POLAR EXPRESS made me cry * FIRST TIME WATCHING * reaction & commentary

[@j.woodbury412]

"Even Sara found one day that she could no longer hear its sweet sound."- The saddest line in the whole movie. Growing up sure does suck.

[@RoosterCogburn1008]

The main point of the hobo ghost is to help teach the kid a lesson about his skepticism, and reinforce that "seeing his believing" is more complicated than you think. The man tells the boy that seeing IS believing. But then follows it up with, "Do you believe in ghosts?" The boy shakes his head no, and the man responds "Interesting." The boy doesn't believe in ghosts, even though he is seeing a ghost right in front of him.

[@xthemystic7879]

Perhaps yet- the ghost of Christmas future?

[@paul16451]

It took me a couple of times watching this film before realizing Tom Hanks actually voiced ALL the adult male characters, including Santa, the hobo, the kid's dad, and even the Scrooge puppet! He really came through with his voice acting in this one!

[@gaynor1721]

Tom Hanks has a very distinctive voice, so I don't know how you missed it. His brother, Jim Hanks, sounds just like him and played Woody in _Toy Story_ video games and commercials.

[@paul16451]

@@gaynor1721 just wasn't really thinking about it. I heard different voices for each.

[@mego73]

If you see the early trailers, he also did the voice for the boy, but the movie used a true young person for the boy voice.

[@ianobrien3248]

And was the face model too. It gets pretty creepy when you notice it's all Tom Hanks monsters on that train.

[@Coliver]

Iirc this movie was a bit of a passion project for Tom Hanks, he had been trying to get it made since 1999.

[@Robert3377]

Rudolph doesn’t show up in a lot of Santa movies because the red nosed reindeer is copyrighted. Yep, the other 8 are public domain

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

11 more years until the original Rudolph story (not the classic Rankin and Bass clamation) becomes public domain.

[@karabearcomics]

@@Sam_on_KZbin The Rankin/Bass film is already public domain (improper copyright notice), so the wait is for the character himself and the song (and considering laws about sound recording copyright, that may never enter the public domain in our lifetimes).

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

@@karabearcomics I always said public domain is the life of Steamboat Willy plus a few years. But Disney didn't lobby to extend beyond the already ludicrous 95 years and the original version of Mickey is entering public domain next week. No reason to think something will change in the next 11 years before Rudolph.

[@belleofbrightside97]

Imagine your pal being copyrighted but all you are is "pUbLiC dOmAiN"

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

@@belleofbrightside97 Winnie the Pooh and most of his friends have been public domain for 2 years. Hence the horror film Pooh: Blood and Honey. Tigger enters the public domain next week... In case they want a sequel.

[@AZJennie]

Here in Arizona, we have a steam train that runs to and from the Grand Canyon. At Christmas time, the train turns into the Polar Express. When my son was small (years ago), we went every year. Everyone is expected to wear their pajamas and robes. We all bring a copy of the picture book, and follow along as it is read over the intercom. At the appropriate point, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies are served. And after the train gets away from town and out into the dark forest, we come upon a magical North Pole village with lights and everything. The most memorable year was when we scored Christmas Eve tickets and it started snowing while we were on the train. Everyone gets a silver bell as they get off the train. We still have a collection. It was so magical!

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

We have a Christmas train out here in Nevada too! I need to ride it sometime with my hubby :D sounds so fun.

[@asheenahgaming]

Here in Dallas-Fort Worth (GRAPEVINE, Texas) we have a polar express at Christmas time too! It's cute! The tickets get sold out in the summer!

[@wmason1961]

Dangit!! You just added something to my bucket list.

[@ianobrien3248]

We have it in Utica NY and sometimes real snow!

[@JL-sm6cg]

I was today years old when I found out about this.

[@wesmcinerny4524]

Check out the book this is based on. Also, to answer your question at 25:27, reindeer and caribou are literally the same species of deer. Caribou is what the North American populations are called while reindeer is what the Eurasian populations are called. Oh yeah, and at 28:21, we got an elf version of Steven Tyler from Aerosmith.

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

Yep lol :P

[@wesmcinerny4524]

@@RedRoseSeptember22 Why lol?

[@simonrancourt7834]

caribous are bigger

[@wesmcinerny4524]

​@@simonrancourt7834The North American populations?

[@wesmcinerny4524]

​@@RedRoseSeptember22What's with the lol?

[@grahamers]

Ashleigh: This animation is giving uncanny valley…instantly. I don’t like it. Everyone: Welcome to the club!

[@videohistory722]

Someone pointed out to me that the girl also has her doubts about Santa, it's just shown super subtly to where it flies under the radar. How? By the "Are you sure?" thing. Sure, she SAYS she believes in everything, but there's still a little voice in the back of her head saying, "Are you sure?" That's why she freezes up whenever someone says that. What if she was wrong this whole time? What if all this is meaningless? So when they're at the North Pole, and she finally says, "Absolutely!", that was the film's way of telling us she now finally truly believes it's all real. That's why she didn't initially hear the bells.

