The movie has been warmly received by pastors, ministry leaders, youth leaders, and Christian film critics at recent screenings.   Pastor and best-selling author Max Lucado says, " 'The Polar Express' invites everyone to a faith discussion. This delightful story engages, not just the heart, but the mind, and stirs dialogue around a fundamental question: 'Can I afford to believe in what I have never seen?'   Chuck Colson says, "On one level, the story can be interpreted as a retelling of The Miracle on 34th Street , but for Christians, this film can also be seen as a homecoming story, a tale about a return to untainted belief."   Movieguide says, " 'The Polar Express' is a rare treat. The animation and effects are superb. The adventures before getting to the North Pole are wonderful, thrilling and inspiring, and the characters provide lots of fun along the way." " Bob Smithouser of Focus on the Family's Plugged In says, " 'The Polar Express' has a tender heart and enough visual tricks to wow even adults."   (More endorsements for “Polar Express' from the Christian community can be found at www.polarexpressdownloads.com .)

According to The Hollywood Reporter , the film starring Tom Hanks and directed by Academy-Award winning director Robert Zemeckis had the biggest turnaround of all the holiday releases by far. On Thanksgiving weekend it jumped up 28% from a week earlier -- and in the same number of theaters. The Christmas-themed picture ranked fourth at the box office with an estimated $19 million, placing the U.S. box office totals at $81.2 million as of November 30.    It is highly uncommon for a film to make such a substantial increase in its third weekend.

"The winter theme made Express a popular choice over the holiday as the gain was stronger than turkey weekend increases of 16% for last year's Elf and 19% for 2002's The Santa Clause 2 ", noted Gitesh Pandya of Boxofficeguru.com.

Hopefully, the present and continued success of the film will help to ensure that Hollywood recognizes the strong interest in family-friendly entertainment. 

Reviewer Mike Furches of HollywoodJesus.com sums up Polar Express's appeal: "Each child along the journey has challenges and obstacles to overcome. There are ample illustrations of the roller coaster of life that many of us live on, and I couldn't help --while watching this movie-- thinking of the song 'People Get Ready', 'There's a Train a 'Coming.' The truth is, one of the things that make this story so brilliant is that it is an analogy of not just Santa Claus and Christmas but for the very reason that Christmas exists. The reason as best described in John 3:16; "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life."

 - Story by Leo Partible and Lori Wahlers
   Dated December 1, 2004

David & the Hollywood Goliath
  A family-focused movie shop succeeds with I Am David.
  - By Jack Fowler

For those yearning for a movie, any movie, which, if only as a mere courtesy, wont offend. For those who thought Hollywood could not make a film touching on religion without disdain or disparagement for faith or institution. For those who wonder why the industry that can make a motion picture about anything cant seem to make one that portrays, in any honesty, Communist tyranny. For those and all others who simply desire to go to a clean family movie, a wonderful movie, a beautiful movie, a movie with meaning, with depth, with lessons, take heart I Am David opens in theaters on December 3.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Danish author Anne Holm, I Am David is set in 1952, at a Bulgarian prison camp where 12-year-old David (played by Ben Tibber, whose unforced and moving portrayal of a the anxious, cautious, lost but brave boy is marvelous) has spent most of his short life. Without family or past, with one friend, with little hope, and burdened by the daily dose of brutality which Stalinist regimes provided for gulag residents, David, who knows nothing different than this misery, nevertheless knows there is something better to be had beyond the electrified fence and barbed wire, and yearns for freedom.

Davids story is simple: He escapes the camp, with some (critical and surprising) help, and obediently follows the advice that he first make his way to Greece, then to Italy, and from there to Denmark, where, he is told, his eventual freedom, and more, awaits. Who has kept David alive in prison, who has counseled him to break out, and who assisted his escape are, of course, central to the plot and more importantly, to the movies overall messages of hope, deliverance, trust, and the inherent goodness in people. All of this is exposed in frequent short flashbacks over most of the films 90 minutes, but divulging any preview of that here will spoil this movies beauty, so I wont say more except that I cannot recall a better testament to the virtues of sacrifice and selflessness than found in the short but exquisite performance by Jim Caviezel (better known for portraying Jesus in The Passion of the Christ).

All great novels and films are essentially about journeys into self-discovery. I Am David is no different than other films in this regard, but it is worlds apart from Hollywoods longstanding and ongoing treatment poor treatment indeed when seen from a conservative perspective of essential and/or significant cultural forces, particularly religion and Communism.

