Maybe parts are cooler than others... bears adapting to their environment better, only going out during sunlight, sleeping during the dark when it's colder, etc... Bears can handle cold a lot better than people anyway...

Also, the hand freeze was from a moving train... wind from the train's movement probably lowered the temperature down a lot...

Also... it's a pretty crazy movie overall, so it kind of works...

Yes, for the arm freeze, they were at a certain known elevation that offered a lower temperature than normal. And yeah, of course the speed of the train compounded the effect.

The train is assumed to be traveling at a pretty high velocity, we're shown this a couple of times. The wind chill would have been incredible on a hand with absolutely no protection. After that they unleash a sub-zero fatality with quite the ease :) (also, the bear at the end is a polar bear, one that exists in really cold weather, the question is how are the kids going to make it!)

I think showing the polar bear was to show that life existed outside the train and hence, life was possible for the kids outside the train. It's a pretty good open ended ending.

@MongoLloyd said:

I think showing the polar bear was to show that life existed outside the train and hence, life was possible for the kids outside the train. It's a pretty good open ended ending.

Yes, that's true. It was a good open ending. I wonder if a polar bear was shown as opposed to say penguins (both being cold weather creatures). The sight of a predator would mean an imminent attack?

I don't think pengiuns live in mountainous areas. And most people don't know polar bears as predators who actually attack humans.