[@LA_HA]

videohistory: That's why she's there. If her faith is as unshakable as she Says, she wouldn't be on the train. But, she got on because she wanted to have her belief supported. It's possible that she was on the line because of others telling her to grow up and stop believing in kid stuff. That happens to many of us. But, it doesn't mean that we're to completely surrender our sense of wonder, humor, and fun. Oh, and humility. May your Holidays be one of Everlasting Belief. PS. What's your thoughts about the ghost? A nod to A Christmas Carol? Someone who didn't believe once, but always longed for a second chance? The Spirit of Christmas? The Spirit of Faith (given his appearance as a hobo riding the top of the train and helping wayward children find their way back into the interior)?

[@videohistory722]

​@@LA_HAsomeone who tried stowing away on the train and ended up getting run over

[@LA_HA]

@@videohistory722 Oh. That's interesting. Dark, but interesting

[@wigwitch]

So the reason why Rudolph is not included in this or other Christmas movies is because Rudolph is copyrighted by a company out of a Connecticut called Character Arts, LLC. It was originally featured in a booklet published by Montgomery Ward Department Store. Merry Christmas Ashleigh!

[@videohistory722]

One thing I've caught about this movie over the years: When they're walking around the north pole, they hear the elves talking about the last present having candy cane paper and a green number 7 bow. You're supposed to think that it's Billy's present, but eventually, you notice so is Hero boy's present. Leaves you to wonder: did Santa know he was going to lose the bell?

[@kevenpinder7025]

A lot of this was tilted toward a 1930s 1940s vibe. During the Depression railroad "hobos" were a big thing. Maybe that's why they incorporated the ghost. He was also a voice encouraging the boy to be skeptical, and open to magic, at the same time.

[@jamesmoyner7499]

A fun story I have to tell regarding this film is that when it was released in 2005 my fifth grade class and the two other fifth grade classes at my school took a field trip to the theater to see this movie. So the film is directed by Robert Zemeckis who directed the following films you have previously seen for the channel: Forrest Gump, The Back to the Future Trilogy, And Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This was made through his motion capture company Image Movers Digital. Also Tom Hanks plays: The Father, The Boy grown up narration, The Conductor, The hobo/scrooge puppet, and Santa Claus.

[@X-Kong]

Same thing happened in my elementary school. Before this movie was being released, my teacher set the classroom like a train and served us hot chocolate. One of the best experience I've had as a child, which is why this movie always resides with me.

[@dontbstingy3587]

Either Image Movers Digital became a horror film company after Forrest Gump or they messed up and accidently created the greatest abomination known to man.

[@PhilBagels]

I believe Hanks was also the voice of at least one of the elves.

[@kronostvx]

I did the same! northern Illinois for me. did we all have the same childhood lol

[@Michigan_Tactical]

@@dontbstingy3587 one of the problems with computer generated human animation is that the characters are too perfect. Really people have flaws ( one eye slightly higher than the other, crooked noses, blemishes etc.) The absence of which appears creepy. I'm not sure why the creators chose to use human characters but it does make a scary movie.

[@hockemeyer1]

I'm 75 and I have watched this film every year since its release. You missed the age of trains and I miss trains. In the 50s when I was a kid, my younger brother and I rode the Denver Zephyr on the Burlington railway from Denver to various places west of the Mississippi to spend the summer with my father's parents. One year we departed from Chicago. My grandfather was a preacher who serviced little towns in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas. When we first began our annual trips I was 5 years old and my brother 3. We traveled alone under the care of the porters. Since the 50s I've traveled very often by plane around the country and Europe, but I have yet to find a fight that was as elegant as train travel . That was before the government ruined train travel with AMTRAK. I'm rambling as old men do. Hobos were a part of trains. Going back to the Great Depression of the 30's Hobos and often out of work men would jump into empty freight cars to catch a free ride; hobos to who knows where and out of work men to anyplace where work might be found.

[@chris...9497]

Trains were once the main public transportation system between cities and towns. Tracks were laid passing through population centers, establishing stations for shipping and travel. Trains were especially important in rural areas, most notably in the eastern mountain areas and beyond. It was these mountain areas where bluegrass developed and songs were written that included trains. Hillbillies immortalized trains in their music. I was born in the mountains. When the Great Depression hit our area, many young people fled to cities on the train lines that went through their little rural town. In my family, some went east to Baltimore and some went west to Indianapolis. Years later, my family had an annual family gathering that each year was held in either Baltimore, Indianapolis, or the tiny town our family began in. I still have family in those three towns. When I was a divorced mother, I used to take that same train, daughter in tow, to stay a week or two with my grandfather, who still lived in that tiny mountain town. We would go three times a year, so my daughter now in her 30s had that same experience of train travel that my own parents and grandparents had. It's the same train line that my grandfather would take from his birthplace to come court my grandmother in the same tiny town that my family spread out east and west from.

