If you think *this* is the weirdest video I've ever made, you might want to consider checking out _Santa or Hitler: The Poland Express_ - now available on Patreon 👀 What's your favourite Christmas movie?
I always enjoyed the 1946 movie It's A Wonderful Life, because it's a very relatable movie and it's message "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." I highly recommend watching the restored HD colorized version of the movie. It's an interesting look at someone's life from the early 1900s to post war World War Two.
It doesn't bother me at all. Full transparency though: it was the first movie I remember seeing and it was easy to accept how things look in it. I didn't even realise it wasn't live action until 3 or 4 years after I first saw it in theatres and I didn't even know people made an issue about uncanny valley until I was a teenager. At which point I had more than accepted how the animation looks.
I have no nostalgia or dog in the game but I don't think it in no way is in the uncanny valley. In fact it is really well done mocap. There were worse mocap movies like the mars thing one.
Most people "Ew, why does the animation look like that!" Me "Looks kind of uncanny and different. It feels a little surreal, and grabs my attention...I like it."
SAME. One of my favorite parts of the movie is how everything about it, asides from the music, feels strange and out of place; almost unreal, but I think it heightens my enjoyment of the movie, as well as it’s themes of faith during uncertainty tenfold, even if it wasn’t intentional
I feel like a lot of people just say they don't like the movie because it's fun to hate on things or even just to fill space in a conversation. It is something to say that many people will consider inoffensive, to just say the assumed cultural opinion that the Polar Express looks creepy, because hopefully some people will laugh, because that's relatively expected, while it's much less certain if people won't snicker at you for saying you like the movie.
Indeed, this is how a movie essay should be! Most of the times when I watch an media analysis it’s just a summary of the plot, like I saw the film, I know what happened😂
I don’t get why anyone would doubt the sheer awe that this movie instills in its viewers; THEY DRIFT A TRAIN! What other Christmas movie does that? It’s certainly a bizarre film but one that I am more than grateful for its existence.
One of my favourite details in this movie is, when they drop off Billy and he runs out with his Christmas present, showing his friends that Santa had already made it to his house, it plays the tune from the song he sang with the hero girl. Specifically the same tune where Billy sings about all the things he's never seen that the hero girl is describing, but well, now he has. I love Billy's story, he's my favourite character.
I’ve been watching Polar Express since I was about three, and according to my parents I was so fixated that it was the first film I ever sat through in full (probably because it appeal to young me, who was obsessed with Thomas and Friends who looked a lot like the hero boy). The motion capture never bothered me, and if anything it adds to the film’s quirky charm, because it undoubtedly has charm. I’ve rewatched it every year without fail, and I’ve never tired of watching it. I was astounded that so many people hate it.
It's especially amazing if you are able to nerd out about any of the machinary shown. I love that they actually showed accurate parts of the train in detail, and they had an actual roller coaster company advise Glacier Gulch.
It’s only natural that when you get older, the pure childlike magic of Christmas will be lost. Even if you still enjoy the holiday, it will never hit the same as it does as a kid However, for me, the closest I get to recapturing those same feelings today is by rewatching The Polar Express every Christmas Eve. Maybe it’s the film itself or maybe it’s nostalgia talking but this film always feels truly special to me and I adore it. There may be other Christmas films I prefer but The Polar Express is the only one where I can’t go a year without it
I was 1 when this movie came out. I'm 21 now and I still get excited whenever I hear this movie coming on. Even though, I know what's gonna happen through the movie, I still love this movie and I wish to share it with my own children.
I was 3 when it came out. When I hear the age of the movie I'm like "wow that was a long time ago...wait does that mean I'm old?". I agree it's amazing, if there was ever a movie made for roller coaster nerds and rail fans alike, it's Polar Express.
16:40 perhaps it's just my ears, but i've always heard whispers of, "doubt doubt doubt" in place of the bell ringing when the hero boy is shaking it. A fun little addition to show audiences his state of mind.
I remember reading the book as a kid before the movie came out. When the movie was released I was a teenager, but I thought it was so cool it had made it to the big screen. One thing I really love about the movie is that the locomotive is inspired by a real world locomotive, Pere Marquette 1225, which still operates out of Owosso, Michigan. If I can entertain my train nerd muscles here too, for me at least it was the first time I had seen late generation (1930s onwards) steam locomotives make it to the big screen. You usually either see diesels or steam locomotives from the 19th or turn of the century. But here we got a great example of super power steam (that is an actual term used in some circles) in a major film, albeit with a decent amount of artistic license. That alone made me really happy. Also if anyone's wondering, assuming the Polar Express is the same build as her real world counterpart, most of the nerdy kid's information at the beginning of the movie is wrong, which I thought was really funny (and may have been on purpose given his characterization).
