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I always interpreted that the boy's wish was to always believe in Santa. The bell was a physical representation of that wish. And as they grew older, his friends and even his sister could no longer hear the bell, but even after all these years, the bell still rang for him. I swear, that line at the end gets me all teary everytime.
Yeah even at the end, the narrator of the boy said as he grew older, he was still able to hear the bell despite his sister and friends no longer being able to hear it anymore as they got older. Some people theorize that the boy grew up to be the train conductor.
@@titanguy7316 I always thought he would believe into adulthood and then become the next conductor on the Polar Express. At least that’s what I took away.
The kid got it wrong. The locomotive was not a Baldwin, but a Lima. A Lima 2-8-4 Berkshire. It was operated by Nickel Plate Road, which is now part of Norfolk Southern.
fun fact about the Hobo, in a deleted scene his origin was revealed, as well as his name(it's literally King). he decided to hop aboard the Polar Express sometime during the Great Depression, but was unable to get off the roof in time for Flat Top Tunnel(which explains why he knew of it's danger, not to mention how much clearance there was between the roof of the train and the tunnel ceiling)
I just watched that scene, and yeah it certainly explains a lot, including why he spoke about Flat Top Tunnel in such an ominous light, because he died there, and he was trying to spare the main character the same horrible fate.
Also later in the movie when the train car breaks off in the north pole. He's ontop of the roof drinking his joe when they hit another tunnel. I think that was also hinting that he died in a similar way.
@@Railman1225 thought he was an Angel. They mentioned angels twice in the film. The conducter even hinted that he was an Angel when he saved him from slipping off.
That scene made no sense. The ice is not only thick enough to hold up a speeding train, but a tiny lever falling cracks it? Even if the movie's a dream, that's a really stupid dream.
For some reason the hobo has always stuck with me, Just because he tells the kid "seeing is believing...Right?" and then goes to walk away only to come back and ask the kid "do you believe in ghosts", when the kid shakes his head, when he says "interesting" it's because he saw him but doesn't believe in him it just sends chills down my spine, it's so good!
This is something I always found amusing in the film: nearly every time we see a full shot of the express the number of coaches changes. Sometimes there’s 13, sometimes 7, sometimes 5, and sometimes there’s well over 15 separate coaches. It really helps push the idea that this could all be a fantasy and if it is real well and there’s clearly some sort of supernatural magic going on here.
@doctahwahwee2237made me worried for all those kids when the train went down all those rollercoaster like hills cuz last time I checked none of those seats had seatbelts so all those children would be flying
I've always called "Hero-boy" Chris, after the author of the book. Also called "Hero-Girl" Angela due to the way she refers to angels. I feel like it was something a family member of hers would call her whenever they see her, "An Angel!"
there is a fan-theory that "hero-Girl" is an angel or Ghost as she obviously believes in santa but all the other kids don't. (the conductor and hobo are also Angels or ghosts)
@@angrynoodletwentyfive6463 There's also another theory that the hobo and the conductor is the "hero boy" grown up but in different life paths if he chooses to believe or stay skeptical and the whole plot is a dream
I looked up this movie on TvTropes recently and found something interesting. Apparently the characters - though never mentioned on screen - DO have official names. You were correct that Hero Boy is named Chris, after the author. But Hero Girl's name is actually Holly, Know-It-All is Lenny, the engineer is Steamer, the Fireman is Smokey and the conductor is James.
My fondest memory of this film will always be this neat little Christmas tradition my elementary school had. They would call the students into the auditorium to watch the movie and when we returned to class after it was over, there'd be a silver bell "mysteriously" placed on all of our desks. Funny enough, I still have mine after all these years - been using it as a tree ornament.
We had a similar tradition with this filmstrip but we would drink hot cocoa. I wanted a sleigh bell that sounded like the one heard in this version. I was disappointed when this movie replaced it. th-cam.com/video/q7xxV1ty_W8/w-d-xo.html
@@kamdan2011 wow,on pajama day which was in December,someone on the anoncements read the book and showed the pictures on screen,and we would drink hot coco with probably marshmallows and candycanes,at our desk while we were in our pj's, I'm in my pj's right now and eating peppermint coco cookie dough reliving my childhood.
As someone who grew up in a family where we couldn’t afford much, Toys for Tots kinda really helped so much. I still have a stuffed rabbit that TfT gave me, and I’m near my 30s. You don’t forget that kind of generosity and it means so much when I see people donating to it, thank you for supporting that charity.
my grandma loved this movie. she wasn't especially kind or caring at times, but she always made sure my sister and i had a good christmas. whenever i watch this movie, i think of her in her big green recliner chair watching this movie with a smile on her face as she watched us play with our toys. i can still hear her laughing at the conductor taking his hat off and saying "look at him! he was bald as a cue ball!" grandma was a tough old devout catholic who suffered from her own trauma, but she loved me and my sister so very deeply despite the love she couldn't give to our mom. she passed pretty close to christmas, so this time of year always makes me think of her. thank you nostalgia critic, for reminding me of how much this movie means to me, and to my family.
I'm sure she has a green recliner in "heaven", and is watching everyone grow up. I'm an atheist, but I hope there is something after life- as I hope for your grandma, you, and everyone.
As a kid, I was gifted this Polar Express box set. It came with a copy of the book, a tape of the movie, and a sleigh bell. It became a Christmas tradition to watch the movie and read that book every year. The bell's still laying around somewhere, but the ribbon is long gone.
When you mentioned the part with the hot chocolate guys, I needed to comment this. I went on one of those Polar Express holiday rides one year when I was little that was apart of this Christmas light show thing. As a kid I expected this to be like the movie, and it absolutely did not deliver that. The train was in the day time, Santa was there but he gave a bell to everyone, and yes, the hot chocolate was served but I kid you not, I expected them to dance and flip like they did in the movie LOL. instead they handed us Styrofoam cups and called it a day. To this day whenever I see that scene in the movie I still remember the time the dude handed me the foam cup with the lukewarm hot chocolate in it, and being disappointed that they did not dance!
Yes! I went on a Polar Express ride also! When I was about 9 or 10 years old. I think a little older than the average demographic but I still had fun. It was with my younger siblings, so they were more into it than I was. I remember it being fun tho. They didn’t do any backflips when handing out hot chocolate. I just remember sitting in the train, I think it was about past dinner time and we got cookies and hot coco. And later Santa gave everyone a bell. There was some dancing but no back flips or stunts of the sorts. And they did give us props if I can recall like I think someone got an inflatable guitar to use. I can’t remember everything but it was a fun tim. Even tho the performance was lacking. LOL 😂
@@Seraphina-b3h oh my goodness!! So you had a very similar experience I did!!🤣 I honestly was super disappointed and it lingered with me even now.. and I always talk about it🤣 it was just whack! They should do it a bit more like the movie
@@Mrs.Nesmith98 yes. I agree. If they had a performance with actual stunt performers that would be way more immersive. It was fun but could’ve been better.
The thing that really resonated with me about this film is the message. By not having faith, you're kind of setting yourself up to be disappointed. But faith, even if it might be misplaced or incorrect, can bring a lot of joy to you and the people around you. It's good to be skeptical, but operating that way your entire life is just the pathway to misery.
@@weaponizedlizardmen360 No, it really isn't. Sure, Santa isn't real, but there's a certain magic to Christmas as a kid that can never be recaptured as an adult, and believing in Santa was part of the mystery for a lot of people. I'm not saying Santa IS real, but having faith in ourselves is often the thing that pushes us to achieve more in life than having no faith in ourselves.
Faith without rationality is simply blind hope. You don't sit in poverty and bleakness yet have faith you'll find a genie at the end of a long trek through the slums, you'll get three wishes, and the two of you will be best friends granting everyone's wishes by the end, do you? Faith without rationality will not improve your life or make your dreams a reality, it keeps you trapped in delusion.
This film was always bittersweet to me. It was a boy who had trouble believing in the wonder of Christmas, and, most likely, life, and he knew this. He was 'born older' to quote 'It's A Wonderful Life,' and the boy wasn't happy. He attempts to believe throughout the whole film until he hits rock bottom and does belief. I relate to the boy on many levels so it's always been one of my favorite Christmas films and films in general. It helps this is also an amazing film.
Josh Hutcherson actually didn’t do the voice of the main character he was just used for additional motion capture. Daryl Sabara from Spy Kids was the voice actor.
@@foxh8er He said he'd never do a fourth one, but he said that almost ten years ago. Although by this point he'd need like six more to cover all his mistakes since.
Dude I loved this movie and still kinda do, idk I don't get any of the uncanniness from the animation, and actually when I was younger I thought it was live action lol, super glad this was posted
Ha, that's funny because 'Titin : the secret of the unicorn' had the same animation style as Polar Express and when I was younger I always struggled to deduce whether or not the film was animated or with 'real people' (live action) :)
Oddly enough, "When Christmas Comes to Town" is the song that sticks with me the most. I can sing it by heart after all these years. So it was surprising that its apparently not that memorable to people
I also think it's got a lot of character motivation in it. Billy is singing about how he's either neglected or in poverty and therefore feeling left out of Christmas, but the girl is singing about the memories and togetherness of the holiday. Billy is singing "I wish" and the girl is singing "I promise/it's already so." Sure, Doug is totally correct in the fact that it doesn't make sense to have a musical number so late and out of nowhere, but maybe it's my inner theatre kid who's willing to suspend that disbelief because 1) I will literally burst into spontaneous song in real life so it's more or less normalized for me, 2) I still think it's a very good song, despite how saccharine and overdone some of the lyrics are.
The thing that I enjoy most about this movie is simply the atmosphere and setting. Theres just something special about a setting that takes place at night, snowing, at Christmas time. Calm and peaceful honestly. I remember on Christmas Eve anticipating the next morning with much excitement, and watching this movie late into the night on my family's portable DVD player, checking every few minutes to see if it was snowing.
When I first saw this film as a kid. I was blown away by the animation. It obviously hasn't aged well but I do still have fond memories of the film ever since my mother took me to see it as a mere 7 year old.
I've mixed feelings about this film, but can't deny it's cultural impact: there used to be a cinema in my town that did sell-out annual Polar Express screenings in which people could come, change into their PJ'S, wrap up and watch the movie with delish-sounding hot chocolates similar to the movie! 😋
Actually Josh Hutcherson was only an extra motion capture performer for the Hero Boy, his voice was actually Daryl Sabara, who played Juni Cortez in the Spy Kids movies.
Correct, I was puzzled at first and double checked, almost had a heart attack that I might’ve made a mistake when I did a Hall of the Greats episode of Daryl Sabara but you know, mistakes will come and go.
I think the scene where he sees the animatronic Santa implies how plastic and commercialized Christmas and the idea of there being a Santa has become which is what most people’s doubt is rooted in about Christmas
On the subject of the film’s message, some have speculated that the characters of the conductor, the hobo, and Santa Claus are an allegory for the trinity - the conductor representing God the son, the hobo the holy ghost, and Santa God the father. I’m not sure if that’s what the filmmakers were going for, but given the movie’s general theme and some of the things they say, I think it’s at least an interesting idea. I really like this movie myself, it’s one of my favourites to watch around Christmas time, and I always like seeing what people speculate about it.
One thing I’ve heard is, the hobo and conductor are the boy in the future in different times. The hobo being him if he chooses not to believe and encourages others not to believe, while the conductor does believe and encourages others to do so.
I always loved the part when the conductor stamps words on the children’s tickets as they leave the train at the end. Maybe it’s not as subtle as I think it is, but I always felt it was a special, heartwarming moment. :) Happy Holidays, and thank you for this video!!
This movie is 100% a Christmas Classic for me. We watch it every year when setting up the tree. While my siblings and I do like to make fun of the uncanny valley and voice acting at times, we still all thoroughly enjoy the movie. It just holds a special place in my heart.
It does, but it does still look quite dated by today’s standards. Granted I still like the film for what it is, and loved the theme “Believe” by Josh Groban.
Ive seen this film every year. Its almost like mandatory to watch in my old elementary school, it was THE Christmas movie we watched for our holiday party. Even though I've graduated I still see it air on TV and on streaming services at least once every year, its basically turned into a tradition for me
Interesting fact: Tom Hanks was the only actor having major roles playing more than one character in the movie: from the boy to the boy's dad to the hobo to the conductor to Santa Claus. He beats Jim Carrey by a longshot when it comes to animated movies.
Yeah but it's really just voice acting for the most part which is easier then full on acting. Like they kinda sound like tom Hanks but in a series of unfortunate events the characters jim Carey plays all look differently and act differently
If you're talking about A Series of Unfortunate Events then it doesn't really count. All the "different" characters he played were just one character, Count Olaf, in costumes trying to recapture the kids. Tom in this ACTUALLY plays 5 different characters
“WHO IN THE 🤬 APPLIED THAT 🤬 BREAK?!” 😂 It sounds like the conductor is going to put soap in his mouth, now I can’t watch that scene the same way again.
While I do understand the whole angel or ghost hint, The way I always interpreted it was that the hobo was supposed to be Jack Frost, as he disappears into the snow storm and is perfectly unaffected on top of the train. It is also adds to hero boy’s believe journey as Jack Frost is seen as a mischievous, fun loving character
There is a deleted scene that explains he is a ghost. Hero Boy tells the train drivers The King Of The North Pole brought him to the front which causes them to recount the story of a homeless man who snuck onto the train one night crowned himself king and died when the train went through a tunnel
I dunno I feel like the movie more than implies from the hobo himself that he’s a ghost, during the whole “seeing is believing” conversation he has with Hero Boy he asks him if he believes in ghosts because he can see him despite his saying he doesn’t believe in them meaning he’s lying or that the hobo’s ideology is wrong because he sees one but doesn’t believe
@@mrcritical6751 Or it is the exact opposite. The Hero Boy is looking for absolutely anything that could prove that Santa is real, however, the Hero Boy is forced to consider that he is interacting with a ghost, yet even when he sees the ghost he still doesn't believe. So the hobo might not be be telling the kid that seeing is believing.
This film will always have a special place in my heart, me and my family would always watch this every Christmas and always had a good time watching it. The animation doesn't bother me, yeah it looks dated, but I think it gives it that unique charm
I grew up with this movie so the animation never bothered me. The backgrounds and the over all theme of the movie are what still stick with my family and me. My family use to watch it every year (still do just off and on) because of that. Despite the flaws, Polar Express has a very special meaning to me. I was glad to hear your thoughts on the matter and you grew to like it over time. Thanks
Honestly really one of the few instances this style works in my opinion. Especially watching this as a kid, the animation and the weird slight hostility of the conductor gave this an other worldly but somber feeling. Really contributes toward what the whole "dream like" thing they're going for. Makes for a movie that's if nothing else pretty unique especially considering the simplicity of the story.
7:05 I really wanna know what Nostalgia Critic thinks of the direct-to-DVD Garfield movies. I assume he'd like them because they're written by Jim Davis, so they're more accurate to the source material. And there's no product placement or dated pop songs. (I actually love the music score.)
Well, I don't know how well Davis' involvement would do at affecting Critic's opinion, considering this is the guy who thinks the book-accurate Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptation executive produced by Felicity Dahl is trash.
Nostalgia Critic is ALWAYS guaranteed to love a movie if it does something better than another one he despised with every fiber of his being. I mean, this review is pretty much him saying "Yeah, the CGI is ugly, but the movie is still better than How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
@@ElFreakinCid Honestly, as much as I’ve enjoyed NC’s content, I always thought his thoughts on Charlie and the Chocolate factory were a load of crap. The “points” he makes about the movie are ones that aren’t well thought out and it’s like he didn’t pay attention to the movie or do his research on it. Also, at the risk of starting a TH-cam comment story, Burton’s version is better than Gene Wilder’s version. Don’t @ me.
