During the holidays, I often find myself looking for movies that our family's youngest (2) and oldest (74) and everyone in between will enjoy. The library's free streaming service, Kanopy, has lots of great options! I also like to use Common Sense Media to look up individual films and consider my preferences and the ages of the kids present.
One Life
Jason Hawes
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Anthony Hopkins stars as Nicholas Winton in this remarkable true story of a young London stockbroker who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued over 600 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. The film alternates between Winton’s younger years, where he's portrayed by Johnny Flynn, as he navigates personal risks and bureaucratic hurdles to save lives, and his later years, reflecting on his legacy.
After Yang.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
When his young daughter’s beloved A.I companion malfunctions, Jake uncovers details of the robot’s previously unknown life hidden in the android's interior core. A secret stash of video memories suddenly leads Jake to surprising discoveries about himself and his family in this mysterious and haunting sci-fi film. Scored by Ryuichi Sakamoto in one of his final films & based on the short story "Saying Goodbye to Yang" by Alexander Weinstein.
The Bookshop.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
England, 1959. Free-spirited widow Florence Green (Emily Mortimer) risks everything to open a bookshop in a conservative East Anglian coastal town. While bringing about a surprising cultural awakening through works by Ray Bradbury and Vladimir Nabokov, she earns the polite but ruthless opposition of a local grand dame (Patricia Clarkson) and the support and affection of a reclusive book loving widower (Bill Nighy). As Florence’s obstacles amass and bear suspicious signs of a local power struggle, she is forced to ask: is there a place for a bookshop in a town that may not want one? Winner of Best Film, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay at the **Goya Awards**. *"Coixet has a lyrical sense of place, and she has made a charming, well-acted adaptation that ably conjures visual pleasure out of the written word..." - Ella Taylor, **NPR***
Amazon Adventure.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Amazon Adventure tells the exciting story of Henry Bates' fascinating 11-year journey through the perilous Amazon rainforest as a young man who risks his life for science.
Kedi.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Hundreds of thousands of cats roam the metropolis of Istanbul freely. For thousands of years they've wandered in and out of people's lives, becoming an essential part of the communities that make the city so rich. Winner of Best First Documentary and nominated for Best Documentary at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards. Fourth Place for Best Documentary (2017) in the Indiewire Critics' Poll.
The Adventures of Tintin.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
From Academy Award®–winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson comes the epic adventures of Tintin. Racing to uncover the secrets of a sunken ship that may hold a vast fortune - but also an ancient curse - Tintin and his loyal dog Snowy embark on an action-packed journey around the world that critics are calling fun for the whole family.
Fame High : the talented students at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
From the nail-biting freshman auditions to the spectacular year-end performances, FAME HIGH captures the in-class and at-home drama, competition, heartbreak, and triumph during one school year at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). Talented teenagers reach for their dreams of becoming actors, singers, dancers, and musicians.
The secret of kells.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan's determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?
A Town Called Panic.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Hilarious and frequently surreal, the stop-motion extravaganza A TOWN CALLED PANIC has endless charms and raucous laughs for children from eight to eighty. PANIC stars three plastic toys named Cowboy, Indian and Horse who share a rambling house in a rural town that never fails to attract the weirdest events. Cowboy and Indian’s plan to gift Horse with a homemade barbeque backfires when they accidentally buy 50 million bricks. This sets off a perilously wacky chain of events as the trio travel to the center of the earth, trek across frozen tundra and discover a parallel underwater universe of pointy-headed (and dishonest!) creatures. Nominated for a Golden Camera at the **Cannes Film Festival.** Nominated for the Best Foreign Film Award at the **César Awards.** *"There's really very little to say about this film beyond that it's absolutely brilliant." - Peter Brunette, **Hollywood Reporter***
The Dark Crystal
Jim Henson, Frank Oz
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
In this groundbreaking fantasy epic from Jim Henson and Frank Oz, the peaceful world of Thra is threatened by the evil Skeksis, who rule through the power of the shattered Dark Crystal. A young Gelfling named Jen (voiced by Stephen Garlick) embarks on a quest to restore the crystal and fulfill an ancient prophecy. Along the way, he encounters mystical creatures and allies, including the brave Kira (voiced by Lisa Maxwell). Featuring stunning puppetry and elaborate world-building, this visually captivating film is a timeless tale of good versus evil.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ken Hughes
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls…start your engines. You're about to take an incredible ride with one of the most wonderful family films of all time! Dick Van Dyke stars as eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, who creates an extraordinary car that not only drives, but also flies and floats, as it leads him, his two children and his beautiful lady friend, Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), into a magical world of pirates, castles and endless adventures. It's "toot sweet" to pass up!
The general.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made, Buster Keaton's The general is so brilliantly conceived and executed that it continues to inspire awe and laughter with every viewing.