Bristol Herald Courier from Bristol, Tennessee • 59

CHRISTMAS WISHES RIDAY DECEMBER 17 2004 BRISTOL HERALD COURIER El 1 Holiday traffic propels beyond $100 million BY DAVID GERMAIN MOVIE WRITER LOS ANGELES After a slow start out of the station Polar just keeps chugging along Taking in nearly $10 million over the weekend the holiday tale lifted its do mestic total to $110 million with plenty of steam left for Christmas and New A month ago Polar looked like it could be a train wreck debuting with $306 million in its first five daysman unremarkable start given the $170 million production cost and the luster of star Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis Yet the Christmas theme has given it great staying power with its three day gross down just 9 percent this past weekend Revenues fell far more sharply for other holdovers in the top 10 ranging from a 32 percent decline for With the to 70 percent for Polar opened amid a rush of family films hitting theaters just five days after the blockbuster and a week before the ac tion hit best play time is in front of said Dan ellman Warner Bros head of distribu tion realized the advantage for us was to get as much play time as we could prior to Christmas because we always felt our movie which had fabulous word of mouth would grow as we got closer to Adapted from Chris Van picture book Polar fol lows a doubting boy as he regains his faith in the spirit of Christmas during a magical train trip to the North Pole The movie was created through formance technology with Hanks and other actors going through the motions on a bare soundstage Their movements were recorded by infrared sensors then re created in digital im agery The technology allowed for semi re alistic renderings of its human charac ters which include Hanks in multiple roles among them the boy the train conductor and Santa Claus Reviews were wildly mixed on Polar with some critics call ing it an instant Christmas classic and others saying the human figures resem bled lifeless zombies With overseas box office potential and TV and home video revenue plus its prospects as a holiday perennial on television and video Polar now has a shot to earn back its production and marketing costs Santa Beacon eases anxiety LETTERS TO SANTA Dear Santa On Christmas I love Santa! A pokemon toy with a I want me a Yugioh game and a Mario Party game and all I want Thank you Shadiyah Colley Dear Santa Make me new clothes and a toy reindeer and stuff My brother needs 1 too I need a CD of rock roll and a Clif ford book Love Danny Dattolo Dear Santa I want 2 dos I like that part I want Barbies and get my brother a new car wash Love Mikayla Levine Dear Santa I want a Scooby Doo and the toy Santa Claus Love Cameron Rosenbalm Dear Santa I want my own Playstation so I could get the Scooby Doo game I want a baby doll that changes faces Love Mackenzie Tart Hr ifc Dear Santa I like your coat I want a pink pony IaurenneTrigiani Dear Santa I want those thingies that go like this in the hole I want it to be dear reindeers too I love reindeer Love Drew Archer Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve doll books videos Love Kayla Doyle Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve doll dance game Brat doll Love Tatum Gouge Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve 3 wheeler videos motorcycle Love Coy Owens Hr Hr Hr Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve Baby doll Gingerbread necklace Love Bekah Guillory Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve doll book Love Karah Upright Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve books video game puppy Love Noah White Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve puppy Brat doll book Love Morgan Terry Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve tinker toys Buzz Woody prospector Love Morgan Buchanan Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve dra gon truck ice cream maker Love Dustin Edwards Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve scooter ice maker Love Matthew Nixon Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve game boy video Love Colby ields Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve dragon video game Love Ethan Young Hr Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve box Dr Byte play station Love Seth Hatfield Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve baby doll Lee doll kitty Love Emma Campbell Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve truck game boy movie Love Sam Arnold Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve' power ranger tower boots Love Clay Harlow Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve doll book video Love Kayla McCracken Dear Santa I have been so good this year Please bring me these toys on Christmas Eve Robin toy goblin toy Love Tester Hr Hr Dear Santa My name is Jessie Haga in 3rd grade Let me tell you what I want for Christ mas I want clay horses for