I always get excited when a movie takes place in Michigan. The Polar Express takes place in Grand Rapids, MI. Well… the beginning does, anyway. This movie tells the story of a young lad who is losing his Christmas spirit. He is at that in-between age where he is thinking that Santa Claus is not real. A train pulls up in front of his house and waits for him to come down. He is invited to go with this group of kids to the North Pole. The conductor (Tom Hanks) says that they are all going to see Santa Claus.

There are other children on the train, along with waiters who’s sole purpose is dispensing hot chocolate to the children (and also to sing about giving hot chocolate to the children). There is also a hobo who lives on top of the train, an engineer and a fireman. The trip to the North Pole is filled with different obstacles they all have to work together to survive through.

One of the parts of this movie I absolutely adore is that only those who believe in Santa Claus can hear sleigh bells ring. Through the beginning of the movie, the boy cannot hear bells ring. At the very end, he can. The movie ends with a most warm and fuzzy line:

“At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”

Overall, as a Christmas movie and a kid-friendly one at that, I give The Polar Express a 5/5. It is magical and always fills me with the Christmas Spirit.

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Also Check out our COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN…