Thanks to all of you who joined me during the premiere! This is my first time doing a big video essay, so please feel free to leave your thoughts and constructive criticism in the comments below so I can improve on future video essays NOV 19 ADDITION - I really appreciate all of these responses! It’s nice to see how passionate everyone is about this movie, and I like the communal atmosphere we’re forming:)
Even if it's a little bit creepy to watch does characters from time to time they did a real good job and I don't want to dismiss it I just kind of wish there was more actors having Tom Hanks is like everybody even Santa Claus we could have gotten people to do hero boy but then if you didn't have Tom Hanks as everyone. I wonder would we think it less worthy?
@@jamesgroccia644 I bet they were both correct... 2 words... flux compactor. I bet that the kid has a watch that tell him the time but the train went back in time and boom, it's 5 minutes until midnight. But hey... that's just a theory. A FILM theory!
Fun fact: Hero boy is called Chris and even Hero Girl has a name. She is named Holly. There is a book called Art of the Polar Express which showcases and talks about the concept art and making of the movie. There is a picture of all the 'main' detailed kids on the train which showcases that besides the 'know it all kid' they all have names. The flux capacitor is also not a coincidence, i think. Even in the concept art from 2003 it is included in the cab, which suggest to me that the train is not a magical train but a time traveling one, which makes sense. I assume even Santa would have one. Great video!
The flux capacitor, bc Rob Zemeckis directed TPE, was a reference to the BTTF trilogy. Agreed, it also makes sense that the PE is powerful enough to stop time rather than travel backwards through it
I liked that they weren't named in the movie. It allows you to self identify with the traits and self insert as the characters very easily. Something I can honestly do with any of the 4 main kids. It does make sense that they have names though because if Billy is named on screen there isn't a reason for the other 3 to not be named.
This is a movie where you meet fucking SANTA CLAUS. A train drifting across the ice is somehow “too crazy” when their goal is to meet a jolly fat old dude that flies around on a magic sleigh pulled by flying reindeer who delivers presents to millions of kids worldwide in a single night?
The Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies. In my mind, it is _the_ movie of Christmas. Even more so than Santa Claus, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, etc. Those are all classics, but the Polar Express is the only movie I’ve seen that perfectly harnesses what Christmas feels like as a kid. I don’t understand how people dislike the animation. Yes, it sometimes feels off, but it has a unique feel that no other movie has. I really like its art style. It has its own special charm. You mentioned the irregular number of coaches as well, and I have a head cannon that explains that: If this movie truly is a dream, then the changing number of coaches are likely a side affect of it being a dream. Most of my dreams have inconsistencies like that. The real-world explanation is probably that they changed the amount of coaches depending on convenience for the shot. More cars looks cooler, but less cars makes more sense in a scene like the one where it’s circling the Christmas tree.
17:30 maybe there is a bridge, and it just flooded over it due to reasons that aren’t shown? Also the conductor seems surprised, so you can tell that it isn’t normal for that to happen anyway. Besides, its shown that the tracks go into the ice anyway, and also nearing the end, the rear car sinks into the water after the ice breaks, but it doesn’t completely submerge. Maybe because it landed on the bridge below?
@@BLUESKY.R.R.1 I don’t think the lake would’ve flooded THAT much, especially during winter, but that’s an interesting theory. I’ll just have to ask Zemeckis when I see him for breakfast tomorrow
That's what I've always thought too. It's not common, but that's kinda the point. Pretty clear in the movie to me anyway that this isn't a regular occurance.
I have this movie in Japanese, and from it, I learned that there is no word for "elf" in Japanese. In the Japanese version, they say 妖精 (yo/usei), which means "fairy." The Japanese subtitles say, "elf," and put in parentheses that it means, "fairy." Another thing I noticed was apparently, the bell was whispering "doubter." I thought it was just whispering randomly. This makes the ending funny to me because it means that the father listened to the bell, heard it say, "doubter..." and said, "hmm, broken..."
"Does the polar express hold up 20 years later?" is that a question even needing to be asked? HELL YEAH IT DOES! one of the few christmas movies i still watch. also, steamer having a coter pin as a hairpin is actually somewhat true.
14:46 I think it’s a combination of his pajamas being lower then his knees, while hero boy/Chris’ bring a bit higher then the knees, and the show might be a bit higher by his house. Not to mention he’s smaller then the hero boy/Chris, aka, smaller legs for running.
I thought it was established it was hit shiny rubber boots that made him slip? We see him slip a bit on the balancing track in the North Pole, I always assumed he tripped because of them.
I like how the locomotive’s light was flickering before they went into the tunnel. Therefore the scene where the crew is changing it makes way more sense,
Im so glad that this movie is getting the love that it deserves! (Also didnt realize that this year was the 20th anniversary!) Just to voice it: I always felt like the bendy train when it's going up the mountain was intentional. Like why include the mountain that skinny? the train is shown WAY lower on the mountain in the book. The whole time we're on the train we're trying to figure out if the whole things a dream or not, and I feel like they intentionally made this shot (showing the train dramatically bend like that before the bridge) to firmly put us in the "it's totally a dream" camp, only to reveal with the bell at the end that it wasn't.
The movie that kickstarted Zemeckis's downward fall from grace as a filmmaker. But that won't stop me from still liking this film. Happy 20th Anniversary to The Polar Express.