I watch this movie every year in the theaters. It makes my heart feel like a kid again. I am 58 now and my grown 24 year old always comes with me. It's a tradition now😊
I just love the atmosphere. It combines my love of the romance of steam railroading, with beautiful, sincere music, a dream like feeling throughout, and themes that get at the heart of human belief. I love it. I'm not ashamed to say it's my favorite Christmas movie, and that watching it, and reflecting on what its simple message means to me, has at times brought me to tears. It is not really about belief in Santa Claus - but having the courage to believe in things that aren't obvious in general. It is for me, the kind of belief that means courage to hope for a better world. It has for me, reminded me to believe in myself.
I've noticed all the people that dislike The Polar Express always have that...Look...about them. They tend to just hate themselves, and just project that hate onto good things that highlight how miserable they are in comparison to the thing. I feel the common man, the silent majority, loves The Polar Express.
I feel like this movie is a big chunk of my soul. It came a year after my birth and defined a lot of my personality and view on art. Im always glad when someone picks the movie back up and talks about it
Polar Express has been my Christmas Eve tradition for as long as I can remember (I’m 18 and was born approximately a year and a half after the movie came out). Excited to watch it tonight! Merry Christmas!
The importance of taking the leap without knowing the outcome really speaks to me. It took me a while to start my own channel. But after actually doing it I felt really accomplished. Funny enough the first video I did(that being last year) was a Christmas movie video
this was beautiful. i and many others hold this film close to our hearts, and even tho i havent watched it in a while (how could i, i know) i still know i'll feel the same wonder i did any other time i watch it. i think you really hit the nail on the head.
Great stuff, as always. Out of all the Christmas films, this is one I've rewatched the most. Probably because it had trains, but your video shine on stuff I didn't consider, so thank you for it.
I just wanted to watch a video on one of my favorite Christmas movies but that last line made me cry, I’m young but I’ve never thought of my parents as Santa but you’ve just opened up a new perspective for me.
Watching the movie now... Yeah, the animation can be a little creepy. But I still don't care. The train sequence on the ice is still one of the coolest things I've seen and i just like the movie. Call it nostalgia but I just do. I do realize there are problems with it but I just don't care. I like it still
Most reasonable take on the internet. Also the people whining about motion-capture should get over it; you won, they don’t really make mo-cap movies anymore.
Hey, i just wanna say, thanks for making this video. The polar express is a movie i only watched once when i was really young, but i loved it so much at the time, and that feeling of wonder and adventure has always stuck with me. It has always made me sad to see that the general consensus is that its a bad or stupid movie, so to see a video praising it is really nice.
Ngl Polar Express is one of me and my families' favourite Christmas movies, it's such a nostalgic wonder of a journey to watch and we always try to watch it as many times as we could each Christmas every year.😁 Also, little fun fact, at the scene where the main boy shakes the bell before he believes, very faintly, you can hear a whisper where the ringing of the bell should be saying "doubter" which is a nice nod to the boy and his character development throughout the movie to his final decision to believe in yhe moment.👍 Really cool breakdown video of the Polar Express, sorry for the long comment, pls keep up with the amazing work and have a happy Merry Christmas, everyone. Thanks you, you are awesome🎄(Edit-typo)
At the time, this movie was mind bogglingly good looking. I remember being in school and all the kids saying how it looked like real life! This movie is a total classic christmas movie. The plot is slightly challenging for a kid to follow (like the stuff with the ghost guy) but overall it's simple and amazing christmas story, a fun movie and it still looks great even if it hasn't aged super gracefully.
I'm so glad someone's making a positive video on the movie. I never understood the overwhelming hate. Like yeah the graphics aren't great but I never thought they were ugly. Also totally on board with Hot Chocolate. That song is incredibly fun
I love this weird movie. The lack of names for all characters is such an interesting choice - almost like the filmmakers wanted everyone to be able to self insert into the story.
Have a very Merry Christmas RealPixels and everyone, and a healthy and prosperous New Year in 2025. I always enjoyed this movie and the animation isn't a big deal to me. They did a wonderful job adapting the book, you better "Believe" it.😉 Time goes on, but hold on to Christmas. I remember The Polar Express was the first book I read as a kid, at a local book store that was in a big mall. I remember sitting in the back of the kids book section being memorized by the story and the beautiful artwork. 5:20 I agree with this 100% about the hot chocolate song. 6:52 I always took it the conductor had to check something on the roof, but checked on Billy first, or there was something wrong with one of the Pullman car doors and had to go the long way around and fixing it after dropping Holly with the engineer. Fun fact: There's Back To The Future references in this movie, like the Flux Capacitor on the engine cab control panel.
I was a weird kid growing up; I always thought children's media was dorky and ridiculous. Even as a 4-year-old I hated Sesame Street (I liked Barney though for some strange reason). Anyway, my point is, I appreciate how you enabled me to see something beautiful in that which I would have viscerally recoiled from with extreme prejudice otherwise. I doubt I would have ever taken advantage of the opportunity to do so of my own volition, so thank you for that. I feel a little like the Grinch hearing the Whoville chorus singing on Christmas morning.