But you’re forgetting the most raw and genuine aspect of The Polar Express, the aspect that makes it infinitely rewatchable for millions of kids every Christmas. SHUT THAT DOOR!!!
The doubt the boy feels and the “ end of the magic,” has a different feeling now that I am an adult, when your more focused on work, taxes, responsibilities, etc, not so much on childhood wonder. I think that feeling makes this not only the best Christmas movie but one of the most interesting and well written plots of all time. Even when you look at the book, The artwork doesn’t have any flashing lights or bright colors that a kid would find out of this world and amazing, they’re simple and dull, but still very beautiful, but only in the minds of an adult. This works cause both the book and the movie are an adult remembering his childhood.
This was a really magical adventure and all, but imagine coming back home from the Polar Express and your parents give you the beating of your life for disappearing for that long.
I actually think the lifeless scary North Pole is a wanted take for the movie, and it just completes all this sad/surreal atmoshpere around the movie. A good choice imo, the vibe is sooo special, even today, 15 years after seeing the movie, i still think of it with suck a nostalgious and strange vibe around it. Love it.
"Imagine if Lofi girl-" "I'm sorry, whom?" *shows image of Shizuku from Whispers of the Heart* "OH! Lo-Fi Girl." *proceeds to laugh at weird pronunciation of Critic's*
This film actually came out a few weeks after THE INCREDIBLES, and it was fascinating to see most people enjoying INCREDIBLES more (though I saw both in theaters and loved both)
It’s not rocket science lol Incredibles was a legitimate movie with real characters and interesting premise, plus it’s Pixar, who’s gonna win? Incredibles
I vaguely remember seeing this in the cinema, as well as The Incredibles, think they must've been my first experiences at the cinema as I was only 4 years old.
My family's in the 'it's a tradition' camp. I personally don't see TOO much wrong with the animation and the roller coaster to frozen tracks part is my favourite bit.
@@anth636, Tom Hanks even revealed Chris' name in a behind the scenes featurette that aired on ABC Family (Freeform) along with the movie. It was back when ABC, ABC Family (Freeform), & Disney Channel had the rights to air the movie.
Out of all the movies Warner Bros. has given us, this is the movie that I've seen the most times. Fun Fact: The movie is so popular that it gets re-released in theaters every year since it 1st came out, mostly in IMAX 3D.
Thanks to this review I didn’t realize how often/how much the train’s length changes length. It goes from like 5 passenger cars long in one shot to over 20 in another.
Here’s some fun facts about the film: A Flux Capacitor can be seen at one point The number of coaches constantly changes from 5 to 20 to 10 etc When the hero-boy whispers to Santa, you can actually hear him say “I want the bell from the reindeer” or something along those lines
This film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, the guy who directed the Back to The Future Trilogy and Disney’s A Christmas Carol, and this film might tack place in the same universe because Chris (the author of the book and also the main protagonist) and the Conductor are Doc Emmet Brown and Marty Mcfly.
Daryl Sabara provided the voice for Hero Boy and Josh Hutcherson did all the motion-capture work! If listen to Sabara’s voice side by side you’ll notice hero boy sounds like Juni Cortez!!!
Uncanny valley has never really been an issue for me, maybe because my family takes 45 minutes taking photos to get me to look 'normal' with a smile. I loved the book growing up and loved the film. Loved the message on faith and belief. I love the 'creepy' and even 'scary' stuff as I feel it fits with Christmas. It's dealing with the unworldly and spiritual, there should be a feeling of unknown and even fear at that unknown even if it's all benevolent. That's in keeping with the original Christmas story as well.
I love Polar Express, both the book and the movie and I feel like the uncanny effects and emptiness add a mystique to the movie most Christmas films don't have. It is also one of the few holiday movies that can be open for interpretation, as there are many theories surrounding P.E. ("The movie is a retelling of the Christmas Carol", "The Conductor, The Boy and Santa represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost", "The Conductor is the Boy in the future", etc) and I think the openness along with it's timeless features is why Polar Express has remained a Christmas class after all these years, flaws and everything.
As someone born in 95, this movie, among others like the Jim Carrey grinch, were highlights of my childhood and I can’t believe most of these films I watched as a kid are over 20 years old😭😭
This is what I like about these reviews. You can like something I think is trash, but your viewpoint is so respectful I can't help but enjoy listening to all the good things about it you have to say. Happy holidays Channel Awesome.
My favorite thing about the movie is the locomotive itself. CGI animating a real-life locomotive down to the most minute details is an incredible achievement in of itself. For non-train buffs who don't know, the locomotive is complete based on the Pere Marquette Railway No. 1225, owned and operated by the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, MI. The film used it for the animation and sound effects. So everything you hear from the engine in the film (minus the whistle) is from the 1225. Every holiday season, SRI does operates North Pole Express excursions with 1225 as the power. So you can legitimately ride aboard the Polar Express.
I was in 3rd grade when this movie came out, and I highly regret not seeing it in theaters because I remember a lot of the kids at my school were talking about it because it was a really big deal back then.
I find it odd that when Doug was listing great adaptations of children's books, he didn't mention Jumanji, especially considering that it was written by the exact same guy who did The Polar Express.
I remember going with my parents to see this in the theater. It was magical seeing it on the big screen. I remember reading the book during Christmas time in school. It’s one of my absolutely favorites even now.
In my elementary school there was a tradition around December where we'd gather up in the gym, get some blankets, gather up with some friends (if you had any) and watch The Polar Express. Did anyone else do this at their school?
We did that in first grade. Funny story: the teachers were to pass around hot chocolate and popcorn and told us not to raise our hands, rather they claimed they would get to all of us. However, they missed me. I still have vengeance fantasies to this day.
I didn't grow up with this movie, so I think it's only okay. The animation is hit-and-miss, Know-It-All boy is almost Jar Jar level obnoxious, there are several major plot holes and Billy totally should have been the main character. But the message is great, the songs are catchy and when the animation works it really works. It's not a classic in my eyes but it works well enough.
The atmosphere of this movie is especially unique. You feel the cold all around you, but it weirdly feels cozy while watching. It's like eating a bowl of ice cream. It's cold and you'll probably get brain freeze, but the flavors are just the comfort food you need.
I was 10 years old when this movie came out, and it's hands down one of my favorite Christmas movies. Not only for the message, but from the experiences I had with seeing this movie with my father.. That year, I learned about the true message of Santa Claus from my father, who was a "Santa Claus" in our community for over 28 years. At the time of us seeing this movie, I got to go out first hand and experience what he did: giving back to those less fortunate, spreading Christmas Cheer, seeing the faces of little kids and their eyes lighting up at the sight of Santa. It still has left an impact in my life after all these years, and it's definitely one of those Christmases I'll never forget. H
I was 9 when it came out, and yes despite the flaws (such as the now dated CGI) I still love it to this day. “Believe” by Josh Groban is still one of my favorite Christmas songs since I heard it in the theatre.
so remember kids, If some guy comes to you and tells you he's going to the north pole, you agree to get in his van. I'm just kidding, I love this movie
My mom and I watch this every year. We love that it's both charming and awkward and hell. Also, Tamara and Malcolm are my absolute favorite actors from Channel Awesome.
That panel picture gave so much serotonin and feelings of good times I had to pause and smile. Nostalgia Critic has a real good thing and it's so nice to see it. Fingers crossed I can come see you guys one day when I'm not slaving away in a warehouse.
I just wanna say this month has been chaotic but man, when I see a Wednesday Nostalgia Critic posting, it brings me all the Christmas cheer and excitement I need. Thank you all, Channel Awesome!
I don't care, this movie is amazing! The "plot holes" people have problems with was just the mysteriousness behind everything to me, which makes me love this film even more!
That very well may be, but the look still creeps me out. MoCap just wasn't quite ready yet... and "realistic" cgi faces sure as hell weren't. The uncanny valley is too much for me, but I'm glad you enjoy the movie.
