Against by Jacqueline AshfordThe Polar Express is an unforgivably creepy and depressing movie. It fits better into the category of bland, G-rated Halloween movies than alongside actual feel-good Christmas classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Polar Express’s biggest flaw stems from it’s atrocious CGI. The characters are too realistic to be considered cartoon characters, but too electronic to be accurate portrayals of human beings. The failed realistically-rendered CGI ruins the movie by making it utterly unsettling to watch. What is created instead of warm and fuzzy feelings is an “uncanny valley,” an experience that is familiar and foreign at the same time, causing the brain to become confused and stimulate feelings of fear and repulsion. The Polar Express’ characters (the little children, Santa and his elves, and all other characters voiced by the beloved Tom Hanks) invoke these eerie feelings because they are incredibly human-like in some aspects, but not in others, and all empathy felt for them by the audience is retracted and replaced with apprehensive disgust. No amount of holiday joy and believing in Santa Claus can save The Polar Express from that inevitable fact. However, the CGI fiasco isn’t the only reason it’s a terrible film.There is also the issue of the plot. The story line as a whole brings about melancholic thoughts, and very little of the wonder and magic that is expected at Christmastime. The actions of the children throughout the film do more to perturb the audience than lift their spirits with adoration. They don’t follow the rules set by the conductor, neither while on the train nor at the North Pole, and appear more interested in the presents than the actual experience of the adventure. The conductor isn’t all that great either; he’s stern and harsh to the children, but perhaps that could be forgiven since the children themselves are a rambunctious handful. This is another perfect example of tragic flaws that undermine the theme of the movie. Siding with the conductor is like siding with Principal Rooney in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It’s just sad. And then there’s the creepy homeless man on top of the train, with a boxcar full of puppets. His only purpose is to scare little children that just wanted to watch a movie about Christmas, as if The Polar Express needed more things to make it creepy. The only hope that The Polar Express had of being forgiven was to somehow wrap up its mess with a nice, happy ending. To offer the audience some happy feelings after some miserable hours. Sadly, that does not happen. We, the audience, are left thoroughly disappointed. The main character narrates that he and his sister heard Santa’s sleigh bell, but eventually his sister stopped believing, and only he heard its sound. The movie ends on a sad note, making it an ill-fitting movie for the Christmastime. And in general, a terrible movie for children and adults alike at any time. For by Grace PeelThe Polar Express is, simply put, a cinematic masterpiece- not just within the category of Christmas movies, but within the category of all movies. The Polar Express gets a bad rap because, unlike most Christmas movies, it is not a feel-good family film with a predictable plot full of mishaps and situation comedy. It is instead a commentary on the commercialistic turn Christmas has taken throughout the past half century, and on a more global scale, the loss of idealism and faith that the world has undergone. The movie is about a boy who, like most adolescents, is skeptical of the existence of Santa Clause, but catches a train to the North Pole on Christmas eve, meets Santa himself, and is subsequently forever a believer of the fabled man. This sounds like a cheerful, classic Christmas-movie storyline upon first glance, but the events along the way to Santa’s workshop make it a uniquely unsettling and thought-provoking narrative. An interesting feature of the movie that is rarely seen in mainstream film is the artistic choice of the director to leave the characters nameless. The main character is commonly referred to on the internet as “Hero Boy,” the female lead as “Hero Girl,” the cConductor of the train as “The Conductor,” and so on. The only character with an actual name is Billy, the 8-year-old lonely poor boy on the train. Perhaps this is one of the main messages of the movie: Billy is the only child who is revealed to live in poverty, and thus does not experience Christmas the same way as the other children. The fact that he is the only named character could represent the idea that more importance should be placed on children from low-income families who are less privileged during holidays like Christmas. This idea is and will remain relevant so long as Christmas stays a holiday that highlights differences in income and leads children to compare what they have with what others have. One of the most commonly complained-about scenes in the movie is the one in which the main character meets a creepy homeless man in the middle of making coffee (that he uses to wash his socks) over a fire on top of the Polar Express. The man, who remains nameless like the rest of the characters in the movie, condescendingly talks to Hero Boy about Santa Claus, and indicates that he is not real and the train (as well as the whole journey to the North Pole) is just a dream. He asks Hero Boy if he believes in ghosts, then disappears, hinting that he himself may be a ghost. Throughout the rest of the movie, he reappears to help Hero Boy, Hero Girl, and their friends get out of sticky situations, but as soon as his job is done he disappears into thin air. Though the Hobo is often seen as the creepiest, most ominous character in the movie, he does not exist solely to strike fear in the viewer. He embodies the lack of hope and faith that all adults undergo as they transition from childhood to adulthood, a theme that is developed later in the movie. After Hero Boy gets home to his family he attempts to show his parents the bell that Santa Claus gifted him, but only heim and his little sister can hear it ring. This is because his parents no longer believe in Santa Claus, and subsequently the viewer should assume that they do not believe in or anything mystical or magical. This theme is the main point that the viewer is supposed to glean from the film. Though the animation can sometimes be a bit jarring and disturbingly realistic yet distorted, and there are some scary, not-quite-appropriate-for-children scenes, each and every part of the movie is necessary for developing the theme of the film, which is an important one for all viewers. People are scared off by its serious tone and ominous scenes, as they do not fit within the usual tropes of cookie-cutter Christmas movies, but these characteristics are what make The Polar Express such a unique and powerful story. The dark aspects contribute to the overall meaning of the movie, and make it richer and more emotionally appealing story that is not just relevant during the holiday season, but all year long. Plus, “Hot Chocolate” slaps.
