The Robert Zemeckis List

Robert Zemeckis is pretty popular on the internets right now.  His most recent movie, The Walk, was just released.  More importantly, we are coming up on the date the Mary McFly went into the future (October 21, 2015).  Whether you realize it or not, he is one of the best directors out there today, even despite the creepy computer animated movies.  It should be noted that one of the reasons for his success and why so many of these movies stand out is his relationship with Alan Silvestri, one of the great director/composer teams in movie history.  Hmmm, that sounds like a future blog post...  

Here is my list of the best Zemeckis movies.  (Note: I have not seen The Walk, nor Death Becomes Her)

10. The Polar Express

I liked the book as a child, this movie I could do without.

9.  Who Framed Roger Rabbit

I was not allowed to see this as a child.  After having recently seen it for the first time, I understand why.  And really, I don't think I missed anything.

8. Beowulf

The first of his animated movies, it helps that I saw it in 3d in a theatre.  The 3d was pretty impressive, but the rest was forgettable.

7. Back to the Future Part II

Many people will disagree with my listing of the BTTF movies, but I never really liked the alternate 1985 part.

6. Back to the Future Part III

I love science fiction, and I love westerns.  No question I have this as the second best of the series.  Plus, I think it's the most fun of them.

5. What Lies Beneath

A legitimately scary movie with one of the great twists in a movie: Harrison Ford the bad guy!  I did not see that coming.  It's also pretty amazing that he filmed this quickly in the middle of Cast Away while Tom Hanks grew out his beard and starved himself for the scenes on the island.

4. Forrest Gump

Perhaps his most iconic movie, and his most awarded, but to me it's fairly far from his best.  Good, but not best.

3. Contact

It's hard to explain why I like this movie so much.  It's a truly compelling story which leaves you guessing even after the credits have rolled.  Did she really travel through space?  Was it a dream?  Who was really behind everything?  How did McConaughey keep his shirt on?

2. Cast Away

The best one with Tom Hanks, featuring arguably his best performance.  Only a great director can keep an audience in a movie with so little dialogue and basically one character for the whole movie.  If you like this, definitely check out Moon and All is Lost.

1. Back to the Future

The Zemeckis movie to beat all Zemeckis movies.  Who doesn't love this movie?  It's just good times.  Michael J. Fox, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson, Lea Thompson, all good, but Christopher Lloyd kills it.  Great Scott!  And of course, perhaps the greatest ending line to any movie: Roads?  Where we're going, we don't need roads.  Brings a smile to my face every time.