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The Polar Express (2004)
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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.
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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.
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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').
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.
Forrest Gump
A classic movie from the 1990s, combining a simple man's sentimental story with various historical and cultural events of the United States. One of the best films of director Robert Zemeckis, featuring a stunning performance by Tom Hanks.
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.
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.
Adventure
We Lost Our Human
This is a fun, interactive Netflix special (in the same vein as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend), with an animation style reminiscent of cartoons like The Amazing World of Gumball or Steven Universe. The premise of We Lost Our Human is eccentric: two spoiled pets are the only ones who can travel to the center of the universe to fix a technical glitch that has made humans disappear. Like other Netflix interactive specials, the viewer only has to choose between different paths at certain times, resulting in different versions of the story.
The Magician's Elephant
Follows Peter, who is searching for his long-lost sister. When he crosses paths with a fortune teller in the market square, he want to know, is his sister still alive? To get the answer, he must find a mysterious elephant and the magician who will conjure it, setting Peter off on a journey to complete three seemingly impossible tasks that will change the face of his town.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Based on the homonymous illustrated book by Charlie Mackesy, 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' is a beautiful animated short film exclusive to Apple TV+. Through art direction that looks like an animated watercolor - imitating the style of the book -, the film tells the simple story of empathy and friendship between the four title characters. Beautiful and totally appropriate for children, although it will certainly warm the heart of even the toughest adult.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Sequel to the 2019 film, 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' starts differently. Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is now a teenager, nearing adulthood, who can transform into a superhero (Levi) when he invokes a sort of mystical power. Now, however, he is not alone: his foster siblings also share the power and begin to defend the city of Philadelphia, in the United States, from villains. This is the case with three Greek gods (Helen Mirren, Rachel Zegler, Lucy Liu) who threaten the superhero family by facing other strong mystical powers. The film doesn't have the brilliance of DC's "independent" productions like 'Batman' and 'Joker', but it's also far from being a disaster like 'Batman v. Superman', 'Justice League', and even 'Wonder Woman 1984'. The film has a certain freshness, similar to that seen in Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad'. Like in the first feature, director David F. Sandberg ('Lights Out') knows that Shazam's story cannot be as grand as Batman's journey on the big screen, for example, or Superman's. He needs to focus on the little, on the closeness of these heroes who are actually teenagers experiencing almost magical powers. That's where the fun and the difference of the film lies, which doesn't take itself too seriously and therefore doesn't make any commitment to the viewer to be grand or opulent. It goes straight to the point, being its main virtue and making the experience the most enjoyable possible in the end.
