The Polar Express (2004)
The Polar Express
”A young boy takes a magical train ride to the North Pole and discovers the wonder of life.”
Available at home
Subscription
Rent or Buy
&plat_logo=https://media.filmelier.com/images/plataformas/icone_mobile/365599cc6c68bb404af36411d40a866c.png&link=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fmovie%2Fthe-polar-express%2Fid297817627%3Fat%3D1000loWU "Apple TV (iTunes)")
Trailer
Why watch this film?
After making history by directing films like 'Forrest Gump' and 'Back to the Future', filmmaker Robert Zemeckis decided to delve into animation. And it's not just any animation: it's the enchanting 'The Polar Express', one of the first films of the genre to use motion capture. And even though there are some flaws in the execution, it is undeniable that the whole story looks like a dream. A real dream. After all, it's hard not to shine your eyes with the journey of a little boy to the North Pole on a magical train. Children are enchanted, adults feel like children again. It's the magic of cinema, there on the screen. And all this still with the voice work of Tom Hanks, full of complexities and ramifications.
Filmelier
Our suggestions
Plot summary
When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
To share
Do you want to watch something different?
Watch full movies now!
Press play and be surprised!
Where to watch?
Available at home
From the same director
Contact
"Based on a novel by none other than Carl Sagan (‘Cosmos’), ‘Contact’ is one of the great science fiction movies of the second half of the 1990s. As one might expect from a screenplay created from Sagan's ideas, the contact between Earthlings and aliens begins in a down-to-earth way, evolving into a mystery story - which speaks volumes about ourselves, humans. The direction is by Robert Zemeckis ('Back to the Future' and 'Forest Gump') and in the cast we have a masterful Jodie Foster, who was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the role of the scientist who risks it all in search of proof of life beyond Earth.
Welcome to Marwen
This movie is based on an astonishing true story, that of a man who, after being severely assaulted, loses his memories and builds a town to create new ones. Starring Steve Carell ('Foxcatcher' and the American version of 'The Office'), the feature film mixes action with actors with computer-animated animation made to look like stop motion - which guarantees a great visual experience for the viewer. Unfortunately, the inconsistent script made the production suffer criticism from the press. Still, it's a great opportunity to see Carell and actresses like Diane Kruger ('In Pieces'), Gwendoline Christie ('Game of Thrones') and Leslie Mann ('Welcome to Marwen') in action - outside, of course, the always competent direction of Robert Zemeckis (of classics like 'Back to the Future' and 'Forrest Gump').
Beowulf
Always an innovator, director Robert Zemeckis ("Back to the Future," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?," "Forrest Gump") experiments again with motion capture animation that he employed in "The Polar Express" to bring to the screen the Anglo-Saxon epic poem "Beowulf." Though time has been somewhat unkind to the movie today, it was a true innovation in its day, though it was criticized for being a relatively poor adaptation of the original poem with a script co-written by Neil Gaiman ("Stardust - The Mystery of the Star") and Roger Avary ("Pulp Fiction"). Nevertheless, many of its action sequences are still impressive today, and beneath the animation stand out the voices and performances of a cast that includes names the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Brendan Gleeson, and Ray Winstone.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
At first glance, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? may seem outdated, but it's actually a technological marvel even to this day, as it convincingly blended animation with the real world using limited resources, which earned it four Academy Awards (including Best Visual Effects and a Special Achievement Award for Animation). For those in the know of the animation world and entertainment industry, it's also an unrivaled milestone (when will we ever see Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny together on screen again?). But above all, it's a brilliant mystery comedy, a tribute to the golden age of American animation, and a parody of Hollywood film noir, with masterful performances by Bob Hoskins and Christopher Lloyd. Without a doubt, it's one of the landmarks in the always innovative Robert Zemeckis' filmography (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Contact).
The Walk
The story of the only man who succeeded in walking a tightrope between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City in 1974. The film is based on the book written by the man himself, Philippe Petit, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (‘Looper’) in an outstanding performance. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (‘Back to the Future’), with the aid of special effects, he is able to capture the dizzying experience of following Petit. It should be noted that 'The Walk' takes a little while to get going, but the effort is rewarded with excellent visuals and the last act of the movie, which is breathtaking.
Cast Away
"WILSON!" Who hasn't heard this small cry of despair, and felt all the emotion of the moment? After all, in 'Cast Away', the viewer is invited to dive into the story of a man who suffers a plane crash and ends up stranded, alone, on a deserted island. As company, only a volleyball with a face, affectionately nicknamed Wilson. From there, Tom Hanks stands out on the screen as this desperate man, torn from his daily life, needing to learn basic survival skills while nurturing the experience of being rescued on this island in the middle of the Pacific. Full of great moments, 'Cast Away' is a powerful, unforgettable drama that will move your emotions -- even if the one involved is the volleyball Wilson.