The polar express doesn’t need a sequel because it works perfectly as a single movie and it is my favorite Christmas movie of all times because I’m a train and I will always love trains
IMAX theaters don't have moving seats. You're thinking of D-BOX, which wasn't around until the early 2010s. This was the first animated film shown in 3D IMAX, and they took advantage of that aspect
For the changing amount of train cars, I was told that it’s Christmas magic. It makes it more fun to watch when you think that’s it’s all just Christmas magic!
If you go by that logic, it makes some of the scenes focusing on the train that look nonsensical easily forgiven. Let's not forget that the Polar Express is not an ordinary express train. If it can go mach 10 down a roller coaster without flying off the track, drift across and gain traction on ice, can curl around a winding mountain like a boa constrictor and pulls an inconsistent number of coaches, be more like Holley and just accept that it's a magic train.
This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time and I still think it holds up after 20 years. You did this movie justice by talking about the good bad and ugly. Nevertheless nothing can ever make me hate this movie I love the soundtrack, the sound design and just the overall acting of course from Tom Hanks himself. And despite it being unrealistic the lake scene is my favorite from the entire movie. Keep up the good work Nick Merry early Christmas and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
I want to say, you did an outstanding job reviewing my absolute favorite Christmas movie! The Polar Express is what I definitely call a “Christmas classic”. For the animation, I actually considered it creepy at first. However, as I got older, I actually really love it and for the most part, it looks so realistic. I do agree the human animation is a mixed bag; the Hero Boy, Hero Girl, Billy, The Conductor, Hobo, Santa, Steamer and Smokey are very well animated, but when it comes to the elves, I agree that they can be off-putting as you described it. On the other side, the animation with the train (the locomotive and cars inside and outside), they and the locations and landscapes is very stunning, gorgeous and look realistic. Even the sound effects for the train and the shots of it, especially up close, make it sound and feel so real and lifelike. While the animation does fall flat at times, I appreciate the effort the people made working on the movie. I really love the fact that you mentioned Pere Marquette 1225, which is one of the things I think of when it comes to the movie. In fact, I got to see the 1225 in Michigan, a few years ago. As for the story itself, I love the movie stays faithful to the book. I will say, I prefer the movie version because it does add stuff that was not in the book and makes it more of exciting, because cramming all in the book wouldn’t feel like a movie. My favorite parts include the beginning when the Conductor and the Boy introduce each other, the Hot Chocolate scene, sliding on the ice (even though it does look nonsensical as you said it and silly), the arrival at the North Pole, the scene where we see Santa and the ending scene. For the songs, my favorites are The Main Theme, Hot Chocolate, and saving the best for last, Believe. On the subject of music, Alan Silvestri kills it with the music, which makes it sound so Christmasy and beautiful. As for voice acting, Tom Hanks did a marvelous performance with the characters he voiced (my favorites are the Conductor and Santa). This really shows that Hanks and Robert Zemeicks really put a lot of care and effort to make it a good one and make Chris Van Allsburg proud, kinda similar to Britt Allcroft and David Mitton did with Thomas the Tank Engine Classic Era (most notably in Seasons 1-5). I will agree that some of the downsides of the movie are really noticeable. The ones that are the most noticeable was the train gaining and losing coaches, the fact that the train itself doesn’t crack the ice but a cotter pin and the conductor does the bizarre things you mentioned, but those are just minor. Speaking of which, the animation of the train going around the mountain is really baffling and unrealistic; at least the Trainz videos do the realism right. Also, I think the reason why the Hero Boy was able to get on the train and Billy wasn’t was because of the different motion the train was going. As for the deleted scene with Smokey and Steamer, I really cringed at the song and I do agree that the removal at the scene was necessary as it doesn’t add anything to the movie and would have ruined the mysterious nature around the Hobo. Also, I really love the parts you pointed out in during the rollercoaster scene and I absolutely agree with those points. As for another minor nitpick I have, it would be the characters don’t have names, with the exception of Billy, Santa, and the Boy’s sister. However, I did read on the wiki that the name for the Hero Boy was indeed Chris. Overall, despite the animation falls flat at times, some of the issues I agree with you with, The Polar Express is still an absolute Classic Christmas movie and it be one in our hearts and for generations to come! I give it 10/10! Side note: I did a review of the Polar Express of my own on my channel.
20 YEARS!!!! THATS INSANE!!!! FLASHBACK CINEMA WILL BE SHOWING THE POLAR EXPRESS FOR ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY STARTING TODAY, TOMORROW, AND WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!
I'm excited for a sequel. Obvs the mocap and cgi will be better but if they can do a slightly deeper message than simply "believe in Santa" then it'll be great.
Dude who CARES about the technical short comings of this movie. There’s so much wonderful magic and fun to be had with it and it ALWAYS makes me tear up without fail
@@katieneubaum4284 I didn’t say the animation was bad. All I said was the background characters were a bit off, but they don’t detract from my feelings towards the film
@@Turbo711 here's a theory about the ice drifting scene that might make you laugh : smokey and steamer went to Japan and got theire drifting lessons from a professional street racer
I just watched this movie again last night on Christmas, and it still holds up tremendously after 20 years! Hearing the song "Believe" while the credits roll never fails to make me smile 😊 Merry Christmas! 🎅🎄🎁
It's not strange to say, that's a compliment! Editing is one of the most important parts of making a video like this engaging, so I appreciate that you like it:)
The fact that the Polar Express is 20 years old. 20 god damn years since the movie release is insane. I’m 22 years old and this movie is the why I still have the christmas spirit and ironically still believe in Santa (Yes I know, embarrassing).
