Polar Express

YMA recommendation

	Approved as non-violent media, with caution. Slapstick comedy; Distressing scenes
Most suitable age range: 5-7

Availability

Many items on the list of non-violent media may be available for either purchase or hire. Click here for some ideas of where to look for them.

About the movie

Synopsis

Based on the award winning picture book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express is a film about a young boy beginning to question his belief in Santa. On Christmas Eve he joins the Polar Express, a train bound for the North Pole which is carrying children from all walks of life who have lost a part of themselves that this trip will help them to find.

Points to consider

Words of caution

This movie is quite intense and scary for younger children. It is full of roller coaster action sequences and suspenseful moments.

There is some slapstick comedy such as:

• the conductor hanging on to the engineer’s beard to prevent himself from falling
• the conductor pulls the engineer’s beard which causes a horn to sound
• a mysterious hobo, sitting on the roof of a caboose, smashes into a wall
• the emergency brakes are applied on several occasions sending the occupants flying.
  

Positive aspects

• courage
• hope
• faith
• humility.

Questions to ask

• Do you think you have to see something before you can believe it’s true?
• Why did the children have to learn a lesson that was punched on to their ticket?
• Do you think that each child got the right lesson to learn? Why might that be?