Polar Express - help me understand!

[elQuintoConyo]

DS saw Polar Express last week while on holiday - countless times! He now cannot wait until Christmas (he is 3.5).

So, while I kind of enjoyed the feeling of the film and the bits before the North Pole (god that was boring!), I have a question:

What is the significance of the hobo on top of the train? What is he supposed to represent? Is it something Americans would get straightaway? I get that he's a ghost... is he Scrooge? (he manipulates the creepy puppet). Is he the boy's conscience?

We'll be buying the dvd for Christmas Eve, so, as I'll be seeing alot of it over the years, I'd like to know wtf is going on!

Thanks in advance!

He doesn't believe in Christmas and is the negativity felt/believed by the main character, he is a test of the main characters faith, hope that helps .

It is a lovely film, my son likes it too

Oh, thank you both very much

Now I just wonder why they ballsed up the third act and made the north pole so boring - and the elves so creepy!

Loved the know-it-all boy with the irritating voice and glasses

That part in particular was transformed for me when we saw it in 3D. All of the film was vastly improved.