I think it was clever of Zemekis that towards the end when Billy and the girl hear the bells but the Hero Boy hears music at the same time each bells ring, the music lines up with the ringing of each bell. Parts of the song that would be noticeable stand out right before the two others kids ask “can you hear that?” I’d argue that from their perspective they don’t hear music, just the Hero Boy does. This was probably some magic used to test his faith or belief in Santa as he is on his path to believing. I can’t prove that of course but I believe it greatly. And of course, I think the scene at the end, the surprise of allowing Hero Boy to have the first gift of Christmas was very well written and well performed. If you pay attention to the nuances that occur between the lines of dialogue, Santa was watching, aware of his journey of belief as well as the other kids’ respective journeys. Even as a 23 year old adult who’s just about as old as this movie, I find such value in this film not only for nostalgia’s sake, but because the values and spirituality are still things I’m dealing with as I become more independent from my parents. Christmastime also just makes it hit harder as always. I feel the need to thank you for this video. I wonder sometimes if my love for this film is a little awkward from other’s perspective but you have confirmed for me that this film deserves respect from more people despite the animation. There’s a deeper story that’s really beautiful if you decide to pay attention. So thank you. ❤
I always wanted a Polar Express vs Train to Buson mashup. Little zombie elves and zombie Cariboo terrorizing the train. Then having giant Santa turning the victims that visit the North Pole into giant sized cookies to feed in. Hahaha , I guess I grew up watching too many creature feature movies
My family rewatches this every Christmas Eve too; sadly not this year because we had other family over : ( But; glad there's another Aussie family out there doing so too XD
I grew up with the book, which is somewhat different in a number of ways. Initially the movie was a bit off putting to me. Not so much due to the animation but more just how the story was expanded and altered. Over time I've grown to love the movie, even though it is different, and that's to be expected with any adaptation.
This movie is very nostalgic for me. I think I was maybe 10 or 11 when it came out; I actually saw it in the theater. It’s not a perfect movie, but I really like it
I have an arc with Polar Express that very much fits in with the characters. As a child I loved it, I believed everything shown was real. I had seen Santa in my telescope when I was in second grade and this solidified my belief into my early teenage years. As I got older though, kids in school mocked me for my belief and my parents decided to tell me it was meant to all be a dream and vaguely said it was about believing in the vague "magic of Christmas and not Santa". They even tried to go all Jesus mode on me, when at the time I was introduced to Polar Express I had no knowlege of it being a church holiday. Maybe I was just too much of a "if I'm told this I'll just accept it" type and they felt it was time to force me to grow up. For a few years, as much as I wanted the magic there that conversation with my parents sucked out the magic. But something reignited the magic: I started thinking for myself. Seeing the ending as a comfirmation that it was real and NOT a dream got me thinking critically about movies. Theorising, crazy head canons that expand the movie far beyond just what's shown, it reignited a spark within me that I carry with me to this day introducing me to the magic of theorising about movies. And though I may have my doubts about Christmas itself these days, Polar Express still holds a lot of magic for me, as it does for those who truely believe. And as if to reward me for believing, being that I am a roller coaster nerd, in August of 2022 I went on a trip to Holiday World in Santa Clause, Indiana (yes that's real). I called one of their roller coasters "real life Glacier Gulch" tongue and cheak. But, the day before going there I met someone who works for the company that built the ride I was saying that about (Gravity Group). Come to find out THEY ADVISED THAT SCENE so there was nothing tongue and cheek about my comment, it was literal. As if it was a reward for believing. If you can't tell, Polar Express means a lot to me because of my journey with it.
Finally, someone who gets it. I've been a little tired of most people saying "the animation is weird therefore its bad" , when the movie really isn't this disaster people like to say.
3:43 Could you tell me the source of that image? I've got one of the Lionel RC PE engines and I'd like to weather it with snow, and that image would be the perfect reference!
In a way the “””””uncanny”””” motion capture really weeded out the people who wouldn’t resonate with the films message of believing in what you can’t cant quite tangibly see these people refuse to believe in the film because of what it looks like these are people who refuse to believe in the magic and wonder of the movie based off of how it looks I love the polar express it’s just a perfect Christmas film with perfect music and perfect feelings of wonder and excitement I look at the not even that bad animation and believe a good movie can come from it
Nobody gives this movie enough credit, not only for how accurate of an adaptation it is, but how it actually does an arguably better job at bringing the wonder of the book to life than simple pictures could ever because of the incredible soundtrack and visuals. Also I love Tom Hanks. The animation is NOT as bad as what the critics say. I neve once as a child found it creepy. The only scene I found creepy was the toy car scene. I am a very analytical person, and while I can see some of the issues with the dated mocap, it is absolutely not movie-breaking and not noticable unless you look for it. Sadly some people are too OCD about the details in a movie that they miss the story, the theme and the beauty in storytelling. I am sometimes guilty of this, yet I'm glad I'm not the only one who watches this movie anually. I hope someday they remaster this film and re-render the scenes on a newer rendering engine with slightly better facial animations. The best part is, they don't even need to.