0 Comments
WOODS RAYNOR Every year, millions of people across the United States spend hundreds of billions of dollars on gifts, decor, postage, food, and other kitsch to prepare for the winter holiday season. Forbes estimates that over $1 trillion will be spent this year by Americans as part of their Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa celebrations. But this rampant consumerism can lead to conflicts between consumers, and because of this, it is important that the public know that there is an alternative way to celebrate the holiday season. Introduced in episode ten of the ninth season of the acclaimed sitcom Seinfeld, the annual holiday of Festivus is a perfect way to celebrate the holidays and upcoming new year.
As told by Jerry Stiller’s Seinfeld character Frank Costanza, Festivus is celebrated anually on the 23rd of December. Costanza states the origin of the holiday by recounting an encounter he had with another Christmas shopper several years prior. “Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way,” Costanza tells Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards). After Kramer questions what happened to the doll that the two were quarreling over, Costanza explains: “It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us!” Standard Festivus proceedings include the following four components (in order):
This year, rather than participating in the traditional celebrations of the holiday season, go out and purchase a pole, air your grievances, feast at the table, perform feats of strength, and celebrate Festivus with the rest of us. GRACE PEEL As the holiday season approaches, it is inevitable that you will be bombarded with a multitude of Christmas-themed movies and music. Though getting into the holiday spirit is an essential part of winter for many people, it can also get exhausting when all the media you consume features Saint Nick and his Jolly Elves. So, to even out your December pallet of entertainment, I have compiled a list of the best movies and TV shows to watch during winter that are not exclusively Christmas or Hanukkah themed, but still are optimal to watch in the time leading up to the holidays. Some of them have a distinctive cold, wintery vibe, some are best enjoyed sitting by the fire with a cup of warm hot chocolate or coffee, some have the distinct air of giving and family values that are inextricably tied to the holidays, and some are just good. The common thread: all are masterpieces of entertainment that should be seen by all, regardless of Holiday Orientation.
ISABELLA BROCCOLO The NC Chinese Lantern Festival has returned to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary for its third year in a row. The festival’s back with glimmering lights galore, new stunning sculptures, and its luminous giant dragon.
While the event is known to many as the “Chinese Lantern Festival,” lanterns aren’t a huge focus of the festival. The festival’s centerpiece is the collection of illuminated sculptures that line the entire Koka Booth Amphitheatre. These sculptures range from mushrooms and giant flowers to peacocks and dragons. From far away, your eyes might be tricked into thinking the sculptures are plastic, but they are actually made of cloth stretched over a steel frame. The sculptures are designed in China and shipped to Cary using giant trucks. Sophomore Sophie Dubois attended the Chinese Lantern Festival earlier this season, and thoroughly enjoyed her time there, saying “I think it’s obviously really beautiful, and the effort and technique of each lantern are stunning, but I also think it’s cool that we have something so fabulous in Raleigh, which doesn’t always get to host big events like this.” Dubois’ favorite thing about the festival is that “it can be appreciated by so many people.” She says, “When you go to the festival, there really is every type of person because everyone can appreciate how beautiful it is.” The festival can be enjoyed by anyone of any age shape, size, or color, and the beautiful sculptures that line Koka Booth Amphitheatre are sure to put a cultural holiday twist on anyone’s Christmas season. The festival lasts from November 24 to January 14. It is closed Monday but open from Tuesday to Friday from 3 pm to 9pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, the festival runs from 6 pm to 9 pm. Tickets range from $10 to $15 and are on sale both online and at the door. Parking is free MAYA NAIR/ MADISON GOODWIN Aries
March 21 – April 19 Chili Hot Cocoa- because you are always spicing up life for everybody Taurus April 20 – May 20 Gingerbread folk- because you are as practical as this must-have Christmas cookie Gemini May 21 – June 20 Eggnog- because you are the one that always has people guessing your mysterious persona Cancer June 21 – July 22 Sesame-roasted kale crisps- because the universe has declared you vegan for 2018 so you better convert! Leo July 23 – August 22 Honey-glazed ham- Your confident charisma places you in the front and center just like this attention-grabbing dish Virgo August 23 – September 22 Peppermint Macaron- You are just as meticulous as this carefully-prepared d Libra September 23 – October 22 Sugar cookies because you’re just too sweet Scorpio October 23 – November 21 You’re a Fruitcake because nobody likes you! Just kidding! Your personality varies just like the opinions of this cake. Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Panettone because of your travelling spirit, why not have an Italian Christmas? Capricorn December 22 – January 19 Butternut Squash- Sticking to the classics is what Christmas is all about for you Aquarius January 20 – February 18 Candy Cane Pisces February 19 – March 20 Yule Log- You are always the one bringing the groovy to the scene just like a Yule Log at a Christmas dinner MAYDHA DEVARAJAN/ SHELBY WATSON
JOEY MARMAUD Every year, millions of Americans celebrate Christmas. As a federally recognized holiday, Christmas is one of ten in an exclusive group of holidays, and is the only one of that group to have a religious meaning at its core. So why does the government recognize Christmas but not Hanukkah? What about Kwanzaa--why don’t we get a week off then? The answer--contrary to what most Americans would think--has nothing to do with Christian-American dominance or a cynical Coca-Cola marketing scheme: it has to do with labor unions.
