The Polar Express
Alan Silvestri
" Alan Silvestri is coming to town "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
We all know where computer animated features are taking us, to fantasy land. And without doubt The Polar Express is close to the brink of realism. Basically 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 or Beowulf) and here it happens again, at least to the point that Tom Hanks looks just like Tom Hanks. Now, Robert Zemeckis' story is finally making it to 3-D. And while released one month before actual Christmas, it was just on time to make you believe in Santa all over again.
Of course many people were not only looking forward to the movie, but also to the score of Alan 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 in to give you a sparkling joyous Christmas flavour.
And the result is The Polar Express, an album that covers just 3 score cues and various joyous songs both the young as adults will cherish. Luckily these songs are put here for a reason. And that reason is, they are actually heard inside the movie. Sometimes because it is Christmas they place songs on it that define Christmas and think they are making a solid point. But here it is solid because we heard them before during the movie. That doesn’t take away however that we are still missing a whole lot of score.
Luckily, the material of Silvestri is worth it. His underscore during "The Polar Express" is sprightly, his "When Christmas Comes to Town" lovely and "Believe" (sung by Josh Groban) is just so wonderful to hear around Christmas past. But these are his song interpretations, we want to hear actual score material too. And Silvestri is no slouch in giving you that Christmas spirit.
For instance, let's talk about "Spirit of the Season". What a joyous exuberant track full of lovely dancing choir. This is followed by "Seeing is Believing", which mixes actual Christmas tunes in a rousing performance with the main theme as encore. And everything it put together joyously in "The Polar Express Suite", placing you under the Christmas tree itself. We have the main theme with choir, the themes of the songs and an exploding finish.
But of course during the movie there was a whole lot more. After all we are missing the soft lovely material during the opening of the movie. But of course what this album truly lacks in the wonderful rousing music during the many train sequences, and that matters a lot. There's of course a promo that can sooth your appetite, but it is not the way to go.
Put song and score together (yes indeed like the film promises) and you have the Christmas spirit of the good old days. Alan Silvestri's score is wonderful in both the soft as the fast paced action, and no promo should show you what you are missing. This doesn't change the fact the original album has a lot of strong moments, with classics that bring you that Ho Ho Ho feeling. But when I want to experience the Ho Ho Ho of The Polar Express, I'm listening to the version I know is best. And that is all score and songs together. And then it is as wondrous as Christmas itself.
The Polar Express "Original Album": ***1/2
The Polar Express "Promo": ****
Tracklisting
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
Of course many people were not only looking forward to the movie, but also to the score of Alan 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 in to give you a sparkling joyous Christmas flavour.
And the result is The Polar Express, an album that covers just 3 score cues and various joyous songs both the young as adults will cherish. Luckily these songs are put here for a reason. And that reason is, they are actually heard inside the movie. Sometimes because it is Christmas they place songs on it that define Christmas and think they are making a solid point. But here it is solid because we heard them before during the movie. That doesn’t take away however that we are still missing a whole lot of score.
Luckily, the material of Silvestri is worth it. His underscore during "The Polar Express" is sprightly, his "When Christmas Comes to Town" lovely and "Believe" (sung by Josh Groban) is just so wonderful to hear around Christmas past. But these are his song interpretations, we want to hear actual score material too. And Silvestri is no slouch in giving you that Christmas spirit.
For instance, let's talk about "Spirit of the Season". What a joyous exuberant track full of lovely dancing choir. This is followed by "Seeing is Believing", which mixes actual Christmas tunes in a rousing performance with the main theme as encore. And everything it put together joyously in "The Polar Express Suite", placing you under the Christmas tree itself. We have the main theme with choir, the themes of the songs and an exploding finish.
But of course during the movie there was a whole lot more. After all we are missing the soft lovely material during the opening of the movie. But of course what this album truly lacks in the wonderful rousing music during the many train sequences, and that matters a lot. There's of course a promo that can sooth your appetite, but it is not the way to go.
Put song and score together (yes indeed like the film promises) and you have the Christmas spirit of the good old days. Alan Silvestri's score is wonderful in both the soft as the fast paced action, and no promo should show you what you are missing. This doesn't change the fact the original album has a lot of strong moments, with classics that bring you that Ho Ho Ho feeling. But when I want to experience the Ho Ho Ho of The Polar Express, I'm listening to the version I know is best. And that is all score and songs together. And then it is as wondrous as Christmas itself.
The Polar Express "Original Album": ***1/2
The Polar Express "Promo": ****
Tracklisting
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