Coming up on Saturday at the Described Movies: The Polar Express, The Santa Clause, and The Story of Santa Claus.

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From this Saturday at 12am Eastern, that’s 6pm Saturday in NZ, 4pm in Sydney and 5am in the UK, and repeated every four hours throughout the day, it’s the described movies The Polar Express from 2004, The Santa Clause from 1994, and the Story of Santa Claus from 1996.
The Polar Express is a 2004 American computer-animated fantasy adventure film co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, based on the 1985 children's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, who also served as one of the executive producers.
The film features human characters animated using live-action and motion-capture CGI animation.
It tells the story of a young boy who, on Christmas Eve, sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor.
The boy joins several other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus preparing for Christmas.
The film stars Tom Hanks, also one of the film's executive producers, in multiple distinct roles, with Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen in supporting roles.
Castle Rock Entertainment produced the film in association with Shangri-La Entertainment, ImageMovers, Playtone, and Golden Mean Productions for Warner Bros. Pictures, as Castle Rock's first CGI-animated film.
Its CGI visual effects and CGI performance capture were done at Sony Pictures Imageworks.
The film was made with a production budget of $165–170 million, a record-breaking sum for an animated feature at the time.
The Polar Express was released in the Chicago International Film Festival on 13 October 2004 and the United States on 10 November 2004.
The film originally underperformed at the box office, grossing $286 million against a $165–170 million budget.
However, later re-releases helped propel the film's gross to $314 million worldwide.
The film was later listed in the 2006 Guinness World Records as the first all-digital capture film.
The film also marks Michael Jeter's last acting role before his death, and the film was thus dedicated to his memory.
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis.
Screenplay by: Robert Zemeckis , and William Broyles Jr.
Based on: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.
Produced by: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis , Gary Goetzman, and William Teitler.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen.
Cinematography: Don Burgess, and Robert Presley.
Edited by: R. Orlando Duenas , and Jeremiah O'Driscoll.
Music by: Alan Silvestri.
Production Companies: Castle Rock Entertainment, Shangri-La Entertainment, ImageMovers, Playtone, and Golden Mean Productions.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Release dates: 13 October 2004 ( Chicago International Film Festival) 10 November 2004 (United States).
File Length: 100 minutes.
Country: United States.
Language: English.
Budget: $165–170 million.
Box office: $314.1 million.
The Santa Clause is a 1994 American Christmas comedy film written by Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick and directed by John Pasquin.
The first instalment in The Santa Clause franchise, it stars Tim Allen as Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who accidentally causes Santa Claus (played by Tim Allen's actual stunt double, Steve Lucescu) to fall from his roof on Christmas Eve.
When he and his young son, Charlie, finish St. Nick's trip and deliveries, they go to the North Pole where Scott learns that he must become the new Santa and convince those he loves that he is indeed Santa Claus.
The film was released on 11 November 1994 and grossed $190 million.
It received positive reviews from critics, and it has since become a Christmas-time staple among viewers.
Its success led to two sequels, The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), which were both financially successful despite the former's mixed and the latter's negative reception.
The franchise continues with a follow-up limited series The Santa Clauses, which premiered November 16, 2022, on Disney+.
Directed by: John Pasquin.
Written by: Leo Benvenuti, and Steve Rudnick.
Produced by: Brian Reilly, Jeffrey Silver, and Robert Newmyer.
Starring: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, David Krumholtz, and Peter Boyle.
Cinematography: Walt Lloyd.
Edited by: Larry Bock.
Music by: Michael Convertino.
Production Companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, and Outlaw Productions.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
Release dates: 5 November 1994 ( Hollywood), and 11 November 1994 (United States).
File Length: 93 minutes.
Country: United States.
Language: English.
Budget: $22 million.
Box office: $190.3 million.
The Story of Santa Claus is a 1996 CBS animated television special directed by Toby Bluth.
It features the voices of Ed Asner, Betty White, and Tim Curry.
The special presents an origin story for Santa Claus, who is depicted as a man named Nicholas Claus who wishes to give every child in the world a gift for Christmas.
The elves of the North Pole become obligated to grant his wish, facing great obstacles.
Saint Nicholas was born in 280 A.D.
But since then, he wasn’t really a saint as he is named now.
Directed by: Toby Bluth.
Starring: Ed Asner, Betty White, and Tim Curry.
Country of origin: United States.
Original language: English.
Producers: Rachel Koretsky, and Steven Whitestone.
File Length: 45 minutes.
Production companies: Arnold Shapiro Productions, Film Roman, CBS Productions, and CBS Broadcast International.
Distributor: CBS Television Distribution, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (VHS prints).
Original network: CBS.
Original release: 7 December 1996.
Any questions, comments, or ideas for future described movies: e-mail me: anthony at mushroomfm dot com (e-mail address written that way to cut down on
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Enjoy the movies,