"Polar Express" Talkback

[CookieS]

I saw this movie today, and was blown away by the visuals and and stop-motion movement. It was really amazing and a great treat. I usually tell people to wait and rent a movie, but I really feel that this one is worth seeing on the big screen (also avaliable in IMAX).

One thing I noticed in the film is the rollercoaster feel. From the swooping trains, to giant slides, there is a great sense of high speed movement in the movie.

The look and actions of the characters are stunning. Not since "Final Fantasy" have I seen something so well done. What did you think of it?

[Discloner]

Stop-Motion? I don't believe there's any of that in this particular film...

[CookieS]

Ah I meant motion-capture. its late, forgive me.

[lostrune]

This was actually pretty decent. Can't believe they were able to stretch a short 32-page book into a film.

I suspect Pol-Ex will gross decent because it would be getting the Incredibles overflow - when that's soldout, Pol-Ex is the next best choice by the kids.

[JohnCrichton]

I'm quite surrprised how few of us have anything to say about this movie. I think more of us so Final Fantasy: Spirits Within... :sweat:

[MovieGuy]

I haven't seen it yet but I have a story.

My sister's 3rd grade teacher went to the principal and asked if she could the class to see the movie.

Principal: "Absolutely not."

Funny, probably because of the Christmas theme or maybe because it's rated PG (that school says they can't show PG movies even to the older grades.)

[Sharklady]

^ I just saw it, and think the only reason it's PG is because some of the action sequences are intense enough to frighten littler children. But they're really no worse than certain parts of 'Fantasia', which is rated G. Odd.

'Polar Express' is definitely worth watching for those sequences, and for having a look unlike anything we've seen before, and for a couple tunes which deserve to become holiday standards. (There's also one character whose voice seems to have been transplanted directly from Mandark, but I guess I can forgive that.)

[raykremer]

Motion capture? Is that why the kids all have two or three actors credited to them? Because I was very confused by that.

I couldn't help constantly asking what kind of maniac would build train tracks like that. o_O

Edit:
Oh yes, I forgot. I wish they'd used a different voice actor for the know-it-all kid. Every time he spoke my mind said "Mandark!"

[Sharklady]

> Is that why the kids all have two or three actors credited to them? <

I think they have one actor providing the face, another doing the voice, and an animator coordinating the two.

[Spider-Man]

I saw this movie today, and was blown away by the visuals and and stop-motion movement. It was really amazing and a great treat. I usually tell people to wait and rent a movie, but I really feel that this one is worth seeing on the big screen (also avaliable in IMAX).

One thing I noticed in the film is the rollercoaster feel. From the swooping trains, to giant slides, there is a great sense of high speed movement in the movie.
This is really an IMAX movie. I've had the pleasure of seeing this movie in both IMAX and regular screens and there's no contest. Infact I found the movie hard to sit through on the regular screen. All the flaws really came out when you weren't immersed in it.

It's no wonder the IMAX screenings are selling like mad. There are so many scenes that are exhilarating and look to be made specifically for IMAX.

It's not a great film or a perfect film but it is a fun movie to take your little neice or nephew to. I hope the movie has the legs to make it through the Christmas season. With the only are major holiday-themed movie being Christmas with the Kranks I don't think that will be a problem.

[j32885]

Saw the movie right before Thanksgiving @ the Henry Ford Museum IMAX, all I can say is....WOW. :eek:

It was such an awsome Christmas story. It was written by this guy, who lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan (or around there) since I'm Detroit, Michigan it's on the westside of the state.

A friend of mine at who knows somebody, who helps run a steam locomotive program & museum (Steam Railroading Institute) up in Owosso, Michigan, and they own the train that was used to model the CGI one which is in the movie. Its called the Pere Marquette 1225. Here's a link to their site - http://www.mstrp.com/ (http://www.mstrp.com/). Michigan railfans that I've talk to are not 100% sure if its the actual train that the author Chris Van Allsburg saw when he was little, but he has seen this one (recently) and said it was nearly identical to what he remembers; the closest to the train he saw as a kid.

