Polar Express movie...help me understand why everyone raves about it.

[jacksmomma]

Help me understand the appeal of the Polar Express movie. I will admit, I have not sat down and watched it in its entirety, I catch bits and pieces as I am folding laundry, making lunch, etc. I get the heart warming part about the bell and how it only rings if you believe, but there are many parts that leave me scratching my head. For instance: the bum on the roof of the train, what is that about? The scary puppets...again what? Why is the engineer so mean...he seems to have a stick somewhere that is uncomfortable. Finally, when they get to the North Pole the background music sounds as if it is in slow motion. I guess I just am at a loss. The only scene that I really like is the hot chocolate one. Please enlighten me!

 

[jodifla]

To really get the story, you need to watch it from the beginning.

(I don't like the hobo either, but my husband says it's a metaphor about the uncertainty of life.)

 

[susykt4]

A friend and I took my train-loving daughter when it was in the theater several years ago. It was quite possibly the worst movie I've ever paid to see. I didn't like it at all. My friend was so offended by how bad it was she actually said she was going to make it her mission in life to make sure no one she knew paid to see it. I thought that was funny because normally she's not at all dramatic and doesn't get worked up about anything.

 

[fluffycow333]

I'm with you. I don't like that movie at all.

 

[cjackearl]

The book is so, so much better, with no freaky hobo or marionettes or unionized elves.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

To really get the story, you need to watch it from the beginning.

(I don't like the hobo either, but my husband says it's a metaphor about the uncertainty of life.)

I agree, watch it from the beginning. I really prefer the book, but I actually loved the magic represented in the movie. My kids liked it, too, they all wanted a bell for Christmas that year and they each found one in their stocking.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sit down and watch it all the way through.


Here's the funny thing...I did not grow up with the Santa Claus thing (I was a nervous child living inside of domestic violence, and the idea of some man coming into the house while we were asleep was terrifying) though we played with the myth. I haven't raised DS with the Santa stuff (though for a year he decided I was wrong and there was indeed a Santa...now he's decided he doesn't believe again, whew, that was really weird for me). We don't actually celebrate Christmas; we celebrate Yule, just on the 25th.

But I like that movie! Makes me feel all nice, even though the retired chiropractor in me wants to adjust that one tense kid (his neck, augh).

The hobo is just the same character as the conductor, moving along the story, moving along the character's journey to who he is at the end, etc etc.

 

[Luv2trav]

I didn't like the movie at first.. At first it kinda creeped me out.. However my youngest LOVED it so I had to watch over and over... The more I watched it the more I noticed all the secret messages.. The music and magic of the movie. My absolute favorite is when the Elves are singing for Santa and build up before he comes out. Makes me feel just like I did on Christmas Eve when I was young..

 

[Joyful3Heart]

I didn't like the movie at first.. At first it kinda creeped me out.. However my youngest LOVED it so I had to watch over and over... The more I watched it the more I noticed all the secret messages.. The music and magic of the movie. My absolute favorite is when the Elves are singing for Santa and build up before he comes out. Makes me feel just like I did on Christmas Eve when I was young..

I agree, I really didn't like it (especially the hobo!) the first time I saw it. But it really grew on me and now I never miss it each year and my kids LOVE it. Our first grade class even has a day they watch it in class and the kids get to wear pajamas to school and drink hot cocoa...Magical!

 

[KevGuy]

See it in 4D on a 50 foot screen like we did at a Jordans Furniture up where we live lol. You can feel the spray as the train screeches across the ice!!

 

[RMulieri]

I didn't care for it at first but we read the book in our Catechism class, so I sat down an watched from start to finish...I love the movie and so does Dh and my 5 yr old.It has become a staple in our house during the holidays

 

[stacy347]

It's not a favorite in our house. If it's on, someone will probably watch but we don't make a point of it every year.
My DD15 and I both find the characters quite creepy ~ I know it's the graphics but they just give me the heebie jeebies, LOL.

 

[jenseib]

My DD thinks it is great too, but I never got it. I don't care for it much at all. My son says I read the book to him when he was little (he is 20 now) but I don't remember it.

 

[iwrbnd]

I agree! I thought it was weird and would have completely freaked me out as a kid!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I didn't like the movie at first because I have a whole book vs movie hangup, but after watching it a time or two I have fallen in love with it. It has a great message and is heartwarming. Don't like the whole puppet thing, though.

 

[IcedMudd]

I absolutely hated it, actually fell asleep watching it, I was so bored, UNTIL I watched it with my little girl who was almost 4 at the time. She was mesmerized and really got into it. It has a whole new meaning now and the scene with the little girl singing to the other kid, I can't remember the name of the song, but it brings tears to my eyes EVERYTIME I watch it. I grew up VERY poor so it's sort of like looking at myself as a child there. We have the Polar Express train that we set up every year...we always make a big deal out of the bell that came with it, can you hear it? I can barely hear it, and our little girls just shouts, no mommy(daddy) I hear it, Santa IS real! I believe!

 

[disfan07]

I absolutely love the movie.
I dont celebrate christmas (we're jewish) btu i absolutely love christmas movies. I think that you relaly have to sit and watch this movie. Its not somethign you can watch in passing or while doing ten other things.
I think there really is a lot to this movie and I always aee somethign new that I missed the last tiem i watched it.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I have seen the whole thing, multiple times, and I can't stand it either. The puppets, the hobo, all the scary crap in there. I love the story and sentiment in the book. Of course, that wasn't enough to make a full length feature out of, so let's throw in some crazy puppets and wierdo hobo, etc.

My family adores the movie. Go figure.

 

[wdwfan16]

I am not a fan of the movie, DH and DD love it. I hate the hobo. DH says the hobo is the boys guardian angel. I still don't see why he is there or why they have the stupid rock band at the north pole.

 

[AnnMarie3]

I don't like the movie either, and neither did my ds. However, we saw a condensed 17 minute 4-d version at Stone Mountain Park here in Georgia. It was fantastic. It included the main sentiment of the film with great 4-d effects without all the extras. No hobo, no scary puppets, etc.