I’ve NEVER seen The Polar Express Movie… until now! My thoughts on it 20 Years Later

[@DaylightTwinkle]

I grew up with the movie a lot and really enjoyed it, and I’m probably those few people that never got creeped out by it…except maybe the Scrooge puppet scene when I was younger but regardless. That movie is a Christmas classic in my opinion and part of my childhood…same said for the book as well, it too was good.

[@NoahDutkewycz]

Who else started out with Thomas and friends and the polar express?

[@elijahcuevas3805]

Me

[@strasburgsteamproductions3302]

Me!

[@alfonsolanzagorta5138]

I've started with postwar stuff, but those 2 are train icons for every train fan indeed. Need to buy some Thomas stuff....

[@thefuriousgamer2553]

I’ve always watched both but grew out of Thomas but polar express stayed my entire life and will continue too I always had the o gauge berk and always wanted a scale polar express and 16 years later this August I got a 10th anniversary berk maybe I’ll get the maroon one depends on if it has sierra 3’s whistle and swap the shells with my black berk super happy to have it

[@strasburgsteamproductions3302]

I’m getting the LionChief set. The legacy once’s are too expensive.

[@rivitedrailfan]

As a Railfan, The scenes that really keep me coming back to the movie is the train scenes. The animation of the train (Apart from the spiral Mountain scene) is animated so well. The locomotive at least for most of the movie acts like a real locomotive. I especially like seeing the close ups on the valve gear. It’s not super realistic, but it’s also not animated all that unrealistically, seeing how it’s modeled after an actual locomotive and all. When I see wrong controls used or rods animated incorrectly in movies it’s very annoying to someone who appreciates that detail like I do. I also like the slower scenes. The filler is annoying, but the slower, more charachter driven scenes are quite nice.

[@MarkWick]

I saw the movie in a regular theater the year it came out. I was 53. That turned out to be the last time I ever watched a movie with my parents. During the pandemic I bought the Lionel American Flyer anniversary Polar Express coach, both to have a memory of that time with my parents, and to again own American Flyer which I had received for Christmas in 1958, then again in 1960. That 1958 train was under the tree for my son in 1986 and we enjoyed building American Flyer layouts and running trains until packing it all away about 20 years ago. Four years ago I bought The Polar Express book for the five-year-old that was having fun playing with my developing American Flyer layout, and the Polar Express cars were some of her favorites. That's hen I first read the book. Last year I recreated some of the action scenes in the movie using my Polar Express train on a specially built layout. I will read the book again in a few days, and watch the movie again, but the Polar Express cars will probably stay in their boxes this year.

[@UncleSalty-nz5uk]

I was 30 and single when the movie came out. Still haven't seen it. I remember when the book came out. Great to see your son prefers the book. Nice, honest video. Well done.

[@johnheadley7306]

Read the book with my son when he was 5. Took him to see the movie when first released. He was 9. He didn’t enjoy the movie and neither did I. Haven’t watched it since, but did reread the book. Have many Lionel trains, but no interest in owning a Polar Express.

[@VeekerStudios]

I fully agree! The movie terrified me as a kid and my sister still won't let me live down how of all the movies for me to make our family leave a theatre early for, it was the train movie. I also eventually watched the film by proxy of all the clips I watched, and taking it in as 5-minute clips feels like the superior way to watch it. I'd enjoy seeing a fan edit that tightly trimmed it. In the meantime, I'll keep listening to the soundtrack, and oh, is this a good time to say I've never actually read the book either? I should get on that this year. Great video, and I'm now watching your book-accurate build. Awesome stuff

[@therosejewelrailroad489]

Well now I need to read the book. The first time I watched it. l felt sort of sad for the kid(s). Seemed like there was a lot of sadness towards the kids. Almost missing the train,The puppet scene etc . Mike I actually rode the train before I seen the movie. But the warm, heartfelt moments, the same moments that you’re probably talking about in the book. Won me over.

[@RaysTrains]

Preach!!!

[@51Kmh]

I remember reading the book when l was a kid. I saw it opening weekend in theaters with my Grandfather. My Grandfather hated animated films however, he was blown away by the animation at the time still was all these years later. Sadly he passed away unexpectedly in November 2023. I watch the film every Christmas season atleast once. Looking back now seeing it in theaters with my Grandfather is one of the best memories of spending time with him.