When I was in school I almost every week brought the book home for mom to read it to me, and when that trailer was released about it was getting a movie, Wow. I also remember people recreating the whole route from this movie in Railroad Simulator, the other cool thing was the little train at the end of the movie says Pennsylvania RailRoad on the tender, I live in PA. and the event at real railroads that did train rides as the Polar Express, even serving Hot Chocolate on board and sing that song too.
One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. Any technical shortcomings of the animation are more than excused and justified when you realize when it was made. Some people really need to lighten up.
Very nice breakdown, man. I'm a fellow train lover (we all know what franchise started that for most of us), and this movie was always-a-must watch for the holidays, and still is today. It certainly has a few quirks, but they almost help give it personality, and it no-doubt is an emotionally heartfelt journey that's a wild ride from beginning to end. Also, yes, I do believe the bridge under the ice theory other people have is correct.
This movie came out the same year I was born. I was born February 25th, 2004. Loved this movie since I first saw it Of course nowadays with knowledge on this locomotive class the few flaws show up like big fire works in the locomotive and consists designs, plus some of the related scenes regarding track grade (more then 2° angle, which 2° is like falling off a cliff for a train)
Seeing all these people saying that the animation of the Polar Express "aged terribly", have ANY of them even seen Underground Ernie? That show's animation aged a LOT worse.
I have cosplayed as the Polar Express conductor for the last two years at comic cons when it nears Christmas. Most people absolutely love my cosplay and express how much the film means to them. I cannot see any issues with the characters in the film, where as some do with the "uncanny valley" issues. Plus my local heritage railway (South Devon Railway) runs the Polar Express for real, which is extreme;y popular over the years. So I think the book and film has had a positive impact with alot of people.
You had some pretty funny quotes that made me laugh out loud in this video! 😂 Thanks for making this, there aren't enough of them! So hyped for the potential sequel!
This movie is my Christmas Eve tradition, and it has been for as long as I can remember. Can't have Christmas until the Polar Express has been watched!
I love the line, right from the book, describing the North Pole as a strange ocean liner. The imagery is very good and the film is an excellent teaching tool for writing short stories in a classroom once you really break it down
I have magical memories of watching this movie with my childhood best friends at 6 years old. We were on a hot chocolate high and noted that the conductor looked eerily identical to our elementary school principal, which added to the magic! 🎄 My best friend at the time was also really into trains (and still is), and he couldn’t help but point out the inaccuracies of the Polar Express’s movements in the film, at 6 years old. Lol. Thanks for the review, 20 years on! Man, I feel old 🫠
Ah I love this movie! I was born in 2005 so I also never saw it in theaters and I am wholeheartedly jealous that you have a theatre nearby that shows it every year. I would absolutely love to see it on the big screen. I also never knew the girl's name was Holly- I've heard the boy's name before but not hers.
It's my favorite Christmas movie and one of my favorite movies of all time. Also, fun fact: the sounds for the engine are used from the actual polar express! Pere Marquette 1225 is the basiss for the polar express engine, and the actual sounds are used from the real locomotive
If you look past the motion capture (which I’ve been doing since the beginning), Polar Express is still an aesthetically beautiful film. I watch it every Christmas multiple times, as I’ve done for pretty much all my life. I’ve grown so accustomed to it that I always get surprised when people call it ‘ugly’.
This movie always holds a special place in my heart, I was born back in june of 2004 and even 20 years later, the movie is still on my top 3 favorite christmas movies, it's up there with Arthur Christmas, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. When I heard that a sequel was in the works, I actually didn't know how they could continue the story. The only way I could potentially see a sequel happening is if we follow Chris in his adult hood with a family, and maybe one of his kids having a similar situation as he did in the first movie, where his kid/kids will find they're own sense of believing, just like Chris did. I don't know if that could happen, or if a sequel will ever be made, but I like to think if they ever do, I hope they go down in the direction of my idea, but as long as they make everything else work like the story, the animation, ect. I hope they work they're magic just like they did all those years ago. (If, and Only if they make a sequel.) Which at this point could maybe be 50/50, we'll have to wait and see.
Is there only one way I can describe Polar Express, the heart and soul of a Christmas movie, so much passion, so much magic that every time you watch it, you feel like you are transported back to your childhood. The story holds up, it's a timeless story. I mean, it has to be. The movie was based on the book, but the visuals do not hold up too much compared to what we have nowadays. Do you think it warrants one remake? I don't mind it. It will be the Polar Express for the animation alone when it comes to some of the human characters, but everything else visually still holds up.
I was born in August in 2004, little less than 3 months before this released, back then when I was just a young kid, I've been thinking about debates on whether Thomas or The Polar Express is better, but as years went by, I treat them equally, oh and today I couldn't get past the end credits of the movie since it makes me too emotional, but that's ok
Nice to meet you, good fellow… I *believe* in this movie, and always. Nostalgia is forever to me. Anyways, DAMN, this movie is a month older than me. 😂
I have to say the sound design in this movie was amazing. For the ice scene, my headcannon is that there is a bridge and the lake water level has risen over time or it was a valley and has flooded.
I still watch this Polar Express (2004) Movie film on my phone for the Holiday Season in December! Many People don't know that it came out on Wednesday November 10th 2004 basically 1 Month After i was born on Sunday October 10th 2004!
Mocap technology is mostly used in video games now. So yes the tech has improved significantly. With how easy it is to do live action and superimpose CGI animation today, I doubt we will see anything exactly like the Zemeckis mocaps in the early 00s. But it did definitely help advance the medium in other forms of media.
