The Polar Express Why It Doesnt Deserve The Hate (& 5 Reasons Why Its A Holiday Classic)
The Polar Express: Why It Doesn’t Deserve The Hate (& 5 Reasons Why It’s A Holiday Classic)
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2004’s The Polar Express debuted to mixed reception, but it has since become a timeless holiday classic undeserving of all of the hate.
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The Polar Express is a timeless Christmas tale that was first published as a children’s picture book in 1985. The story found its way to the big screen in 2004 with brand new characters, details, and songs bringing the pages to life. Tom Hanks lent his voice to several different characters including the train conductor, the narrator, and Santa Claus himself.
While many feel that The Polar Express is a must-see during the holiday season, it only received a 56% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. One fan took to Reddit wondering why the film isn’t well-loved by everyone, and they, along with a few other fans, explained their reasons why they very much enjoy this timeless classic.
10 Relatable Characters
The film stars a boy known only as “Hero Boy” in the credits, and he meets several children on the Polar Express including “Hero Girl” and Billy. A fan commented that these characters were written in such a way that young children could see themselves in them as they take a journey of growth and discovery.
The main boy learns how to believe, the girl learns to be a leader to others, and Billy learns the meaning of friendship and how he is never truly alone. These are all good lessons for young children, and seeing characters that they can relate to is a great way for those teachings to be learned.
9 The Hero Children Are Good Role Models
Kids absorb a lot from the television and movies that they watch, and they often will embody the way that the characters act. It’s important that their screens show people with positive traits so that the children watching will grow to be friendly and kind to others.
The Hero Boy and Hero Girl are good examples of this, as said by one Reddit fan. “They’re friendly to the kid who sits by himself, they own up to their mistakes, [and] they try their best to be helpful.” These are definitely the kind of children that kids can look up to.
8 Fantastic Music
One of the most iconic parts about Christmas is the carols that people love to sing! The Polar Express features some new tunes about riding the magical train and sharing Christmas together, as well as some old favorites like Frank Sinatra’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The soundtrack contains fourteen tracks sung by a medley of familiar voices such as Bing Crosby, Steven Tyler, the Andrews Sisters, and Josh Groban. Even Tom Hanks takes the microphone for a couple of songs, including “Hot Chocolate,” a bouncy tune about winter’s favorite warm drink.
7 Filled With Magic
Some viewers didn’t like that many parts of the movie are unrealistic. There’s one scene where the train boards tracks on a frozen lake, much to the dismay of the “know-it-all kid,” who says that this doesn’t make sense. However, one fan on Reddit reminds everyone that the Polar Express is a magic train; it’s not supposed to be realistic! “Let [the train] skate along the ice; it’s a fun scene.” Other bits of magic include the mysterious ghostly figure who rides the top of the train and of course the famous reindeer bells that only ring for those who truly believe!
6 So Much Christmas Spirit
One could argue that a large purpose of Christmas movies is to put viewers in the Christmas mood, and The Polar Express is no different. A Reddit fan agrees, saying, “What I think what really makes it stand out from the pack is it’s spirit. I think The Polar Express embodies the Christmas spirit like no film before has.”
There’s singing, dancing, friends, family, presents, and Santa Claus! There’s even a song on the soundtrack entitled, “Spirit of the Season.” All of these things together definitely spell out Christmas spirit.
5 Fast-Paced And Fun Storyline
The plot of The Polar Express isn’t anything complex, but, as a Reddit viewer pointed out, it really doesn’t need to be. The classic plot that fans became familiar with in the book is enriched with extra details as the characters go from one adventure to another. From the Hero Girl losing her ticket to her and Hero Boy driving the train and then later getting lost in Santa’s workshop before finally getting to meet the man in red himself, there’s always something interesting happening on screen.
The audience gets hooked from the very beginning, and it almost feels like they have boarded the train themselves as they travel with the children to the North Pole.
4 Great Animation
Originally, there was talk of having the film be live-action instead of animated. Director Robert Zemeckis insisted on it being animated in order to preserve the unique art from the original illustrations in the book. In combination with the computer-animated styles, motion capture was also used to create the characters’ movements.
While the character’s hyper-realism rubbed some people the wrong way, the animation is otherwise breathtaking and beautiful. From the wolves playing in the snow to the glorious sight of hundreds of elves at the North Pole, every scene is as wonderful as the next.
3 Makes Viewers Believe
A major theme of this motion picture is believing, whether it be in magic or in oneself. The main character starts off doubting the existence of Santa Claus, and then he goes on a journey that turns him into a true believer, as is proven when he is able to hear the reindeer’s beautiful bells. “Believe” is what gets punched onto his ticket, and it’s even the title of a Josh Groban song featured on the soundtrack.
Hero Boy isn’t the only one who becomes a believer by the end of the film. Even the audience gets touched by the message. One Reddit fan said, “every year I watch it, I forget that Santa and his elves don’t exist for an hour, and a half as I embrace the magic of the film.”
2 Nostalgia
The Polar Express is a book that several generations have grown up with, and many kids read it every year. The story has become a classic in its own right, and, when the movie came out, it added a whole new level of tradition. Now, families have been able to see the movie each Christmas since the film premiered in 2004.
Multiple Reddit fans have commented that the film makes them feel nostalgic, with one user saying that their fond memories have helped them to look past some of the faults of the film that others dislike. Whether it’s the lovable characters or the catchy tunes, there’s definitely enough content to make memories that will last for years.
1 Great For The Whole Family
One marker of a great Christmas film is one that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The Polar Express is based on a children’s book, but the movie certainly isn’t just for kids. “In my age group (teenagers), it’s seen as a holiday classic,” says one Reddit user. Additionally, many of the kids who grew up with the book and film are adults now who still love the story. “This year,” continues the user, “I encourage you to sit down with your kids and watch the movie.”
Another fan agrees that this is a film for just about everybody. “I can’t imagine anyone watching it in the holiday season and not having fun.”
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/polar-express-movie-holiday-classic-doesnt-deserve-hate/
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