Adding onto your abandoned toy car interpretation, I believe the discarded, dirty toys could be a visual representation of the rejection of a dream, whether that be out of external circumstances or, in the movie's case, doubt or maturity. Toys, to a certain degree, are a reflection of our wants and desires. I imagine the roles each toy possesses are a dream or goal each child yearned for. Perhaps one little girl wanted to get married and become a wife (10:57) or another little boy wanted to become an inventor (11:07), but as they grew older and the forces of reality lurched their ugly heads, each child realized they couldn't achieve them. Maybe they doubted their abilities and were afraid to take a leap of faith, perhaps outside circumstances like a lack of money or societal forces out of their control got in the way, or maybe they simply realized their dreams were "too childish" and aspired for a more "realistic" one. Regardless, while this is a short scene, it's certainly a powerful and tragic one...
Someone who gets it!! I never got an uncanny feeling from the movie either growing up. Personally, AI generation is the most uncanny valley thing for me lol.
For the record, I hated this movie as a kid and I have never thought that the animation was creepy. Just the weird ghost hobo and the train car of puppets. And the hollow emptiness of the North Pole.
wait i just remembered a memory. the first time i watched this, i called the little kid with a yellow pj "monkey kid" due to his ears. I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS R4C1ST BACK THEN IM SORRY edit: i realized his name is billy
They’re very good scenes but the caribou, ice lake and the side adventure in the NP were just added to add runtime given how straightforward the book is lol
It’s easy to just say this and move on, but to choose to analyze these scenes is much, much more important to the overall conversation around the movie. This laziness towards media analysis is exactly what makes most video essays so boring and basic.
I Love The Polar Express, It’s My Favourite Christmas Movie Of All Time, I Don’t Find It Scary Or Weird Nor Uncanny At All, I Love Trains, So I Love It Because Of That And Absolutely Infuriates Me "To No End" That People Review And Think This Movie Is Bad, Scary, Uncanny, Weird And Nonsensical
"Contrarian" might have been a strong word, but he was often different than the average-75% of his ratings were higher than other critics'. Some of his reviews were known for being fairly different too, like his positive Speed 2 and negative Usual Suspects reviews.
If you think *this* is the weirdest video I've ever made, you might want to consider checking out _Santa or Hitler: The Poland Express_ - now available on Patreon 👀
What's your favourite Christmas movie?
I always enjoyed the 1946 movie It's A Wonderful Life, because it's a very relatable movie and it's message "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." I highly recommend watching the restored HD colorized version of the movie. It's an interesting look at someone's life from the early 1900s to post war World War Two.
My favourite Christmas movie is a Christmas carol with the Muppets it's awesome
I think “It Happened on 5th Avenue” from 1947 and “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” from 1974 are both really underrated.
I just liked the Polar Express because it was a Christmas movie with a train
I like trains.
You're all wrong.
Me too.
@@AlexJBethell Well maybe I like being wrong.
And it's a fantastic train. Pere Marquette 1225 is a beautiful steam locomotive in real life, I can watch endless videos of it operating.
i never thought i’d hear anyone else say they watch polar express every year
We watch the original Grinch and the Polar Express every year on Christmas eve!
You're not alone 🙂
This and It's A Wonderful Life are our yearly must watches.
It’s a relatively popular thing
Same
Always was one of my favourites, i never had that uncanny valley feeling most people say they get when they watch the movie.
Same. Watching it now I get that a little bit but it doesn't really bother me
It doesn't bother me at all. Full transparency though: it was the first movie I remember seeing and it was easy to accept how things look in it. I didn't even realise it wasn't live action until 3 or 4 years after I first saw it in theatres and I didn't even know people made an issue about uncanny valley until I was a teenager. At which point I had more than accepted how the animation looks.
I have no nostalgia or dog in the game but I don't think it in no way is in the uncanny valley.
In fact it is really well done mocap.
There were worse mocap movies like the mars thing one.
Most people "Ew, why does the animation look like that!"
Me "Looks kind of uncanny and different. It feels a little surreal, and grabs my attention...I like it."
SAME. One of my favorite parts of the movie is how everything about it, asides from the music, feels strange and out of place; almost unreal, but I think it heightens my enjoyment of the movie, as well as it’s themes of faith during uncertainty tenfold, even if it wasn’t intentional
I appreciate how genuine this video feels, thank you.
I feel like a lot of people just say they don't like the movie because it's fun to hate on things or even just to fill space in a conversation. It is something to say that many people will consider inoffensive, to just say the assumed cultural opinion that the Polar Express looks creepy, because hopefully some people will laugh, because that's relatively expected, while it's much less certain if people won't snicker at you for saying you like the movie.
Wow, an actual media analysis and not a lazy plot summery followed by a list a themes.
Great video!