Prior to 1870 (when Christmas became federally recognized), the Industrial Revolution swept the metros of America. As a result of this cultural change, many came to work in derelict conditions in factories and sweatshops, for long, grueling hours. Labors unions formed, and felt that America’s workers needed a break. They started at the state levels: think back to 1833. Massachusetts--a Mecca for industrial growth--saw burnout rates at an all-time high, with workers literally killing themselves over their tragic working conditions. One state legislator argued that the lack of free time was ultimately contributing to this. For the first time in our country’s history, people were given a day off from work, every single year (if the holiday fell on Sunday, the following Monday would be taken off). Similar trends carried on in other states until Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill on June 28, 1870 designating Christmas as an unpaid holiday for federal employees in D.C. New Year’s and The Fourth of July were also deemed federal holidays in the bill, which would be expanded to the rest of America in following years. Despite this day off from work, there was no legal requirement for businesses to pay their workers for the day off until 1938. This leads many to ask: what about the separation between church and state, as guaranteed under the first amendment? The truth is that there was no notable debate from the bill’s committee on the issue. Douglas Ambrose, a professor of history at Hamilton College and expert in Christianity in early American history, claims that “One could argue that giving federal workers the day off, which is all the federal holiday does, does not ‘support’ any religion — it doesn’t require anyone to do anything religious, it just says the office won’t be open.” As the U.S. was and is dominated by the Christian faith, there have been no serious inquiries into the legality of the holiday being federally recognized. Combined with the associated commercialism and secular traditions surrounding Christmas, many Americans--Christian and non-Christian--celebrate the holiday, and see it more as a national holiday as opposed to a religious one (data estimates there to be upwards of 90% of Americans celebrating Christmas). The holiday was also instigated for important political reasons at the time: Christmas encouraged a sense of community in the whirlwind of industrialization and urbanization, and helped close the stinging wound still open from the Civil War. As for non-Christian holidays during wintertime (such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa), their status has yet to be elevated to federal recognition because of demographics. As mentioned before, America is overwhelmingly Christian: Pew Research Center estimates 70.6% of Americans to follow the Christian faith, compared to the 1.9% of Americans who follow Judaism. Christmas also expands beyond a base of solely Christian followers; as mentioned before, more than 90% of American celebrate Christmas. This is due to the secularization of the holiday, and the lack of religious emphasis it has among non-Christian families who celebrate it (Hanukkah is much more religious in nature; Kwanza is a relatively young holiday, and lacks a broad celebrating base). As we can glean from multiple sources, we can see that Christmas evolved from the hard working conditions of the Industrial Revolution, which necessitated its federal recognition. Many people were already celebrating the holiday, and its legalization was convenient at the time. If a bill was in Congress now to officiate the holiday, then our conversation regarding its legality might come forward; in the high-Jesus time of the nineteenth century, there was no such debate. Millions of Americans now--Christians and non-Christians alike--enjoy stocking trinkets made in Chinese sweatshops, in conditions not too different from those which brought about the holiday. So no, it wasn’t Corporate Santa which granted us the official recognition of the holiday, or evangelical lobbyists who coerced President Grant to sign the 1870 bill; it was labor unions. The context was not the same for holidays like Hanukkah or Kwanza; that is why they never became federally recognized, while Christmas did. |
The Eagle's EyeBest of the Nest since 1981 Archives
January 2018
|