I never grew up with the Polar Express book as a kid and yet when I saw the movie as teenager, it made me feel like a kid that had read the book and loved the story. I remember it getting a lot of criticism at the time but now that many people who grew up with it are older they can really appreciate the movie for what it is. The whole movie is magical and we’ve gotten tons of multi media related to the book becaus of the film. Video Game, Experiences and whatnot. So let’s have this Christmas Experience.
Polar Express the book as read by Liam Neeson
Having never read the book as a kid. I thought it was only fitting that I have the book read to me. And so I couldn’t think of a better option than Liam Neeson himself reading it to me as I layed in bed and flipping the pages of the book showing me the art. It’s a simple story, a bit different from the movie. It makes me appreciate the stuff added to the movie. They did a long epilogue, best part of the ending and many things in the movie are from the book. But the movie did expand on it too much.
Polar Express The Movie
I rememb er the CG looked realistic to me when I first watched it, sure some faces did have that soulless uncanny look but in a way it fit the movie. Nowadays they don’t necessarily look bad but clearly CG. I do like the style and it’s interesting ot see how the CGi looks and how our persception of what realism in computer graphics changes over time. The two times i’ve rewatched the movie it has felt as magical as the first time I watched it. I hate the trope of santa is not real in stories for them to discover he is. It’s never said outright and it’s only implied, but they never say it so it’s subtle for the kid to suspect and it works better this way.
The movie is indeed creepy, I always expect a dark twist or scary turn of events in a sene but it never happens. There’s this aura about mysticism that you can feel. Tom Hanks character(s?) be just creepy as hell but in a way also mysteriosly well done. it’s great acting really. I do have to mention the nerd voice is simply perfect. So punchable and feel he was underused. Such an annoying turd. What is the movie trying to teach kids? To get on random trains at night?
Hey We Got It! I love the music, the awkward silence, the odd faces and loopy movements. The whole movie feel so luminous and creepy but it adds a lot to the movie, it’s uncertain, with mini adventures and small setbacks that don’tfeel padded. It’s scary but special in a Xmas magic way. The epilogue is way too long, like deleted scenes or something it should’ve ended witht he bell and yet we get 30 more minutes. The movie does feel like a theme park at times which would’ve made it a great 4Dx movie but…
Polar Express Experience
It did get one with a 4D experience the movioe at Sea World and other similar interactive stage shows around the world. I saw some videos of them including the full Sea World one. They seem fun if you’re the right age and see it during the Christmas season but nothing outright unmissable. It could be better sicne it’s a bit boring and coudl’ve been a funner shorter “ride’ They should’ve just cut the time on that. It is cool that they get to reenact some parts and the musical scenes are neat. I do find it funny when they just kind of give up and just read the book out loud as the kids get bored around them.
Polar Express the Game
I’ll keep mostly to the story so mostly the console version since the GBA game just has stills from the movie and bits of story from the console game as a 2D metroidvania type game. The 3D console game adds adventures to the book in interesting ways as it sometimes fills the blank on stuff that isn’t explained or just adds segments where it technically could’ve happened but we never saw. In a way it makes the story a little bit more exciting than the movie with emphasis in a little. I just watched a playthrough like a movie and it looks like a generic game mediocre licensed game but also kino when you see him running around the train so fans could be getting more out of it than most people. Scrooge puppets are neat bad guys that are scary. It gives our nerdy know it all guy more scenes. This is shovelware with soul. No Tom Hanks is a big loss though. Trying to get the golden tickets is the main goal of the game. I like the ideas it uses for missions, it has some good ideas like the singing rhythm game witht steam conductors.
Let’s see what else is done with the franchise, there’s always rumors of doing another movie or adaptation in which case I’d likely just update this article once I watch it.
Polar Express has earned its way to become a Christmas Classic. Can’t say I watch this movie every year but it’s definitely on the rotating list even if it takes a decade to get to it again.