Indeed, this is how a movie essay should be! Most of the times when I watch an media analysis it’s just a summary of the plot, like I saw the film, I know what happened😂
I don’t get why anyone would doubt the sheer awe that this movie instills in its viewers; THEY DRIFT A TRAIN! What other Christmas movie does that? It’s certainly a bizarre film but one that I am more than grateful for its existence.
One of my favourite details in this movie is, when they drop off Billy and he runs out with his Christmas present, showing his friends that Santa had already made it to his house, it plays the tune from the song he sang with the hero girl. Specifically the same tune where Billy sings about all the things he's never seen that the hero girl is describing, but well, now he has. I love Billy's story, he's my favourite character.
I’ve been watching Polar Express since I was about three, and according to my parents I was so fixated that it was the first film I ever sat through in full (probably because it appeal to young me, who was obsessed with Thomas and Friends who looked a lot like the hero boy). The motion capture never bothered me, and if anything it adds to the film’s quirky charm, because it undoubtedly has charm. I’ve rewatched it every year without fail, and I’ve never tired of watching it. I was astounded that so many people hate it.
I just rewatched The Polar Express for the first time since I was a kid, and I was surprised at how amazing it was.
It's especially amazing if you are able to nerd out about any of the machinary shown. I love that they actually showed accurate parts of the train in detail, and they had an actual roller coaster company advise Glacier Gulch.
Me too
It’s only natural that when you get older, the pure childlike magic of Christmas will be lost. Even if you still enjoy the holiday, it will never hit the same as it does as a kid
However, for me, the closest I get to recapturing those same feelings today is by rewatching The Polar Express every Christmas Eve. Maybe it’s the film itself or maybe it’s nostalgia talking but this film always feels truly special to me and I adore it. There may be other Christmas films I prefer but The Polar Express is the only one where I can’t go a year without it
The characters are terrifying. The plot makes no sense and everything makes me feel uneasy and tired, and yet it’s still one of my all-time favorites.
Beautiful message to your parents at the end, thanks for another great video.
I was 1 when this movie came out. I'm 21 now and I still get excited whenever I hear this movie coming on. Even though, I know what's gonna happen through the movie, I still love this movie and I wish to share it with my own children.
I was 3 when it came out. When I hear the age of the movie I'm like "wow that was a long time ago...wait does that mean I'm old?". I agree it's amazing, if there was ever a movie made for roller coaster nerds and rail fans alike, it's Polar Express.
@urbex_coasters Most definitely.
16:40 perhaps it's just my ears, but i've always heard whispers of, "doubt doubt doubt" in place of the bell ringing when the hero boy is shaking it. A fun little addition to show audiences his state of mind.
I watch this and the Jim Carrey Christmas Carol every year. Maybe a few others as well, but those two are an absolute must. Love them both so much.
Polar Express is a must watch every year.
I remember reading the book as a kid before the movie came out. When the movie was released I was a teenager, but I thought it was so cool it had made it to the big screen. One thing I really love about the movie is that the locomotive is inspired by a real world locomotive, Pere Marquette 1225, which still operates out of Owosso, Michigan.
If I can entertain my train nerd muscles here too, for me at least it was the first time I had seen late generation (1930s onwards) steam locomotives make it to the big screen. You usually either see diesels or steam locomotives from the 19th or turn of the century. But here we got a great example of super power steam (that is an actual term used in some circles) in a major film, albeit with a decent amount of artistic license. That alone made me really happy.
Also if anyone's wondering, assuming the Polar Express is the same build as her real world counterpart, most of the nerdy kid's information at the beginning of the movie is wrong, which I thought was really funny (and may have been on purpose given his characterization).
Bro, you just cant guess what you're planning to post next, yet you always deliver the best of content. Made me cry, thanks Real Pixels
I watch this movie every year in the theaters. It makes my heart feel like a kid again. I am 58 now and my grown 24 year old always comes with me. It's a tradition now😊
5:25 Rock n roll McDonald's is a masterpiece, I will not stand for this.
I think it's time we all came together and rebelled against the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards 😤 (they stopped 18 years ago)
i always loved it, especially music and "train drifting" on the frozen lake.
That was beautiful. I never have been able to put into words how the movie makes me feel but this explains it perfectly
I just love the atmosphere. It combines my love of the romance of steam railroading, with beautiful, sincere music, a dream like feeling throughout, and themes that get at the heart of human belief.
I love it. I'm not ashamed to say it's my favorite Christmas movie, and that watching it, and reflecting on what its simple message means to me, has at times brought me to tears.
It is not really about belief in Santa Claus - but having the courage to believe in things that aren't obvious in general. It is for me, the kind of belief that means courage to hope for a better world. It has for me, reminded me to believe in myself.
