The Magician's Elephant

Reviews

CinemaSerf
A young orphan "Peter" has been brought up by a disciplinarian former-soldier, but longs to find his long-lost sister from whom he was parted at the height of war. Out for the daily shopping (stale bread and fish), he espies a tent in which a fortune teller offers to tell his future. It seems that he might be reconciled with his sibling - but for that he has to follow the elephant, and there hasn't been one in his town for an age. Meantime, a rather hapless magician is trying to entertain the great and the good in the town's theatre when - low and behold - he conjures up... The king arrives in the town to inspect this magically contrived and noisy pachyderm and decrees that if "Peter" can carry out three impossible tasks, he can keep it! The three impossible tasks are quite entertaining, as is the whole film. The story is all a little predictable and it does stray into sentimentality just a bit too often, but it's an engaging family drama with some fun characters and colourful scenarios. Maybe a bit too wordy and probably fifteen minutes too long - it takes an age to get going - it is still a gently entertaining watch that imbues the lead character with some imagination and legerdemain and one that I quite enjoyed on a big screen.
Movie Recommendation
- The Deal2022-12-31A mother fights to save her ailing daughter after a global pandemic worse than any seen before ravaged the planet, leaving resources so scarce you must pay for them with your life.More...
- Unknown: Killer Robots2023-07-10What happens when a machine makes life-or-death decisions? This documentary explores the dangers of artificial intelligence in military application.More...
- Naked Among Wolves2015-04-01Taking place at the Concentration camp Buchenwald at the end of March 1945, prisoner Hans Pippig discovers in a carrying case of an incoming prisoner a Jewish child. If reported the three-year-old is sure to die. On the other hand, a violation of the rules of the camp would threaten the long prepared uprising of the concentration camp prisoners against the SS.More...
- Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham2023-03-10Explorer Bruce Wayne accidentally unleashes an ancient evil, and returns to Gotham after being away for two decades. There, Batman battles Lovecraftian supernatural forces and encounters allies and enemies such as Green Arrow, Ra's al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Two-Face and James Gordon.More...
- The Troubleshooter2018-07-25Alex, 43, is not a man of many responsibilities. He works as a tow truck driver in the car repair garage run with an iron fist by his mother Antoinette. She hopes he will someday take over the business, but Alex manages to consistently prove that he’s not up to the task. One day, he assists a woman whose car broke down and ends up spending the night at her place. The next morning, she is nowhere to be found, and Alex discovers he is alone... with three kids!More...
- Newsies1992-04-10A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's hard-ball tactics.More...
- In His Shadow2023-03-17After the death of their father, two half-brothers find themselves on opposite sides of an escalating conflict with tragic consequences.More...
- Fireworks2023-03-23The troubled relationship between Gianni and Nino, set in the narrow-minded and prejudicial Sicily of 1982.More...
- Legion of Super-Heroes2023-02-07Kara, devastated by the loss of Krypton, struggles to adjust to her new life on Earth. Her cousin, Superman, mentors her and suggests she leave their space-time to attend the Legion Academy in the 31st century, where she makes new friends and a new enemy: Brainiac 5. Meanwhile, she must contend with a mysterious group called the Dark Circle as it searches for a powerful weapon held in the Academy’s vault.More...
- Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl2022-12-27Step into Casa Madrigal for a special concert spectacular as the original voice cast of Disney Animation's Oscar®-winning "Encanto," Stephanie Beatriz, Adassa, Carolina Gaitán, Jessica Darrow, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda and Olga Merediz, along with special guests including Colombian superstar Carlos Vives, reunites for "Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl." This unprecedented concert experience gives you a front-row seat to the musical extravaganza celebrating the global phenomenon.More...
- Shark Side of the Moon2022-08-12Decades ago, the USSR developed unkillable sharks and launched them to the moon. Today, a team of American astronauts will endure the fight of their lives.More...
- Operation Christmas Drop2020-11-05While gathering evidence to support closing a tropical U.S. Air Force base, a congressional aide warms to its generous captain.More...
- ¡Que viva México!2023-03-23After his grandfather's death, a man travels with his wife and kids to his hometown, where chaos ensues with his relatives over the inheritance.More...
- Money Shot: The Pornhub Story2023-03-15Featuring interviews with performers, activists and past employees, this documentary offers a deep dive into the successes and scandals of Pornhub.More...
- Spirit Untamed2021-05-20Lucky Prescott's life is changed forever when she moves from her home in the city to a small frontier town and befriends a wild mustang named Spirit.More...
- Reality2023-06-02Augusta, Georgia, United States, June 3, 2017. After running some errands, Reality Winner returns home, where she is approached by two men.More...
- Lady Chatterley's Lover2022-11-22Unhappily married aristocrat Lady Chatterley begins a torrid affair — and falls deeply in love — with the gamekeeper on her husband's country estate.More...
- Ad Vitam2025-01-09When he and his pregnant wife are attacked in their home, a former elite agent becomes trapped in a deadly manhunt tied to his own painful past.More...
- Boston Strangler2023-03-16Reporters Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole bravely pursue the story of the Boston Strangler at great personal risk, putting their own lives on the line in their quest to uncover the truth.More...