[@Ed-ICE-Berg]

I was stationed in Europe when the book came out and didn’t learn about it until coming back Stateside in ‘91. I’ve only ever seen the movie on TV and thought it a good movie but not a great movie, there being too many scenes that are far longer than they need to be to tell the story.

[@MygrandpasTrain]

Well, I’m one of the many who hasn’t read the book. I own the movie, across from my train layouts is my home theater so it’s an annual watch for me, usually in January. My grandfather, who was an engineer, watched the movie and was in disbelief that it was animation, not sure he like the movie either. Well motion capture with real humans is pretty cool. I’ve been rediscovering books recently, and it’s so much more engaging that KZbin watching or something. Even writing my own railroad adventure stories some in honor of my grandpa. Guess I’ll have to get the book. But I like the movie. Well most of it!😎

[@dantiel4179]

I agree with you but I love when the train first appears in front of his house breathing steam and smoke and the wolfs and the eagle scenes

[@BoardGamesBricksHobbies]

Yeah, the best parts of the movie were the scenes that took the most inspiration directly from the book's paintings.

[@tjwhitlow1053]

I love the book and I like the movie but that might be because I grew up on it. I think what makes me like the movie (like what many people like about Christmas) are the traditions that come from movies or books like it. I could honestly care less about the fluff but I personally really enjoy the down hill roller coaster scene, the crazy Ice scene, and the hot chocolate song because of what my family would do with me. We would all (parents grandparents cousins etc) act like we were in the scenes and throw ourselves up and down as if we were there. We would laugh at each other because people would end up on their backs and the dogs would be barking. If I could I would totally watch an edited version where it follows the book but includes scenes that are near and dear to my heart. I think the traditions and time with family is what really makes Christmas...Christmas. Love the videos you make and wish your family well.

[@Dadified86]

That sounds like a lot of fun! Glad you guys can enjoy it together like that! It’s the interactive element that makes the connections even stronger

[@Tdkc844]

The movie came out near my birthday, so it has fond memories to me because it is one of the few I have seen on opening weekend. I will admit, I was a young boy when it came out, and a lot of the movie initially scared me. I don’t actually watch it every Christmas, but I like the spirit of the film and the unifying of generations the book/film does. I wish the Lionel model used Sierra #3’s whistle, but a man can dream right?

[@colestrains1]

While the movie might be strange and kinda creepy, we can all agree that the sounds the locomotive makes specifically the whistle, are angelic and beautiful

[@Dadified86]

Amen!!

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

It’s such a great movie! The Polar Express movie, is one of my families must watch Christmas every year.

[@prhf]

My favorite parts of the movie are the throwbacks to Back to the Future (III).

[@sjlove20]

Hot Chocolate is such a bop 😂

[@larken24]

Great Video Mike!

[@marshallg496]

Been reading the book for years, we are a family who loves books. But I do like the move , too.

[@Thomasthestreamliner]

Now you know how special it is to certain people like me

[@victorreznov9940]

The polar Express movie came out when I was young and I have fond memories of watching it but I have to add nice spaceballs reference

[@Metra161productions]

Question. Where did you get the grass for your layout and what is it called? Starting to work on my own layout and I don’t have much good grass.

[@Dadified86]

I’ve mentioned it in earlier videos about our layout that might help! We used an outdoor carpet you can buy rolls of from Lowe’s. Check out the other ideas in my previous videos for more help! Let’s get yours going!!

[@Metra161productions]

@ thanks!

[@redstonecommander5190]

1:01 yes of course the Polar express book had several differences from the movie, but the promise remains the same

[@johncliver5020]

I’m around the same age as you and remember having the book read to my class in elementary school. I’ve also always been a big train fan… Yet somehow it’s never been a favorite movie of mine. I’ve never been able to figure out what it is but there’s something about the animation of the characters that creeps me out a bit, lol.

[@joshmontemayor1212]

The Polar Express is Warner Bros.' Magnum Opus of Christmas movies.

[@geohtrain]

Granted: taking what I remember being maybe a 15 minute read and transforming that to feature length is gonna mean taking liberties. I personally enjoyed the film and extra elements.