For those of us who have so long (and rightly) lamented Hollywoods failure to fairly address the spiritual, or even to recognize (never mind admonish) the monstrous totalitarian ideology that has murdered tens of millions and enslaved billions (and still does!), I Am David is the answer to a prayer. Walden Media, the movies producer, visits these issues convincingly, and does so without overt or excessive propagandizing. There is no heavy hand: its mission is to make good, honest, family movies, not to be the hired hand of preachers and Cold Warriors. And yet, through the mix of beautiful cinematography, deft screenwriting, and warm, sincere acting by its cast, I Am David accomplishes what no evangelizing monsignor HUAC member could. For example, early in the film, after Davids escape and arrival in Italy, a jovial baker attempts to befriend him, and tells David how the patroness of bakers St. Elizabeth (of Hungary) will protect him if invoked. Praying to saints is a long and deeply felt and still widely observed Church practice that 1) rarely finds itself portrayed in movies and 2) is easily mocked as Catholic voodoo. But I Am David, without preaching, without even hinting that it is subliminally engaging in brand placement of Roman Catholic tradition, deals with this rich side of spirituality in a touching, convincing, and positive manner. By the way, David does eventually invoke the saint, and he is helped, but whether this is by St. Elizabeths intervention or not, only You Know Who know. Here, as in other scenes, the movies bias is to tread softly. The result is that the viewer has an endearing look at religious tradition, rather than a papal edict.

Religion is also the backdrop for the movies most compelling segment, near its end. Wandering into a small Swiss church where the local choir is assembling, David stands in the rear watching, listening, drinking in this strange and mysterious environment a thing unknown in his Bulgarian imprisonment when a police officer enters and approaches the youth. A man in a uniform maybe women like them, but gulag residents and prison escapees dont. This encounter is an important fork in Davids road: He can run, again, as he has in previous encounters with police, or trust the possibility that this man, even though a gendarme, can be good. Told once in the camp to trust no one, David chooses to test mans goodness. He closes his eyes, summons his courage, looks at the officer, and says, simply, but monumentally, hello. Unaware of the momentous event playing out and his role in it, the officer (the actor looks like the reincarnation of Charles DeGaulle), smiles, and returns the greeting Hello to you and they both stand side by side, almost like a grandfather and grandson, listening to choir sing (gloriously!) Mozarts (glorious!) Ave Verum. Davids world is now a good place.

But dont expect to smile yourself: While the choir sings the hymn (its Latin lyrics are about the crucifixion of Jesus) a montage flashback of crucial events in the prison camp rolls out. It is intense and deeply moving, and a lesson that salvation of any kind requires sacrifice. Most of the audience with whom I saw the preview of the movie sobbed here. As did I. And rightly so. I Am David is directed and written by Paul Fieg. Kudos for him for taking the simple route. Whether it be dialogue or characters or prison-camp brutality, less, as is so often the case in I Am David, proves to be much more. In addition to the wonderful performances of Caviezel and (especially!) Tibber, the movies other major star is the great Joan Plowright, another stranger to David, but a wise, tolerant, sincere, and utterly maternal figure who proves to be his true savior. I nominate her for the Mother of All Grandmothers. I Am David (rated PG) is a wonderful film, a truly, truly special film that warms the heart and nourishes the soul and speaks to the goodness of humanity, even in the bleakness of tyrannical hellholes, and of Gods Creation. No four-year-old will enjoy it, but kids 10 and up will be fascinated by the story, and by Ben Tibber.

It is worth noting that I Am David is a triumph for Walden Media, which came into existence but a few years ago precisely to make these types of movies family-oriented and meaningful adaptations of acclaimed novels (currently in production are C. S. Lewiss The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lois Lowrys Newberry Award-winner The Giver) and to teach children. Yes, teach children: Walden is a unique operation visit it at www.walden.com with a fascinating educational component. Its co-founder and president is my old National Review colleague Micheal Flaherty, for whom I couldnt be happier or prouder. Sadly, I Am David will have a limited release, but there is hope that, as word of this cinematic jewel spreads, more venues will be showing it. For more about the movie, please visitDavid & the Hollywood Goliath

A family-focused movie shop succeeds with I Am David.

By Jack Fowler
For those yearning for a movie, any movie, which, if only as a mere courtesy, wont offend. For those who thought Hollywood could not make a film touching on religion without disdain or disparagement for faith or institution. For those who wonder why the industry that can make a motion picture about anything cant seem to make one that portrays, in any honesty, Communist tyranny. For those and all others who simply desire to go to a clean family movie, a wonderful movie, a beautiful movie, a movie with meaning, with depth, with lessons, take heart I Am David opens in theaters on December 3.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Danish author Anne Holm, I Am David is set in 1952, at a Bulgarian prison camp where 12-year-old David (played by Ben Tibber, whose unforced and moving portrayal of a the anxious, cautious, lost but brave boy is marvelous) has spent most of his short life. Without family or past, with one friend, with little hope, and burdened by the daily dose of brutality which Stalinist regimes provided for gulag residents, David, who knows nothing different than this misery, nevertheless knows there is something better to be had beyond the electrified fence and barbed wire, and yearns for freedom.