When i was a kid in 2008, i watched the movie for the first time. And I REALLY wanted a toy train of the polar express. But i never did cuz they were so expensive
As absolutely stupid as the ice lake scene is, I love it. I think it was partly done as a flaunt or maybe a test of how well their technology could animate things like shattering ice, splashing water, and the train’s mechanisms
Fun fact, they hated to lose that deleted scene with Smokey and steamer because both characters were played brilliantly by Michael jeter who sadly passed away during the making of polar express
Aww. Rest in peace to him. Thanks for reminding me that he played them, as I often just associate him with Sesame Street and that mercenary Udesky from JP III.
Personally, I think it captures the vibes of Christmas pretty perfectly, despite the rough mo-cap animation, and the quite frankly meandering, stretched out plot. In that sense, it is a very mixed bag. As an actual movie? It's not great. As a blast of "oh yeah, it's Christmas!" it's perfect.
I Heard on Google that there going to make a secound movie, If that happeds i wound really Blow Up! Im Not joking, i 1s SAW the movie Back in 2012 i dit Not think much of IT but in 2017 i start Understand everthink how Special this Christmas movie IS, and im still wachting the movie with my Family after the 20 anniversary of the Polar Express
I have to disagree about the lake and roller-coaster scenes, they are my fav ones. Those make the movie memorable - especially the lake one. It still gives me chills. Ofc, I am not saying they are realistic lol. Anyway, cool video!
I think a sequel to The polar Express will work if they tell us a different story with different kids who are going to the North Pole instead of the same characters from the first movie.
I don't mind any of the unrealistic, over the top moments in this movie. Three years ago I discovered "Night On The Galactic Railroad" and it cemented the idea I had of the voyage never happening on a physical level because the themes explored, the message and the answers you find all end up coming from yourself and a dream is enough to make you see things under a different light.
I just rewatched this movie after having stopped for so many years. I don’t care what people think, this movie is fucking amazing. The uncanny valley territory doesn’t really creep me out at all. The train is awesome, the visuals are stellar, and the music is amazing. It’s my #1 Christmas movie, surpassing die hard And yeah the train scene on the ice is so fuckin stupid but holy FUCK that’s the best part of the damn movie for me
I never thought that the Conductor was hauling Hero Girl on top of the train. We never actually SEE them except as faint shadows and silhouettes, and it stands to reason that it's just one of the Hobo's illusions.
Thanks to all of you who joined me during the premiere! This is my first time doing a big video essay, so please feel free to leave your thoughts and constructive criticism in the comments below so I can improve on future video essays
NOV 19 ADDITION - I really appreciate all of these responses! It’s nice to see how passionate everyone is about this movie, and I like the communal atmosphere we’re forming:)
Even if it's a little bit creepy to watch does characters from time to time they did a real good job and I don't want to dismiss it I just kind of wish there was more actors having Tom Hanks is like everybody even Santa Claus we could have gotten people to do hero boy but then if you didn't have Tom Hanks as everyone. I wonder would we think it less worthy?
That ice drift scene cemented that movie as one of the best Holiday movie EVER.
I love when everyone arrives at the North Pole with 5 minutes to spare. Peak cinema
"Heeeeey, what gives? It was five minutes till midnight four minutes ago!"
"...........ExACTly."
Time just doesn't need to exist to dream
@@jamesgroccia644
"Its still 5 too, we can make it!"
"Its been 5 too for the past hour"
Flux Capacitor and magic
@@jamesgroccia644 I bet they were both correct... 2 words... flux compactor. I bet that the kid has a watch that tell him the time but the train went back in time and boom, it's 5 minutes until midnight. But hey... that's just a theory. A FILM theory!
Fun fact: Hero boy is called Chris and even Hero Girl has a name. She is named Holly. There is a book called Art of the Polar Express which showcases and talks about the concept art and making of the movie. There is a picture of all the 'main' detailed kids on the train which showcases that besides the 'know it all kid' they all have names.
The flux capacitor is also not a coincidence, i think. Even in the concept art from 2003 it is included in the cab, which suggest to me that the train is not a magical train but a time traveling one, which makes sense. I assume even Santa would have one.
Great video!
He literally mentioned “Holly” in this video but anyway it’s nice your still alive Charlie
9:29, 15:33
@@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 Oops!
The flux capacitor, bc Rob Zemeckis directed TPE, was a reference to the BTTF trilogy. Agreed, it also makes sense that the PE is powerful enough to stop time rather than travel backwards through it
I liked that they weren't named in the movie. It allows you to self identify with the traits and self insert as the characters very easily. Something I can honestly do with any of the 4 main kids. It does make sense that they have names though because if Billy is named on screen there isn't a reason for the other 3 to not be named.
never seen someone who doesn't like the ice drift scene before, it's so sick wtf
Yeah! I know! It’s like the best scene!
(also hi fellow hazbin pfp)
Yea that scene is awesome
@@yourlocaldrunkenbarcat-2096do I count as a hazbin pfp?
@ Yeah
This is a movie where you meet fucking SANTA CLAUS.
A train drifting across the ice is somehow “too crazy” when their goal is to meet a jolly fat old dude that flies around on a magic sleigh pulled by flying reindeer who delivers presents to millions of kids worldwide in a single night?
The Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies. In my mind, it is _the_ movie of Christmas. Even more so than Santa Claus, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, etc. Those are all classics, but the Polar Express is the only movie I’ve seen that perfectly harnesses what Christmas feels like as a kid.
I don’t understand how people dislike the animation. Yes, it sometimes feels off, but it has a unique feel that no other movie has. I really like its art style. It has its own special charm.