Christmas Their name is Breyers I want a game chip for my play station I want a new saddle Sincerely Jessika Haga Dear Santa My name is Ashleigh Im am in the third grade Let me tell you what I want for Christmas I want a real live horse I wanted one my whole life I want to be a cowgirl I am from Oregon but I live there no more I hope you can get me that real horse Love Ashleigh Coffman Dear Santa My name is Shaina Wid ener in 3rd grade I relly like my new teacher! Her name is Miss Heath She is fun We went to see The Polar Express It was so cool We went to the art center and made retablos It was fun! Sincerely Shaina Widener Dear Santa My name is Austin I am in 3rd grade This is what I want for Chrismas games toys and books I love you Santa Sincerely Austin McClure Dear Santa My name is Devin I want a 308 a Rottweiler a 250 our Wheeler four weel drive a 3030 and The Polar Express Sincerely Devin ord Dear Santa I have been real good I want a bell from your sleigh and a tent My nama is Brit tany I love sports and pinball machines Sincerely Brittany Horne Dear Santa My name is Brendon Ray Widener I have been really good this year or Christmas I would like an adapter for my game boy Advance SP It needs to be re charged Grand Theft Auto Son Andreas (Andrase) for Xbox or Play Station 2 because I al ready have Grand Theft Auto IH and Grand Theft Auto Vice City And I hope you almost Christmas and kids have a worry in the world right? But what about the big one: Santa going to know where they live? This year for the first time parents can ease their anxiety with a new toy named the Santa Beacon a battery operated red illuminated signaling device about the size of get this I really need Grand Theft Auto Son Andreas Oh and I need a new BB gun and Sincerely Brendon Ray Widener Dear Santa What I want for Christmas is a gas pistle a train set a 32 magdom a mario yoshisi land game a globe some stuff if you will put it in my room have a Christ mas tree in there Santa do you mind if I ask you some questions If you will you please write back to me and here is some stuff an air plane a ferret and a paret that talks Well thats my letter and I hope you get here on time and safe and sound Sincerely Alex Guy Hr Hr Hr Dear Santa This is what I would like for Christmas I would like a guitar the color blue I would like a Scooby Doo Clock a Scooby Doo coin separator also And I would also like for my family and you to have Happy Holiday Plus if you mind a size 3 light blue pair of crocs And one more thing I would like for Christmas is a silver bell from your sleigh that only ones that believe in you can hear One more last thing a paper with all the reindeers pawprints on it with their name above the print I am also putting out milk and cookies Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas been nice all year Sincerely Jessica Danielle Odum Dear Santa I want a silver bell from your sleigh because we have been reading The Polar Express and I want some polly pockets I would like to have a video now And I would like a dry erase board with a eraser and marker I would also like to have a recordable CD player And I would like to get the book The Polar Express Plus some real meal oven cooking stuff Sincerely Eryn Hayes Dear Santa Hi Santa do you know what i would like for Chistmas i your palm It hangs on any door or attaches to any window to show Santa and his reindeer exactly where each child is spending Christmas And visible up to two away Designed for children three to eight years old and the young at heart the Santa Beacon comes in a Christmas tin that also includes cookies for will like a leather coat and a new pair of shaes and CD player and my very own play train and I will like to have a Buntchof toys Sincerely Ricky Cannon Hr Hr Hr Dear Santa How did you get your job? been good right? I would like a water bed a elf a pack of books leave you some cookies and milk on the table This is one special present a kitten a Poler express movie too Sincerely Ethan Allen Dear Santa Hi Katie Morris I have grades How are you? fine like a blinkey and a toy Photo Booth Of course If you think I should going to Indiana for Christ mas get to see my cous ins and uncles and aunts Every year we leave out cookies and milk I got good stuff last year I hope I get good things this year too Sincerely Katie Morris Dear Santa I want a puppy for Christ mas please make it a girl with brown all over and white spots on its ear and it has to be a baby puppy or i cannot have it Please make it with a pink bo on its head I have been a good little girl so please bring it to me Love Lee Anna Doss Dear Santa Will you do me a favor? OK if you do go to Boboloyn Baghdad and give gift to them All I want for Christ mas is Princess Alexandra and Luv Cub Do you need corn for your reindeer? I love you HoHo! Sincerely Isabellea Olinger Dear Santa I know you are real some people think you are make believe What I want for Christmas is: a Game boy