@@JC-lk3oy i feel like the uncanny valley is just like any other fear (at least to me). the more intentionally and unintentionally uncanny things people make, the less it'll be terrifying.
Coming back to this a year later and I still feel exactly the same. But totally understand how people can feel the way they do about the film, especially the cgi which can be distracting for the wrong reasons at times.
I love the Little Troll Prince but you have to admit both have their story flaws, they're not masterpieces. I also love Santa and the Three Bears, and that's, wait... that has no plotline flaws... huh. Ok not all Christmas animations are equal.
I always thought the reason hero girl and shy boy were able to break into song is because it was just a christmas song they both knew and she was singing it to cheer him up, I didn’t think she was just making it up on the spot
Wait that kinda makes sense, and also the polar express song is just like a train ride christmas carol type of song that people actually sing, you even hear the kids practicing every time they're on the train leading up to the north pole scene
The polar express drinking game, take a shot every time: -They use the same magical motif after something magical happens -Tom hanks plays a different character -The train whistle blows That’s it. Those three alone will give you severe liver damage
@@claytonrios1 yeah why the fuck all the adaptations aren't tv shows we all know you can't fill maybe 15 or 20 hours of gameplay in a 2 hour movie.... depending if you are a one with no life.
There's a deleted scene that gives the two conductors a song with a fart joke and gives the hobo a stylized backstory scene explained by the conductors. It was deleted early in animation and for a good reason.
My favorite aspect of this film is the ghost. I also appreciated the mystery behind his existence and the way he compares the belief in ghosts to belief in Santa.
My parents watched this with us every Christmas Eve to put us to sleep. I love the movie now. I understand it’s flaws, but it’s still one of my all-time favourites.
ALL ABOARD!!!! Christmas Classic or creepy? What are your thoughts?
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Can you do Cinderella Month? You could the Cinderella Story movies, the Brandy version, and top it off with Ever After.
Please review The Meteor Man. It's a cheese superhero film from 1993 that deserves to be reviewed.
Please don't ever show uncanny valley Tamara again
Always thought this was a creepy Christmas film
This was a classic for my family we always watch it on Christmas
I always interpreted that the boy's wish was to always believe in Santa. The bell was a physical representation of that wish. And as they grew older, his friends and even his sister could no longer hear the bell, but even after all these years, the bell still rang for him. I swear, that line at the end gets me all teary everytime.
But I thought the point was that it doesn't...only in his heart and memories does it still ring (and he's content just holding onto that)?
Yeah even at the end, the narrator of the boy said as he grew older, he was still able to hear the bell despite his sister and friends no longer being able to hear it anymore as they got older. Some people theorize that the boy grew up to be the train conductor.
I thought the Christmas wish was for that one lonely kid to get the first present.
@@KainDrake I really like that theory. I never thought of that.
@@titanguy7316 I always thought he would believe into adulthood and then become the next conductor on the Polar Express. At least that’s what I took away.
The kid got it wrong. The locomotive was not a Baldwin, but a Lima. A Lima 2-8-4 Berkshire. It was operated by Nickel Plate Road, which is now part of Norfolk Southern.
Thanks a Lot Trainfan1055
Looks like that kid has a lot to learn.
@@JzanderN Which was exactly what was punched on his ticket.
@@tristanhartup4936 I know. 'twas the joke.
Come to think of it, that might have been the point. The first time we see this kid, he gets a fact wrong with such confidence.
fun fact about the Hobo, in a deleted scene his origin was revealed, as well as his name(it's literally King). he decided to hop aboard the Polar Express sometime during the Great Depression, but was unable to get off the roof in time for Flat Top Tunnel(which explains why he knew of it's danger, not to mention how much clearance there was between the roof of the train and the tunnel ceiling)
I just watched that scene, and yeah it certainly explains a lot, including why he spoke about Flat Top Tunnel in such an ominous light, because he died there, and he was trying to spare the main character the same horrible fate.
Everyone always told me he was jack frost.
Also later in the movie when the train car breaks off in the north pole. He's ontop of the roof drinking his joe when they hit another tunnel. I think that was also hinting that he died in a similar way.
@@SushiLord89 If this was my first time watching without absolutely no knowledge of it I would've probably thought the same way.
@@Railman1225 thought he was an Angel. They mentioned angels twice in the film. The conducter even hinted that he was an Angel when he saved him from slipping off.
The train sliding over the ice scene is the most memorable part for me. The tension was so butt clentchingly perfect.
That scene made no sense. The ice is not only thick enough to hold up a speeding train, but a tiny lever falling cracks it? Even if the movie's a dream, that's a really stupid dream.
I always liked the idea of the bells only those who believe can hear. I can never get invested in action or dramatic scenes in anything.
@@coolnerdlll6053
It's a fantasy story. Give it a little leeway.
MULTI-TRACK DRIFTING!@#$
@@coolnerdlll6053 It's really depressing seeing such comments in a movie all about having faith in your imagination
For some reason the hobo has always stuck with me, Just because he tells the kid "seeing is believing...Right?" and then goes to walk away only to come back and ask the kid "do you believe in ghosts", when the kid shakes his head, when he says "interesting" it's because he saw him but doesn't believe in him it just sends chills down my spine, it's so good!
Yeah I love that bit too!
An EXTREMELY well written scene!
Tbh I didn’t realize the seeing is believing & do you believe in ghosts lines were connected to each other, thanks for pointing that out!
The Hobo Ghost is probably my favorite part of this entire movie. Like. _chef's kiss_
This is something I always found amusing in the film: nearly every time we see a full shot of the express the number of coaches changes. Sometimes there’s 13, sometimes 7, sometimes 5, and sometimes there’s well over 15 separate coaches.
It really helps push the idea that this could all be a fantasy and if it is real well and there’s clearly some sort of supernatural magic going on here.
It's kinda like in Dumbo where Casey Junior's circus train clearly does the exact same thing.
@doctahwahwee2237made me worried for all those kids when the train went down all those rollercoaster like hills cuz last time I checked none of those seats had seatbelts so all those children would be flying
Good observation! I never knew that. It does actually help seal the kid's fear of whether or not this is some uncanny dream.
I've always called "Hero-boy" Chris, after the author of the book. Also called "Hero-Girl" Angela due to the way she refers to angels. I feel like it was something a family member of hers would call her whenever they see her, "An Angel!"
I call them John and Sarah
@@ianr.navahuber2195 Isn’t Sarah the name of the sister?
there is a fan-theory that "hero-Girl" is an angel or Ghost as she obviously believes in santa but all the other kids don't. (the conductor and hobo are also Angels or ghosts)
@@angrynoodletwentyfive6463 There's also another theory that the hobo and the conductor is the "hero boy" grown up but in different life paths if he chooses to believe or stay skeptical and the whole plot is a dream
I looked up this movie on TvTropes recently and found something interesting. Apparently the characters - though never mentioned on screen - DO have official names.
You were correct that Hero Boy is named Chris, after the author. But Hero Girl's name is actually Holly, Know-It-All is Lenny, the engineer is Steamer, the Fireman is Smokey and the conductor is James.
My fondest memory of this film will always be this neat little Christmas tradition my elementary school had. They would call the students into the auditorium to watch the movie and when we returned to class after it was over, there'd be a silver bell "mysteriously" placed on all of our desks. Funny enough, I still have mine after all these years - been using it as a tree ornament.
That's honestly the cutest thing I've heard all week 🥺
Wow! I wish my Elementary School did that when I was a kid. I'm both jealous and touched that you had that kind of experience.
We had a similar tradition with this filmstrip but we would drink hot cocoa. I wanted a sleigh bell that sounded like the one heard in this version. I was disappointed when this movie replaced it.
th-cam.com/video/q7xxV1ty_W8/w-d-xo.html
@@kamdan2011 wow,on pajama day which was in December,someone on the anoncements read the book and showed the pictures on screen,and we would drink hot coco with probably marshmallows and candycanes,at our desk while we were in our pj's, I'm in my pj's right now and eating peppermint coco cookie dough reliving my childhood.