[@hockemeyer1]

@@chris...9497 Yep. Trains were important all over the country. For a time they were the main movers of nessisary goods. In the west where good roads were space before Ikes highway system was completed trains got products that were manufactured in the east to us in the west. Cattle and hogs and grains moved from west to the east. I've ridden on AMTRAK a few times but for me it isn't as special as it was in the 50s traveling on the Burlington, Sante Fe, B & O, or the Norfolk and Western.

[@moondom]

People growing out of being able to hear the bell literally makes me cry, lol. I loved the book so much as a kid, I have a little bell that I hang as part of my Christmas decorations!

[@GreatestFriends18]

I too have a little Polar Express bell that I hang on my tree every year. I got it from my grandma. I turn it into a game. Who can find the bell in the tree? Kind of like someone finding the pickle ornament or something.

[@HollywoodandWine101]

This was my first time ever seeing an IMAX film. And the snow in the 3D was so astonishing. First movie I remember where 3D actually added to the immersion and magic instead of being a gimmick.

[@KlingonCaptain]

I really loved "A Christmas Carol" in 3D from the same director (Robert Zemeckis of Back to the Future fame).

[@navidhudson7065]

Same here, it was my first Imax film and it was stunning to watch especially in 3D

[@alexanderfish4797]

The blu-ray 3d presentation is fantastic.

[@grahamers]

This was based on a beautiful picture book by the same title. They tried to capture that beauty in the animation. As you said, it works for stills, like the buildings and trains but fails with moving people.

[@cliffchristie5865]

It was logical to suppose that motion capture would be a useful tool for animators. And while it may still have its uses, it clearly doesn't work for everything. For storytelling purposes it just doesn't render human figures naturally. In the years since computer animation was introduced, those working in that medium have refined it to a point that much more fluid and and expressive movement can be achieved using the skills of traditional animators. Motion capture is the digital equivalent of rotoscoping - tracing over live action footage expecting that it would result in a natural, lifelike look. Unfortunately it turned out to be the opposite. Films like "The Polar Express" were a noble experiment but not an aesthetic success.

[@liljenborg2517]

Zemekis tried so hard to make mo-cap work. But the more human he tried to make the characters, the less real they looked. In many respects, the technology just wasn’t ready. Most of the movement comes off slightly stiff. The hands, wrists, and fingers don’t move right, because the mocap gear just didn’t pick up the subtler movements. And the facial capture never really worked at catching all the subtle movements around the mouth and eyes humans are naturally hyper attuned to, since it’s the foundation of how we communicate. While it did save them money building sets, it would have been better if the kids, anyway, had been real actors.

[@MrRezRising]

Unfortunately, the dynamite team of Zemekis and Hanks was kneecapped by - at the time - a rarely used term we use quite a bit now. The Uncanny Valley. TPE became its poster child.

[@JonEdelkampVoices]

I don't care how creepy the animation is! I love this movie so much! One of my top 10 favorite Christmas movies!

[@moogotron]

This movie is crazy as hell but I love it so much. The way I see this movie and the whole point of it (as well as its kind of dark undertone at times) is the concept of belief and faith, not just in Santa, but in anything. The main character has this constant internal struggle of wanting to believe, but "needing proof" in order to believe in it. His character foil, however, is the girl he meets on the train, who has a strong sense of belief and faith. She doesn't need her proof to belief in Santa; she just does. The main character challenges this idea, and her concept of faith, by consistently almost doubting her. He's always asking her if she's sure about the choices she makes and her response is often to simply brush him off and go on her way. It's only toward the end of the movie where he asks her again where she stands firm in her choice, responding with a steady "absolutely." And in each instance where her faith is challenged, she's always right which conflicts with the main character's need for proof or logic before he chooses to believe something. By the end of the story, the main character chooses to believe without the proof he so desperately needs, and because of it, it pays off. This may come off as blind faith, but I wouldn't say that it is considering through the entire night, he's shown that you don't always need hard evidence to believe in something. It's just as the conductor says, "Some of the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

[@LA_HA]

moogotron: The very definition of Faith/Belief is to give credence to Nouns -- persons, places, and things (Thank you, Schoolhouse Rock. haha) -- we can't see, that haven't happened yet, and that aren't manifest within the world but within ourselves. Just like we learn in other Christmas movies and TV shows like The Guardians, it can require a little sacrifice, ignoring what people tell you, and resisting the bitterness and anger that disappointments and hard times heap upon us throughout our lives. The end of the movie says this when the boy, now a man, says his little sister lost her Belief as she got older, so she, like the parents, couldn't hear the bell anymore. Granted, she didn't get the opportunity to take the train trip like her brother, who was granted a rare glimpse into something Amazing. But, isn't that the way it often works? A few people tell of a miracle they encountered, but the rest of the world that didn't get that precious insight can't bring themselves to believe. And often become the mockers and tormentors of The Believers and The Faithful. Some give in and stop believing. Some stop talking about it and keep their beliefs hidden within themselves like a precious secret. However, there are those who tell everyone they meet, regardless of the negativity they receive. I really think that's the real reason Harry Potter was so special. That first book brought back Belief for so many kids, teens, and yes, adults, who had lost their sense of Wonder. And for a time, or longer if lucky, millions were able to recapture that Feeling of Anything and Everything Being Possible. Just like when we were very, very young and our entire souls were sure there was still Magic in the world. Happiest Holidays to you. May your New Year be wonder-full

