History YMMV / ThePolarExpress

* EnsembleDarkhorse: The Conductor is ''by far'' the most beloved character in the film, even by detractors, for his [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold stern but well-meaning attitude]] and frequent badass feats throughout the film. Being a DeadpanSnarker played by Creator/TomHanks helps.

** The train's path being blocked by many caribou.

*** At some point during the scene, the conductor appears to be doing [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ovPnzGUP5I the dab]], which led to at least one [[https://miralyk.tumblr.com/post/181126923355/the-polar-express-has-so-many-iconic-scenes fan art]].

* {{Padding}}: To be expected since it was based on a twenty-page book.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Later films using Motion Capture directed by Creator/RobertZemeckis, most notably ''WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms'' and ''Film/Pinocchio2022Disney'', faced heavy criticisms of slipping into the UnintentionalUncannyValley throughout their entirety, playing a big role in their poor reception. Such a reception plagued ''The Polar Express'' as well, but the fact that [[DancingBear it was the first film made using this technique]], not to mention its overall faithfulness to Van Alsburg's original book both in terms of art style and story while adding a few memorable scenes of its own, blunted that criticism and allowed it to be VindicatedByHistory in later years. Neither ''Mars Needs Moms'' nor ''Pinocchio'' could enjoy that, as advances in CGI technology by that time should have prevented both from slipping into UUV territory. It doesn't help that former was based on a very obscure book, and the later is part of the controversial ''Film/DisneyLiveActionRemakes'' lineup that is too often accused of either being [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks too unfaithful]] or [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks too faithful]] to its source material without making any significant changes.

* VindicatedByHistory: The movie itself was generally well-regarded from day one, but the motion-capture animation had a very lukewarm reception at the time of release. Nowadays, though, as the movie has become more of a modern-day classic, the animation is generally regarded [[NarmCharm as part of the movie's charm]] and people rag on it much less. It probably helps that movies with entirely motion-captured visuals, even big-budget ones, with ''way'' worse visuals (including those [[WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms released by the same studio]], amusingly) have come out since this movie did. More to the point, the film continues to enjoy recognition thanks to local railroad museums and tourist lines running a Polar Express of their own every Christmas season, with this film's star engine, Pere Marquette 1225, continuing to enjoy the exposure from having starred as and inspiring the titular train. It doesn't hurt that, as with ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', and ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'', it's [[DancingBear the first full-length animated film made using a specific medium]] (in this case, motion capture).
-->'''Creator/RogerEbert''': ''The Polar Express'' is a movie for more than one season; it will become a perennial, shared by the generations.

* PlotHole: At the start of the return journey, the train is reversing itself by circling counterclockwise around the Christmas tree, but the tracks are visible around the North Pole Square but not inside. Should there be no tracks in the square, the train would head down some undesirable directions and crash into stuff or elves. Morever, much earlier the elves should have cleatred the tracks as the train passes through the square.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Later films using Motion Capture directed by Creator/RobertZemeckis, most notably ''WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms'' and ''Film/Pinocchio2022Disney'', faced heavy criticisms of slipping into the UnintentionalUncannyValley throughout their entirety, playing a big role in their poor reception. Such a reception plagued ''The Polar Express'' as well, but the fact that it was the first film made using this technique, not to mention it's overall faithfulness to Van Alsburg's original book both in terms of art style and story while adding a few memorable scenes of its own, blunted that criticism and allowed it to be VindicatedByHistory in later years. Neither ''Mars Needs Moms'' nor ''Pinocchio'' could enjoy that, as advances in CGI technology by that time should have prevented both from slipping into UUV territory. It doesn't help that former was based on a very obscure book, and the later is part of the controversial ''Film/DisneyLiveActionRemakes'' lineup that is too often accused of either being [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks too unfaithful]] or [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks too faithful]] to its source material without making any significant changes.

** A frequent criticism of the CGI. Considering how they made it, by filming the actual actors performing the whole film before overlaying it digitally, this is kind of expected. Though it's a little forgivable as this was the first film to be animated entirely this way.

* VindicatedByHistory: The movie itself was generally well-regarded from day one, but the motion-capture animation had a very lukewarm reception at the time of release. Nowadays, though, as the movie has become more of a modern-day classic, the animation is generally regarded [[NarmCharm as part of the movie's charm]] and people rag on it much less. It probably helps that movies with entirely motion-captured visuals, even big-budget ones, with ''way'' worse visuals (including those [[WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms released by the same studio]], amusingly) have come out since this movie did. More to the point, the film continues to enjoy recognition thanks to local railroad museums and tourist lines running a Polar Express of their own every Christmas season, with this film's star engine, Pere Marquette 1225, continuing to enjoy the exposure from having starred as and inspiring the titular train. It doesn't hurt that, as with ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', and ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'', it's the first full-length animated film made using a specific medium (in this case, motion capture).

