Just saw The Polar Express

[chuckywang]

Although there is not that much material in this movie for adults (it's basically a Christmas movie), I found it quite enjoyable. There are a lot of entertaining and thrilling sequences and the animation and cinematography was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. They really took advantage of the animation by having camera angles that just aren't easy to do in live action. It seems like it's released very early for a Christmas movie. Opinions?

 

[Wingznut]

Ever read the book? It's a phenominal Christmas story for kids.

 

[chuckywang]

No, I haven't. But from the movie, I can totally see that.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Read the article in Newsweek.

 

[imported_Strang]

The trailers for this movie really bug me. I can't put my finger on whether it's the animation used or if it's just Tom Hanks' conductor. His perfectly symmetrical hat and head piss me off a bit, as well as the way the face looks. It's like they're using all this technology that they're bragging about and effectively it makes them look like corpses.

Also that commercial with the dancing and singing waiters or whatever makes me want to puke.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Strang
The trailers for this movie really bug me. I can't put my finger on whether it's the animation used or if it's just Tom Hanks' conductor. His perfectly symmetrical hat and head piss me off a bit, as well as the way the face looks. It's like they're using all this technology that they're bragging about and effectively it makes them look like corpses.

Also that commercial with the dancing and singing waiters or whatever makes me want to puke.

Out a little early this year, aren't ya Mr. Scrooge?

 

[WW]

Originally posted by: Strang
The trailers for this movie really bug me. I can't put my finger on whether it's the animation used or if it's just Tom Hanks' conductor. His perfectly symmetrical hat and head piss me off a bit, as well as the way the face looks. It's like they're using all this technology that they're bragging about and effectively it makes them look like corpses.

Also that commercial with the dancing and singing waiters or whatever makes me want to puke.

The Uncanny Valley

 

[Ikonomi]

Yeah, the animation bugs me. It's beautifully rendered and everything, but it's not lifelike at all. Even the dancing waiters have no life to them. They also didn't get the mouth shapes or transitions right for speech (I forget the technical name for them).

It doesn't scare me, but I think it just looks bad. I mean, compare it to the Incredibles, which is much less realistically designed and rendered, but so much more alive.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: Strang
The trailers for this movie really bug me. I can't put my finger on whether it's the animation used or if it's just Tom Hanks' conductor. His perfectly symmetrical hat and head piss me off a bit, as well as the way the face looks. It's like they're using all this technology that they're bragging about and effectively it makes them look like corpses.

Also that commercial with the dancing and singing waiters or whatever makes me want to puke.

Out a little early this year, aren't ya Mr. Scrooge?

It's not really a Scrooge thing. I have no problem with Christmas movies or kid movies. This movie in particular bugs me though, especially since they're getting so much hype about the technology used. It looks awful -- like Ikonomi says, there's no life to it. Maybe if it was just a book of stills, it would be okay (although the design of the conductor would still bug me), but that would be the opposite of what they wanted to do, heh.

The movements of the mouth are really really awful. When he says "TO THE NORTH POLE!!!!" and his mouth is open about 45%, it just irks me.

I think maybe I hate Tom Hanks too.

Man, I'm not usually this negative about a movie that I've never had any intention of watching. 😉

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: WW

Originally posted by: Strang
The trailers for this movie really bug me. I can't put my finger on whether it's the animation used or if it's just Tom Hanks' conductor. His perfectly symmetrical hat and head piss me off a bit, as well as the way the face looks. It's like they're using all this technology that they're bragging about and effectively it makes them look like corpses.

Also that commercial with the dancing and singing waiters or whatever makes me want to puke.

The Uncanny Valley

That's a good link. The last picture posted is scary, between the little dead boy and the hell-demon on the left.

I think this is really a subversive way to fvck up children while the fvcking-up's good and just cleverly disguised as a sappy Christmas movie.

 

[brigden]

Read the replies in that link posted.

 

[BespinReactorShaft]

Saw the trailer recently. Only thing that stood out was how annoying Tom Hanks' voice was.

 

[spaceman]

they make a helluva ginger ale.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
It seems like it's released very early for a Christmas movie.

It is and will suffer because of it. The Incredibles will take a chunk out of it's audience and Sponge Bob is right around the corner.

It was a horrible time to release it. They should have waited until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

 

[0roo0roo]

the columnist david poland claims the 3d imax version is superior

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
the columnist david poland claims the 3d imax version is superior

I have heard that as well, the word is very good on it. I would highly recomend the 3D IMAX option if it is availabe in your area.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: Strang

Originally posted by: WW

Originally posted by: Strang
The trailers for this movie really bug me. I can't put my finger on whether it's the animation used or if it's just Tom Hanks' conductor. His perfectly symmetrical hat and head piss me off a bit, as well as the way the face looks. It's like they're using all this technology that they're bragging about and effectively it makes them look like corpses.