make up Garfidd the movie A Cinderella Story A trampo line Princess Diary 2 A new soccer ball some gel pens magic tree house books a puppie Benie Baby some stickers and Lizzie McGure Santa goodies for the reindeer candy for the child and a postcard from Santa Price of the Santa Bea con gift package is $10 shipping and handling included or more information about the Santa Beacon or to view a flash cartoon of Christmas Eve travels and how Santa Beacon saves the day visit wwwsantabeaconscom Books or movies I Love You! Sincerely Lindsey Nicole McVey Dear Santa been extra good this year I really want a karaoke movie machine I have a question Am I on the nice list? I also want a 4 piece pj set wall purple pants a long sleeve a tank top and a scrunche Are my brother and sisters on the nice list? I also want a unshine Care Bear Oh please get my par ents clothes Thank you for all the things you get my fam ily and I Merry Christmas! Sincerely Emily Blevins Dear Santa Can you please get me a hundred cds of Nellie and a cool blue cd player with batteries 12 pack and insted of headphones that go in each ear Can you please get a walker for Kendra a blue Pt Cruiser? Thank you thank you very very very very much I love you very very very very much Bye! Love Katie Gilbert Dear Santa Thanks for the bell Mr I hope you catch a cold or the flu I really need some lead pencils I really want my parents to have a Merry Christmas and a Hap py Holiday My MaMaw is very sick I hope she gets well and I hope my pa gets well I am making good grades I hope you have a sick reindeer like Rudolph or Cupid I hope have a Happy Holiday I want an XBox and the first game Halo Sincerely William Rouse Dear Santa Does the Polar Express stop at the North Pole? How many elves do you have? Do your reindeer fly and do they talk? Does nose glow? I saw the Polar Express May I have a real football helmet? Sincerely Hunter Wise Dear Santa I hope you get rested before coming How many elves are there? I know you have lot of elves How is the weather at the North Pole? Thank you for the bell How are the elves doing? I hope the elves are good I hope you are feeling good I want a Book of Just A ew Words Mr Lincoln Sincerely David Heath II Dear Santa How is the snow at the North Pole? Please get A dume truck for Blake and get Brent a trinset My mom would like headphones I would like a game boy SP Sincerely Seth Morgan Dear Santa How are you doing at the North Pole? Do you have fun? I am ready for Christmas I am ready for you to come down here Could you bring my brother sisters and me a surprise We are not that picky Thank you Sincerely Amber Sizemore it Hr Dear Santa I want a Barbie Car a baby ring that is dimond a new Barbie the Shrek 2 play station game Garfield the movie a singing Care Bear a Bratz Mall and two bones for my dogs Santa last Christ mas I heard your jingle bells Can I have a picture of Rudolph? Sincerely Heather Rose Wolfe Dear Santa Will you bring me every thing I want for Christmas I have been very very good and so has my brother Caleb Will you do me a favor and go to the places that have never had a present from you? If you do I will feed your rein deer extra Can you Count your elves and write me back saying how many there are? Can you try to name them in your letter too? We are both boys Merry Christmas Sincerely Morgan Smith Dear Santa I want you to tell me how it is like up at the North Pole I would even be happier if you sent me a mail with some pictures You can also tell me your favorit cookies so I can leave them out for you on Christmas Eve Santa your the greatest Ybur loving friend Wesley Roberts Hr Hr Hr Dear Santa All I want for Christmas this year is to have my family with me and eat lots of food If Santa wants to he can bring me and my baby sister some cool stuff By the way my baby sister is getting fat see if you can bring her some bigger clothes Thanks! Caitlin Chafin Dear Santa I am three years old and want you to come to my 4th Birthday Party or Christ mas I want a John Deere and a wagon My baby brother Owen is one years old and talk but I think he wants a red popsicle I love you Logan erguson Dear Santa I would like a color Pixter and a hummer and a nissan like the one at Walmart the most please I hope that evrey kid has a merry Christmas and gets toy Will you tell me what the elves names are please? I wish that my friends Zachary and Han nahs dad comes homes for Christmas from the war I am going to take them a present Are you? I hope you have a merry Christmas Love Koeby Dixon Dear Santa or Christmas I would like to have my mommy back but I know I have that so 1 would like you to give my mommy a good Christmas in heaven And give all my friends and my family a good Christmas Love McKayla Hobbs Hr Hr Hr Dear Santa My name is Dalton and for Christmas I would like a gameboy and a playstation 2 game called The Incred ibles Give my family a good Christmas too My Sissy wrote this Love Dalton Pruitt.