Back to the Future Part III
Sometimes, the simplest things are the best, as demonstrated in 'Back to the Future Part III'. With a much less complicated plot than its predecessor, the final installment of the trilogy still suffers from recycling many of the gags from the original movie, but this time with a fresh western twist (with dozens of tributes and winks to the genre) that gives a satisfactory ending to the saga. Another great achievement is a greater emphasis on Doc Brown, brilliantly played by Christopher Lloyd.
The Witches
Despite being a rather unpretentious production, typical of the 'Afternoon Session', the feature film 'The Witches' stirred up the imagination of many children at the beginning of the 1990s. After all, although inspired by Roald Dahl's children's book ('Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'), the movie scared with the bizarre look of the witches who pursue children and turn them into mice. Now, the story is back in evidence with this new adaptation commanded by the great filmmaker Robert Zemeckis ('Forrest Gump', 'Back to the Future') and produced by Guillermo Del Toro ('The Shape of Water') and Alfonso Cuarón ('Gravity'). Sold as a more faithful version of Dahl's book, the new 'The Witches' may disappoint if we look at it from this angle. After all, Zemeckis imprints very little of his quality as a filmmaker in the movie and does not bring truly different looks here, repeating even filming styles from the 1990s version. What stands out here are three things. First, the affinity of the actors, with Anne Hathaway ('Les Miserables') and Octavia Spencer ('Hidden Figures') standing out. Secondly, the good effects, which do not scare as much as the original movie and should attract the little ones. Finally, some cleaning that Zemeckis did on the story and that no longer made sense, in addition to bringing a light racial plot to the story. Otherwise, the warning remains: perhaps, before watching this new version, it would be more interesting to review or get to know the one from the 1990s, with the inexorable Anjelica Huston in the role of the witch-leader.
Pinocchio
Continuing Disney's trend of making live action remakes of their classics, director Robert Zemeckis ('Forrest Gump: The Storyteller') reunites with Tom Hanks to update the story of the puppet who wanted to be a real boy. The result, like almost all Disney remakes, is only moderately satisfactory. On the one hand, there are excellent special effects, Hanks gives genuine emotion to Geppetto when he's not overdoing it, and the plot overall sticks to the Disney classic animated version of 'Pinocchio'. However, to offer something new, there are entire extra scenes that add nothing and just increase the length of the movie, not to mention a fundamental change in the moral of the story - which doesn't work very well. In short, this remake of 'Pinocchio' works to introduce new generations to the Disney tale. However, it pales in comparison to the original, which remains an evergreen watershed.
Back to the Future
Robert Zemeckis joined with Steven Spielberg's Amblin to bring one of the greatest adventure and sci-fi movies of the 1980s. In the story, a crazed scientist (Christopher Lloyd) builds a time machine from a DeLorean DMC-12, but becomes involved with Libyan terrorists and causes his friend, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox in the role that defined the actor's life) to go back to the 1950s. Thus emerges a fun movie with a story full of humor and adventure in equal measure. A classic that would spawn two more memorable sequels.
Back to the Future Part II
You have to say it, few movie trilogies are perfect, and if there's a reason why 'Back to the Future' doesn't deserve a place among them, it's because of its second installment. 'Back to the Future Part II' is full of just as iconic moments as those offered by its predecessor (starring gadgets like the flying skateboard and self-lacing Nike shoes), but its script, from the second half onwards, begins to resemble more a rehash of the gags from the first movie. However, Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd's on-screen chemistry as Marty and Doc more than justify this journey full of temporal paradoxes.
Family
10 Lives
Beckett is a pampered and selfish cat who totally takes for granted the lucky hand he has been dealt. All that is about to change, however, when he carelessly loses his ninth life.
Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp
After getting kicked out of the forest, Woody thinks he’s found a forever home at Camp Woo Hoo — until an inspector threatens to shut down the camp.
Robot Dreams
Sometimes we get so carried away by the marketing power of studios like Disney Pixar, and we overlook other avenues for deep and powerful animated stories that don't need excessively complex plots to evoke emotions. Such is the case with Robot Dreams, a Hispanic-French production directed by Pablo Berger (2012’s Snow White), based on the eponymous graphic novel by Sara Varon. Set in New York during the 80s, the story follows Dog, whose solitary life leads him to buy a robot for companionship. Their friendship grows, but an unfortunate day at the beach forces them to separate and long for the day of their reunion. Virtually without dialogue, with vibrant animation and a captivating visual language, the film tells a simple yet profoundly moving story about (curiously) human relationships and the course they take despite (or because of) accidents, fortuitous circumstances, and uncontrollable events that happen throughout life.
Masha and the Bear: Twice the Fun
Masha leaves the forest in pursuit of an adventure in the city, where she encounters many unexpected situations and surprises while attending a wedding, and later seeks to do everything in her power to save Christmas.
