The Tennessee Aquarium’s Imax Theater is showing “The Polar Express” through Christmas Eve.Screening schedule
› Today, Dec. 15: 10 a.m.› Friday, Dec. 16: 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.› Saturday, Dec. 17: 8 p.m.› Monday-Friday, Dec. 19-23: 2 p.m.› Saturday, Dec. 24: Noon, 2 and 4 p.m.Special events“PJs & The Polar Express” events are scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18. › Families are invited to come to these special screenings dressed in their favorite pajamas. They’ll meet a special character from the film and enjoy hot cocoa and muffins before snuggling up to watch the film.› Nonmember admission is $10.95 for children 3-12; $13.95 for adults. Aquarium members pay $8.95 per child, $11.95 per adult.› Register at www.tnaqua.org/events-programs.
The Tennessee Aquarium’s Imax Theater has shown “The Polar Express” before, but the version being screened this season is a brand new Imax With Laser remaster of the animated holiday classic.
“It was a complete shock to me that it was coming out so soon,” says senior operator Corey Cobb, who received the new edition in the mail a few weeks ago. “I’m pretty excited for everyone to see this new version. It’s going to look so much better than the film print we’ve shown throughout the years.”
Compared to the 600-pound spools of film he used to work with when showing the movie, this digital cinema package almost fits into Cobb’s shirt pocket. Although much smaller in size, the visual impact is stunning.
“‘The Polar Express 3D’ will be much brighter on-screen, and the snow scenes will look fantastic,” Cobb assures viewers. “It has always been fun watching audiences grabbing at the snowflakes. I can’t wait to see them reacting to the Imax with Laser version.”
According to Cobb, the enhanced sound system that was installed at the Imax 3D Theater earlier in the year, as a companion upgrade to the 4K laser projectors, will improve the experience even more.
“The chugging of the locomotive and the music have always been really important parts to seeing this movie in a giant-screen theater like ours,” he says. “And this year the sounds and visuals will be even better.”
The heart-warming adventure, based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, takes audiences on an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole as a doubting young boy embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
The film is rated G with a run time of one hour and 40 minutes.
Screenings continue through Christmas Eve. Admission is $10.95 for children 3-12; $13.95 for adult; $4 for Imax Club Pass holders.
The Imax Theater is at 201 Chestnut St. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.tnaqua.org.