Thar is absolutely precious ❤
As someone who grew up in a family where we couldn’t afford much, Toys for Tots kinda really helped so much. I still have a stuffed rabbit that TfT gave me, and I’m near my 30s. You don’t forget that kind of generosity and it means so much when I see people donating to it, thank you for supporting that charity.
That's a beautiful and touching story to hear about.
I know this comment is old, but that's so sweet.
my grandma loved this movie. she wasn't especially kind or caring at times, but she always made sure my sister and i had a good christmas. whenever i watch this movie, i think of her in her big green recliner chair watching this movie with a smile on her face as she watched us play with our toys. i can still hear her laughing at the conductor taking his hat off and saying "look at him! he was bald as a cue ball!" grandma was a tough old devout catholic who suffered from her own trauma, but she loved me and my sister so very deeply despite the love she couldn't give to our mom. she passed pretty close to christmas, so this time of year always makes me think of her. thank you nostalgia critic, for reminding me of how much this movie means to me, and to my family.
Thank you for sharing this kind story. I'm sure your Grandma is still smiling down on you from a place beyond human comprehension...
I'm not going to lie, the "cue ball" line made me crack up laughing
I'm sure she has a green recliner in "heaven", and is watching everyone grow up. I'm an atheist, but I hope there is something after life- as I hope for your grandma, you, and everyone.
Why couldn't your Grandmother love your mother🤔
aw, thats so sweet.
As a kid, I was gifted this Polar Express box set. It came with a copy of the book, a tape of the movie, and a sleigh bell. It became a Christmas tradition to watch the movie and read that book every year. The bell's still laying around somewhere, but the ribbon is long gone.
When you mentioned the part with the hot chocolate guys, I needed to comment this. I went on one of those Polar Express holiday rides one year when I was little that was apart of this Christmas light show thing. As a kid I expected this to be like the movie, and it absolutely did not deliver that. The train was in the day time, Santa was there but he gave a bell to everyone, and yes, the hot chocolate was served but I kid you not, I expected them to dance and flip like they did in the movie LOL. instead they handed us Styrofoam cups and called it a day. To this day whenever I see that scene in the movie I still remember the time the dude handed me the foam cup with the lukewarm hot chocolate in it, and being disappointed that they did not dance!
Childhood Ruined.
@@FiveSkitsAtFreddys absolutely!😂
Yes! I went on a Polar Express ride also! When I was about 9 or 10 years old. I think a little older than the average demographic but I still had fun. It was with my younger siblings, so they were more into it than I was. I remember it being fun tho. They didn’t do any backflips when handing out hot chocolate. I just remember sitting in the train, I think it was about past dinner time and we got cookies and hot coco. And later Santa gave everyone a bell. There was some dancing but no back flips or stunts of the sorts. And they did give us props if I can recall like I think someone got an inflatable guitar to use. I can’t remember everything but it was a fun tim. Even tho the performance was lacking. LOL 😂
@@Seraphina-b3h oh my goodness!! So you had a very similar experience I did!!🤣 I honestly was super disappointed and it lingered with me even now.. and I always talk about it🤣 it was just whack! They should do it a bit more like the movie
@@Mrs.Nesmith98 yes. I agree. If they had a performance with actual stunt performers that would be way more immersive. It was fun but could’ve been better.
The thing that really resonated with me about this film is the message. By not having faith, you're kind of setting yourself up to be disappointed. But faith, even if it might be misplaced or incorrect, can bring a lot of joy to you and the people around you. It's good to be skeptical, but operating that way your entire life is just the pathway to misery.
Wow, that's beautiful
Which is just a over complicated way of saying "Believe in falsehoods"
@@weaponizedlizardmen360 No, it really isn't. Sure, Santa isn't real, but there's a certain magic to Christmas as a kid that can never be recaptured as an adult, and believing in Santa was part of the mystery for a lot of people. I'm not saying Santa IS real, but having faith in ourselves is often the thing that pushes us to achieve more in life than having no faith in ourselves.
Faith without rationality is simply blind hope.
You don't sit in poverty and bleakness yet have faith you'll find a genie at the end of a long trek through the slums, you'll get three wishes, and the two of you will be best friends granting everyone's wishes by the end, do you?
Faith without rationality will not improve your life or make your dreams a reality, it keeps you trapped in delusion.
@@Sh0tgunJust1ce Saint Nicholas of Myra was a real person. The whole red suit and flying reindeer mythos thing isn't.
The biggest takeaway from this is how Doug pronounced "LoFi" as "Loafy"
Came looking for this comment. This needs more attention. It's pronounced "Low Fai" not "loaf ee". Extra nerdy: stands for low fidelity.
@@yourbible2154 I don't think it's considered nerdy to know that "low fi" stands for "low fidelity"... unless you're under the age of 25, maybe.
He actually pronounced it as "Loffy," which is even worse.
Fucking thank you.
23:12
This film was always bittersweet to me. It was a boy who had trouble believing in the wonder of Christmas, and, most likely, life, and he knew this. He was 'born older' to quote 'It's A Wonderful Life,' and the boy wasn't happy. He attempts to believe throughout the whole film until he hits rock bottom and does belief. I relate to the boy on many levels so it's always been one of my favorite Christmas films and films in general. It helps this is also an amazing film.
This film is basically just Nostalgia bait
@SMCwasTaken No, the CGI Lion King was nostalgia bait.
This is a movie that actually tried to be good, and for many people, it succeeded.
Josh Hutcherson actually didn’t do the voice of the main character he was just used for additional motion capture. Daryl Sabara from Spy Kids was the voice actor.
Add that to a top 11 fuckup
@@foxh8er He said he'd never do a fourth one, but he said that almost ten years ago. Although by this point he'd need like six more to cover all his mistakes since.
You mean the guy who nailed Meghan Trainor?
Came here to say this!
@@KingRandor82 Thank you for that image. I definitely needed that in my head.
Anyway, his brother was Robin in the 2003 Batman series.
Dude I loved this movie and still kinda do, idk I don't get any of the uncanniness from the animation, and actually when I was younger I thought it was live action lol, super glad this was posted
You and I have the exact same thoughts on this movie.
Ha, that's funny because 'Titin : the secret of the unicorn' had the same animation style as Polar Express and when I was younger I always struggled to deduce whether or not the film was animated or with 'real people' (live action) :)
Same, I only realised recently that it wasn't upon seeing clips again
Same with me.
I thought it was live action till I was 10 I totally get it
Oddly enough, "When Christmas Comes to Town" is the song that sticks with me the most. I can sing it by heart after all these years. So it was surprising that its apparently not that memorable to people
Same, I never forgot it
That song and "Believe" by Josh Groban always gets me whenever I hear them
I still know it well. But then again HOT CHOCOLATE!
I also think it's got a lot of character motivation in it. Billy is singing about how he's either neglected or in poverty and therefore feeling left out of Christmas, but the girl is singing about the memories and togetherness of the holiday. Billy is singing "I wish" and the girl is singing "I promise/it's already so."
Sure, Doug is totally correct in the fact that it doesn't make sense to have a musical number so late and out of nowhere, but maybe it's my inner theatre kid who's willing to suspend that disbelief because 1) I will literally burst into spontaneous song in real life so it's more or less normalized for me, 2) I still think it's a very good song, despite how saccharine and overdone some of the lyrics are.
The thing that I enjoy most about this movie is simply the atmosphere and setting. Theres just something special about a setting that takes place at night, snowing, at Christmas time. Calm and peaceful honestly.
I remember on Christmas Eve anticipating the next morning with much excitement, and watching this movie late into the night on my family's portable DVD player, checking every few minutes to see if it was snowing.
When I first saw this film as a kid. I was blown away by the animation. It obviously hasn't aged well but I do still have fond memories of the film ever since my mother took me to see it as a mere 7 year old.
Omg same I had the hardest time telling whether or not they were real people
@The James Show Me too! Even my mom was impressed by how it looked back then!