* CriticalDissonance: Despite the mixed reviews from critics, moviegoers loved the film for the most part. In fact, ''The Polar Express'' is one of the rare movies to receive an A+ grade from Cinemascore. Even though the film got off to a slow start ($23.3 million Friday to Sunday opening, $30.6 million since its Wednesday launch), grossing less than half as much as the second weekend of Pixar's ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', fantastic word of mouth from audiences eventually brought it to a respectable gross of $162.8 million, nearly 7 times its opening weekend (The yearly IMAX 3D rereleases from 2005 onward have added another $23.7 million for a running total of $186.5 million).

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Later films using Motion Capture directed by Creator/RobertZemeckis, most notably ''WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms'' and ''Film/Pinocchio2022Disney'', faced heavy criticisms of slipping into the UnintentionalUncannyValley throughout their entirety, playing a big role in their poor reception. Such a reception plagued ''The Polar Express'' as well, but the fact that it was the first film made using this technique, not to mention it's overall faithfulness to Van Alsburg's original book both in terms of art style and story while adding a few memorable scenes of its own, blunted that criticism and allowed it to be VindicatedByHistory in later years. Neither ''Mars Needs Moms'' nor ''Pinocchio'' could enjoy that, as advances in CGI technology by that time should have prevented both from slipping into UUV territory. It doesn't help that former was based on a very obscure book, and the later is part of the controversial ''Film/DisneyLiveActionRemakes'' lineup that is too often accused of either being [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks too unfaithful]] or [[ItsTheSameSoItSucks too faithful]] to its source material without making any significant changes.

** Following WebVideo/RebelTaxi's review of MotionCapture films in late 2018, the Know-It-All kid ended up becoming one. Specifically, this [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DuvTZANW0AECiuU.jpg screenshot]], which is accompanied by people stating facts or asking questions in an intentionally pretentious or obnoxious manner. [[https://twitter.com/RiseFallNick/status/1075814080223608833 For]] [[https://twitter.com/Jaehthebird/status/1075812559956164609 example]].

** On top of all that, the film has since gained a particularly strong cult following that continues to go on well after ten years of the film's release; frequent re-airings on Creator/{{ABC}}, Creator/{{Freeform}}, Creator/{{AMC}}, and even the Creator/DisneyChannel have certainly helped the film retain its cult status. (It even gave Creator/ToonDisney its highest ratings when the film premiered on it in 2006.)

* VindicatedByHistory: The movie itself was generally well-regarded from day one, but the motion-capture animation had a very lukewarm reception at the time of release. Nowadays, though, as the movie has become more of a modern-day classic, the animation is generally regarded [[NarmCharm as part of the movie's charm]] and people rag on it much less. It probably helps that movies with entirely motion-captured visuals, even big-budget ones, with ''way'' worse visuals (including those [[WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms released by the same studio]], amusingly) have come out since this movie did. More to the point, the film continues to enjoy recognition thanks to local railroad museums and tourist lines running a Polar Express of their own every Christmas season, with this film's star engine, Pere Marquette 1225, continuing to enjoy the exposure from having starred as and inspiring the titular train. It doesn't hurt that, as with ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', and ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'', it's the first full-length animated film made using a specific medium (in this case, motion capture).

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: The Hobo's line, "You said it, kid!" carries echoes of Christ's line, "That's what ''you'' say. ''You'' say that I am." (That's from ''Music/JesusChristSuperstar'', incidentally, but the point still stands.)

* BrokenBase: The animation. Is it interesting to watch a movie done entirely with MotionCapture? Or is it taking a heavy dip into the UncannyValley? Some also argue that, if the animation is ''that'' realistic, they could've easily just used live-action, while others point out that filming the movie as it is in live-action would be very impractical[[note]]Factually, had the film been made in live-action, it would have cost $1 billion to make[[/note]].

* UncannyValley:

* WhatAnIdiot:
** After the train successfully clears Caribou Crossing, the train picks up speed to make up for lost time. Smokey the Engineer opens up the Johnson Bar, but notices it's jammed.
*** [[AC:You’d Expect:]] That he'd get up from his seat and check to see what's jamming it. This is a train full of children he's in charge of, and due soon is the steep downgrade of Glacier Gulch, which he cannot speed down too fast lest he derail the train.
*** [[AC:Instead:]] He keeps ramming at it, hoping it will come loose and start working properly.
*** [[AC:As a Result:]] He pops the cotter pin out and rips the Johnson Bar right into his hand, causing the train to rapidly pick up speed and careen up and down Glacier Gulch like a roller coaster. He and Steamer then spend the next several minutes trying to catch the pin before it flies out of the cab.
*** [[AC:Worse Yet:]] The train speeds onto a frozen lake and derails, with the pin eventually landing in Steamer's mouth and forcing Smokey to smack his cohort with a shovel to force it out. Said pin lands into the ice and starts to crack it. Thus, when they do eventually get the Johnson Bar back in place and stop the train, they narrowly escape the rapidly cracking ice and get the train rerailed properly. At least they made up the lost time...
** Hero Boy notices Hero Girl's ticket was left on her seat and it wasn't punched by the Conductor.
*** [[AC:You’d Expect:]] That he would leave it where he found it. The Conductor and Hero Girl just went into the caboose to bring Billy some hot chocolate, so when the Conductor brings her back to her seat Hero Boy could then point out her ticket wasn't punched.
*** [[AC:Instead:]] He takes her ticket and goes to bring it to her in the observation car, where the wind blows it out of his hand.
*** [[AC:As a Result:]] Hero Boy has to admit he lost her ticket and Hero Girl has to leave with the Conductor to work in the engine room.

