Pocahontas (1995) - ★★★

Director: Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg
Voice Actors: Irene Bedard, Judy Kuhn, Mel Gibson, David Ogden Stiers, Christian Bale, Billy Connolly, Linda Hunt, Russell Mean

Here's how I think the movie Pocahontas was conceived:

"Hey, let's have a Native American Disney Princess."
"Sounds good, who can we use."
"Pocahontas?"
"I think we've hit the jackpot!"

Yes, Disney has tried to do the impossible by making a children's movie out of America's brutal history with the Native Americans. I didn't find it offensive, but I didn't find it very entertaining either. It's one of the most beautiful animated films I've ever seen, and best of all, it has the most beautiful Disney song of all time. "Colors of the Wind," sung by Judy Kuhn.

Toy Story (1995) - ★★★½

Director: John Lasseter
Writers: Huge collabaration, (but it includes Joel Cohen and Joss Whedon)!
Voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, R. Lee Ermey, Wallace Shawn, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger

When people talk of their favorite animated movies, odds are someone's going to say Toy Story. I completely understand why, the story is incredible! This was one of my favorite movies as a child. It made me laugh, it scared me, and most importantly, it amazed me! Today, I realized something quite sad... this movie isn't as relevant today as it was back in 1995. There are still many children out there with toy dolls, army men and what not, but let's face it, everything's becoming electronic now. So for me, the ending of this movie was quite bittersweet. One thing this movie did make me do was treat my toys with love and respect.

The Bridges of Madison County (1995) - ★★★★

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Richard LaGravenese (Screenplay), Robert James Waller (Novel)
Stars: Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood, Annie Corley, Jim Haynie

I'm just gonna go right ahead and say it, this is the best acting I've ever seen Clint Eastwood do. The Bridges of Madison County captivated me. Throughout the film my emotions welled up inside of me, just waiting for a catalyst that would make me cry. Out of nowhere came one of the most passionate, powerful scenes I've ever seen. I can honestly say that this movie made me cry harder than almost any other.

Apollo 13 (1995) – ★★★½

Director: Ron Howard
Writers: Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger (Book), William Broyles Jr, Al Reinert (Screenplay)
Stars: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan

Apollo 13 is a thrilling film with solid performances, a nerve-wracking true story, and beautiful music and cinematography. The ending didn’t quite pull at my heartstrings, but the journey that these three men went on did. Their ordeal got to me, especially through Tom Hanks’ character. It’s overly long, but enjoyable.

Napoleon (1995) – ★★★★

Director: Mario Andreacchio
Writer: Mario Andreacchio, Michael Bourchier
Stars: Jamie Croft, Philip Quast, Geoffrey Batemen, Blythe Danner, Barry Humphries, Joan Rivers

I am shocked and saddened to see that Napoleon, an Australian classic, has faded almost into extinction. Nobody talks about it anymore, and scarcely anyone I know has seen it. I’ve loved this film ever since I was a little boy. It’s more than an adventure, it’s magical. It hit all the right notes in terms of humour and emotion. If you ever want to get a movie for your children, get Napoleon! It will be one they’ll never forget.

Whisper of the Heart (1995) - ★★★½

Director: Yoshifumi Kondo
Writers: Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay), Aoi Hiiragi (comic)

Whisper of the Heart is a nice film by the brilliant company Studio Ghibli, who are famous for masterpieces such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. It is a drama  with a small amount of magic at its core, which is enough to sustain a movie for an hour and a half, but unfortunately it isn't enough for this film which is almost two hours long. At times it can be boring, and at others it can capture your heart and imagination.

Dead Man Walking (1995) - ★★★½

Director: Tim Robbins
Writers: Helen Prejean, Tim Robbins
Stars: Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Margo Martindale

Tim Robbins' classic true story of a murderer on death row and a nun who wants to help him atone for his sin is one that is not biased on any side of the capital punishment debate, which makes for a very intriguing watch. 

Sean Penn plays Matthew Poncelett, a man sentenced to death for the brutal killings and rape of two innocent teenagers. A nun, played by Susan Sarandon, helps him try to atone for his sins and get the trial he was deprived of due to his poor background. She played the do gooding nun beautifully and was a delight to watch, while Sean Penn once again delivers what can be seen as a class performance. This role was one that made many see a bright future ahead of him, and they were right. The most noteworthy scene of the movie is when both are getting to know each other and you see Susan's face through the window, but Sean's reflection is also seen, so we can see both of their faces looking at each other at the same time. 

Dead Man Walking is a movie that I would recommend to those with an open mind on whether the death penalty is ethical or not. The way this movie displays both the murderers side of the story and the feelings of the parents obviously forces the viewer to pick a side. However, I did not pick a side, because I thought both sides had valid points, and both sides were very much in the wrong. This is why the movie is so great, because after you watch it, you're left to ponder where you stand on the issue after hearing both sides of the argument.