I still think it looks fine for it’s time, sure it’s not winning any awards, but it was still fun and heartfelt that it kind of distracts from it.
I've mixed feelings about this film, but can't deny it's cultural impact: there used to be a cinema in my town that did sell-out annual Polar Express screenings in which people could come, change into their PJ'S, wrap up and watch the movie with delish-sounding hot chocolates similar to the movie! 😋
That sounds awesome o.O
The movie is so popular that it gets re-released in theaters every year since it 1st came out, mostly in IMAX 3D.
My little town still does it. It's playing right now and yes, you come in your PJ's and they serve hot chocolate. :)
@@misspriss2482 Aw that's fantastic! Glad it lives on 👍
*its
I still love the ending narration about the kids sister eventually no longer being able to hear the bell when they got older, but he still can.
Actually Josh Hutcherson was only an extra motion capture performer for the Hero Boy, his voice was actually Daryl Sabara, who played Juni Cortez in the Spy Kids movies.
Correct, I was puzzled at first and double checked, almost had a heart attack that I might’ve made a mistake when I did a Hall of the Greats episode of Daryl Sabara but you know, mistakes will come and go.
really? i didn't even recognize her
@@TheAllSeeingEye2468 Yeah, she did a great job as Carmen’s brother in Spy Kids.
@@TheAllSeeingEye2468, dude, Daryl Sabara is a GUY. Juni was HIS character’s name.
@@jesusrox4u who you are talking about is Alexa PenaVega, the older sister of Juni in Spy Kids
I think the scene where he sees the animatronic Santa implies how plastic and commercialized Christmas and the idea of there being a Santa has become which is what most people’s doubt is rooted in about Christmas
On the subject of the film’s message, some have speculated that the characters of the conductor, the hobo, and Santa Claus are an allegory for the trinity - the conductor representing God the son, the hobo the holy ghost, and Santa God the father. I’m not sure if that’s what the filmmakers were going for, but given the movie’s general theme and some of the things they say, I think it’s at least an interesting idea. I really like this movie myself, it’s one of my favourites to watch around Christmas time, and I always like seeing what people speculate about it.
....okay the more I think about it the more I can see that allegory working. And I kinda love it.
Huh, interesting. I like it.
One thing I’ve heard is, the hobo and conductor are the boy in the future in different times. The hobo being him if he chooses not to believe and encourages others not to believe, while the conductor does believe and encourages others to do so.
@@trainstorm1225 Cool. I like that idea as well.
Now I do like that theory!
I always loved the part when the conductor stamps words on the children’s tickets as they leave the train at the end. Maybe it’s not as subtle as I think it is, but I always felt it was a special, heartwarming moment. :) Happy Holidays, and thank you for this video!!
This movie is 100% a Christmas Classic for me. We watch it every year when setting up the tree. While my siblings and I do like to make fun of the uncanny valley and voice acting at times, we still all thoroughly enjoy the movie. It just holds a special place in my heart.
14:52 I can’t stop hearing this line without imagining Woody saying this to Sid when the toys come after the kid.
I think the CG gives it a cartoony feeling. Helps it feel more whimsical and timeless for me.
It does, but it does still look quite dated by today’s standards.
Granted I still like the film for what it is, and loved the theme “Believe” by Josh Groban.
Ive seen this film every year. Its almost like mandatory to watch in my old elementary school, it was THE Christmas movie we watched for our holiday party. Even though I've graduated I still see it air on TV and on streaming services at least once every year, its basically turned into a tradition for me
The movie is so popular that it gets re-released in theaters every year since it 1st came out, mostly in IMAX 3D.
Interesting fact: Tom Hanks was the only actor having major roles playing more than one character in the movie: from the boy to the boy's dad to the hobo to the conductor to Santa Claus. He beats Jim Carrey by a longshot when it comes to animated movies.
He does the dad as well
Yeah but it's really just voice acting for the most part which is easier then full on acting. Like they kinda sound like tom Hanks but in a series of unfortunate events the characters jim Carey plays all look differently and act differently
Don't forget Eddie Murphy playing every adult member of the immediate Klump family and Buddy Love in Nutty Professor.
If you're talking about A Series of Unfortunate Events then it doesn't really count. All the "different" characters he played were just one character, Count Olaf, in costumes trying to recapture the kids. Tom in this ACTUALLY plays 5 different characters
@@motxmod But that's live-action. This is animated.
9:18 That caught me so off-guard I almost choked. Well played, Channel Awesome.
Was class
I loved that part.
This guy's really got a good sense of humor
“WHO IN THE 🤬 APPLIED THAT 🤬 BREAK?!” 😂
It sounds like the conductor is going to put soap in his mouth, now I can’t watch that scene the same way again.
I was expecting to laugh at that bit, just not as much as I did
The best thing about this film to me is how they took the time to put the images from the picture book itself and placed them into the movie.
Saw this film with a friend when I was 12. Still a good Christmas movie.
While I do understand the whole angel or ghost hint, The way I always interpreted it was that the hobo was supposed to be Jack Frost, as he disappears into the snow storm and is perfectly unaffected on top of the train. It is also adds to hero boy’s believe journey as Jack Frost is seen as a mischievous, fun loving character
There is a deleted scene that explains he is a ghost. Hero Boy tells the train drivers The King Of The North Pole brought him to the front which causes them to recount the story of a homeless man who snuck onto the train one night crowned himself king and died when the train went through a tunnel
@@mrcritical6751 I'm sort of glad they didn't put that explanation into the final film... leaves a lot more up to interpretation :o
I dunno I feel like the movie more than implies from the hobo himself that he’s a ghost, during the whole “seeing is believing” conversation he has with Hero Boy he asks him if he believes in ghosts because he can see him despite his saying he doesn’t believe in them meaning he’s lying or that the hobo’s ideology is wrong because he sees one but doesn’t believe
@@mrcritical6751 Or it is the exact opposite. The Hero Boy is looking for absolutely anything that could prove that Santa is real, however, the Hero Boy is forced to consider that he is interacting with a ghost, yet even when he sees the ghost he still doesn't believe. So the hobo might not be be telling the kid that seeing is believing.
This film will always have a special place in my heart, me and my family would always watch this every Christmas and always had a good time watching it. The animation doesn't bother me, yeah it looks dated, but I think it gives it that unique charm
NGL, the dive scene with the train was one of the scariest things I’ve seen when I was a kid.
I used to find that so surreal lol.
@@crazyalarmstudios2012 That definitely deserves a BIG LIPPED ALLIGATOR MOMENT!
I grew up with this movie so the animation never bothered me. The backgrounds and the over all theme of the movie are what still stick with my family and me. My family use to watch it every year (still do just off and on) because of that. Despite the flaws, Polar Express has a very special meaning to me. I was glad to hear your thoughts on the matter and you grew to like it over time. Thanks
me too! :) this movie came out the same year when I was born, so I literally grew up with it
Personally, I think the "uncanny-valley" faces lent themselves to the surreal nature of the story. 👍
Honestly really one of the few instances this style works in my opinion. Especially watching this as a kid, the animation and the weird slight hostility of the conductor gave this an other worldly but somber feeling. Really contributes toward what the whole "dream like" thing they're going for. Makes for a movie that's if nothing else pretty unique especially considering the simplicity of the story.
7:05 I really wanna know what Nostalgia Critic thinks of the direct-to-DVD Garfield movies. I assume he'd like them because they're written by Jim Davis, so they're more accurate to the source material. And there's no product placement or dated pop songs. (I actually love the music score.)
Well, I don't know how well Davis' involvement would do at affecting Critic's opinion, considering this is the guy who thinks the book-accurate Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptation executive produced by Felicity Dahl is trash.