I've noticed all the people that dislike The Polar Express always have that...Look...about them. They tend to just hate themselves, and just project that hate onto good things that highlight how miserable they are in comparison to the thing. I feel the common man, the silent majority, loves The Polar Express.
lol bro what
Truth nuke
I feel like this movie is a big chunk of my soul. It came a year after my birth and defined a lot of my personality and view on art. Im always glad when someone picks the movie back up and talks about it
The Polar Express, is and always will be one of my favorite movies ever made and my number one favorite Christmas movie by far!
Polar Express has been my Christmas Eve tradition for as long as I can remember (I’m 18 and was born approximately a year and a half after the movie came out). Excited to watch it tonight! Merry Christmas!
The importance of taking the leap without knowing the outcome really speaks to me. It took me a while to start my own channel. But after actually doing it I felt really accomplished. Funny enough the first video I did(that being last year) was a Christmas movie video
this was beautiful. i and many others hold this film close to our hearts, and even tho i havent watched it in a while (how could i, i know) i still know i'll feel the same wonder i did any other time i watch it. i think you really hit the nail on the head.
Great stuff, as always. Out of all the Christmas films, this is one I've rewatched the most. Probably because it had trains, but your video shine on stuff I didn't consider, so thank you for it.
FINALLY A GOOD VIDEO GLAZING THE POLAR EXPRESS THANK YOUUUUUUU
I watch this as often as possible every Christmas. One Christmas I watched it 16 times
The Uncanny Valley aspect really disturbed me as a kid, but my Mom LOVES this movie.
5:05 lol this edit makes it look like the brake lever made the train speed up and leave the kid behind.
Lol see you next Christmas Jimmy
Music from the game, Concept Art, a unique perspective!! I'm loving this, Great Job Man, keep it up! We're really Believing with this one!
I just wanted to watch a video on one of my favorite Christmas movies but that last line made me cry, I’m young but I’ve never thought of my parents as Santa but you’ve just opened up a new perspective for me.
Watching the movie now... Yeah, the animation can be a little creepy. But I still don't care. The train sequence on the ice is still one of the coolest things I've seen and i just like the movie. Call it nostalgia but I just do. I do realize there are problems with it but I just don't care. I like it still
Most reasonable take on the internet. Also the people whining about motion-capture should get over it; you won, they don’t really make mo-cap movies anymore.
Hey, i just wanna say, thanks for making this video. The polar express is a movie i only watched once when i was really young, but i loved it so much at the time, and that feeling of wonder and adventure has always stuck with me. It has always made me sad to see that the general consensus is that its a bad or stupid movie, so to see a video praising it is really nice.
It is a unique experience every year, as you unveil new meanings of the movie, and consequencely in yourself.
Ngl Polar Express is one of me and my families' favourite Christmas movies, it's such a nostalgic wonder of a journey to watch and we always try to watch it as many times as we could each Christmas every year.😁
Also, little fun fact, at the scene where the main boy shakes the bell before he believes, very faintly, you can hear a whisper where the ringing of the bell should be saying "doubter" which is a nice nod to the boy and his character development throughout the movie to his final decision to believe in yhe moment.👍
Really cool breakdown video of the Polar Express, sorry for the long comment, pls keep up with the amazing work and have a happy Merry Christmas, everyone. Thanks you, you are awesome🎄(Edit-typo)
At the time, this movie was mind bogglingly good looking. I remember being in school and all the kids saying how it looked like real life!
This movie is a total classic christmas movie. The plot is slightly challenging for a kid to follow (like the stuff with the ghost guy) but overall it's simple and amazing christmas story, a fun movie and it still looks great even if it hasn't aged super gracefully.
Been saying this for years, the whole movie has an unreal bedtime story quality and that's so hard to capture.
I'm so glad someone's making a positive video on the movie. I never understood the overwhelming hate. Like yeah the graphics aren't great but I never thought they were ugly.
Also totally on board with Hot Chocolate. That song is incredibly fun
I love this weird movie. The lack of names for all characters is such an interesting choice - almost like the filmmakers wanted everyone to be able to self insert into the story.
The bell still rings for me
Wonderful video, got me choked up at the end there 😢
I dont have musch to say, but this the video i have needed for a long time. Thanks.
Have a very Merry Christmas RealPixels and everyone, and a healthy and prosperous New Year in 2025.
I always enjoyed this movie and the animation isn't a big deal to me. They did a wonderful job adapting the book, you better "Believe" it.😉 Time goes on, but hold on to Christmas.
I remember The Polar Express was the first book I read as a kid, at a local book store that was in a big mall. I remember sitting in the back of the kids book section being memorized by the story and the beautiful artwork.
5:20 I agree with this 100% about the hot chocolate song.
6:52 I always took it the conductor had to check something on the roof, but checked on Billy first, or there was something wrong with one of the Pullman car doors and had to go the long way around and fixing it after dropping Holly with the engineer.
Fun fact: There's Back To The Future references in this movie, like the Flux Capacitor on the engine cab control panel.