[@kinsmart7294]

Believe to understand and undestand to believe

[@SUZABELLA34]

This is such a wonderful movie! We still set up the Polar Express train under our tree. The set came with the movie, a full train with sounds and Tom Hanks yelling "ALL ABOARD!" tracks and the bell. My son cried when we gave him this set on Christmas many years ago.

[@silverlobo2135]

Happy Christmas, Ashleigh First about movie, the film is entirely in CGI / Digital animation. It was one, if not, the first of the full-length movie in CGI / DA. Since it was early 2000s, CGI animators hadn't quite gotten people's faces and movements done quite 'right'. This can also be seen in "The Mummy 2" where the CGI animation got the 'Rock' Johnson digitizing wrong as the Scorpion King towards the end of the film. Might be remembering wrong, but I do believe there were some IMAX theater showings of this film. Since chocolate is indigenous to the Americas, the Mayans, Aztecs, Incans, and a few other indigenous people originally would add chili flavor to help it absorb better into the blood system. So, it is not exactly "disgusting". It originally was not a sweet drink. It was seen more as herbal tea like. Best tasting 'hot chocolate' is made with whole milk or buttermilk and Central American cooking chocolate. Towards the end, you might have missed it, but the train underneath the Christmas tree, was the same as the Polar Express. Personally, I always thought that not being able to hear the sound of the bell had to do with not TRULY believing in the magic of imagination and the cynicism of adult mentality towards make believe / fantasy. Either way, I hope you and Blake had a wonderful Christmas time with family and / or friends. Make sure to bring some tissues for your next film. You WILL need them if you cried in this one,

[@Michigan_Tactical]

Grand Rapids guy here Herpolsheimer's was a real store located at the geographic center of town. They had a monorail in the basement that was decorated for Christmas. Now it's the police station and federal court. There was a train that ran just to the north back in the early to mid 1900s. These are the tracks that the polar Express is running on. The tracks are gone but a bridge remains on the Grand River that is open only to pedestrians (near the Gerald R Ford presidential museum) Chris Van Allsburg was born in East Grand Rapids and included Grand Rapids in the story.

[@carriemilito2851]

I remember getting to see the monorail before all the remodeling took place. I'm not sure when the department store itself closed for good.

[@Michigan_Tactical]

@@carriemilito2851 I think 87 is when Herp's closed. Then it was the City centre until about 1990. I used to skip school and go there and eat in the food court.

[@ptw5h2o3]

The original Herpolsheimer’s Children’s Train was pulled out of storage, restored to its original condition, and is displayed at the Grand Rapids Public Museum every holiday season.

[@Michigan_Tactical]

​@@ptw5h2o3 I've heard that but I've never been to the public museum at Christmas.

[@lordwootsee]

Going to Herp's was a big deal as a kid. As you exit the escalator, kids would follow the reindeer tracks painted on the floor that would lead you to Santa. He gave a free toy to every kid. Riding the monorail train ( which was painted as a rocketship) above the toy dept was super fun.

[@PhilBagels]

The book this was based on was a very simple story, beautifully illustrated. In fact, the main point of the book was the illustrations. It was just the main kid, not quite sure if he still believed in Santa, taking the train to the North Pole, being served hot chocolate, getting the jingle bell. Pretty much everything else was added to pad out the movie to a full movie length. If they had just stuck to the book, it would have been a half-hour TV special. The girl, the nerdy kid, Billy, the ice, the "rollercoaster" tracks, all the other "crises" on the way, were made up for the movie. IIRC, there were some illustrations of the trees and birds and animals on the way, and a railroad hobo, but nothing about losing the ticket, or making words with the hole punch, or the hole in the pocket. And yes, the CGI was creepy-looking. They hadn't yet figured out how to make realistic people with CGI. It probably would have worked better if they had gone for a more cartoony-style with the people, like in the various Pixar movies. And yes, Tom Hanks did most of the voices. And the voice of the nerdy kid is the same guy who plays nerdy characters in many other movies, sic as War Games.

[@MrSheckstr]

MR POTATOHEAD! Back doors are not secrets!

[@iChristyD]

The one with the weird voice? He was also in the movie Grease as Eugene.

[@electronash]

Eddie Deezen. ;) I mainly remember him in Wargames, too. (not Wargames Two, that was terrible. lol) Wargames (1983) has a genuinely important message, I think. Even more so at this time in the World today.