You mentioned the irregular number of coaches as well, and I have a head cannon that explains that: If this movie truly is a dream, then the changing number of coaches are likely a side affect of it being a dream. Most of my dreams have inconsistencies like that. The real-world explanation is probably that they changed the amount of coaches depending on convenience for the shot. More cars looks cooler, but less cars makes more sense in a scene like the one where it’s circling the Christmas tree.
Bro hell ya merry Christmas 🎄
The fact it's a dream Is also an obvious explanation for how unrealistic the action sequences are.
17:30 maybe there is a bridge, and it just flooded over it due to reasons that aren’t shown? Also the conductor seems surprised, so you can tell that it isn’t normal for that to happen anyway. Besides, its shown that the tracks go into the ice anyway, and also nearing the end, the rear car sinks into the water after the ice breaks, but it doesn’t completely submerge. Maybe because it landed on the bridge below?
@@BLUESKY.R.R.1 I don’t think the lake would’ve flooded THAT much, especially during winter, but that’s an interesting theory. I’ll just have to ask Zemeckis when I see him for breakfast tomorrow
It's a pretty mountainous area, there could have been a few avalanches or smtn that could have raised the water enough to cover the tracks
My headcannon for that scene is broken dam
@@F4wk3s yah!
That's what I've always thought too. It's not common, but that's kinda the point. Pretty clear in the movie to me anyway that this isn't a regular occurance.
I have this movie in Japanese, and from it, I learned that there is no word for "elf" in Japanese. In the Japanese version, they say 妖精 (yo/usei), which means "fairy." The Japanese subtitles say, "elf," and put in parentheses that it means, "fairy."
Another thing I noticed was apparently, the bell was whispering "doubter." I thought it was just whispering randomly. This makes the ending funny to me because it means that the father listened to the bell, heard it say, "doubter..." and said, "hmm, broken..."
I think the reason Japan used their word for "fairy" is because elves are related to the fey.
"Does the polar express hold up 20 years later?" is that a question even needing to be asked? HELL YEAH IT DOES! one of the few christmas movies i still watch. also, steamer having a coter pin as a hairpin is actually somewhat true.
I can’t believe I’m older than this movie. It’s been an integral part of my childhood during Christmas. Thank you for making this video.
Thank you for watching!
I was 10 when this movie came out and saw it in theaters.
Warner Bros.' Magnum Opus of Christmas movies holds up 20 years later.
No Christmas is complete without this timeless masterpiece.
Never gone a Christmas without watching it. Usually I watch it multiple times for good measure.
13:06
Man i love a good thomas joke, very funny referring to Henry's tunnel
GOAT
@NJHProductions512 hey thanks 👍
What's weird is... Those elves never scared me.... That puppet scene scared me
FACTS
Same
Same
This will ALWAYS be my favorite Christmas movie
14:46 I think it’s a combination of his pajamas being lower then his knees, while hero boy/Chris’ bring a bit higher then the knees, and the show might be a bit higher by his house. Not to mention he’s smaller then the hero boy/Chris, aka, smaller legs for running.
Also the hero boy gets the train moving slow but Billy gets the train moving faster
I thought it was established it was hit shiny rubber boots that made him slip? We see him slip a bit on the balancing track in the North Pole, I always assumed he tripped because of them.
@@mrosaka4385His boots are too big for his feet, and trying to keep his feet inside them impairs his gait.
Whaaaat? The rollercoaster and on top of the train bits are some of my favorite parts
I like how the locomotive’s light was flickering before they went into the tunnel. Therefore the scene where the crew is changing it makes way more sense,
Im so glad that this movie is getting the love that it deserves! (Also didnt realize that this year was the 20th anniversary!)
Just to voice it: I always felt like the bendy train when it's going up the mountain was intentional. Like why include the mountain that skinny? the train is shown WAY lower on the mountain in the book. The whole time we're on the train we're trying to figure out if the whole things a dream or not, and I feel like they intentionally made this shot (showing the train dramatically bend like that before the bridge) to firmly put us in the "it's totally a dream" camp, only to reveal with the bell at the end that it wasn't.
The movie's so iconic that it gets re-released in theaters every year since it 1st came out & even Josh Groban's "Believe" is played on the radio.
The movie that kickstarted Zemeckis's downward fall from grace as a filmmaker.
But that won't stop me from still liking this film. Happy 20th Anniversary to The Polar Express.
The engineer is Steamer, the fireman is Smokey
@@jamesgroccia644 Thanks for clarifying!
I am addicted to this movie I'm watching every time it's Christmas
The polar express doesn’t need a sequel because it works perfectly as a single movie and it is my favorite Christmas movie of all times because I’m a train and I will always love trains
I think everyone forgets this was a movie created for IMAX, with moving seats, so I definitely understand why these rollercoaster scenes were added.
IMAX theaters don't have moving seats. You're thinking of D-BOX, which wasn't around until the early 2010s. This was the first animated film shown in 3D IMAX, and they took advantage of that aspect
The definitive way to see the movie is in IMAX 3D. Like the Nostalgia Critic said, you literally feel like you're being transported to the North Pole.
For the changing amount of train cars, I was told that it’s Christmas magic. It makes it more fun to watch when you think that’s it’s all just Christmas magic!
If you go by that logic, it makes some of the scenes focusing on the train that look nonsensical easily forgiven. Let's not forget that the Polar Express is not an ordinary express train. If it can go mach 10 down a roller coaster without flying off the track, drift across and gain traction on ice, can curl around a winding mountain like a boa constrictor and pulls an inconsistent number of coaches, be more like Holley and just accept that it's a magic train.