Nostalgia Critic is ALWAYS guaranteed to love a movie if it does something better than another one he despised with every fiber of his being. I mean, this review is pretty much him saying "Yeah, the CGI is ugly, but the movie is still better than How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
@@ElFreakinCid Honestly, as much as I’ve enjoyed NC’s content, I always thought his thoughts on Charlie and the Chocolate factory were a load of crap. The “points” he makes about the movie are ones that aren’t well thought out and it’s like he didn’t pay attention to the movie or do his research on it. Also, at the risk of starting a TH-cam comment story, Burton’s version is better than Gene Wilder’s version. Don’t @ me.
@@jesusrox4u Will @ you as that is a mother fucking lie. Wilder's is better.
@@ElFreakinCid Because it is trash
But you’re forgetting the most raw and genuine aspect of The Polar Express, the aspect that makes it infinitely rewatchable for millions of kids every Christmas.
SHUT THAT DOOR!!!
NEVER EVER LET IT COOL
I'm surprised he didn't say that when Tamara came in at the end.
The doubt the boy feels and the “ end of the magic,” has a different feeling now that I am an adult, when your more focused on work, taxes, responsibilities, etc, not so much on childhood wonder. I think that feeling makes this not only the best Christmas movie but one of the most interesting and well written plots of all time. Even when you look at the book, The artwork doesn’t have any flashing lights or bright colors that a kid would find out of this world and amazing, they’re simple and dull, but still very beautiful, but only in the minds of an adult. This works cause both the book and the movie are an adult remembering his childhood.
I really like this post, beautifully said. It made me smile today, thanks. ❧
This was a really magical adventure and all, but imagine coming back home from the Polar Express and your parents give you the beating of your life for disappearing for that long.
On Christmas morning too lol.
The whole point was that time stood still
Did they disappear for like no time at all since it froze?
No momma, please! I just went to go see Santa!
Why?
The best part of this movie is all the memes it created like a man drifting a train. :)
What memes?
@@thesupershinymegagengar2034 out of touch
@@yeoldeseawitch out of time
Yeah, they tried that once on Hell on Wheels. It sank. Then, the engine exploded.
You know what kind of train this is?
I actually think the lifeless scary North Pole is a wanted take for the movie, and it just completes all this sad/surreal atmoshpere around the movie. A good choice imo, the vibe is sooo special, even today, 15 years after seeing the movie, i still think of it with suck a nostalgious and strange vibe around it. Love it.
"Imagine if Lofi girl-"
"I'm sorry, whom?"
*shows image of Shizuku from Whispers of the Heart*
"OH! Lo-Fi Girl."
*proceeds to laugh at weird pronunciation of Critic's*
I just got to that part and saw your comment at the same time. Lol.
Oh lol yes same xD
This film actually came out a few weeks after THE INCREDIBLES, and it was fascinating to see most people enjoying INCREDIBLES more (though I saw both in theaters and loved both)
It’s not rocket science lol Incredibles was a legitimate movie with real characters and interesting premise, plus it’s Pixar, who’s gonna win? Incredibles
I mean, Incredibles is probably the better movie, but it's a different kind of movie.
I vaguely remember seeing this in the cinema, as well as The Incredibles, think they must've been my first experiences at the cinema as I was only 4 years old.
Well yeah, Incredibles is an awesome movie
Damn it’s that old
My family's in the 'it's a tradition' camp. I personally don't see TOO much wrong with the animation and the roller coaster to frozen tracks part is my favourite bit.
you should buy the 3D version
My only minor nitpick with the movie is the lack of names for the characters.
@@joshmontemayor1212according to an obscure art book, the boys name is Christopher, and the girls name is Holly
@@anth636, Tom Hanks even revealed Chris' name in a behind the scenes featurette that aired on ABC Family (Freeform) along with the movie. It was back when ABC, ABC Family (Freeform), & Disney Channel had the rights to air the movie.
"When Christmas Comes to Town" is the best, and it's meant to bring alive a child who has always felt let down, I still remember all the lyrics.
I love it, it makes me emotional
11:20 I was waiting for a Chester A. Bum reference when the Ghost Hobo came on screen. Thank you for not disappointing me!
9:18 I had to spit out my soda I laughed my ass off 🤣
Me too it just fits so well lmao
Out of all the movies Warner Bros. has given us, this is the movie that I've seen the most times.
Fun Fact: The movie is so popular that it gets re-released in theaters every year since it 1st came out, mostly in IMAX 3D.
Really? Man, I wanna see that.
Saw it in standard 3D in my local cineplex. Would have preferred IMAX
@@KeybladeMasterAndy, I didn't know that the movie gets released in regular 3D as well. I thought that it just gets released in IMAX 3D.
Thanks to this review I didn’t realize how often/how much the train’s length changes length. It goes from like 5 passenger cars long in one shot to over 20 in another.
The thing that broke me was when Critic called The "Low fi" girl "Law-fee" girl. XD
Here’s some fun facts about the film:
A Flux Capacitor can be seen at one point
The number of coaches constantly changes from 5 to 20 to 10 etc
When the hero-boy whispers to Santa, you can actually hear him say “I want the bell from the reindeer” or something along those lines
I guess Santa went at 88 miles per hour.
This film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, the guy who directed the Back to The Future Trilogy and Disney’s A Christmas Carol, and this film might tack place in the same universe because Chris (the author of the book and also the main protagonist) and the Conductor are Doc Emmet Brown and Marty Mcfly.
"When Christmas Comes to Town" is a major tear jerker.
Daryl Sabara provided the voice for Hero Boy and Josh Hutcherson did all the motion-capture work! If listen to Sabara’s voice side by side you’ll notice hero boy sounds like Juni Cortez!!!
Uncanny valley has never really been an issue for me, maybe because my family takes 45 minutes taking photos to get me to look 'normal' with a smile. I loved the book growing up and loved the film. Loved the message on faith and belief. I love the 'creepy' and even 'scary' stuff as I feel it fits with Christmas. It's dealing with the unworldly and spiritual, there should be a feeling of unknown and even fear at that unknown even if it's all benevolent. That's in keeping with the original Christmas story as well.
I love Polar Express, both the book and the movie and I feel like the uncanny effects and emptiness add a mystique to the movie most Christmas films don't have. It is also one of the few holiday movies that can be open for interpretation, as there are many theories surrounding P.E. ("The movie is a retelling of the Christmas Carol", "The Conductor, The Boy and Santa represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost", "The Conductor is the Boy in the future", etc) and I think the openness along with it's timeless features is why Polar Express has remained a Christmas class after all these years, flaws and everything.
As someone born in 95, this movie, among others like the Jim Carrey grinch, were highlights of my childhood and I can’t believe most of these films I watched as a kid are over 20 years old😭😭
This is what I like about these reviews. You can like something I think is trash, but your viewpoint is so respectful I can't help but enjoy listening to all the good things about it you have to say. Happy holidays Channel Awesome.
My favorite thing about the movie is the locomotive itself. CGI animating a real-life locomotive down to the most minute details is an incredible achievement in of itself.
For non-train buffs who don't know, the locomotive is complete based on the Pere Marquette Railway No. 1225, owned and operated by the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, MI. The film used it for the animation and sound effects. So everything you hear from the engine in the film (minus the whistle) is from the 1225. Every holiday season, SRI does operates North Pole Express excursions with 1225 as the power. So you can legitimately ride aboard the Polar Express.
The whole hot chocolate song sequence has been seared into my brain and plays in my head every December and I never complain about it
I was in 3rd grade when this movie came out, and I highly regret not seeing it in theaters because I remember a lot of the kids at my school were talking about it because it was a really big deal back then.
I think I was in 3rd Grade when I first saw the movie, though it first came out when I was only 2 years old 💀
The movie gets re-released in theaters every year since it 1st came out, mostly in IMAX 3D.
"Look, the Northern Lights!"
Skinner: "No, mother, that's just the house on fire."
I find it odd that when Doug was listing great adaptations of children's books, he didn't mention Jumanji, especially considering that it was written by the exact same guy who did The Polar Express.
1 thing's for sure, I wasn't expecting the Nostalgia Critic to give The Polar Express credit for getting the G-rating.