Davids story is simple: He escapes the camp, with some (critical and surprising) help, and obediently follows the advice that he first make his way to Greece, then to Italy, and from there to Denmark, where, he is told, his eventual freedom, and more, awaits. Who has kept David alive in prison, who has counseled him to break out, and who assisted his escape are, of course, central to the plot and more importantly, to the movies overall messages of hope, deliverance, trust, and the inherent goodness in people. All of this is exposed in frequent short flashbacks over most of the films 90 minutes, but divulging any preview of that here will spoil this movies beauty, so I wont say more except that I cannot recall a better testament to the virtues of sacrifice and selflessness than found in the short but exquisite performance by Jim Caviezel (better known for portraying Jesus in The Passion of the Christ).

All great novels and films are essentially about journeys into self-discovery. I Am David is no different than other films in this regard, but it is worlds apart from Hollywoods longstanding and ongoing treatment poor treatment indeed when seen from a conservative perspective of essential and/or significant cultural forces, particularly religion and Communism.

For those of us who have so long (and rightly) lamented Hollywoods failure to fairly address the spiritual, or even to recognize (never mind admonish) the monstrous totalitarian ideology that has murdered tens of millions and enslaved billions (and still does!), I Am David is the answer to a prayer. Walden Media, the movies producer, visits these issues convincingly, and does so without overt or excessive propagandizing. There is no heavy hand: its mission is to make good, honest, family movies, not to be the hired hand of preachers and Cold Warriors. And yet, through the mix of beautiful cinematography, deft screenwriting, and warm, sincere acting by its cast, I Am David accomplishes what no evangelizing monsignor HUAC member could. For example, early in the film, after Davids escape and arrival in Italy, a jovial baker attempts to befriend him, and tells David how the patroness of bakers St. Elizabeth (of Hungary) will protect him if invoked. Praying to saints is a long and deeply felt and still widely observed Church practice that 1) rarely finds itself portrayed in movies and 2) is easily mocked as Catholic voodoo. But I Am David, without preaching, without even hinting that it is subliminally engaging in brand placement of Roman Catholic tradition, deals with this rich side of spirituality in a touching, convincing, and positive manner. By the way, David does eventually invoke the saint, and he is helped, but whether this is by St. Elizabeths intervention or not, only You Know Who know. Here, as in other scenes, the movies bias is to tread softly. The result is that the viewer has an endearing look at religious tradition, rather than a papal edict.

Religion is also the backdrop for the movies most compelling segment, near its end. Wandering into a small Swiss church where the local choir is assembling, David stands in the rear watching, listening, drinking in this strange and mysterious environment a thing unknown in his Bulgarian imprisonment when a police officer enters and approaches the youth. A man in a uniform maybe women like them, but gulag residents and prison escapees dont. This encounter is an important fork in Davids road: He can run, again, as he has in previous encounters with police, or trust the possibility that this man, even though a gendarme, can be good. Told once in the camp to trust no one, David chooses to test mans goodness. He closes his eyes, summons his courage, looks at the officer, and says, simply, but monumentally, hello. Unaware of the momentous event playing out and his role in it, the officer (the actor looks like the reincarnation of Charles DeGaulle), smiles, and returns the greeting Hello to you and they both stand side by side, almost like a grandfather and grandson, listening to choir sing (gloriously!) Mozarts (glorious!) Ave Verum. Davids world is now a good place.

But dont expect to smile yourself: While the choir sings the hymn (its Latin lyrics are about the crucifixion of Jesus) a montage flashback of crucial events in the prison camp rolls out. It is intense and deeply moving, and a lesson that salvation of any kind requires sacrifice. Most of the audience with whom I saw the preview of the movie sobbed here. As did I. And rightly so. I Am David is directed and written by Paul Fieg. Kudos for him for taking the simple route. Whether it be dialogue or characters or prison-camp brutality, less, as is so often the case in I Am David, proves to be much more. In addition to the wonderful performances of Caviezel and (especially!) Tibber, the movies other major star is the great Joan Plowright, another stranger to David, but a wise, tolerant, sincere, and utterly maternal figure who proves to be his true savior. I nominate her for the Mother of All Grandmothers. I Am David (rated PG) is a wonderful film, a truly, truly special film that warms the heart and nourishes the soul and speaks to the goodness of humanity, even in the bleakness of tyrannical hellholes, and of Gods Creation. No four-year-old will enjoy it, but kids 10 and up will be fascinated by the story, and by Ben Tibber.

It is worth noting that I Am David is a triumph for Walden Media, which came into existence but a few years ago precisely to make these types of movies family-oriented and meaningful adaptations of acclaimed novels (currently in production are C. S. Lewiss The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lois Lowrys Newberry Award-winner The Giver) and to teach children. Yes, teach children: Walden is a unique operation visit it at www.walden.com with a fascinating educational component. Its co-founder and president is my old National Review colleague Micheal Flaherty, for whom I couldnt be happier or prouder. Sadly, I Am David will have a limited release, but there is hope that, as word of this cinematic jewel spreads, more venues will be showing it. For more about the movie, please visit www.iamdavidmovie.com, where you can also download for free the movies accompanying, and pleasantly surprising, education guide.

, where you can also download for free the movies accompanying, and pleasantly surprising, education guide.

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