[@iChristyD]

@@electronash Absolutely

[@PhilBagels]

@@electronash And he was also in a really stupid movie called "Joysticks" - a silly teenage comedy about playing video games. This may have been his first movie. I only know about it from RiffTrax.

[@mego73]

I saw this first in IMAX 3D, which it was made for. My mind was blown, instant classic for me. Watch it every year. I tear up when the boy finally sees Santa.

[@OneAndOnlyOmar]

I love this movie!! I also love how Tom hanks voices multiple characters in this one, it’s always a tradition for my family to watch this every Christmas👌

[@maximillianosaben]

P.S. Kinda wish Ashleigh listened to the song during the credits, Believe by Josh Groban. It's obviously orchestrated throughout the movie, but since it was written for it I wish she heard it; it's catchy.

[@JennNofficial]

That song makes me cry every time 😢

[@DAMIENDMILLS]

🎶 Children sleeping Snow is softly falling Dreams are calling Like bells in the distance We were dreamers Not so long ago But one by one, we All had to grow up When it seems the magic's slipped away We find it all again on Christmas Day Believe in what your heart is saying Hear the melody that's playing There's no time to waste There's so much to celebrate Believe in what you feel inside And give your dreams the wings to fly You'll have everything you need If you just believe 🎶

[@maximillianosaben]

I saw this in theaters with my late step-grandfather (a day with just me and him, even though I have two brothers too), and it's a really cherished memory of mine, and also part of why I love this movie so much. It's just a wonderful Christmas film; gotta love Tom Hanks! Plus, you pair him with Robert Zemeckis again after Forrest Gump and Cast Away and it's a no-brainer already.

[@bryanthompson7373]

Saw this in a theater. It was not only in 3D, it was also in IMAX. It wasn’t uncanny valley, it was uncanny CANYON. Creepy AF.

[@GeminiWolfstarGaming]

Only from watching the intro and seeing part of the title being "made me cry," I have the feeling Ashleigh is going to be on the Polar Hot Mess Express!

[@jameslipski]

My wife and I watch this every Christmas season. We are in our 60s and love it. It brings out the kid in us.

[@psychoween]

The theater where I work has an annual screening, with a hot chocolate/pajama party. It sells out every year. Families come, all in their pajamas, and get a free cup of hot chocolate before watching the film. This year, I wore my engineer's cap to get in the mood. :) I was pouring the hot chocolate, and when I would run low, I'd blow my train whistle to get more from the concession stand. It is always a lot of fun (even with the dead eyed characters.) Tom Hanks plays a number of the characters. I don't think it was originally in 3D, but I seem to remember a 3D conversion was made later.

[@EOMReacts]

Merry Christmas!

[@Snarkerella]

Merry Christmas, Ashleigh!! This is a sweet movie to watch during the holiday. It's been a hard season for us in our home, but you've brighten our year! Thank you!

[@djoscartj]

I adore this movie! I watched it with my son when he was growing up and always got teary eyed. Every time I watch it, it reminds me of him. I need to watch it again with him now that he's a full grown adult!

[@JGM154]

25:23--25:28, Short answer: Rangifer tarandus. Long answer: reindeer and caribou are roughly one in the same, the two terms are used interchangeably. On a fundamental level, reindeer belong to the same family of hoofed ruminants as the common deer or elk, but due to differing bone structures, they are part of a whole separate subfamily that includes the roe, the brocket, and the moose.

[@rama30]

We had this on the biggest screen we had. When the train takes the steep drops you would feel it in your stomach. I loved standing in the back of the theater and hearing guests gasp.

[@DegrassiInstantStar]

Reading the book growing up, I have to say, this film really honoured the text and the illustrations in this film.

[@tyrelmitchell9316]

This was suggested almost a year later, but it was still fun to watch! I remember my whole school taking a field trip to see this movie (I was in fifth grade at the time). It was incredible! A couple fun Easter eggs (Christmas eggs?🤔) in this movie- the engine is mostly based on Pere Marquette 1225, with a different whistle. The train sounds (chugging, etc) are recordings from 1225. Her number appears on the golden tickets as the ticket number, but it also references Christmas day (12/25) Directed by Robert Zemeckis, there's a couple Back to the Future 3 references included, like when the train screeches to a stop after the emergency brake is pulled, and the "I've wanted to do that my whole life!" when the kid pulls the whistle. And if you use the freeze frame, there's a shot of the flux capacitor in the locomotive's cab!

[@DavidGowers]

Yeah the animation here is creepy af, as much as it works for still images, but I'm such a sap that the movie itself makes me cry every single time Almost every scene with Billy, and most of the ending from the moment Santa shows up. I also just LOVE the Hot Chocolate song and dance number. Fun facts: The two engineers are both voiced by Michael Jeter - best known to most people either as Del from The Green Mile or as Mr Noodle's Brother Mr Noodle from Elmo's World/Sesame Street - in (I think?) his final role before he died; and the elf singer at the end is Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

[@chrisedwards7095]

The animation is based on Chris Van Allsburg's children's book. He also created Jumanji. One of the voice actors was Peter Scolari, who was Tom Hanks costar on Bosom Buddies.