This movie... To this very day, remains my very Christmas movie because it treats the polar Express like she's an actual steam Locomotive
This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time and I still think it holds up after 20 years. You did this movie justice by talking about the good bad and ugly. Nevertheless nothing can ever make me hate this movie I love the soundtrack, the sound design and just the overall acting of course from Tom Hanks himself. And despite it being unrealistic the lake scene is my favorite from the entire movie. Keep up the good work Nick Merry early Christmas and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
I want to say, you did an outstanding job reviewing my absolute favorite Christmas movie! The Polar Express is what I definitely call a “Christmas classic”.
For the animation, I actually considered it creepy at first. However, as I got older, I actually really love it and for the most part, it looks so realistic. I do agree the human animation is a mixed bag; the Hero Boy, Hero Girl, Billy, The Conductor, Hobo, Santa, Steamer and Smokey are very well animated, but when it comes to the elves, I agree that they can be off-putting as you described it. On the other side, the animation with the train (the locomotive and cars inside and outside), they and the locations and landscapes is very stunning, gorgeous and look realistic. Even the sound effects for the train and the shots of it, especially up close, make it sound and feel so real and lifelike. While the animation does fall flat at times, I appreciate the effort the people made working on the movie. I really love the fact that you mentioned Pere Marquette 1225, which is one of the things I think of when it comes to the movie. In fact, I got to see the 1225 in Michigan, a few years ago.
As for the story itself, I love the movie stays faithful to the book. I will say, I prefer the movie version because it does add stuff that was not in the book and makes it more of exciting, because cramming all in the book wouldn’t feel like a movie. My favorite parts include the beginning when the Conductor and the Boy introduce each other, the Hot Chocolate scene, sliding on the ice (even though it does look nonsensical as you said it and silly), the arrival at the North Pole, the scene where we see Santa and the ending scene. For the songs, my favorites are The Main Theme, Hot Chocolate, and saving the best for last, Believe. On the subject of music, Alan Silvestri kills it with the music, which makes it sound so Christmasy and beautiful. As for voice acting, Tom Hanks did a marvelous performance with the characters he voiced (my favorites are the Conductor and Santa). This really shows that Hanks and Robert Zemeicks really put a lot of care and effort to make it a good one and make Chris Van Allsburg proud, kinda similar to Britt Allcroft and David Mitton did with Thomas the Tank Engine Classic Era (most notably in Seasons 1-5).
I will agree that some of the downsides of the movie are really noticeable. The ones that are the most noticeable was the train gaining and losing coaches, the fact that the train itself doesn’t crack the ice but a cotter pin and the conductor does the bizarre things you mentioned, but those are just minor. Speaking of which, the animation of the train going around the mountain is really baffling and unrealistic; at least the Trainz videos do the realism right. Also, I think the reason why the Hero Boy was able to get on the train and Billy wasn’t was because of the different motion the train was going. As for the deleted scene with Smokey and Steamer, I really cringed at the song and I do agree that the removal at the scene was necessary as it doesn’t add anything to the movie and would have ruined the mysterious nature around the Hobo. Also, I really love the parts you pointed out in during the rollercoaster scene and I absolutely agree with those points.
As for another minor nitpick I have, it would be the characters don’t have names, with the exception of Billy, Santa, and the Boy’s sister. However, I did read on the wiki that the name for the Hero Boy was indeed Chris.
Overall, despite the animation falls flat at times, some of the issues I agree with you with, The Polar Express is still an absolute Classic Christmas movie and it be one in our hearts and for generations to come! I give it 10/10! Side note: I did a review of the Polar Express of my own on my channel.
Glad to know someone else loves this movie as much as I do! Thanks for watching:) I'll be sure to check out your review soon!
20 YEARS!!!! THATS INSANE!!!! FLASHBACK CINEMA WILL BE SHOWING THE POLAR EXPRESS FOR ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY STARTING TODAY, TOMORROW, AND WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!
Hope you get to see it on the big screen:)
@ yeah me too
Don't forget the annual IMAX 3D re-release. Warner Bros. brings the movie back to theaters every year, mostly in IMAX 3D.
@@joshmontemayor1212 I would love to see it in IMAX if we had a nearby IMAX theater
I'm excited for a sequel. Obvs the mocap and cgi will be better but if they can do a slightly deeper message than simply "believe in Santa" then it'll be great.
Dude who CARES about the technical short comings of this movie. There’s so much wonderful magic and fun to be had with it and it ALWAYS makes me tear up without fail
@@katieneubaum4284 I didn’t say the animation was bad. All I said was the background characters were a bit off, but they don’t detract from my feelings towards the film
As a kid I always felt that the train was as much character as everyone else in the movie
The roller coaster and frozen lake parts are absolutely ridiculous…. But I fricking love them. Those were my favorite parts of the movie as a kid! 😂
@@NJHProductions512 Okay this is totally random, but my initials are the same as your channel name😂
@@Turbo711 here's a theory about the ice drifting scene that might make you laugh : smokey and steamer went to Japan and got theire drifting lessons from a professional street racer
This remains my favorite Christmas movie of all time!
I just watched this movie again last night on Christmas, and it still holds up tremendously after 20 years! Hearing the song "Believe" while the credits roll never fails to make me smile 😊
Merry Christmas! 🎅🎄🎁
I have loved this for years and still watch it every Christmas.
