‘The Polar Express’ in Concert

On Christmas Eve, a young boy who doubts the existence of Santa Claus is whisked aboard a mysterious locomotive bound for the North Pole. The train defies gravity on teetering bridges and slides over ice fields, while both the conductor and Santa sound like Tom Hanks. Back in 2004, the film’s motion-capture animation was groundbreaking. Today, it’s charming, even though characters seem a bit off. The Charlotte Symphony provides the soundtrack for this Christmas classic.