[@Ken-h5d]

2 things, Ashleigh. 1. You are so much fun to watch. I have re-watched movies I didn't care to watch again just to see your reaction. 2. Old classic movies can be awesome. One you should think about for next year is "How to Marry a Millionaire". (1953 I think). Three of the hottest stars of the day. Marilyn Monroe is a great comedic actress. Betty Grable was the #1 pin-up girl of WWII. Lauren Bacall is a timeless beauty. It's a comedy about three love stories. I really think you'll love it. Happy New Year and keep doin' what you're doin'.

[@HildegardActual]

LOVED this movie as a kid. I was already really into trains, and seeing this movie in the theater was a super memorable experience.

[@dylanfunrue8358]

Tom hanks is the boy, narrator, Santa, the boys father, the hobo, and did the mocap for all of them

[@Jamielc23]

Lsst time I watched this was 2nd grade in class, I remembered wayyy more than I should. Shows how much watching this for the first time was a core memory for me😅

[@32ndspecialist]

Here in Arizona the Grand canyon railroad transforms into the Polar express for the kids in the winter. They decorate the station @ the Grand canyon like the North pole & every kid gets to meet Santa & receives a reindeer bell as a souvenir. My son went on it with his Nana & cousins when he was little. They even get hot cocoa on the ride.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Ashleigh! 🎅 Wishing all the best for you, Blake and your fur babies throughout 2024 and beyond.

[@Bad_Wolf_Media]

Hey, Ashleigh, Rudolph is a very late addition to the reindeer roster. The original poem that named "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (often mistakenly called "'Twas the Night Before Christmas") that was first published in 1823 gave us the names of the "eight tiny reindeer" that pull Santa's sleigh.. Rudolph was created in 1939 as part of a marketing push from the Montgomery Ward department store when he was created for a coloring book.

[@muppetsstoogesfan1]

The guy who originally played the two train conductors was Michael Jeter, a great Broadway actor best known as Mr Noodles Brother Mr Noodle on Sesame Street. Sadly he passed away and all his lines were rerecorded by Andre Sogliuzzo, whose best known as King Bumi in Avatar The Last Airbender and Sparx the Dragonfly in the Spyro games.

[@Anthonyvongeek]

Watched that movie once when I was super stoned and those dead eyes from all the characters freaked me out.

[@panzerwolf494]

The sock thing from the pot of coffee, that's the old poor man's way of making coffee. You put the beans in a sock, crush'em with something hard, then drop them in a pot of hot water. Learned how to do it when i was a civil war reenactor

[@billking7923]

Rewatching on December 7, 2024. Just as much fun today as the last time around. Merry Christmas, Ashley and Hubbin!

[@morphman86]

Rangifer tarandus refers to both raindeer and caribou. All rangifers north of the polar circle are from the tarandus genus, even though they vary in appearance slightly. So they are both the same animal, just different populations. The noise we hear in the film is from a moose though...

[@dennisswainston411]

Herpolshimer's was THE Department Store in Grand Rapids, Michigan when I was a kid in the 50's. It's windows were legendary for their displays during Christmas. Grand Rapids is the home town of the book's author!

[@j.woodbury412]

Herpolsheimer's was department store headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was in business from 1865 to 1987. The Know-it-all Kid was voiced by Eddie Deezen. He was known for playing nerds in movies. That's his actual voice.

[@TheJabbate1]

I know Eddie as Mandark from Dexter’s Lab. Most unforgettable evil laugh ever. Ah Ah-Ha! Ah Ah-Ha Ah-Ha!

[@logan1x]

Eddie Deezen is one that you should look into his recent life to much

[@thomasriddle7005]

The book was my childhood. Every year we read this along with the nativity story. We even had the book set that came with a bell. The movie is a fun adaptation if maybe a little over the top but Tom Hanks nails it as always.

[@ashrimpcalledhank]

Some years back i was in Williams Az and for christmass the historic rail road was doing a Polar Express ride. i can't post a picture but i have 2 silver bells that say Polar Express on them. I'm 52 years old and yes, they still ring for me.

[@blueeyedcowboy8291]

So glad to see a reaction to this movie! I love this movie, my wife hates it, lol. The cartoons freak her out and she hated the marionette car. I loved everything about it. A great story with great voices, songs and humor. Merry Christmas everyone.

[@legionaireb]

1:30 - This movie is an adaptation of a legendary Caldecott Award-winning children's book. Many of the camera shots and much of the narrator's dialog is taken directly from the book (special call-out to the shot of the wolves running alongside the train). 2:08 - For 80% of the cast, the answer is 'yes.' 2:12 - Between the early mo-cap and the art style, the valley-ness of the characters is one of the few flaws of this movie.

