"It doesn't matter where the train is going ..." says Tom Hanks aka The Conductor of The Polar Express.

Get on board The Polar Express 3-D IMAX movie this Holiday season, and you'll be in for one of the most unique, spirited rides of your life.

The Polar Express is a journey of self-discovery that shows three young children that the wonder of life can always shine bright for those who believe.

Nine year-old, Jessica Nicole from San Francisco said, "It's amazing they could take such a short book and turn it in an almost two hour movie that, by the conductor's watch, is only five minutes of time."

Jessica added:

Out of 10, I'd give it a 9.5. The only thing missing was laughter. I felt like most of the time, I was on a magical roller coaster.

Jessie's sister, six year-old, Nicole Marie said, "I want the soundtrack for Christmas."

The movie borders on being a musical.

The book is the award-winning 1986 Caldecott Medal Christmas fable by Chris Van Allsburg.

The film, directed by Academy Award-winner Robert Zemeckis stars Academy Award-winning actor/producer/director, Tom Hanks times five. Hanks is the first actor in 50 years to be awarded back-to-back Best Actor Academy Awards.

Tom Hanks ... Hero Boy, Hero Boy's Father, The Conductor, The Hobo, Santa

Leslie Harter Zemeckis ... Sister Sarah / Hero Boy's Mother

The Late, Emmy Award-winning Michael Jeter (born: 8.26.52 / died: 3.30.03) ... Smokey and Steamer

Peter Scolari ... Lonely Boy
Nona Gaye ... Hero Girl
Eddie Deezen ... Know-It-All Boy
Charles Fleisher ... Elf General
Brendan King ... Pastry Chef
Andy Pellick ... Pastry Chef
Josh Eli, Mark Mendonca, Rolandas Hendricks, Mark Goodman, Jon Scott, Gregory Gast, Sean Scott, Gordon Hart ... Waiters
Chris Coppola ... Toothless Boy / Elf
Julene Renee ... Red Head Girl / Elf
Steven Tyler ... Elf Lieutenant / Elf Singer
Phil Fondacaro ... Elf
Debbie Lee Carrington ... Elf
Mark Povinelli ... Elf
Ed Gale ... Elf
Dante Pastula ... Little Boy
Eric Newton, Aidan O'Shea, Aaron Hendry, Kevin C. Carr, Bee Jay Joyer, Jena Carpenter, Karine Mauffrey, Beth Carpenter, Bill Forchion, Devin Henderson, Sagiv Ben-Binyamin ... Acrobatic Elves

The music score and original scores are created by Alan Silvestri with Glen Ballard.

Voice performers included:

Daryl Sabara ... Hero Boy
Andre Sogliuzzo ... Smokey & Steamer
Jimmy Bennett ... Lonely Boy
Isabella Peregrina ... Sister Sarah

All are a "10"!

The Polar Express animated movie uses high-tech "capture" technology in order transform real filmed material into animation. Combine the 3-D journey to the North Pole, Santa Claus and his elves on a large IMAX screen and you enter a magical world that has you believing you could be on a real roller coaster.

If you can, try to see the IMAX 3-D version in one of the 50+ IMAX theaters. Warner Brothers could start a one-ride theme park and have a hit on its hands.

Polar Express Soundtrack

1. The Polar Express -- Tom Hanks

2. When Christmas Comes To Town -- Matthew Hall and Meagan Moore

3. Rockin' On Top of the World -- Steven Tyler

4. Believe -- Josh Groban

5. Hot Chocolate -- Tom Hanks

6. Spirit of the Season -- Alan Silvestri

7. Seeing is Believing -- Alan Silvestri

8. Santa Claus is Comin' To Town -- Frank Sinatra

9. White Christmas -- Bing Crosby

10. Winter Wonderland -- The Andrews Sisters

11. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas -- Perry Como

12. Silver Bells -- Kate Smith

13. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Claus Lane) -- Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

14. Suite From the Polar Express -- Alan Silvestri

Another time Zemeckis, Hanks and Silvestri came together was for a wild adventure was Cast Away

If your goal is to get in the spirit of Christmas, Rugged Elegance recommends you take every doubting or half-believing child and adult to this movie, and then give them a copy of the music from the film along with a hard copy of the book by Chris Van Allsburg.

It is not the true message of Christmas, but it will entertain your whole family and put you all in the Holiday spirit.

Others Who Deserve Recognition and Reward

William Broyles Jr. who co-wrote the screenplay with Robert Zemeckis

Producers Steve Starkey, Gary Goetzman, William Teitler and Robert Zemeckis

Alan Horn, President of Warner Bros. Pictures

Martin Shafer, CEO of Castle Rock Entertainment

Steven Bing of Shangri-La Entertainment

Playtone

ImageMovers

Golden Mean

The six children whose live performances were turned into computer animations thanks to "performance capture" technology:

Josh Hutcherson (born: 10.12.92) - Hero Boy
Chantel Vaoldeviesco (born: 6.6.94) - Hero Girl
Hayden McFarland (born: 3.20.92) - Lonely Boy
Connor Matheus (born: 8.6.93) - Toothless
Ashly Holloway (born: 1995) - Sister Sarah
Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak (born: 2.16.96) - Know-It-All Boy

For a synopsis of the film, trailers, special features, downloads, tickets, showtimes, and more, go to:

Look for the November issue of Premiere for an interview with Tom Hanks and a story about the making of The Polar Express featuring Robert Zemeckis.

Inspire & Be Inspired (R).

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and "a spirit-filled season of believing" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King

P.S. I just received my new "better mouse trap" computer mouse from Amazon today, and inside the box were two attached bookmarks promoting The Polar Express. Warner Brothers would make a killing if they created Golden Tickets as gift certificates (redeemable for movie tickets) for parents to add to their kids' Christmas stockings or Thanksgiving cards. I know I'd buy a dozen.