I was a weird kid growing up; I always thought children's media was dorky and ridiculous. Even as a 4-year-old I hated Sesame Street (I liked Barney though for some strange reason). Anyway, my point is, I appreciate how you enabled me to see something beautiful in that which I would have viscerally recoiled from with extreme prejudice otherwise. I doubt I would have ever taken advantage of the opportunity to do so of my own volition, so thank you for that. I feel a little like the Grinch hearing the Whoville chorus singing on Christmas morning.
I’ve always defended this movie that said I would love for them to go back with the same artists if possible and re-do it with the current technology
Finally someone else gets it
I think it was clever of Zemekis that towards the end when Billy and the girl hear the bells but the Hero Boy hears music at the same time each bells ring, the music lines up with the ringing of each bell. Parts of the song that would be noticeable stand out right before the two others kids ask “can you hear that?” I’d argue that from their perspective they don’t hear music, just the Hero Boy does. This was probably some magic used to test his faith or belief in Santa as he is on his path to believing. I can’t prove that of course but I believe it greatly.
And of course, I think the scene at the end, the surprise of allowing Hero Boy to have the first gift of Christmas was very well written and well performed. If you pay attention to the nuances that occur between the lines of dialogue, Santa was watching, aware of his journey of belief as well as the other kids’ respective journeys. Even as a 23 year old adult who’s just about as old as this movie, I find such value in this film not only for nostalgia’s sake, but because the values and spirituality are still things I’m dealing with as I become more independent from my parents. Christmastime also just makes it hit harder as always.
I feel the need to thank you for this video. I wonder sometimes if my love for this film is a little awkward from other’s perspective but you have confirmed for me that this film deserves respect from more people despite the animation. There’s a deeper story that’s really beautiful if you decide to pay attention. So thank you. ❤
1:41 THANK YOU! You took the words right out of my mouth!
I always wanted a Polar Express vs Train to Buson mashup. Little zombie elves and zombie Cariboo terrorizing the train. Then having giant Santa turning the victims that visit the North Pole into giant sized cookies to feed in. Hahaha , I guess I grew up watching too many creature feature movies
That Scrooge puppet scene scared the hell out of me when i was a kid
this is amazing man
Polar Express is my all time favorite christmas movie to watch. I always enjoyed it as a little kid and still do as a young adult.
Do you wanna hear a sicko mode or a mo bomba?
LEAN!
Why not both?
I remember that one December, I would watch nothing but The Polar Express to the point I kinda grew sick of it
My family rewatches this every Christmas Eve too; sadly not this year because we had other family over : (
But; glad there's another Aussie family out there doing so too XD
I grew up with the book, which is somewhat different in a number of ways. Initially the movie was a bit off putting to me. Not so much due to the animation but more just how the story was expanded and altered. Over time I've grown to love the movie, even though it is different, and that's to be expected with any adaptation.
Such a lovely video
This movie is very nostalgic for me. I think I was maybe 10 or 11 when it came out; I actually saw it in the theater. It’s not a perfect movie, but I really like it
I have an arc with Polar Express that very much fits in with the characters. As a child I loved it, I believed everything shown was real. I had seen Santa in my telescope when I was in second grade and this solidified my belief into my early teenage years. As I got older though, kids in school mocked me for my belief and my parents decided to tell me it was meant to all be a dream and vaguely said it was about believing in the vague "magic of Christmas and not Santa". They even tried to go all Jesus mode on me, when at the time I was introduced to Polar Express I had no knowlege of it being a church holiday. Maybe I was just too much of a "if I'm told this I'll just accept it" type and they felt it was time to force me to grow up. For a few years, as much as I wanted the magic there that conversation with my parents sucked out the magic. But something reignited the magic: I started thinking for myself. Seeing the ending as a comfirmation that it was real and NOT a dream got me thinking critically about movies. Theorising, crazy head canons that expand the movie far beyond just what's shown, it reignited a spark within me that I carry with me to this day introducing me to the magic of theorising about movies. And though I may have my doubts about Christmas itself these days, Polar Express still holds a lot of magic for me, as it does for those who truely believe.
And as if to reward me for believing, being that I am a roller coaster nerd, in August of 2022 I went on a trip to Holiday World in Santa Clause, Indiana (yes that's real). I called one of their roller coasters "real life Glacier Gulch" tongue and cheak. But, the day before going there I met someone who works for the company that built the ride I was saying that about (Gravity Group). Come to find out THEY ADVISED THAT SCENE so there was nothing tongue and cheek about my comment, it was literal. As if it was a reward for believing. If you can't tell, Polar Express means a lot to me because of my journey with it.
i live in Oklahoma, WE ACTIALLY HAVE a polar express during Christmas tou can go visit, and they do the hot chocolate song and everything.
Finally, someone who gets it. I've been a little tired of most people saying "the animation is weird therefore its bad" , when the movie really isn't this disaster people like to say.
That movie was my childhood. It’s the first one I saw in the theaters.
This movie made my youth back then and today
14:40 the levitating elf is in the center of the group at the center of the frame with his arms in the halfway position.