[@JacobHofeldt-fq6ii]

The SCHWARTZ!

[@strasburgrailfan90]

Now you have to go see the real locomotive next year lol

[@CWFTrains]

Tom Hanks is also the boy….

[@PelhamExpress]

Don’t feel bad, I never watched Thomas and only saw Polar Express recently

[@alfonsolanzagorta5138]

I've told you that I is a great movie. But you REALLY have a point. I will buy the book right now. Haven't read it. And yes, almost always, books are better by far than the movies based on them. And I can bet my head on that in this case.

[@harrisonallen651]

You just gotta believe

[@DRCRailroard]

Of course, I saw the movie. It had a Berkshire train in it. It had a train for crying out loud. What kind of train nut wouldn't like a movie where the train is the star of the show. OK. Now I'll need to get the book. You know, so I can read it.

[@Dadified86]

The book has a train, too! 😂

[@thefuriousgamer2553]

I’ve always loved this film probably cuz I grew up with it which helps I have always loved the soundtrack and listen to it daily it my favorite movie of all time and I agree Lionel probably won’t be as big as it is or even around without this film I’ve always wanted a legacy polar berk ever since the 2008 run and I got one this August for an absolute STEAL of a price I’m thinking of getting the maroon one that Lionel is putting out if it has sierra 3’s whistle I plan on swapping the shells and having my dream consist with the scale cars behind it

[@LousTrains1523]

The Polar Express movie music was composed by the great Alan Silvestri and it's awesome and far an away my favorite part of the movie. I'm sure many of us would agree that music can elevate a movie or TV show to legendary status almost all on it's own and Believe has pretty much become a Christmas staple. I'm not much for the fantasy schemes for trains, but I guess you are right - train collectors have to get a Polar Express set of some type huh?

[@Dadified86]

Silvestri is one of my favorite movie score composers anyways so it comes as no surprise that this movie is made better because of the music, too!’

[@LousTrains1523]

@@Dadified86 And not to get too off topic but Silvestri scored the music to another movie with an iconic train, Back to the Future III. The engine used at the end is a real ex-Prescott & Arizona Central Railroad Locomotive No. 3 and honestly could you imagine a BTTF set with a Delorean on the tracks in front? I sent a note to Lionel on this and possibilities are endless (I feel the rights wouldn't be as hard to obtain as you'd think). Anyway back to the catalog looking for a Polar Express engine lol!

[@Dadified86]

@ Alan’s work on Back to the Future is fantastic. Some of my favorite movies and the score is unforgettable!

[@BoardGamesBricksHobbies]

Yeah, the movie had 3(!) rollercoaster sequences, that's 2 too many, haha.

[@davidhatch2862]

You should check out RBP’s Christmas Display.

[@Dadified86]

I have! Spotted his new Switcher worked into it, too. And of course the Texas Special 👍

[@MRTHUNDER.]

You’re only the second ever person I know who never seen polar express the first one was my friend which we eventually made him watch it (aka made fun of him for not watching it him into it)

[@DP-121]

Take your family to the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso Michigan.

[@timothymaroney2121]

Never seen the movie or had the polar express.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I read the book as a grown man, saw it in a Barnes & Noble and picked it up. I'm not ashamed to say the books ending brought tears to my eyes. That being said I don't care for the movie at all. I find the computer animation poorly done and creepy and some of the segments downright ridiculous. Honestly if it were me I'd have shot it live-action with the REAL Pere Marquette 1225. It could have been done. So don't feel like you're the outlier not careing for the movie, you're not alone. (By the way, to me when Tom Hanks yells "All aboard! THIS is the Polar Express!" he sounds like he's PO'd about something! C'mon man, you're riding on a steam train and getting paid for it! What's to be PO'd about?)

[@MygrandpasTrain]

The movie used live action motion capture, which is people actors wearing special suits connected to the computer, so the actions sometimes look hyper real and sometimes look terrible.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@MygrandpasTrain Well it sure didn't look good, in my opinion anyway. I think a mix of live-action plus CGI as was used in James Cameron's "Titanic" of 1997 would have made more sense. And probably no more expensive either. Anyway today's film makers seem to have forgotten the maxim of "Sometimes less is more!" Especially so when you consider a lot of todays action films look like video games gone berserk.