Its strange to say but only now I realized how good are you at editing. I really this type of edit. Very good video
It's not strange to say, that's a compliment! Editing is one of the most important parts of making a video like this engaging, so I appreciate that you like it:)
The fact that the Polar Express is 20 years old. 20 god damn years since the movie release is insane. I’m 22 years old and this movie is the why I still have the christmas spirit and ironically still believe in Santa (Yes I know, embarrassing).
When I was in school I almost every week brought the book home for mom to read it to me, and when that trailer was released about it was getting a movie, Wow. I also remember people recreating the whole route from this movie in Railroad Simulator, the other cool thing was the little train at the end of the movie says Pennsylvania RailRoad on the tender, I live in PA. and the event at real railroads that did train rides as the Polar Express, even serving Hot Chocolate on board and sing that song too.
This has been one of my favorite movies of all time, and im happy it’s getting a lot of recognition for its meme worthy scenes.
Happy 20 Anniversary
My grandma took me to see this in theaters when it came out. It’s a great movie and an even better memory.
One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. Any technical shortcomings of the animation are more than excused and justified when you realize when it was made. Some people really need to lighten up.
Very nice breakdown, man. I'm a fellow train lover (we all know what franchise started that for most of us), and this movie was always-a-must watch for the holidays, and still is today. It certainly has a few quirks, but they almost help give it personality, and it no-doubt is an emotionally heartfelt journey that's a wild ride from beginning to end. Also, yes, I do believe the bridge under the ice theory other people have is correct.
This movie came out the same year I was born. I was born February 25th, 2004.
Loved this movie since I first saw it
Of course nowadays with knowledge on this locomotive class the few flaws show up like big fire works in the locomotive and consists designs, plus some of the related scenes regarding track grade (more then 2° angle, which 2° is like falling off a cliff for a train)
Seeing all these people saying that the animation of the Polar Express "aged terribly", have ANY of them even seen Underground Ernie? That show's animation aged a LOT worse.
This video is fantastic, love it!
To me this movie is a timeless Christmas classic.
I have cosplayed as the Polar Express conductor for the last two years at comic cons when it nears Christmas. Most people absolutely love my cosplay and express how much the film means to them. I cannot see any issues with the characters in the film, where as some do with the "uncanny valley" issues. Plus my local heritage railway (South Devon Railway) runs the Polar Express for real, which is extreme;y popular over the years. So I think the book and film has had a positive impact with alot of people.
I was also born in May of 2004, and this also just so happens to be by far my favorite Christmas movie, how ironic.
You had some pretty funny quotes that made me laugh out loud in this video! 😂 Thanks for making this, there aren't enough of them! So hyped for the potential sequel!
This movie is my Christmas Eve tradition, and it has been for as long as I can remember. Can't have Christmas until the Polar Express has been watched!
I seen this in theater on a school field trip and I've watched on christmas eve ever since.
5:14 Jumpscare imbound 😭😭🤣🤣
Absolute Cinema 🙌
This movie came out the same year I was born, and I still love it to this day, music especially
Your not alone here. The random adds and take aways of the coaches also pissed me off to when I was a kid
Incredible video, you've taught me info about this movie that I never knew about before this. Thanks 🚂
I love the line, right from the book, describing the North Pole as a strange ocean liner. The imagery is very good and the film is an excellent teaching tool for writing short stories in a classroom once you really break it down
I have magical memories of watching this movie with my childhood best friends at 6 years old. We were on a hot chocolate high and noted that the conductor looked eerily identical to our elementary school principal, which added to the magic! 🎄
My best friend at the time was also really into trains (and still is), and he couldn’t help but point out the inaccuracies of the Polar Express’s movements in the film, at 6 years old. Lol.
Thanks for the review, 20 years on! Man, I feel old 🫠
Ah I love this movie! I was born in 2005 so I also never saw it in theaters and I am wholeheartedly jealous that you have a theatre nearby that shows it every year. I would absolutely love to see it on the big screen. I also never knew the girl's name was Holly- I've heard the boy's name before but not hers.
Great video, and I commend you for specifying that no AI was used. Thank you for upholding artistic integrity.
It's my favorite Christmas movie and one of my favorite movies of all time.
Also, fun fact: the sounds for the engine are used from the actual polar express! Pere Marquette 1225 is the basiss for the polar express engine, and the actual sounds are used from the real locomotive
If you look past the motion capture (which I’ve been doing since the beginning), Polar Express is still an aesthetically beautiful film. I watch it every Christmas multiple times, as I’ve done for pretty much all my life. I’ve grown so accustomed to it that I always get surprised when people call it ‘ugly’.
This movie always holds a special place in my heart, I was born back in june of 2004 and even 20 years later, the movie is still on my top 3 favorite christmas movies, it's up there with Arthur Christmas, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
When I heard that a sequel was in the works, I actually didn't know how they could continue the story. The only way I could potentially see a sequel happening is if we follow Chris in his adult hood with a family, and maybe one of his kids having a similar situation as he did in the first movie, where his kid/kids will find they're own sense of believing, just like Chris did. I don't know if that could happen, or if a sequel will ever be made, but I like to think if they ever do, I hope they go down in the direction of my idea, but as long as they make everything else work like the story, the animation, ect. I hope they work they're magic just like they did all those years ago. (If, and Only if they make a sequel.) Which at this point could maybe be 50/50, we'll have to wait and see.
Is there only one way I can describe Polar Express, the heart and soul of a Christmas movie, so much passion, so much magic that every time you watch it, you feel like you are transported back to your childhood. The story holds up, it's a timeless story. I mean, it has to be. The movie was based on the book, but the visuals do not hold up too much compared to what we have nowadays. Do you think it warrants one remake? I don't mind it. It will be the Polar Express for the animation alone when it comes to some of the human characters, but everything else visually still holds up.