Outstanding! Keep it coming!🎄🎅🏻❤️🙏
Yes it's the best. I always watch it on Christmas eve
I always loved this movie as a kid. The past few years I’ve been seeing it getting more and more hate. This video does it justice.
My little brother loved this movie
I love the polar express, and the characters are perfect, I watch it several times a year ❤❤
3:43 Could you tell me the source of that image? I've got one of the Lionel RC PE engines and I'd like to weather it with snow, and that image would be the perfect reference!
In a way the “””””uncanny”””” motion capture really weeded out the people who wouldn’t resonate with the films message of believing in what you can’t cant quite tangibly see these people refuse to believe in the film because of what it looks like these are people who refuse to believe in the magic and wonder of the movie based off of how it looks I love the polar express it’s just a perfect Christmas film with perfect music and perfect feelings of wonder and excitement I look at the not even that bad animation and believe a good movie can come from it
that last line.
7:03 1080 SNOWBOARDING MUSIC WHOOAOAHHH
Absolute cinema.
I just finished rewatching this film and found this video…
I adore this movie. I watch it every year ❤
I like most of all this movie: "the Polar Express", and a reason is the same thing as you have 😀 And I watch this movie every Christmas, too!
Nobody gives this movie enough credit, not only for how accurate of an adaptation it is, but how it actually does an arguably better job at bringing the wonder of the book to life than simple pictures could ever because of the incredible soundtrack and visuals. Also I love Tom Hanks. The animation is NOT as bad as what the critics say. I neve once as a child found it creepy. The only scene I found creepy was the toy car scene. I am a very analytical person, and while I can see some of the issues with the dated mocap, it is absolutely not movie-breaking and not noticable unless you look for it. Sadly some people are too OCD about the details in a movie that they miss the story, the theme and the beauty in storytelling. I am sometimes guilty of this, yet I'm glad I'm not the only one who watches this movie anually. I hope someday they remaster this film and re-render the scenes on a newer rendering engine with slightly better facial animations. The best part is, they don't even need to.
They drift the train on the ice which means it’s a 10 out of 10
Watched Polar Express for the first time yesterday and it’s… ok. It’s fine. Nothing great honestly
Adding onto your abandoned toy car interpretation, I believe the discarded, dirty toys could be a visual representation of the rejection of a dream, whether that be out of external circumstances or, in the movie's case, doubt or maturity. Toys, to a certain degree, are a reflection of our wants and desires. I imagine the roles each toy possesses are a dream or goal each child yearned for. Perhaps one little girl wanted to get married and become a wife (10:57) or another little boy wanted to become an inventor (11:07), but as they grew older and the forces of reality lurched their ugly heads, each child realized they couldn't achieve them. Maybe they doubted their abilities and were afraid to take a leap of faith, perhaps outside circumstances like a lack of money or societal forces out of their control got in the way, or maybe they simply realized their dreams were "too childish" and aspired for a more "realistic" one. Regardless, while this is a short scene, it's certainly a powerful and tragic one...
Someone who gets it!! I never got an uncanny feeling from the movie either growing up. Personally, AI generation is the most uncanny valley thing for me lol.
For the record, I hated this movie as a kid and I have never thought that the animation was creepy. Just the weird ghost hobo and the train car of puppets.
And the hollow emptiness of the North Pole.
21:32 Same here mate.
Where on earth did you get the concept art photos!?!?!
The Art of The Polar Express! Such a fantastic art book-so many interesting concepts that didn't make the final cut.
wait i just remembered a memory. the first time i watched this, i called the little kid with a yellow pj "monkey kid" due to his ears. I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS R4C1ST BACK THEN IM SORRY
edit: i realized his name is billy
They’re very good scenes but the caribou, ice lake and the side adventure in the NP were just added to add runtime given how straightforward the book is lol
It’s easy to just say this and move on, but to choose to analyze these scenes is much, much more important to the overall conversation around the movie. This laziness towards media analysis is exactly what makes most video essays so boring and basic.
@ I was mainly joking, yeah they were very good scenes
You are right, I don’t think that doesn’t mean they can’t make them contribute to whatever themes they’re trying to get across
Give that north pole city just the slightest gloom and it looks alot like Oświęcim or Nikiszowiec..
I Love The Polar Express, It’s My Favourite Christmas Movie Of All Time, I Don’t Find It Scary Or Weird Nor Uncanny At All, I Love Trains, So I Love It Because Of That And Absolutely Infuriates Me "To No End" That People Review And Think This Movie Is Bad, Scary, Uncanny, Weird And Nonsensical
I liked it because train
Classifying Roger Ebert as a contrarian is nonsense.
"Contrarian" might have been a strong word, but he was often different than the average-75% of his ratings were higher than other critics'. Some of his reviews were known for being fairly different too, like his positive Speed 2 and negative Usual Suspects reviews.
i say the nerd is the only scary one
Things getting heated in the Christmas Fandom?