Probably because the Jumanji movie’s popularity has eclipsed the book massively
I remember going with my parents to see this in the theater. It was magical seeing it on the big screen. I remember reading the book during Christmas time in school. It’s one of my absolutely favorites even now.
As a kid and an adult, the puppet scene scares the hell out of me.😅
Same here. I’m not as bad as I was, but I have vivid memories of hiding behind the curtains to hide until the scene was done.
In my elementary school there was a tradition around December where we'd gather up in the gym, get some blankets, gather up with some friends (if you had any) and watch The Polar Express. Did anyone else do this at their school?
We did that in first grade. Funny story: the teachers were to pass around hot chocolate and popcorn and told us not to raise our hands, rather they claimed they would get to all of us. However, they missed me. I still have vengeance fantasies to this day.
My school did that too.
I wish
I wish I had thst when I was in elementary school.
I didn't grow up with this movie, so I think it's only okay. The animation is hit-and-miss, Know-It-All boy is almost Jar Jar level obnoxious, there are several major plot holes and Billy totally should have been the main character. But the message is great, the songs are catchy and when the animation works it really works. It's not a classic in my eyes but it works well enough.
That’s fair.
I agree it’s pretty mid still a creative idea
I disagree
@@Dragonwolves1997 And that's fine.
I grew up with this movie I’ve watched it every Christmas since i was 4 years old
The atmosphere of this movie is especially unique. You feel the cold all around you, but it weirdly feels cozy while watching. It's like eating a bowl of ice cream. It's cold and you'll probably get brain freeze, but the flavors are just the comfort food you need.
I was 10 years old when this movie came out, and it's hands down one of my favorite Christmas movies. Not only for the message, but from the experiences I had with seeing this movie with my father.. That year, I learned about the true message of Santa Claus from my father, who was a "Santa Claus" in our community for over 28 years. At the time of us seeing this movie, I got to go out first hand and experience what he did: giving back to those less fortunate, spreading Christmas Cheer, seeing the faces of little kids and their eyes lighting up at the sight of Santa.
It still has left an impact in my life after all these years, and it's definitely one of those Christmases I'll never forget. H
I was 9 when it came out, and yes despite the flaws (such as the now dated CGI) I still love it to this day.
“Believe” by Josh Groban is still one of my favorite Christmas songs since I heard it in the theatre.
so remember kids, If some guy comes to you and tells you he's going to the north pole, you agree to get in his van.
I'm just kidding, I love this movie
Asa Kid, the Bum and Santa being voiced by the same Person, and the Bum disappearing into Snow, always had me believe, they're the same Person.
My mom and I watch this every year. We love that it's both charming and awkward and hell. Also, Tamara and Malcolm are my absolute favorite actors from Channel Awesome.
The Polar Express:
Staring Tom Hanks, as basically everyone.
Tom Hanks takes a que from Eddie Murphy.
That panel picture gave so much serotonin and feelings of good times I had to pause and smile. Nostalgia Critic has a real good thing and it's so nice to see it. Fingers crossed I can come see you guys one day when I'm not slaving away in a warehouse.
I just wanna say this month has been chaotic but man, when I see a Wednesday Nostalgia Critic posting, it brings me all the Christmas cheer and excitement I need. Thank you all, Channel Awesome!
I don't care, this movie is amazing! The "plot holes" people have problems with was just the mysteriousness behind everything to me, which makes me love this film even more!
This movie is amazing and doesn't deserve hated from people when other awful bad movies actually exist.
That very well may be, but the look still creeps me out. MoCap just wasn't quite ready yet... and "realistic" cgi faces sure as hell weren't. The uncanny valley is too much for me, but I'm glad you enjoy the movie.
@@JC-lk3oy i feel like the uncanny valley is just like any other fear (at least to me). the more intentionally and unintentionally uncanny things people make, the less it'll be terrifying.
Coming back to this a year later and I still feel exactly the same. But totally understand how people can feel the way they do about the film, especially the cgi which can be distracting for the wrong reasons at times.
14:16 The Lion King remake was an attempt to destroy Disney 🤣
As weirdly hated as this movie is, I love Polar Express with all my heart.
I love the Little Troll Prince but you have to admit both have their story flaws, they're not masterpieces. I also love Santa and the Three Bears, and that's, wait... that has no plotline flaws... huh. Ok not all Christmas animations are equal.
Why is this movie hated?
I say it's amazing.
@@Whocares158, The Polar Express is 1 of most popular Christmas movies of all time. Why else would it get re-released in IMAX 3D every year?
Its horrible worst Christmas movie ever.
@@LilStevieGaming why?
Nostalgia Critic talking about my childhood makes him the greatest person on this platform
6:23 correction! Daryl Sabara (aka boy spy kid). I believe Josh Hutchinson did additional motion capture for the hero boy.
The Polar Express: One of my favorite Christmas movies and one of the best Christmas movies ever!
Definitely
Yep me too loved this as kid still own this on DVD
Besides Christmas Vacation
@@elitegamer21005 it was also Michael Jeter’s final film role before he died
Mine too!
I'd consider Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs to be another classic that successfully adapted a picture book.
With some creative liberties here and there.
The Netflix adaptation of Green Eggs & Ham too
@@the-nina-beans88 here and there?
FLINT LOCKWOOD
@@mrcritical6751 , yes! Definitely.
Billy: Christmas just doesn't work out for me.
Hero Boy: What are you, Jewish?
I saw The Polar Express in 3D at the Sydney IMAX- loved it ever since. It has its flaws but it is an enjoyable Christmas movie.
This movie was my childhood.
Thank you, Nostalgia Critic, for reviewing it.
the dude on top of the train looks like he isn't allowed within 50 yards of any playground or school
I remember really loving the CGI in this movie when I was a kid. Heck, even today I still like it!
I agree. I really don't get that uncanny feeling at all.
Same here, I don’t have that uncanny feeling that most people have
This is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Also, Fun Fact: The protagonists are technically named “Chris” and “Holly”.
then why the hell did they not use those names?
@@yeoldeseawitch Dunno, but their names were revealed in behind the scenes material.
I always thought the reason hero girl and shy boy were able to break into song is because it was just a christmas song they both knew and she was singing it to cheer him up, I didn’t think she was just making it up on the spot
Wait that kinda makes sense, and also the polar express song is just like a train ride christmas carol type of song that people actually sing, you even hear the kids practicing every time they're on the train leading up to the north pole scene
The polar express drinking game, take a shot every time:
-They use the same magical motif after something magical happens
-Tom hanks plays a different character
-The train whistle blows
That’s it. Those three alone will give you severe liver damage
7:17 Even nostalgia critic has heard of, and is acknowledging the quality of, the masterpiece that is Arcane.
It's freaking amazing!!
Well Arcane is one of the best video game adaptations of all time!
@@claytonrios1 I’d say it’s currently THE best. Detective Pikachu and Sonic were a fun time but they can’t compare to this.
@@ChannelAwesome I know it's not your usual M.O. but absolutely no one would be disappointed to see you give a full review on Arcane.
@@claytonrios1 yeah why the fuck all the adaptations aren't tv shows we all know you can't fill maybe 15 or 20 hours of gameplay in a 2 hour movie.... depending if you are a one with no life.
There's a deleted scene that gives the two conductors a song with a fart joke and gives the hobo a stylized backstory scene explained by the conductors.
It was deleted early in animation and for a good reason.
"They accidentally end up in Santa's sack."
*"Goodnight everybody!"*
My favorite aspect of this film is the ghost. I also appreciated the mystery behind his existence and the way he compares the belief in ghosts to belief in Santa.
My parents watched this with us every Christmas Eve to put us to sleep. I love the movie now. I understand it’s flaws, but it’s still one of my all-time favourites.
"Could've been worse John, a lot worse"
- Sam L Jackson
Too be fair, it's better than Mars Needs Moms
I know Mars Needs Moms is one of the worst movies Disney Animation has ever made, but I think it's one of the weirdest movies.