Ironically, it was the 25th of 39 locomotives to be made of that model. Its the ONLY surviving one of the original 39 engines that still runs (one other apparently exists, the 1223 but isn't running). And of course the obvious correlation of its number 1225.....12/25......Christmas day. And oddly enough this train was completed shortly before Christmas in 1941. How cool is that?

And the author remembered coming to MSU Spartan games back during the 1980s when the train was parked near the football stadium. And he remembers seeing the train back then and even standing on it. And now its the exact same train being used for the movie based on his book.

BTW, they are selling the book in a hardcover version (with wrapper cover like the old days). I don't remember the last time I saw the book. Probably when I was a kid and owned the book myself. I have no idea where that book is now.

Go see this movie @ the IMAX near you, it's such a wonderful movie to experience. :cool:

[Discloner]

Color me surprised...this was actually a rather fun movie!

Can't say all the animation agreed with me, but in the end the story won out and I thought it was a pretty fun use of my time. At the same time, I was amazed as to how closely it followed the book, but still added in its own story to the mix.

I'd buy it on DVD I think...atleast I'm sure lots of people will for the holiday season next year.

[Merilee]

If you hacven't experienced this beautiful movie yet, go see it! I saw it today with my best friend, and I loved it!! It was so magical, it looked like paintings come to life! The story was so touching and the songs were so lovely, you'll tear up! I almost cried during some scenes and the action...you'll get caught up in it!! I swear, if that looses the Oscar this yer to 'The Incredibles' for Best Animated Feature...there is NO JUSTICE or TASTE left in the Awards crew!! :)
Merilee
:cool:

[Dudley]

I'll sum this movie up in 3 words:
"Magical joy ride"

It was nice.:)

[sun]

This movie works on the obvious, and not so obvious...Clearly the visuals are incredible, but, the story is greater...The subtleness of the real story lies not in the major character, and Santa, or the train, and its trip, but in the little poor boy who gets on the train at the last minute..He is the real point to the movie...While you think about this ,to the few that read this, I honestly believe that Zemekis meant the story to be about him..not the Tom Hanks character..this poor kid does indeed get a a nice gift at the end, but, would he really? would he really get on the train at all...where does he sit in the train..-the last car- a lounge car, for rich people, alone and dark, yea, that is what those type of cars were for, the rich, not the poor....Christmas is wonderful time, but not everyone participates in the festival, and the good times, think about it. That is what the writer/director really says,... at least that is what I think it is about. (It took me four showings to see the Iron Giant as the resurrection, then I understood it), you can disagree with this interpertation of the Polar Express of course, but give it a chance, and you may come to see it as a dark movie about the poor who miss out..recall that last shot of the poor boys house, clearly not the "best of times" ...Stuart

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

But you have to admit the humans in this movie just look plain creepy.

[sun]

I had a long talk with a friend about Polar Express, she has an outstanding understanding of Tom Hank's background and beliefs..The darkness and additional characters added, she believes are Hank's doing..Evidently, he is a deeply religious person, who wanted to add something special to the film. While Gibson is someone to shows this openly, Hanks keeps this much more quieter and in a subtle way..She also believes that a lot of the extra meaning, came from Hanks, not Zemekis as I stated earlier..I really don't know...Hanks has shown in many of films, deapth of characters that go way beyond the obvious...perhaps this interpertation is correct..Stuart

[Merilee]

Christmas is wonderful time, but not everyone participates in the festival, and the good times, think about it. That is what the writer/director really says,... at least that is what I think it is about.....you may come to see it as a dark movie about the poor who miss out..recall that last shot of the poor boys house, clearly not the "best of times" ...Stuart
I know, that's I think the overall message in the movie, help out the poor, do stuff for others less fortunate so they can try to have a Merry Christmas as well.
This movie influenced me so much..the day after I saw it I went shopping and I saw the Salvation Army Santa..and I was influenced to give ten dollars to help the poor. Even hearing the song 'When Christmas Comes To Town' is enough to get the point across and make you tear up.

