KIDS FIRST!|
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 12-18 Topic - Description - Over the course of his summer break, a teenager comes into his own thanks in part to the friendship he strikes up with one of the park's managers. Directors: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash; Writers: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash; Stars: Steve Carell, AnnaSophia Robb, Toni Collette KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language, some sexual content and brief drug material KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "The Way, Way Back" tells the story of Duncan, played by Liam James, who is an awkward teen dealing with his mom's boyfriend, Trent, played by Steve Carell. Trent and Duncan don't exactly see eye to eye on most things and when the two of them are forced to spend the entire summer together, things get a bit complicated. Duncan decides to get away from his family by getting a job at the local amusement park, Water Wizz. There, he becomes friends with the manager Owen, played by Sam Rockwell, and Duncan begins to find himself with the help of his new friend. I personally do not like this movie very much. I feel like it has nothing too special about it and the acting seems somewhat forced, the lines are cheesy and the plot is unoriginal. All of the scenes are long with very few cuts which does make it feel more realistic, but it also makes the film too drawn out. I am also bothered by the fact that there is hardly any music in this film, so when there is silence it is awkward in a non comical way. My favorite character is Owen because Sam Rockwell does this character justice. I like the character Owen because he is very sweet to Duncan. He sees that he is having a hard time and teaches him how to stand on his own. My favorite scene would have to be when Duncan is working his first day at Water Wizz. There are a bunch of teens break dancing in the park and Owen is supposed to break it up. Since he is such a slacker he gives Duncan this task and it is hilarious to watch him try to get the people to listen to him. It really shows how awkward he is and even though he is uncomfortable doing this task, he still does it to help out a friend. I recommend this film for ages 13+ because there are mild profanities, inappropriate humor and drug use. I rate this 3 out of 5 stars because it is entertaining for the time that you're in the theater, but it isn't memorable or something I would see again. Reviewed by Raven D., age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION Series: FEATURE, AGES 5-12, ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil is taking place. She bands together with a rag-tag group characters in order to save their world -- and ours. Director: Chris Wedge; Writers: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember; Stars: Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Beyonc� Knowles KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon, see youth reviews KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - If you want to enjoy an excellent 3D adventure comedy experience, then EPIC is the movie for you! The story involves the adventures of a smart and stubborn 17-year-old girl, Mary Katherine, who goes by the name M.K. M.K. returns to her childhood home to connect with her strange father, Professor Bomba, only to find him talking non-stop about unseen people who live in the woods. As she is about to return home, fed up with her visit and angry at her father, she is magically sent into this unseen world, and soon becomes involved in this world's fight between good and evil. My favorite character in the movie is M.K., played by Amanda Seyfried. M.K. shows great courage and intelligence when, out of nowhere, she is changed into a tiny person with the duty to save the forest from forces of destruction called the Boggans. Through her knowledge of the "big world" M.K., with her father's help, is able to help save the forest. She is also able to reconnect with her father and, in the end, realizes that he was right about so many things. "EPIC" is very well written and the special effects showing life in a forest, as seen through 3D and from a tiny person's view, are outstanding. It makes you wonder how many other universes are there out there that might be like our own. My favorite scene in the movie is towards the end, when M.K. has to find a way to stop the evil Boggans from taking over the forest. This, she is able to do, by jumping into her father's pocket and pulling out her dad's cellphone to make a sound that scares away the evil bats who are blocking the full moon in order to try to prevent the new queen from being born in the forest. M.K.'s bravery and courage during this scene is amazing! The film teaches very important life lessons. It shows us that forces of good and bad are always at war. Or, as the lead warrior for the forest explains to M.K.: "We are all individuals, but we are also all interconnected," "You get what you put into things," and "We are many leaves on one tree." I give the movie five out of five stars. It is an excellent 3D adventure comedy that teaches life lessons to all viewers. It is also a great family movie appropriate for ages six and up as there are some scary parts of the movie that I wouldn't recommend to kids under the age of six. Reviewed by Adam C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic (age 7) KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-13 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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PARAMOUNT PICTURES Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 12-18 Topic - Family Description - After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. Director: J.J. Abrams; Writers: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman; Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Quite the spectacle. For those of us who grew up watching the TV series, this is like comfort food with iconic characters - Captain Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu - the whole gang. Die-hard Trekkies might be disappointed that it does not follow to the letter the original "Wrath of Kahn" storyline but, hey, get a life - there are more ways than one to play Hamlet as well. The 3D production is a visual feast, especially when flying objects are coming your way. Great performances, excellent costumes, love the futuristic landscapes and buildings. Among of my favorite things were the images of vehicles in the future - even the hospital beds that floated down the hallways. I dreamt afterwards about how that was done; I mean outside the magical world of filmmaking. Magnetism perhaps. Fun, action adventure flick with no graphic bloody images. Very enjoyable. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Satirical, Emotional and Epic are the only words to describe the new movie Star Trek Into Darkness. I got a chance to visit the Paramount lot for an exclusive screening of this movie, which left me in awe and thrill. Although this movie is a sequel to the previous Star Trek series, movie goers who are not familiar with the story will understand the plot clearly. The actors portray their characters very well thanks to the director, J.J Abrams. The scenery and set for the futuristic year of 2240 are so vivid and realistic, audience members will forget they are in the year 2013. This movie is also produced for the IMAX 3D, which puts all the explosions and fight scenes in your face. Satirical, Emotional and Epic are the only words to describe the new movie Star Trek Into Darkness. I got a chance to visit the Paramount lot for an exclusive screening of this movie, which left me in awe and thrill. Although this movie is a sequel to the previous Star Trek series, movie goers who are not familiar with the story will understand the plot clearly. The actors portray their characters very well thanks to the director, J.J Abrams. The scenery and set for the futuristic year of 2240 are so vivid and realistic, audience members will forget they are in the year 2013. This movie is also produced for the IMAX 3D, which puts all the explosions and fight scenes in your face. The relationship of all the characters on the iconic Starship Enterprise are deep and meaningful. Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachery Quinto) develop a brotherly love through the struggles they conquer. The Villain, Khan (Benedict Cumberpatch) is a scary two-faced character that will leave the audience guessing his fate until the very end. Not only does the main star achieve his role perfectly, but the co-stars also do an superb job. The writers, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof successfully add comedy in the script to bring an emotional roller coaster to the audience. The set ranges from modern skyscrapers to futuristic spaceships. The designers portrayed the theme very well, using many computer generated images to create the year of 2240 in a way that makes it seem so real. The 3D element is an added bonus because it brings the action up close. The beginning scene has lots of running and fighting sequences and yet it is all filmed in such detail that the characters seem like they are going to run off screen. After watching this movie, my passion for Star Trek has been sparked! I rate this movie 5 out of 5 because it balances the comedy and action scenes so well. It has multiple themes taking place but the on-going theme "the power of friendship can build you or destroy you" is present throughout. This movie contains a hand-full of violence but is not bloody or graphic. The action sequences, violence and realistic make-up could be scary for younger audience members so, I recommend this for ages 13 to18. This movie has sparked an interest in Star Trek for me and hopefully, it will do the same to you. Reviewed by Patrick N., age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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LIONSGATE FILMS Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 12-18 Topic - Family Description - Sparks fly when Wade Walker crashes the Peeples annual reunion in the Hamptons to ask for their precious daughter Grace's hand in marriage. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon. See youth critic's comments. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This film has really good comedy and I like it. Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) wants to marry the lovely Grace Peeples (Kerry Washington (Scandal). They attend the Peeples annual reunion in the Hamptons where Wade wants to ask Grace for her hand in marriage but everything is not going as he plans. "Peeples" is a good family comedy. I like the way the two families get together, as this is not your ordinary family reunion. However, I can see this happening. I like the plot and it keeps my interest. The cast does a wonderful acting job and I truly enjoy it. The soundtrack is very entertaining. My favorite character is Chris Walker (Malcolm Barrett), brother of Wade Walker, because he is very funny and does things you would not expect people to do. My favorite scene is when Wade accidentally drinks Grace's mother "shroom juice" and starts hallucinating at the Moby Dick Festival. Then he begins to argue with Judge Peeples because he thinks he is insulting him while he is giving a speech. They start fighting and Wade passes out. This is so hilarious and kept me laughing! Writer and first-time Director Tina Gordon Chism (Drum Line) and Tyler Perry (Good Deeds, Madea's Witness Protection) present great humor about families coming together. "Peeples" also stars comedian and actor, David Alan Grier who gives us a lot to laugh about. There are a lot of great lessons and messages in this film. One is to always be open with whatever problems you may have so that you can get help. Another is to always be yourself no matter what people think about you. "Peeples" is rated PG-13 and I recommend it to ages 13 to adults. Please be aware that it does have some content that is not suitable for younger viewers. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars. It's very enjoyable; the cinematography is great and has an exciting climax. It has tons of comedy and keeps me laughing. Laugh with your family and have a great time enjoying "Peeples." Reviewed by Brianna B., age 13, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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WARNER BROS PICTURE Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 12-18 Topic - Family Description - An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon. See youth critic's review. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "The Great Gatsby" tells the story of Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), a secretive millionaire who is in love with a wealthy woman named Daisy Buchanan, played by Carey Mulligan. When Daisy's cousin, Nick Carraway, played by Tobey Maguire, moves in next to Gatsby, he doesn't hesitate to use Nick to get close to his lost love. With the publicity constantly involved in his life, Gatsby finds it hard keeping his love for Daisy hidden from her husband. When Daisy's Husband, Tom Buchanan. Played by Joel Edgerton, discovers his wife's affection for Gatsby, he is quick to make sure it doesn't last. When Jay Gatsby's past is revealed, his entire life begins to unravel. Can Gatsby and Daisy make a life for themselves or will the past control the future? I am in love with this movie! Words can't describe how incredible the entire film is, but I'll do my best. This film is in 3D, which makes the incredible set and costume design come to life. The visuals in this film could have been a movie of its own because they are so breathtakingly beautiful. The rich colors and textures make the cinematography pop. This film is set in the 20s, where life for the wealthy was lavish and over the top 24-7 and the wardrobe really shows that off. The entire look of this movie is so rich and lavish that it sucks you in and you feel as if you can grasp the fabrics and streamers of Jay Gatsby's parties because everything is so full-bodied with color. I feel like you could take a screenshot of every frame in this film and then send it off to a photography museum because it is just so striking. The soundtrack is another thing of wonder in this film. It features modern songs such as Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild" as well as Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful" and other artist such as Florence + the Machine, Beyonce, William and even a few dubstep mixes, however all these modern hits are meshed with 20s rag time, giving it an authentic feel with a modern edge. It took me a few scenes to get used to because when I first heard modern artist Frank Ocean singing while a 20s-themed trumpet tune played, I was a little shocked. Once I warmed up to it, I fell in love with the unique sound. I actually think it is a very clever way to make the younger generation become more enthralled with the movie because the music we are used to at parties is the more modern sound. I think it is a clever way to make the festivities of this movie more appealing to a younger crowd. My favorite scene would have to be when Nick goes to one of Gatsby's massive parties. People from all over New York and from all walks of life would flock to Gatsby's house weekend after weekend to indulge in his lavish lifestyle, even though none of them knew Gatsby or had ever met him. In the very first party scene you really become engorged in the luxurious accommodations of Gatsby's palace. His house is filled with streamers, dancers, outrageously dressed guests and vivid decor. The entire scene is so visually pleasing. I also really enjoyed the scene where Gatsby plans for Daisy to visit Nick at his house and then "coincidentally" stop by so he can see her again after 5 years. I like this scene because Gatsby always seems like such a confident man who is on top of the world but, when he is faced with seeing his true love after so many years apart, he gets the demeanor of a squeamish school boy. It is so cute how he obsesses over Daisy in the beginning of the scene and it is touching how nervous he gets before she comes over. Leonardo's acting in this scene is truly astounding and his subtle display of emotions accents the fact that he is frantically trying to conceal his emotions. My favorite character is Jay Gatsby because he is such a complex man. He builds his entire dream life to impress Daisy. He builds his home across the lake from her house so he can see her, throws parties hoping she'll attend, and does everything in his power to be near to her which is very humbling considering he could do virtually anything with his riches. Leonardo's performance in this film deserves an award because of how realistically he portrayed Gatsby. I truly respect Leonardo as an actor because no matter what role he is playing I never see it as Leo playing so and so, but I see him as the actual character. He full-heartedly embodies Jay Gatsby and shows the depths of the character in such a remarkable way. I loved every second of his performance. Overall I give this film 5 out of 5 stars, I would give it more if I could! "The Great Gatsby" has everything I look for in a film - well executed plot, excellent visuals, unique music, and a brilliant cast and crew. I recommend this film for ages 13 and up for excessive drinking and mature situations. I can't wait to see this film again, so be sure to go see "The Great Gatsby" when it hits theaters May 10th. Reviewed by Raven Devanney, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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WARNER HOME ENTERTAINMENT Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 5-12, ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - When Bruce Wayne receives the man of the year award, fellow billionaire Lex Luthor becomes jealous and decides to run for President. To create the atmosphere for his type of fear-based politics Lex recruits the Joker to perfect a Black LEGO Destructor Ray which wreaks havoc on Gotham. As Lex destroys Batman's tech, Batman reluctantly turns to Superman for help. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Want a positive film that portrays teamwork and friendship for your superhero loving or LEGO loving child? Look no further. Just out on DVD and Blu-ray, "LEGO Batman: The Movie - DC Superheroes Unite" will not let you down. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O., age 11, says this DVD teaches us that "sometimes you can't do things all by yourself, you need help" and that relationships aren't always easy. To make this an even more exciting gift for your favorite LEGO kid, it comes with a Clark Kent/Superman LEGO mini-figure! KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - At first I thought this movie would be kind of like "The Avengers." The movie turns out to be very different! All the Marvel superheroes and everything else are made out of Legos. It is more focused on Batman as a man and other heroes like Robin, Super Women, Super Man, the Green Lantern and many others. This move has a mix of comedy which I've noticed is in every Lego movie. It has action, adventure, great actors and even a lifelong lesson - sometimes you can't do things all by yourself, you need help. There are some pretty cool structures and machines. All these structures are built out of Lego bricks so you can really build them yourself if you knew how! The adventure begins when Bruce Wayne wins the "Man of the Year" award. If you don't know who Bruce Wayne is, he is Batman undercover. Then, the Joker commits a crime and Batman and Robin have to capture him once again. As they are trying to achieve their goal, Superman helps him. Batman gets annoyed with Superman but, at the end they work together and call in all the superheroes to defeat the Joker! If you want to know what happens at the end you must watch the movie. What I love about this funny, action-packed film is how it shows the relationship between Robin and Batman as somewhat difficult. This isn't very good for a side-kick and a hero. At the end though, they become good friends. Also, it shows all the heroes' powers like Superman's strength and Batman's throwing skills. The best part for me is how everything is made out of Legos. And, as in most Lego movies, there are cool animations, good actions and great voiceover actors. My favorite scene is when the bat cave gets destroyed. It's action packed and shows Joker's "funny" side with his strange humor and his pie bombs. Superman helps them. But, the Joker and his partner Lex, who is running for president and using Joker to win election, gets away. Would you like to know how he was able to defeat Superman's power? Get a copy of this wonderful film and find out! I recommend this film for ages 3 and up. There's really no violence or harsh language in this movie. "Lego Batman the Movie" is extremely kid-friendly. I give this movie 5 out 5 stars. You can find it on DVD everywhere now. Reviewed by Gerry O, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 24.98 Media: DVD Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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INCEPTION MEDIA GROUP Series: INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 5-8 Topic - Family Description - A boy and his family adopt a dachshund with a racing pedigree. But is the little dog and his new family ready for the nation's greatest wiener dog race when a competitor tries to cheat? Ultimately they are reminded about honor, values and pride. Runtime: 82 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 26.98 Media: DVD Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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SHELTER ISLAND Series: SERIES, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - Critically acclaimed and broadcast nationally, this multi-award winning series teaches kids of all ages how to draw while including educational journeys to fun and exciting destinations. Each DVD includes 2 episodes plus a specially designed insert with drawing exercises. This episode includes two visits to the Science Museum result in learning to draw a tyrannosaurus rex, a pterodactyl, planets, astronauts and more. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon. See youth comments. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "Drawing with Mark" is a great show to learn tips about how to draw and/or improve your drawing. Mark is really helpful and easy to understand. He plays with, and is like a coach for the Angels From The Attic - Eclipse Doggy, Crystal Cat, Looner Bunny, Sunray Bear, Twinkle Mouse and Misty Pig. In "A Day With The Dinosaurs" I learned how to draw a Pterodactyl and a T-Rex. Mark visits the Museum of Boston and speaks to an expert to learn more about them and to get an idea of how the dinosaurs lived, what they ate and how long they lived. I learned that sometimes they call dinosaurs very large lizards. In the other episode, "Reach For The Stars" I learned how to draw an astronaut and the planet Saturn, the planet with the rings around it. At the Museum of Boston, he speaks to another expert about the stars, the galaxy, the astronauts and of course, about Saturn. I also learned how far we are from the stars. I thought that the stars were probably about 270 miles from us, but they are actually millions of miles from us, that's really far! You can see the stars look kind of close, but they are so far away!! Mark taught me that a drawing takes time and you don't have to rush. Always draw the stick figure, the foundation, before you start adding details and other special little things you can always add. You need to draw the outline and just sketch it, don't hold your pencil so hard, sketch lightly and softly. I recommend this show to anyone who loves to draw and wants to improve their drawing. You can have fun with the tips he gives you which may lead you to become and artist or to illustrate books. I give the show 5 stars out of 5 and recommend it to all ages because it's never too late to learn to draw. "Drawing with Mark" is a really fun, artistic and colorful show that will be open a new world to future artists around the world. Get your copy of Drawing With Mark available now on DVD. Stacy-Love Belizaire, age 10, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: DVD |
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SHELTER ISLAND Series: SERIES, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - Critically acclaimed and broadcast nationally, the multi-award winning series teaches kids how to draw while also including educational journeys to fun and exciting destinations. Each DVD includes 2 episodes plus a specially designed insert with drawing exercises. Visits to the Buddy Dog Humane Society and a local ice cream shop result in learning to draw our favorite four-legged friends, an ice cream cone and an ice cream truck. ! Visits!to!the!Buddy!Dog!Humane!Society!and!a!local!ice!cream!shop!result!in!learning!to!draw! our!favorite!44legged!friends,!an!ice!cream!cone!and!an!ice!cream!truck.! KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Coming soon. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - If you love drawing like me, then you'll love "Drawing With Mark." "Drawing With Mark" is a show that teaches kids how to draw while also teaching them their shapes and some history about the things they draw. Kids also learn three or four fun facts about what they are drawing. The "Happy Tails" part of this show is about cats and dogs and how to draw them. He also talks about how much responsibility it is to have a dog; you have to groom it, take care of it, bring it to the vet and feed it. In the "Ice Cream" episode, Mark goes to the ice cream shop and learns about children's' favorite ice cream flavors and you'll never guess: it's cake batter flavor! When I heard this I thought that it was funny because I would never think that they would make a cake batter flavored ice cream. The lead characters in these episodes are Mark (Mark Marderosian), Crystal Cat and Eclipse Doggy. I like that this show helped me be a better artist and I learned how to draw a dog and a cat better than I already did. I also learned how to draw an ice cream truck and a man holding an ice cream. I love watching this because I learned a lot and it made me understand the fundamentals of drawing. I also like that they put a live-action human with animated characters. I also like it when they went into the ice cream shop and they saw Crystal Cat On the toppings section, they thought that it was funny because they were talking about all of the toppings that the kids pick every time they come in and Crystal Cat was right there so they started laughing. There is no underlying message in this story, because it's about drawing, except maybe that no matter how old you are, you can draw big things. I recommend this show to anyone that loves to draw to express their feelings, or to just have fun. I recommend this for people ages six and older because anyone can draw if they want to. I would give this DVD four out of five because overall I liked it but I hoped that it had more music. "Drawing With Mark" is available for all art lovers on DVD. Valdi Belizaire, age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.98 Media: DVD |
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WALDEN MEDIA Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 5-12 Topic - Family Description - Six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As the competition heats up, the kids have no idea that their ultimate challenge will be to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches. Starring Thomas Horn, Danny Glover, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino and Booboo Stewart. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon. See youth critics' comments. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - When I first found out about this film, I didn't know what to expect. I thought this movie would be similar to Star Wars with some good guys fighting bad ones. It turned out it wasn't exactly like that. It was better! I liked this movie because it feels very real and positive. Even though the main story of the film is fiction, the characters are based on real people. This is a story of a wonderful relationship between two people who dedicated their life to what they love the most - space. This is a story about a man and his 15-year-old son and a real space camp that is located at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. The movie was mostly shot there and I myself now can't wait to visit it. The story starts when Jimmy (Thomas Horn) is being selected for the competition in Space Camp. He is very excited. You can imagine what it means to a kid that dreamed all his life about going to space and now he has a possibility of making it a reality. Sadly, his mother is against it and doesn't agree with her son's choices. Jimmy decides to lie to his parents and makes it to the camp anyway. Now, if you would like to find out if Jimmy and his teammates made it to space or if you are curious to know how his parents reacted when they found out where Jimmy truly was - you have to watch the movie. What makes this film special, for me, is the fact that Jimmy is very passionate about his love for space and works hard on trying to be the best at what he does. He keeps pushing himself to become a more educated, better person. I love the friendship Jimmy develops with his teammates even though it gets off to a rocky start. They learn to respect and accept Jimmy for who he is. My favorite scene in the movie is when NASA's representative decides to listen to the kids' suggestion during critical time and gives them a chance to prove that they are right which leads to a very cool outcome for Jimmy's team. I recommend this fabulous film to kids ages 5 to 18. Some things and terminology may be too complicated to understand for younger kids. This movie is very inspirational and teaches viewers a lot of valuable lessons! I give "Space Warriors" 5 out of 5 stars. The film will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET (Check your local listings) Later, it will be available on DVD at Wal-Mart. Reviewed by Gerry Orz, age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-15 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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HDNET MOVIES LLC Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - The hunt is on when two owners of an antique house are determined to rid the home of a very comfortable, very stubborn mouse. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Originally released in 1997. Screening throughout May 2013 on HDNet - kidScene. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - If you are an old time classic film lover like me, you will love "Mousehunt", a laugh-out-loud family comedy. This movie is a battle of wits between humans and a mouse. Two men inherit a string factory and an old, run down house from their dad. Throughout the film, they battle to get along, but the hunt for the mouse brings them closer. The two brothers, Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars (Lee Evans) are hilarious! I enjoyed "Mousehunt", but it was hard to sit through at times because I love animals so much that it made me a little nervous. It is funny but also has some adult humor. The sets are amazing! They look as if they were torn apart, flooded, and even bombed in one case! The writers do a fantastic job with the comedic timing. It kept me laughing the whole time! I love Caesar (Christopher Walken) because he is very serious and so funny at the same time. He is the exterminator who Ernie and Lars hire to kill the mouse! He comes into the house telling the brothers that this will be super easy. He is no ordinary exterminator, because to find out about the mouse, he eats and smells the poop! This mouse even out-smarts Caesar. The character Caesar really pulls this film together. I love Christopher Walken from other films such as "Hairspray" and "Click." My favorite scene is when Lars is in the string factory. He is trying to work the factory by himself because all the workers are on strike. It's really fun to watch because every piece of his clothing gets caught. He struggles to free himself, with no success. It only gets much worse! To find out more about this great scene you should watch the movie! I recommend "Mousehunt" for ages 10-12. It is a hilarious and heartwarming story. I give "Mousehunt" 4 out of 5 stars, so go check it out! Molly Jackson, age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-15 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: TV Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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HDNET MOVIES LLC Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 5-12 Topic - Family Description - When different Ice Age animals come across a human infant, they must work together to return the creature to his tribe. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Originally released in 2002. Screening throughout May 2013 on HDNet - kidScene. Ice Age gives a great lesson on tolerance of those who are different and the nature of friendship. You would not think these three diverse animals could or would come together in this great family film. Very fun to watch. It's smart, complex and silly with cool colors and fluid animation. This very original storyline demonstrates loyalty, friendship and bravery. Great dialogue and voice talent, good humor that appeals to adults but also is suitable for kids. Love the realistic animals - great expressions and movement. There are some dangerous and scary scenes, including the mother of one young child killed though it is off-screen. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This 2002 animated film is very appealing and funny to watch. Manfred (Ray Romano-voice) is the Protagonist, Sid (John Leguizamo-voice) is the Sloth, and Diego (Denis Leary-voice) is the Saber-Tooth Tiger. They are given a baby human by its mother to take care of it. The three set out to find the human tribe so that the rightful owners of it can teach it their ways, but Diego has to bring the baby to his head herd master so they can kill it for revenge. Will Diego bring it to his herd so that they can kill it or well he help his friends take the baby back to its tribe? "Ice Age" is a great film. I really like it. I remember watching this film awhile back and I still like it. The script is well written by Michael J. Wilson and flows smoothly. The colors are vibrant throughout the film. The background music really enhances the specific mood of the scenes and makes it more enjoyable. My favorite character is Sid because he is extremely funny and never hesitates to speak his mind. My favorite scene is in the very beginning when Scrat (Chris Wedge-voice) desperately tries to find a place to hide his acorn from the cold harsh wind. On one of his tries he pushes it too far into the ice and cracks the ground then a huge wall of ice comes down and almost kills Scrat. This film kept me laughing and also produces many lessons to teach kids. One lesson is that you should help people and animals as much as you can, because it can result in a good ending. "Ice Age" is rated PG with Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha directing it. It also stars the voice talents of the hilarious Cedric the Entertainer (Carl), Goran Visnjic (Soto) and Jack Black (Zeke). I recommend "Ice Age" for ages 6 to 13. The genre of this film is definitely adventurous and comedy. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars. It is great for kids, it's very entertaining and has a great climax. Chill with the Sub-Zero Heroes in "Ice Age!" Brianna Hope Beaton, Age 13, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-15 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: TV |
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TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT Series: ANIMATED FEATURE, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - Journey down under and meet a whole new breed of hero in this laugh-filled, action-packed animated adventure with an all-star voice cast, including Rob Schneider, Tim Curry and Alan Cumming. Johnny (Schneider) is a rare white koala bear who just wants to fit in and make friends. But when a twist of fate mistakenly transforms him into a fearless protector of animals, called "Koala Kid," Johnny finds himself in over his head on a thrilling trek across the outback. With help from his hilarious new sidekicks, including a crafty Tasmanian devil, a lovable lizard and a boomerang-flinging female koala, Johnny may just outwit a villainous crocodile named Bog (Cumming) and become a true hero after all. Exclusively from Walmart & Walmart.com. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - I like this movie because it has a funny story and at the same time, action and suspense is thrown in with lots of twists and turns. "Koala Kid" is a animated film about a white Koala who doesn't he think he fits in with his community of gray Koalas and comes to believe that he has special talents which he thinks can prove to everyone that he belongs. He does this by going on a miraculous journey to defeat an evil crocodile named Bog. The Koala Kid's name is Johnny and he's voiced by Rob Schneider. As his journey continues he meets Miranda, a gray Koala (Yvonne Strahvoski), Hamish the Tasmanian Devil (Bret McKenzie) and his Monkey Photographer Lokie (Charlie Bewley). They battle with their wits and through action with Bog the villainous Crocodile (Alan Cumming, the Bad Guy from Spy Kids!) and his chief henchman, Blacktooth the Dingo (Tim Curry). There is one moment that seems to capture the humor and suspense of this movie perfectly. When Bog the evil Croc is sleeping, the tiny wombats take Snorkles into the pond and capture Bog with a net. When Bog awakes, he shrugs them off of him as if it is nothing. I didn't want to laugh because the Wombats are so cute, but it is funny. I really like the animation in this film because it feels as if you're really in the hot outback with all these fun characters. The colorfulness adds to the fun I experienced. There is also one song in the movie which continues the colorfulness and had both me AND my mom tapping our feet, "Do You Come From a Land Down Under." I think I'm still tapping my feet. I think the message of this movie is no matter what you look like, you can always become a hero. If you like adventurous cartoons as much as I do, then "Koala Kid" is the movie for you. I recommend this to kids ages six to sixteen because as much as it is a lifelong lesson that you can always use. There are some suspenseful moments that could be scary to the younger ones. I rate this movie five out of five stars because it's hilarious and colorful which speaks to the mind of kids and teens. Reviewed by Canela Roey, age 10. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 6-15 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: DVD Buy Here (Amazon.com) Buy Here (from TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT) |
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B-TV LORA BATCHELOR MIDDLE SCHOOL Series: STUDENT FEATURE, MIDDLE SCHOOL Topic - Family Description - An adaptation of the Mark Twain classic novel by middle school students at B-TV Batchelor Middle School in Bloomington, IN. This is the story of Tom Sawyer and his adventures with his friends in the mid-1800s. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This is an admirable production for a group of middle school students. The classic Tom Sawyer is brought life by these kids in a pretty believable way. Keep in mind that, like a school play, all the characters are played by students. So, the older characters will not look very realistic. It does take the school play idea to another level - the school film. And, I like it. Its appeal would be mostly to other students of a similar age, I believe. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - coming soon Runtime: 93 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 10-14 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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B-TV LORA BATCHELOR MIDDLE SCHOOL Series: STUDENT DOCUMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL Topic - Family Description - A documentary about George Taliaferro, the first African American football player to be drafted into the NFL. He tells how he had to overcome segregation to succeed and how hard he had to work to be successful. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Nicely done though a bit rough. If you are a football fan, this will interest you. Love the live interview with George Taliaferro. I wasn't wild about the narrator's voice off camera. I wanted to see him as well as hear. But, for a middle school student production, I find it interesting and think the topic is one that certain students with an interest in football will appreciate. Runtime: 11 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-15 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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WALT DISNEY ANIMATED STUDIOS Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-8, ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - Timon and Pumbaa learn they need more than a computer or game console to surf the web, they need safety smarts! Our friends learn the importance of protecting their personal information, how to be a responsible digital citizen and what to do if they are bullied. Abstract concepts like the internet, information permanence and anonymity become easy to understand when our favorite safety ambassadors lead the way. Includes performance rights for classroom/ educational use, downloadable user's guide with activities, includes 16 language versions. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Using well-known Disney characters, Timon and Pumbaa, Disney's Education Productions has created another lively and fun educational program that teaches lessons for computers and mobile devices. These are such important lessons - from not giving your true identify to a stranger online to cyber bullying to understanding that what you post online can be seen by anyone, anytime, forever! This is MUST KNOW information that any school age child should be aware, starting with the youngest to the oldest. Runtime: 12 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 Media: DVD Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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DUSTY STUDIO Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 12-18, ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - Narrative animation addressing the memory of a younger brother killed in the conflict in Iraq. Drawn entirely with pastels on a slate chalkboard, the materials used to create the animation become a metaphor for the impermanence and fragility of life. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This is a stunning piece that plays tribute to the filmmaker's brother who died in combat. It is stunningly beautiful from the visuals to the sentiment. Any family who has lost a member in combat would be appreciative of this work which resonates loud and clear. It belongs in any festival that honors our soldiers. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - coming soon. Runtime: 8 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 10-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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WILLIAM BARNETT Series: STUDENT PRODUCTION, HIGH SCHOOL Topic - Family Description - Johnny and Jeremy, two teenagers who struggle with A.D.D., travel to the future and learn of the murder of their friend, Kaitlyn. In their attempt to prevent her murder, they must figure out who murdered her, when, where and why. And if that were not enough, they must struggle with their attention deficit. It keeps distracting them from their primary goal of preventing Kaitlyn's murder. Through their struggles, they realize that their disability can be used to their advantage. In the end, they use it to save Kaitlyn's life. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I liked this even though the lighting is pretty terrible quite often. I like the concept, like the kids, like the story. Direction is clearly needs improvement. But, it's fun in a goofy sort of way. For a high school production, it has a lot going for it. It's pretty complex with a lot of different scenes. This is a fairly complex piece of filmmaking. My biggest issue is the lighting. I'm going to accept it because I think teens will enjoy it. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - coming soon Runtime: 22 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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FLUMMOX LABS Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-12 Topic - Family Description - An off-beat, live action comedy designed to help kids navigate the social and emotional world. Features three smart and quirky inventors whose inventions are designed to help them overcome challenges they encounter when interacting with others. Though well intentioned, they are often impractical or comically non-functional. When their designs fall short the inventors come up with easier and more practical ways to navigate everyday social challenges and emotional hurdles. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I just couldn't get into this one. Runtime: 25 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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DAVID RANNEY AND ALEX HAUGHEY Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-8 Topic - Family Description - A boy puts aside his video game to venture into the forest, where his imagination comes to life with the fair maidens and courageous knights of his dreams. When the dream becomes a nightmare, the boy confronts his greatest fear and comes to terms with what it means to be brave. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - A good indie short with lots of action and imagination. Well produced, good video and audio. The story is a bit far fetched, but then, it is rather like a dream. What younger kids might not like is the attraction between the adult characters. What they will like is the knight slaying the evil dude. Fun addition to any film festival for school age kids for who doesn't like fantasies filled with knights and swordfights? Runtime: 15 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-14 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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VIDEOHOUZE PT LTD Series: FOREIGN INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - A wonderfully sweet story from Singapore about a young girl who lives an idyllic life with her loving parents and loving school. One fine day, she goes on a field trip to the Botanical Gardens and she is greatly impacted by the message about the importance of trees. Going home, she tells her parents that she wants to change her mind about her impending birthday gift and rather than get what she had asked for previously, wants a tree. She cares for the tree and visits it every day. Eventually, she speaks to her class about "My Best Friend" and - it is her tree. Then, trouble comes in the form of a greedy developer who buys the land her tree is on. The girl does everything she can to save her tree, all to no avail until the developer agrees to sell her the land around the tree in order for her to protect it. The price - $8K. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Love this film. Not only does it deliver a very appropriate environmental message to grade school children but a message about staying true to what you believe in as well. The little girl never wavers in her protectiveness towards the tree. I also love seeing the lifestyle of the children in Singapore. From the beginning of the film, we see them transported to school by smiling, caring adults. We see them lined up in the school gymnasium at the start of each day to exercise together and receive announcements. The cast is simply delightful, starting with the young girl and extending to all the children, the girl's parents and the school faculty. This would make a lovely addition to any film festival for school age children. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - coming Runtime: 60 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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SPOILERFILM Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - A puppet musical about accepting your identity. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Great production values. Fun short about identity with lead character a muppet who sings and offers profound advice. When we see him refer to a newspaper ad that says, "No Puppets Allowed" it delivers a message that many can identify with. Then, all of a sudden everyone is wearing a green tie, explained by a newspaper article about the "green tie fad." Wonderful message at the end but, can't tell you as that would spoil it. Runtime: 13 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-14 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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YAMIE CHESS LTD Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-8, ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - It all begins in Strawberry Fields, when eight-year-old Kimi, the boy who plays chess in his dreams, falls asleep during a chess match in Central Park, and imagines that the white king piece in his chess game has come to life as King Tigermore. Synchronized to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Symphony No. 25 in G Minor. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I loved this. The imagery is bright and beautiful. The non-narrative storyline is easy to understand and whimsical. It's one of those crazy little short films that's just plain fun and filled with unexpected stuff. It's short. It's fast. It's set to Mozart's 25th in G Minor. What's not to like. Great interstitial programming. Runtime: 4 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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STORY FACTORY Series: FOREIGN INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 12-18 Topic - Family Description - In this anarchic adventure comedy, rockability mom Lorraine returns to her Dad's birthplace in the West of Ireland to see where he once battled a giant whale, but she winds up having to restore the family name with a sea rescue adventure of her own. From Dublin, Ireland. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Fun, campy comedy with a serious message that speaks to the migrant and emigrant experience as well. Beautiful cinematography, compelling scenes. Great performances, silly mixed with serious. Runtime: 16 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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WILLIAM KELLER Series: SCREENPLAY FOR AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - During a typical lazy summer, ten-year-old Olivia Anderson and her best friend Jill discover a mystery. Food is disappearing from their homes during the night, and the girls decide to form a detective agency to uncover the answers. They are soon engulfed in intrigue and danger, and the answer to the mystery turns out to be close to home. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: Screenplay |