Also that commercial with the dancing and singing waiters or whatever makes me want to puke.

The Uncanny Valley

That's a good link. The last picture posted is scary, between the little dead boy and the hell-demon on the left.

I think this is really a subversive way to fvck up children while the fvcking-up's good and just cleverly disguised as a sappy Christmas movie.

WTH are you talking about, that's perhaps the shittiest explination ever. It's like the article syringered us. They basically say "Here's why this movie sucks. We saw the preview, and there is this theory about this uncanny valley crap, it means there is a strange response to immitations of human figures that shows that "just about right" isn't good enough."

They don't mention how it relates to the movie. They don't talk about the details of why these kids seem so creepy. To me, the animation looks great. You have to consider that this is adapted from a children's book and they aren't going for a totally realistic feel... they are going for a children's book feel, which is exactly what these sub-par models give. I like how they look. As long as the animation is fluid (the characters look like they are actually talking, their movement isn't jittery), it's all good.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: Injury
WTH are you talking about, that's perhaps the shittiest explination ever. It's like the article syringered us. They basically say "Here's why this movie sucks. We saw the preview, and there is this theory about this uncanny valley crap, it means there is a strange response to immitations of human figures that shows that "just about right" isn't good enough."

They don't mention how it relates to the movie. They don't talk about the details of why these kids seem so creepy. To me, the animation looks great. You have to consider that this is adapted from a children's book and they aren't going for a totally realistic feel... they are going for a children's book feel, which is exactly what these sub-par models give. I like how they look. As long as the animation is fluid (the characters look like they are actually talking, their movement isn't jittery), it's all good.

The "article" isn't that intensive to begin with -- it's a blogpost that touches on the topic. I thought it was a good link b/c it had some basic information about the phenomena.

As for the rest, I guess it's a matter of opinion. I don't think that the animation is that fluid and hey, if it looks like the book, that's fine. It just doesn't seem to translate well to the screen, imo. I understand that it isn't going for a realistic feel, but that's exactly the issue -- it's in that "sweet spot" in between realism (say, the Final Fantasy movie) and cartoony (like The Incredibles) that it just looks off.

Anyway, the movie bugs me, but I think I've typed an amount that is proportionate to my annoyance. 😛

 

[Wingznut]

The book is #1 on the Bestseller list for children's books.

 

[0roo0roo]

ebert recommends the 3d version too now🙂

 

[Descartes]

I saw this at the IMAX last night, and I thought it was one of the most amazing cinematic experiences of my life. I didn't come away with this feeling of the undead at all, nor did the three others who accompanied me. We all had a fantastic time, and we all had smiles on our faces the entire time.

I'd like to see the non-3D version to try and better understand the undead feeling, because I enjoyed it so thoroughly. The kids in the audience seemed to enjoy it too; no one was crying, several were shouting "Santa!" when he came on the screen, etc.

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: Descartes
I saw this at the IMAX last night, and I thought it was one of the most amazing cinematic experiences of my life. I didn't come away with this feeling of the undead at all, nor did the three others who accompanied me. We all had a fantastic time, and we all had smiles on our faces the entire time.

I'd like to see the non-3D version to try and better understand the undead feeling, because I enjoyed it so thoroughly. The kids in the audience seemed to enjoy it too; no one was crying, several were shouting "Santa!" when he came on the screen, etc.

I'm planning on seeing in the IMAX as well, but not until the Thanksgiving weekend. That being said, however, I've already seen the Incredibles twice, and I can't see in any way, shape, or form how the Polar Express could be better.

"That was TOTALLY WICKED!!" Hehehe....

 

[Wingznut]

Saw it in the theater yesterday... I thought the animation was excellent. The environmental effects (snow, ice, etc), as well as the sense of sheer speed was phenominal.

 

[nakedfrog]

Hm... my local IMAX is showing 3D Santa vs. Snowman, but I haven't heard anything about this showing there. Maybe I'll have to call them up and let them know it would probably be a good revenue generator.

 

[mobobuff]

Saw it last night, non-IMAX, non-3D. I was pretty amazed by it, made me feel young, and that's a good feeling. The soundtrack (everything audio) was amazing, and it matched the cinematography really well. Some of the fast-action train sequences had me feelin' nauseas, reminded me of Cedar Point. I have not lost faith in Tom Hanks, his voicework popped out through the scenes and made everything very dynamic and warm.

The only complaint, was the obnoxious kid with the voice that could scratch the bark off a tree. Why is he in everything? That voice artist needs to get out of the business.