I loved this movie and the lovely message, it should win for best Animated Picture of the year, if not Best PICTURE!! ( if it were me, that';s what it would win! To heck with The Incredibles- YUCK!!)
Merilee
:cool:

[Pyro]

I just got back from seeing it. I was determined to see this during the Christmas season. I thought it was pretty good. I took my mom and she enjoyed it also. It looked very nice. I think they weren't going for complete realism, but sort of realism with an artistic flair. It was a little awkward, but not as unnatural as I had expected. Many of the fast-paced scenes were done well. Those kids just kept getting into predicament after predicament. I thought the movie was a little thin on plot, but it was based on a children's book. It did have enough heart to keep me interested. The subtle story ideas, as already mentioned, greatly added to the movie.

I thought Santa was the worst thing about it. It's my understanding that the look of the movie was based on the book, but the design of the North Pole and especially Santa didn't really appeal to me. Not only was Santa off to me, I didn't like his voice. I don't really think Tom Hanks did that great a job voice acting in this movie, but I think his motion acting was fine. The few gripes I had with the film are easily overlooked.

I thought it was interesting that the characters didn't really have names. Hero Boy, Hero Girl, Lonely Boy (a.k.a. Billy), and Know-it-all.:p

I've never read the book myself, but it was read to me once. I think I may read it eventually, just to see where the movie was coming from.

It was an enjoyable outing and a movie worth seeing, however, I am not planning on getting the DVD... I'll have to think about it. It is a nice holiday movie.

Too bad this topic hasn't had more replies.

[lostrune]

Interestingly, PolEx has been retaining its audience better that it even moved above The Incredibles this last weekend's B.O.

[Discloner]

Its also getting extremely impressive IMAX Box Office returns. Seems like lots of people really want to catch this movie in 3-D on the bigger screen.

[Pyro]

Interestingly, PolEx has been retaining its audience better that it even moved above The Incredibles this last weekend's B.O.I figure it's doing better since the Yultide season is steadily approaching. It makes sense that a Christmas movie does better around Christmas than it does around Thanksgiving.

[lostrune]

I figure it's doing better since the Yultide season is steadily approaching. It makes sense that a Christmas movie does better around Christmas than it does around Thanksgiving.
But to have better legs than even The Incredibles? They're both a month old already.

[Sharklady]

Perhaps a lot of the people who saw 'Polar Express' when it first came out are going again, 'cause now they're in the mood to watch a Christmas movie.

I expect both PE and 'Incredibles' will do well when they come out on DVD.

[Pyro]

But to have better legs than even The Incredibles? They're both a month old already.Maybe everyone saw The Incredibles already.:anime:

I expect both PE and 'Incredibles' will do well when they come out on DVD. I was thinking about that, and since DVDs usually come out about 5-6 months after the theatrical release, won't that give PE an unseasonable DVD release? That might hurt it if it comes out around Easter or so. But then again people can always buy it next Christmas season if they want to.

[Discloner]

Maybe everyone saw The Incredibles already.:anime:
I was thinking about that, and since DVDs usually come out about 5-6 months after the theatrical release, won't that give PE an unseasonable DVD release? That might hurt it if it comes out around Easter or so. But then again people can always buy it next Christmas season if they want to.Unseasonable or not, I'm sure Warner Brothers will promote it again come next Christmas, regardless of when it initially comes out on DVD, and then again the following Christmas season.

Additionally, they've stated that their stratagy with the movie is to turn it into a holiday classic, like the Grinch's animated movie (which is on year after year). They'll likely push it back into IMAX theaters in following years where it'll get some more cash.

[Hordesman]

It's worth a look on the IMAX 3D. I have little doubt most of the film was made with it in mind, especially when the train slams right to the front of the screen.

But the mo-cap is spotty. The hero girl's eyes look painted on whereas hero boy's (no really, those are their names) eyes roll all over the place like my dog does when he gets excited. The North Pole looks like a 30s factory. The hot chocolate number was straight out of the Swan Princess. And telling a story about faith or belief is fine and well, but it does not bode well when said belief is the result of a private tour.

That said, the hobo was cool.

