Tom Hanks in The Polar Express

Tom Hanks in The Polar Express

Festive family favourite The Polar Express is getting a shiny new 3D makeover this Christmas.

Robert Zemeckis’ ground-breaking animated feature was one of the first to feature motion capture animation technology, and stars everyone’s favourite Tom Hanks in not one, but five different roles - that’s versatility for you!

Sporting some truly magnificent facial shrubbery, Tom brought real warmth to the character of the mysterious conductor who whisks our hero away to the North Pole.

Amazingly, Hanks also performed the movement for the film’s protagonist, a young boy whose faith in Santa is slipping. Though talented youngster Daryl Sabara provided the voice, it was Hanks who worked with the motion capture team, and some oversized props.

Hanks is no stranger to a bit of variety, and this got us thinking about his changing roles over the years. Here are a few of the many faces of Tom Hanks that have graced our screens…

 

He Knows You’re Alone - Tiny Tom
Hanks was just 24 when he made his first film appearance in this low budget slasher.

In the original script his character didn’t make it to the end of the film, but the production team liked him so much that they rewrote the script and let him live. It pays to be nice!

Joe Versus The Volcano - EveryTom
This absolutely bonkers comedy starred Hanks as a blue-collar everyman who finds himself thrust into increasingly bizarre circumstances after he is diagnosed with a mysterious illness.

Critics weren’t keen on release, but Joe Versus The Volcano has become a firm cult favourite among generations of fans.

The Bonfire of the Vanities - No More Mr. Nice Tom
1990 was a busy year for Tom. After he’d beaten the volcano as Joe, he turned his hand to the stock market as Sherman McCoy, a big shot Wall Street investor, in Brian De Palma’s adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s classic tale of greed, lust and vanity.

You’ve Got Mail - Tom-ance
Expectations were through the roof for the third pairing of Hanks and Meg Ryan following the runaway success of Sleepless in Seattle, and they didn’t disappoint.

They played rival bookshop owners who unknowingly fall for each other via a series of anonymous emails in this irresistible rom-com.

The Green Mile - Tears of a Tom
Hankies at the ready! This heart-breaking tale of a corrections offer and the death-row prisoner who may just be able to perform miracles has gone down in history as one of the all-time great weepies, and Hanks’ subtle performance is one of his very best.

Don’t miss the release of The Polar Express on 3D Blu-Ray and DVD Triple Play, coming on the 28th November 2011!

Tagged in