[@petiteme1960]

Our little town does a Polar Express ride. Same town where they filmed Back to the Future III. Not only do they get a train ride, they also get a large silver bell, hot chocolate in a commemorative mug, cookies and a visit with Santa.. Children are expected to wear their PJ's. I agree with you about the animation, it creeps me out as well, hence as to why I've only watched this movie one time.

[@kellyp136]

I took my niece on our local Polar Express train ride this year. It was an amazing experience. If there is one near you, highly recommend if you have little kids.

[@anthonygeurtsen7143]

Definitely not feeling Merry and Bright, but I am soooo thankful that you were part of my holiday. I enjoy your videos so very much!! Thank-you.

[@amandaally7623]

Ahh!!! I’m so excited to watch this with you while I finish wrapping! You’re going to love this one I think. ❤ Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@kevinscott1547]

I remember when this movie was in theaters and I took my cousin to see it. He had just turned 8 and I was 27 at the time and I was like a big kid enjoying it with him!

[@auslandermercury972]

Yes, it was in 3D. I saw this in IMAX 3D with my parents and loved it. My mom still talks about it ☺️ Merry Christmas!

[@Hortonfantastic4]

It absolutely was released in 3D. I took my niece. She was 3. I think she’s almost 22 now. She was amazed. This was Pre Avatar so it was really good for the time. Also saw it on IMAX so even better

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

A Christmas Eve classic right here ♥my hubby and I watch it every Christmas Eve as a tradition. So glad you enjoyed it Ash ^.^ Merry Christmas!!!

[@bloodysushi]

Hey Ashleigh, the Tn Railway museum in Nashville and the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad both do a live Polar Express train ride. Heard it's pretty fun to do.

[@bidwell13]

This is such a great movie. They did such a great job with the book to movie script. Tom Hanks does five voices in this one (Santa, Father, the main kid, the hobo and the conductor) he also narrates the movie and is credited as “Scrooge” but really that’s the hobo pretending to be Scrooge. Every year our train museum does a “Polar Express” train ride where we take a hour round trip ride to and from the “North Pole”. They serve hot chocolate and cookies. The hot chocolate dancers dance through the aisles. They read the book. The hobo comes and goes playing tricks on people then Santa comes on board when we get to the North Pole and gives everyone a bell as the first gift of Christmas. Then they sing Christmas carols on the way back. This year the Santa remembered my daughter from other rides and asked to take a photo with her. 5:07 it’s because this was never before used motion capture. 6:45 you can find it on 3D dvd 30:11 remember when they first got to Billy’s house it was all dark and now there’s a tree all lit up. The hobo is supposed to be a spirit of Christmas and test those who are in serious doubt. Every year my daughter gets a photo album of the Polar Express train ride we go on with personalized letter from “Mr C”.

[@thalia9789]

This was the first movie I watched in theaters!! I remember being mesmerized and slightly freaked out by the train going off the tracks. I didn't watch it in 3D, but it sure felt like I did.

[@keithmartin4670]

Hi Ashleigh. Happy New Year to you, Hubbin, and Beans. I can’t believe it took me 2 1/2 weeks to point out the passing of Ryan O’Neal. His heyday was the 70s though he only retired around 2017. “Love Story” was THE monster hit of 1970, due largely to the chemistry between him and Ali McGraw, earning him his only Oscar nomination. Others from that period well worth your time are “What’s Up Doc?”, “Paper Moon”, and “Barry Lyndon”. I’m sure somebody on here has a favorite I didn’t mention.

[@ralphdougherty1844]

I just watched this with my girlfriend’s 10 year old daughter on Friday. It was the first time that she and I really got to hang out (I just met her in August after dating her mom for 6 months) and it was a very sweet moment for me as I don’t typically like kids. At the end she was laying on the couch with her legs over mine fast asleep. It’s a good memory of Christmas.

[@mattturner6017]

I saw this in 3D at an IMAX theater back in the day. It was a pretty amazing spectacle. I love this movie.

[@6sKi6z6]

I was almost done with college when this movie came out, so my family didn’t exactly “grow up” with it. But my sister-in-law loves it and insists on watching it yearly with my nephews. It’s way too uncanny valley for me.

[@Paineinyourblank]

Im glad youre still doing While you were sleeping because that movie is ABSOLUTELY a christmas movie. and even though I normally hate romantic comedies... I love While you were sleeping

[@EditDeath]

The kid with the annoying voice is played by Eddie Deezen, who's regularly cast to play nerds. He was the main rival in Dexter's Laboratory, one of the computer nerds in Wargames who helped figure out how to hack into that computer, he was even a nerd in Grease! Just to name a few. He was also Big Bird's particularly annoying adopted brother in Follow That Bird

[@RabidNemo]

I saw this movie in theaters with my grandma. During the scene where they're in the abandoned workshop looking around I dropped a Skittle on the floor I actually heard people whispering thinking there was someone in there. My grandmother leaned over to me and whispered "I heard that Skittle dropping"

[@JB-pz3ud]

I saw this years ago at Greenfield Village in Michigan. It was in 3D on a HUGE IMAX screen and it was amazing. This was the first movie to be completely motion capture and they didn't quite have it all perfect yet, but it does look like the art from the book it's based on. Merry Christmas all.