[sun]

Although this movie has a Christmas setting, and all the strappings, I saw it again, twice this year. On the fifth showing, the extremely subtle message that this film, and Hanks and Zemekis were trying to make, came through.
I believe the journey, the whole set up of the film, the talk of non belief in Santa, the poor boy and all the rest, lies in one sentence that Santa says, which goes by so fast, one might not notice.."The Greatest Gift of all is Freindship." That is the message. That is what it is all about..these strange kids become friends, and that gift, means all...and that is what I believe..because, Santa, the one that they do not believe in, they finally believe in, and those are his most important words.............Stuart

[tb4000]

I'm ready to see what Zemeckis does with Beowulf now.

[HellCat]

This wasn't so bad. A nicely done bit of escapism. I do agree the technical aspect is a little off though. One scene that stands out is when the kids are following the path of arrows and doing this very awkward skipping.

What was the point of the hobo character? He was interesting but he seemed to be there just to add some uneeded horror, especially during the scene with the puppets.

And I'm gonna echo the odd casting of the know it all. The Mandark VA especially stood out because all the other kids were clearly voiced by children and deliver a kid performance.

[SirLemming]

I guess I must have seen this last year. Or maybe the year before. Either way, we waited for the rental. But I liked it. I didn't like the motion-captured animation or character designs much at all, but overall the movie has this sort of weird haunting dark quality to it that suits Christmas (and the spirit of the original storybook) very well. I'll definitely show the Blu-ray to my kids when they exist.

[EJLD4Ever]

As a rail buff, I was surprised in the accuracy of the cab detail. Steam locomotives to us railfans fo this day and age are like rockstars. Especially when "big" locomotives like the Southern Pacific #4449 come to town to run on the mainline for a day, they guarantee to give a good time on an excursion. And BTW: There are always TWO people on board the cab of a steam locomotive--the engineer and the fireman (who is usually the guy you see shovelling coal)---a lot of non-railfans don't know that.

However, I was surprised in some missing details from the original locomotive, such as number boards (boards near the stack that show the locomotive---or sometimes the train---number), classification lights (two lights near the upper corners of the boiler whose colour reflect the service the train is running), a feedwater heater (on the PM 1225, it appears as a box in front of the smokestack), and a headlight that is seemingly embedded in the door to the smokebox (front end of the boiler) rather than mounted on a shelf-like bracket outside.

However, as an animation student I understand that these sacrifices in detail are to simplify the model and reduce polygon count.

It seems I am an "animator-railfan" in the tradition of the late Ward Kimball, eh?

[Mugsy]

I saw this movie today, and was blown away by the visuals and and stop-motion movement. It was really amazing and a great treat. I usually tell people to wait and rent a movie, but I really feel that this one is worth seeing on the big screen (also avaliable in IMAX).

One thing I noticed in the film is the rollercoaster feel. From the swooping trains, to giant slides, there is a great sense of high speed movement in the movie.

The look and actions of the characters are stunning. Not since "Final Fantasy" have I seen something so well done. What did you think of it?


The Polar Express is a rare new good holiday movie IMO, and Tom Hanks is am amazing actor who helped make this feature as good as it was.

I hope we see something as good as this in the near future for holiday films....

[Baltofan]

I wish I saw it in the cinema!

[All Star Blitz]

I said this in another thread. I think this movie is great except for a couple flaws, namely:

1. I think the conductor is a little TOO mean at the beginning. Why does he soften so much throughout the movie?

2. Going into slo-mo DURING A FREAKING SONG. I hate slo-mo in general, but DURING A FREAKING SONG is inexcusable. Those last few lines of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" sound like a 45 played at 33, and it really makes me feel a little ill.

Overall, I really enjoy the details of the characters and just about everything, as well as the plot. That, and the little touches of my home state in them. (For those not in the know, Herpolsheimer's was an actual department store that had two locations in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and yes, they really did decorate it lavishly on Christmas. The two Herpolsheimer's locations became part of the Lazarus chain — itself now part of Macy's — in the 1980s and were sold off. One became a mini mall and is now offices, while the other just ended its life as a Value City.)