I was born in August in 2004, little less than 3 months before this released, back then when I was just a young kid, I've been thinking about debates on whether Thomas or The Polar Express is better, but as years went by, I treat them equally, oh and today I couldn't get past the end credits of the movie since it makes me too emotional, but that's ok
Nice to meet you, good fellow…
I *believe* in this movie, and always. Nostalgia is forever to me.
Anyways, DAMN, this movie is a month older than me. 😂
It's my favorite movie ever!
I totally get what your saying about flaws. Yes, it has flaws but they never bothered me. I really don't want a sequel!
They better not try and make a sequel. This movie is complete and there really is no way to retell the Christmas story in a new way.
@ I agree
@@RailfanIan1225there’s been talk about a sequel for some reason but idk if it’s true or not
I have to say the sound design in this movie was amazing. For the ice scene, my headcannon is that there is a bridge and the lake water level has risen over time or it was a valley and has flooded.
I never got creeped out by the people in the movie, but I've always been a train guy.
I still watch this Polar Express (2004) Movie film on my phone for the Holiday Season in December! Many People don't know that it came out on Wednesday November 10th 2004 basically 1 Month After i was born on Sunday October 10th 2004!
Polar Express is a great movie watched it several times when I was a kid. I'm sure if I watch it again I will still enjoy it
The Polar Express is my most favorite Christmas movie of all time, I love everything about the movie.
While this movie has its uncanny moments, when it shines, it SHINES.
I remember going to see this on my bday years ago, and i can definitely put this on my christmas movie list.
i was born in 1998, so it came out the very december of my "crucial year". + I hadthe kid's train obsession. It holds a very special place in my heart
Mocap technology is mostly used in video games now. So yes the tech has improved significantly. With how easy it is to do live action and superimpose CGI animation today, I doubt we will see anything exactly like the Zemeckis mocaps in the early 00s. But it did definitely help advance the medium in other forms of media.
The Polar Express is my favourite Christmas movie. I know that not many people like this movie and I understand why. But it's my opinion.
tbh i watch this movie every december and i still love it
When i was a kid in 2008, i watched the movie for the first time. And I REALLY wanted a toy train of the polar express. But i never did cuz they were so expensive
Train crossing the North America in physically impossible ways? HECK YEA IT HOLDS UP
As absolutely stupid as the ice lake scene is, I love it. I think it was partly done as a flaunt or maybe a test of how well their technology could animate things like shattering ice, splashing water, and the train’s mechanisms
Fun fact, they hated to lose that deleted scene with Smokey and steamer because both characters were played brilliantly by Michael jeter who sadly passed away during the making of polar express
Aww. Rest in peace to him. Thanks for reminding me that he played them, as I often just associate him with Sesame Street and that mercenary Udesky from JP III.
Personally, I think it captures the vibes of Christmas pretty perfectly, despite the rough mo-cap animation, and the quite frankly meandering, stretched out plot. In that sense, it is a very mixed bag.
As an actual movie? It's not great.
As a blast of "oh yeah, it's Christmas!" it's perfect.
that totally makes sense. the train going Mach 10 down a massive cultch. conductor on the front: I'm probably fired am i?
When is there gonna be a polar express 2? Been waiting years
I Heard on Google that there going to make a secound movie, If that happeds i wound really Blow Up! Im Not joking, i 1s SAW the movie Back in 2012 i dit Not think much of IT but in 2017 i start Understand everthink how Special this Christmas movie IS, and im still wachting the movie with my Family after the 20 anniversary of the Polar Express
I vividly remember watching this movie in the theater, so the title of this video hit me like a ton of bricks.
Turbo: I've gone through three risks
Me: Who would've thought it was so relatable
Fantastic job Nick!!
I have to disagree about the lake and roller-coaster scenes, they are my fav ones. Those make the movie memorable - especially the lake one. It still gives me chills. Ofc, I am not saying they are realistic lol. Anyway, cool video!
I LOVE Polar Express! It’s my favourite Christmas Movie! So I watch it at least once per year! That for sure!
18:22 18:38 I'm glad that this seane was cut
I think a sequel to The polar Express will work if they tell us a different story with different kids who are going to the North Pole instead of the same characters from the first movie.
I don't mind any of the unrealistic, over the top moments in this movie. Three years ago I discovered "Night On The Galactic Railroad" and it cemented the idea I had of the voyage never happening on a physical level because the themes explored, the message and the answers you find all end up coming from yourself and a dream is enough to make you see things under a different light.
There will never be another song like the hot chocolate song 🍫
I. Love. The Polar Express!
It is my favorite Christmas movie. It's one of the most beautiful, magical, believable, and adventurous.
I just rewatched this movie after having stopped for so many years.
I don’t care what people think, this movie is fucking amazing. The uncanny valley territory doesn’t really creep me out at all.
The train is awesome, the visuals are stellar, and the music is amazing.
It’s my #1 Christmas movie, surpassing die hard
And yeah the train scene on the ice is so fuckin stupid but holy FUCK that’s the best part of the damn movie for me
I never imagined that this would be a Hot Take…. But i think the Train on the Frozen Lake is the Best scene of the Movie.
I never thought that the Conductor was hauling Hero Girl on top of the train. We never actually SEE them except as faint shadows and silhouettes, and it stands to reason that it's just one of the Hobo's illusions.