* {{Narm}}:
** '''"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLVVEEESSSSSS!!!!!!"'''
** The Elves singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Especially in eeeexxtreeeemmmee sssslllloooo-mmmoooo...
*** The way the bell is depicted falling off the sleigh makes it seem more like a ''[[PineappleSurprise grenade]]'' than a bell. Expect at least one viewer to shout ''"INCOMING!"'' during this scene.

* BrokenBase: The animation. Is it interesting to watch a movie done entirely with MotionCapture? Or is it taking a heavy dip into the UncannyValley? Some also argue that, if the animation is ''that'' realistic, they could've easily just used live-Action, others point out that filming the movie as it is in live-action would be very impractical[[note]]Factually, had the film been made in live action, it would have cost $1 billion to make[[/note]].

* AdaptationDisplacement: People who saw the film first seem to like it a great deal better than those who grew up reading the book during TheEighties and TheNineties.

* BrokenBase: The animation. Is it interesting to watch a movie done entirely with MotionCapture? Or is it taking a heavy dip into the UncannyValley? Some also argue that, if the animation is ''that'' realistic, they could've easily just used live-Action, others point out that filming the movie as it is in live-action would be very impractical.

* VindicatedByHistory: The movie itself was generally well-regarded from day one, but the motion-capture animation had a very lukewarm reception at the time of release. Nowadays, though, as the movie has become more of a modern-day classic, the animation is generally regarded [[NarmCharm as part of the movie's charm]] and people rag on it much less. It probably helps that movies with entirely motion-captured visuals, even big-budget ones, with ''way'' worse visuals (including those [[WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms released by the same studio]], amusingly) have come out since this movie did.

** While it did garner nominations for Best Song, Sound Editing and Mixing at the Oscars, the film itself failed to get nominated for Best Animated Feature, losing its nomination slot to...''WesternAnimation/SharkTale''.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The scene where the Hobo ghost scares the main character with a discarded marionette puppet. No other scene is scary in such a way, and nowhere else is the Hobo [[OutOfCharacterMoment so antagonistic toward the main character]].

* MemeticBadass:

** The Know-It-All Boy's voice. Given the other children sound like real children, it's rather jarring hearing him speak with the same voice as [[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory Mandark]].

** The mechanical Santa in the Herpolsheimer's display. [[Recap/DoctorWho2006CSTheRunawayBride "Santa's a robot!"]]
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' ''also'' has a robot Santa. Except he isn't nice.

** With this movie, both [[Creator/TomHanks Woody]] and [[Creator/TimAllen Buzz Lightyear]] have [[Film/TheSantaClause played]] Santa. Guess [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Andy]] really was a lucky kid.
** This wasn't the [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII first film]] by Creator/RobertZemeckis to feature a steam locomotive out of control. Bonus points for this film referencing a line from that movie, as well as how the Polar Express itself is also shown, in a FreezeFrameBonus, to have a Flux Capacitor.
** A particularly meta-example for the film's engine, Pere Marquette 1225 was saved from the scrap heap because of its Christmas number (12/25 being the calendar date for the holiday). That same number led it to being saved at Michigan State's Spartan Stadium, where a young Chris Van Alsburg would play on it prior to its restoration, and in turn would use the engine as the basis for the book the movie was based on. Come this film, 1225 would get to be the Polar Express itself, bringing its role in the creation of the film full circle!

** As the Hero Boy goes through the Toy Carriage, one of the Marionettes appears to resemble Pinocchio. Robert Zemeckis is set to direct the "Live Action" Adaptation of Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'', which shall also feature Tom Hanks as Geppetto!

** A frequent criticism of the CGI in the film. Considering how they made it, by filming the actual actors performing the whole film then overlaying it digitally, this is kind of expected. Though it's a little forgivable considering that this was the first film to be animated entirely this way.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Tinashe, an R&B singer best known for her 2014 hit "2 On", played a role in this film as the Hero Girl before making it big in the music community.

*** [[AC:Instead:]] He takes her ticket and goes to bring it to her in the caboose, where the wind blows it out of his hand.