- Mummies2023-01-05Through a series of unfortunate events, three mummies end up in present-day London and embark on a wacky and hilarious journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family, stolen by ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby.More...
Similar Movies
Babar: King of the El...
1999-02-26Babar is a young elephant in the great forest. Whilst out with his mother a hunter kills his mother and he flees to escape the same fate. He eventually finds himself in a human city and experiences the many differences between city and forest life. Treated as an outsider he is taken in by an elderly woman, dressed in fancy suits, taught to write and count and is brought up in human culture.Zootopia
2016-02-11Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.Saturday the 14th
1981-10-30After his family moves to a new house, a young boy discovers a mysterious book that details a curse hanging over the date of Saturday the 14th. Opening the book releases a band of monsters into the house and the family must join together to save themselves and their neighborhood.Free Jimmy
2006-04-21Four stoners, five vegans, three mobsters, four hunters and a million reasons to free one junkie elephant.Horton Hatches the Eg...
1942-04-11Horton the elephant agrees to watch over lazy Maisie bird's egg while she vacations. Much later, after...Follow That Bird
1985-08-02Big Bird is sent to live far from Sesame Street by a pesky social worker, who thinks it would be better for him to live with other birds. Unhappy, Big Bird runs away from his foster home, prompting the rest of the Sesame Street gang to go on a cross-country journey to find him.Babar: The Movie
1989-07-28Children's book authors Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff's most beloved elephant comes to the big screen in this animated family tale. Elephant monarch King Babar tells the tale, that unfolds via flashback, of how a much-younger Barbar and his girlfriend Celeste save her village from the pugnacious rhinoceroses that have come to raid it.The Blue Elephant
2006-05-18A young elephant goes on an extraordinary adventure and learns important lessons along the way about friendship, love and courage.Dumbo
1941-10-31Dumbo is a baby elephant born with over-sized ears and a supreme lack of confidence. But thanks to his even more diminutive buddy Timothy the Mouse, the pint-sized pachyderm learns to surmount all obstacles.Horton Hears a Who!
1970-03-18In this story, Horton discovers there is a microscopic community of intelligent beings called the Who's living on a plant that only he can hear. Recognising the dangers they face, he resolves to keep them safe. However, the other animals around him think Horton has gone crazy thinking that there are such beings.Horton Hears a Who!
2008-03-03The classic and beloved story from Dr. Seuss is now a CG animated film from 20th Century Fox Animation, the makers of the Ice Age films. An imaginative elephant named Horton (Jim Carrey) hears a faint cry for help coming from a tiny speck of dust floating through the air. Horton suspects there may be life on that speck and despite a surrounding community, which thinks he has lost his mind, he is determined to save the tiny particle! Jim Carrey and Steve Carell lead an all-star cast in bringing this wonderful family picture to life!The African Tale
1963-01-01A USSR animated short adapted from one of Jomo Kenyatta's fables.Cool Blue
1990-02-27Dustin, an aspiring painter meets this woman named Christiane. Dustin is on a search for love, sex, and inspiration. When Christiane dumps him and disapears as quickly as she dropped in, Dustin embarks on an obsessive search in Southern California to search for her.Elmer Elephant
1936-03-28Little Elmer Elephant has a crush on Tillie Tiger and his affection is reciprocated. Trouble is, the pint-sized pachyderm is beset by bullies who ridicule his trunk and make his life miserable. Then a conflagration breaks out at Tillie's tree house.Jerry and Jumbo
1953-02-21A baby elephant rolls off the circus train and right into Tom's bed. He quickly allies himself with Jerry, and with a rolled-up trunk and some paint, passes himself off as a giant mouse. The two then keep trading places to the bafflement of Tom.Red Dog
2011-08-04The legendary true story of the Red Dog who united a disparate local community while roaming the Australian outback in search of his long lost master.The Fourth Wise Man
1985-03-30Artaban is a young Magus (Wise Man) who desires to follow the star to the birthplace of the coming King, against the counsel of his friends and family. Carrying three precious jewels to give to the baby Messiah, Artaban and his reluctant servant Orontes set off to join the caravan of the three other wise men. They miss the caravan, but Artaban continues the search for his King, always one step behind. Artaban spends much of his remaining wealth and all of his energy helping the poor and unfortunate people he meets, until at the end of his life he finally finds Jesus--at His trial! Has Artaban wasted his life in a foolish quest? Will he ever get the chance to present his gifts to the King?How Does It Feel to B...
1988-09-01Figment takes Matt and Lisa on an "imagination safari" where they meet a menagerie of both real and imaginary animals. There they discover how animals communicate, and also imagine what it would feel like and how to express what it feels like to be certain animals.The Family Fang
2016-04-16A brother and sister return to their family home in search of their world famous parents who have disappeared.Working for Peanuts
1953-11-11Chip 'n Dale live next door to a zoo and spot the elephant's stash of peanuts. They go after them, but both the elephant and his keeper, Donald, are too clever. Then the boys realized the visitors throw peanuts, so they put on a song-and-dance act. Then they paint themselves white and pose as albino chipmunks.