Polar Express Hate Thread.

[smirkymonkey]

I am forced to watch this nightmare of a "children's movie" every year when I go to my sister's house for Christmas. I suppose I could leave the room, but that makes me look like a bad sport. Anyway, I hate everything about this movie.

The graphics (they look like animated corpses), the audio (nightmare - if you have seen it, you will know what I mean), plot (none), characters (all unlikable), etc. I could go on, but there is absolutely nothing I like about this movie.

Does anyone else hate this movie as much as I do? Maybe I am just a Grinch, but it just puts me in a BAD mood.

Rant off.

[gratuitous]

1. Next year, switch out the DVD for The Ref

Have a couple of hot buttered rums ahead of time.

[smirkymonkey]

6. I was trying to talk them in to seeing "A Bear Named Winnie" which I thought the kids would

have loved and it's such a better movie. But I guess Christmas traditions are kind of hard to change.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I remember seeing a preview for this one when I went to the movies and it creeped me out

I agree that this kind of graphics is quite disturbing - you describe it well. Good rant!

[smirkymonkey]

7. I know - it's bizarre! They look vaguely human, but almost un-dead.

It's freaky! I don't understand why so many people find this charming. It sends chills down my spine!

[Rhiannon12866]

8. That's it exactly - I couldn't explain it before

They aren't cartoons and they aren't real people, just some eerie creepy combination of the two. I remember when I saw the preview thinking they would be better off just using real actors instead of turning them into these creepy replicas on screen.

[Still Blue in PDX]

3. Just watched the preview and it does indeed look creepy. *shudder* nt

[Control-Z]

4. It's pretty horrible, I have to agree.

I've only seen it once and I suffered greatly just doing that. Isn't Tom Hanks the conductor or something like that? I believed it was going to be a wonderful movie because.......Tom Hanks. Sometimes it's difficult to believe he could be part of something so bad. Then I remember how much I hated Forrest Gump. So yeah, he can and he has more than once.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Yes! I hated Forrest Gump, too!

I found it painful to sit through and I saw it in the theater. When I heard people praising it, I thought they had to be joking! And I saw it with a friend who was a movie reviewer - who asked me what I thought when it was over. I hesitated and asked what they thought first, and I was relieved when they agreed. Then I heard my aunt praising it and then my friend's little sister - and I don't remember exactly what I said, but I assumed that they weren't serious...

[htuttle]

5. It's a trip through Uncanny Valley

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UncannyValley

[Stuart G]

10. Need a lift..watch a movie called, "The Iron Giant"

It is a kids/adult movie with wonderful theme. It is available at the library, and all the characters are totally likeable (except one) The Giant is a wonderful fellow who lands on earth on the day Sputnik was launched. So the film takes place in the late 50s. and has that theme and tone..

I have watched it 7 or 8 times and enjoy it each time....................................
Deep down inside, the film has a Christmas Theme, about giving...and the bad guy isn't killed he is just humiliated, and the rest of the people in the film celebrate the Iron Giant..no I will not tell the ending.

This is really is a Christmas film, that no one thought would make money...and because no one thought it would make money, they put it into the theaters in August. It is animated, and you cannot help but really care about the Giant and his friends...(at first it was fully appreciated,..but became well known and liked later) Read some reviews they are mostly very positive and likeable..)

The Iron Giant is has a "soft side to it" .. The Iron Giant is a wonderful film, that I recommend to everyone who needs to understand the idea of giving..please watch it..you cannot help but really like this film....And you will like the Giant too

..thanks for reading this..I have seen dozens of full length animated films of all kinds. The Iron Giant is my favorite..enjoy it...please........Stuart...

Here is a thread from Democratic Underground from a couple of years ago..on this film..Enjoy !!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10027230940

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Another One Similar, Although Christmas Is A Tiny Part. . .

. . .is "The Mighty". Movie makes me cry. About 20 years old by this time.

Some pretty solid actors in it, too.

[Ohiya]

11. It's because of the "uncanny valley" effect

from wikipedia:

The concept of the uncanny valley suggests that humanoid objects which appear almost, but not exactly, like real human beings elicit uncanny, or strangely familiar, feelings of eeriness and revulsion in observers.

[smirkymonkey]

12. Yes, that's it. It's so creepy!

Revulsion is a good word to describe the way I feel about the characters.

[hermetic]

14. Ohhh, like Dolt45

and Bannon, McConnell, the list goes on. Vaguely human-like but definitely elicit feelings of revulsion. I think I will now refer to congress as the uncanny valley. Thanks

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Lol...great idea.

[Iggo]

15. Is it your kids' favorite movie?

If it is, then suck it up.

If it ain't, try a new movie, or a rotation of movies.

Or you could follow my lead and start a new tradition: No TV.

(For the record, I've never seen that movie. Sounds like I never want to. Thanks for the heads-up! )

EDIT: By "No TV", I mean "No TV in the main room on Xmas or any other family get-together other than a major sportsball game."

[smirkymonkey]

16. No, my sister's kids favorite holiday movie. I will usually leave the room and go do something else

but then they accuse me of being anti-social, so I stay and watch just to be a good sport, but I hate it. I try to make other suggestions, but this is a tradition for them. My sister kind of jokes about how "This is Aunt Smirky's favorite movie" and laughs about it. She knows that I hate it and appreciates the fact that I suck it up for the kids. Even the puppy hates the movie - she hates the loud noises and whimpers throughout the film.

[aikoaiko]

17. It's not for everyone. But I like the style because it's different.

It other-worldly.

To each there own.

[Oneironaut]

19. That movie is commonly used to explain the uncanny valley.

It’s an example of really screwing it up.

[Yavin4]

20. You just gave me a great business idea. Movie Goggles!

When you are forced to watch something you hate, you just strap on movie goggles that show a movie that you want to see.

[Corgigal]

21. My kids were little when it came out.

Saw it at the movies, only that once ever.

Buy the Secretariat movie.