[@MegaSkills9]

Ashleigh...Reindeer are real and they are Caribou. (They just don't fly for real) As a kid in MN... I went to a reindeer petting zoo. The younger ones had velvet covered antlers. Very soft to the touch. I still have great memories. Everyone there was hoping to see one of them jump up and fly...lol.

[@MegaSkills9]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_antler#/media/File:Velvet-antler.jpg -- Go to this link for a pic of the velvet antlers

[@Terahzilla]

Such a treat to watch this with you to finish out my Christmas. This one is a family favorite. And yes the animation makes me uneasy too. But the rest of it makes it SO worth the rewatch for me. Merry Christmas!! 🎄 ❤

[@Jazmin881]

When the movie came out like that year for Christmas or the year after, my grandma did a Polar Express-themed Christmas party. Where she got mugs for all the kids that had Christmas decorations on the top, like garlands, and she put everybody’s name on it with a sticker be there either at a roller rink, I don’t know what else you would call it. She found a giant bell that looked similar to the first gift of Christmas. And Santa came, and I was chosen for the first gift. I was the oldest of my younger cousins.

[@CliffhangerUnlimited]

The singer Tinashe is in this movie she recently said in an interview they were doing this as a new style animation at the time that’s why it looks that way.

[@renedavids6154]

Never gets boring. Very realistic. Beautiful storyline. Got it on DVD and play it every year on Christmas eve.

[@bethanyromano2740]

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 I remember seeing this movie when it first came out in theaters. Lots of great memories were made with this one. The annoying voice kid’s voice is actually the voice of Mandark from Dexters Laboratory!

[@sabrinaduckett5057]

Glad you enjoyed this film, Ashleigh!

[@bobriemersma]

I used to walk by PM 1225 several times a day in college. That locomotive is the model for the Polar Express engine and has been reconditioned once again this year so it is still in operation.

[@kfields4980]

8:38 Amen, sister! 🇺🇸

[@joe.man.]

As we all know, Rudolph only leads Santa's sleigh when the weather is bad. "One foggy Christmas eve..." as the song goes, Rudolph is only need by Santa in bad weather conditions.

[@rickgiles8426]

The guy that voices Know-It-All is the incomparable Eddie Deezen. He is Malvin in "War Games", Herbie in "1941" and Wesley in a very underrated movie called "Midnight Madness".

[@regulartransport-user5340]

"Don't look at me! Don't judge me!" Music hits you in the feels.

[@karabearcomics]

The book this was adapted from was a tradition in my family when growing up. Every year, one of my uncles read it, and he had a sleigh bell that he'd pull out at the end and ring to punctuate the ending. Later, when the movie came out, though, I never really was interested in seeing it, with the terrifying animation, and worry about the filler likely to be put in when adapting a children's book to a full length movie. Ultimately, at least the additions did seem to work, but the animation is still a sticking point that I don't like. And I know I'm not alone. As with every video of yours, I recommend the movie Imagine Me & You, as well as Zsazsa Zaturnnah.

[@DavidIser]

Merry Christmas. also Tom was the man on top of the train, the voice of little boy was Eddie he live here in my town. he also played in Greese, 1941, war games. and more.

[@theDVoT]

Ahoy Ash, please do "What's Eating GIlbert Grape?" is just turned 30yrs old on December 17th and is a great example of the careers and potential both Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio would become have actors.

[@MrSheckstr]

In my head i always told myself that because he heard the bells all the way up into adulthood, he became the new conductor

[@aggiesoldier]

Christmas was lonely for sure, thanks for the smiles!! :)

[@m1gramme]

I appreciate you being able to watch this so I can experience it. I have never been able to get past the uncanny valley and actually watch it. Nightmare fuel....

[@robertsmith3883]

Fun Fact: Tom Hanks played boy's dad, The Conductor, all of the hot chocolate cooks, the Ghost on top of the train, and Tom Hanks also played Santa Claus.

[@anthony_castro710]

Hope you had an amazing Christmas Ashleigh 💚🎄❄️

[@limboslam]

The Polar Express had a single music piece that just felt the most eerie and also charming feeling at the same time for me

[@ThePixarDude]

I still cant wrap my mind around the fact that Tom Hanks in his grown man age voiced a 12 year old boy. Hes such a good voice actor

[@vandie9759]

Merry Christmas . Really liked seeing the holiday pictured with Hubbin ., Merry Merry and Happy New .., Thanks for all the great laughs and crude jokes , love the quick witt TY