Thank-you - those were great photos. I agree with you on the Polar Express - I didn't like it either. I guess they were going for some realism, since the North Pole is not the brightest place necessarily. But -- uuuugggghhhh. Santa's digs would not be so bland and depressing. The Polar Express to me has always been an adult story, anyway. I just have never liked even introducing the concept that there may not be a Santa Claus to my kids.
But, I LOVE a Christmas Carol - I'm not sure if I'll see this one at the theaters or not. I'll take this opportunity to highly recommend my all-time favorite version, "Scrooge", (1971 or so), with Alec Guinness and Albert Finney. This is the musical version - with the recognizable song "Thank You Very Much". Watch it this year!
Oh, please send your heat here. This summer has been way too cold for my tastes.