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TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION Series: FEATURE, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - Old school grandfather Artie (Billy Crystal), who is accustomed to calling the shots, meets his match when he and his eager-to-please wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents (Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott) go away for work. But when 21st century problems collide with Artie and Diane's old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old-fashioned games, it's learning to bend - and not holding your ground - that binds a family together. Directed by Andy Fickman. Starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott, Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Bette Midler and Billy Crystal are two actors any parent or grandparent will relate to and their role in this multi-generational movie are not only believable but hysterically so. I found myself laughing out loud at this film which plays the whole idea of differing styles of parenting to the hilt. The high tech house, the food phobic parents, the whole idea of pushing your kids to pursue a musical career at such an early age are themes based on reality. I took my grandson to this and he and I both found it amusing, enjoyable and repeatable - for the same and different reasons. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This is an experience! It was interesting to see different styles of parenting, from generation to generation. This movie gives an unusual perspective on parenting whether it be by using a smart house, or screaming at teachers; this movie is enlightening. When I stepped in the theater to see the movie, I did not know what to expect. It is hilarious; I can relate to the strange transition from what parents would let a children do, and grandparents that let children do anything. This movie follows the Simmons family who believe in a more, "I'll let you consider the consequences and make the right choice" type of parenting; and the parents that never get to have time alone together. So when the inventor father: Phil Simmons (Tom Everett Scott) is nominated for an award out of state, he and his wife Alice (Marisa Tomei) decide to take this trip for some much needed alone time. They call Phil's parents to watch them, but they are away on vacation; Alice dreads to ask her judgmental parents, but they say yes. Let the games begin. Meet Artie Decker (Billy Crystal) a newly fired baseball announcer and his wife Diane (Bette Midler), a retired weather girl. These grandparents' main goal is to make their grandchildren, love them, and to no longer be the "other grandparents." They are being entrusted to care for three children: Harper (Bailee Madison)- twelve going on fifty and an aspiring violinist, Turner (Joshua Rush) - a shy boy with a stutter, and Barker (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf)- the youngest with a hard time making real friends, so he has an imaginary one. This is a new type of environment for Artie and Diane, and they try their best to do a good job, but cannot because their daughter will not release her hold and go with her husband. We see how Diane and Artie form a relationship with their grandchildren, and Artie and Alice rekindle theirs also. Personally, I would probably only watch this movie once because these types of movies are entertaining but become tiring quickly. I think that children and most adults would enjoy it because of the comedy aspect. This movie also is not too long so younger children will not get restless. I recommend this movie for ages six and up because they can relate to the differences between parents and grandparents. I give this movie four and a half stars out of five because I do not usually favor quirky family comedies. All in all, this is a good movie and a great movie to watch with you family. Reviewed by Victoria Burns, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14. The preview of this movie was very cute. It is a story about a mom and dad who want to go on a vacation together. The question is, who will watch the three children. They decide to ask the grandparents. The favorite grandparents are busy and cannot come so they have to call the other grandparents. R I is a new house that is all computerized and the dad's project. The technology is very confusing to the grandparents. It is a very cool house that everyone will want to own. Marisa Tomei is a mother, trying to juggle a family and a job. She is trying to do the best job she can but there are many choices of how to raise your children. Tom Everett Scott plays dad, who just wants his wife to be proud of him and misses spending time with her alone. The kids are adorable. I love the kangaroo. Barker has a strong grip and doesn't want his mother to leave. This will have you laughing. Harper is an amazing violist and the perfect big sister. Turner has issues but learns to overcome them. The old grandparents do not always understand the way their daughter is raising her children. They do not follow her rules. When they find out they are not the favorites they decide it is time to take action and make the children love them. Even I know sugar makes kids crazy. Cake any one? My favorite scene was when they play kick the can. Playing in the rain is always fun; add a game and it is funtastic. My favorite character was the grandmother because Bette Midler stood up for her granddaughter. She was funny and even had scene with her famous singing voice. The grandfather, Billy Crystal would be great to hang out with because he loves baseball and so do I. He believes in this movie so much that he also signed on as a producer. The moral is, if everyone works together things will come out all right. Sometimes it takes a little time to understand someone else's ways. All ages will love this move from the young 5 to the elder 105. It is about different ages all trying to understand each other, learn from each other and getting to place of being a happy family. I give this movie 5 twinkling stars it was cute, funny and made for everyone. Morgan Bertsch, age 8, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. "Parental Guidance" is extremely funny and enjoyable. Artie Decker (Billy Crystal) is let go from his baseball announcing job which he truly loves. His only daughter, Alice Simmons, (Marisa Tomei) and her Husband, Phil Simmons (Tom Everett Scott) get a chance to go on a vacation and need someone to look after their three school-age kids. Artie and his wife, Diane Decker (Bette Midler), agree to look after them for a week and will do anything to not be the "other grandparents." But their style of parenting clashes with Alice and her husband's parenting ways. This film keeps me laughing a lot and I must admit, shedding a few tears. My favorite character is Barker Simmons (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf). He has the cutest little face, with red curly hair, and cracks me up with some of the things he is doing. The acting is really good and believable. I can actually see this plot happening in real life that's how believable it is. I also like Harper Simmons, (Bailee Madison) as she acts very well. She is so intense with her acting and so believable with her crying scenes. I have two favorite scenes, one is when Harper has a mouthful of cake and then says to her mother, Yogurt is not like ice cream, you lied; and second is when Artie is at the little league baseball game with his daughter and causes trouble because there is no 3 strike game rule. Andy Fickman directs "Parental Guidance" and Lisa Addario along with Joe Syracuse writes this very funny script. Other talents include Jennifer Crystal Foley, Rhonda Griffis and the very funny Gedde Watanabe. A lesson in this film is to live your life, love yourself and laugh a lot. I recommend "Parental Guidance" for ages 6 and up. This is a great film for the family and your friends to see. This is really good comedy that will keep you laughing. Get ready to laugh, cry and have a good time. I give this film 5 out of 5 five stars. I love the actors, the plot and comedy. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler are hilarious together with their style of parenting. Have some fun with your grandparents and see "Parental Guidance." It arrives in theaters on December 25 and I'm sure you will love it. Brianna Hope Beaton, age 13, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. I love this movie; it has something for every age group to relate to. Artie (Billy Crystal) and Dianne (Bette Midler) are asked by their daughter Alice (Marisa Tomei) to watch her three kids for one week. Alice and her husband win a trip for two to celebrate their success. However, Alice wants Artie and Dianne to use her method of parenting, not the old school way that Artie and Dianne use to raise her. The children are Harper (Bailee Madison), Turner (Joshua Rush) and Barker (Kyle Breitkopf). They are not to have any sugar and live a very structured life. Each has their own issues. Artie and Dianne have to learn how to deal with their issues using the 21st century method. Billy Crystal owns his character. I really see Billy Crystal as Artie I did not see any acting with this character. Bette Midler also does a great job as Diane, funny and great voice. Artie and Dianne's lines seems like they are improvised, and their comic timing is awesome. The child actors are great too. Harper's look of awkwardness when her crush asks her to his party is so true to life. Turner's speech impediment is so real; I thought he really has the impediment. Barker is a riot; he has that face that looks as if he's up to something. The movie quality is very clear. The props for the smart house are awesome. One day we will all have a smart house and our parents will think it's creepy. The small home town setting looks just like it's in Fresno, California. My favorite character is Turner. He is determined to overcome his speech impediment and defend himself with the bully. He does a great job of stuttering. The lesson in this movie is each generation has their own way of parenting. I rank this movie 5 out of 5 stars. This movie age range is 5 and up. This movie comes out December 25, 2012 in theaters near you. Cheyenne Nguyen, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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HDNET MOVIES LLC Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 5-12 ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - When all parents on Earth are kidnapped by aliens, it is up to Jimmy and his friends to save the day and bring the grownups home. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Hilarious kid-oriented sci-fi spoof. Splashy, snappy and fun. Ingenious animation and clever humor. Action-packed beginning, cute follow-up at the end. Kids reveling in a day of parental absence tend to be sophomoric, but learn a good lesson. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Are you a fan of the TV series Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius? If you are, then you'll definitely enjoy the movie. As Jimmy Neutron sees a shooting star fall down, he and his friends wish for their parents to disappear, and their wish comes true! Aliens abduct all of the parents in Jimmy's town, so all of the kids go out of control because they can do whatever they want now. But after a day of going crazy, all of the kids end up missing their parents. Will Jimmy find a way to rescue everyone's parents? Although I am not exactly the target audience for the movie, I still found some of the silly jokes funny. The movie is also action-packed, and the plot is easy to comprehend with messages relevant to kids like it's difficult to be independent without your parents' guidance, but more generally, be careful for what you wish for. The animation is very lively, with vivid and bright colors to accentuate the mood of the movie. I recommend this movie to kids 5 and up, but more to tweens because of its sense of humor. But even so, it is an amusing family film that all ages can enjoy. Watch Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius all month on HDNet movies at kidScene! Gabriella Chu, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. This movie was pretty good. It had a lot of the characters from the show on TV but I wish they would have included more of the characters from the TV show. The movie is about Jimmy Neutron who wishes on a falling star that all parents would disappear. Some aliens take all of the parents from Earth. Jimmy Neutron and his friends have to save all the parents from being eaten by a giant chicken. My favorite character in the movie is Jimmy Neutron because he gets everyone out of trouble throughout the movie. He rescues all of his friends from jail and he rescues the parents from the aliens. He is really smart. Some other characters in the movie are Cindy, Carl, Sheen, and Nick. They are Jimmy's friends and help him rescue all the parents. I would recommend this movie for ages 3 and up. There are a few scary parts that younger kids might not like. The movie is more interesting and really funny. It's a great movie to watch as a family. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is one of the many classics brought to your home by HDNet movie on kidScene, a morning and Friday night programming block for kids and families. Anthony Aranda, Age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. Boy Genius! I'd like to be called that in the near future. I love this film. I could really see myself as Jimmy Neutron. Watching people rely on Jimmy Neutron was very inspiring to me and I'm sure other little boys will feel the same. Living as a genius would be absolutely amazing. People would expect you to do and know things that regular kids wouldn't otherwise do or know. Jimmy Neutron is a boy genius and way ahead of his friends, but when it comes to being cool, he's a little behind. All until one day when his parents, and parents all over Earth are kidnapped by aliens, it's up to him to lead all the children of the world to rescue their parents. If your family loves a great family movie, this movie is one should watch. This movie is very funny and will keep you laughing. The message of this movie is determination and teamwork. The kids displayed determination and teamwork throughout the movie. It inspires me to view a situation with a determined mindset and become a part of a team in order to get things done. With determination and teamwork many things are possible. My favorite part is when Jimmy blows a bubble and it turns into a bouncing bubble car. When it turns into the bubble car all the kids on the bus are amazed. There are so many expressions on the kids' faces. Those expressions make the audience feel as if they are really a part of what is happening. But then the bubble pops on a branch and he has gum all over him. That part is very funny and it made me think to myself, "what if that could really happen?" Debi Derryberry who plays the voice of Jimmy Neutron does an amazing job. While watching the movie her voice keeps you very engaged and on the edge of your seat. You can also hear her in other movies such as "Toy Story", "The Lorax" and "Wreck-It Ralph." She has a very seasoned voice for animated films and has being doing voice-overs for quite some time now. I recommend this movie for boys and girls ages 2 through 18 because, its overall content makes you laugh and laughter is great for everyone. I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. Johntae Lipscomb, age 12, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. If you enjoy adventure and action movies than you will love "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius." Jimmy is a very intelligent boy who creates all kinds of inventions including a rocket plane, robot dog and burp soda to name a few. Jimmy manages to get all of the parents of his town abducted by space aliens. Will Jimmy and his friends be able to rescue their parents before the space aliens eat them? Jimmy and his robot dog are my favorite characters. Jimmy (Debi Derryberry) is a genius but also mischievous as he sneaks out of his house to go to Rocketland with his friends. His parents tell him rockets are dangerous but Jimmy insists on playing with them anyway. The robot dog is funny especially when he pretends to be Jimmy so his parents do not know Jimmy is gone. My favorite part is when all the children use different amusement park rides as rockets to go into space and battle the space aliens. It is exciting to see how Jimmy and his robot dog figure out a way to escape and leave space safely. The music is fun especially Kids In America and how so many scenes are set to music. The film teaches us be careful what you wish for as Jimmy and his friends think a world without their parents is what they desire only to find out that they are sad and missing their parents without them. The main message the film is that size is not as important as intelligence and courage. Jimmy learns this lesson on his space journey as he sees how with his intelligence and courage he is able to save the day. I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. Younger audiences up to age twelve will want to see this funny and action-packed movie. Adam Chernick,7, reporting for KIDS FIRST! KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-11 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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FOCUS COMMUNICATIONS Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 12-18 Topic - Family Description - A Princeton admissions officer who is up for a major promotion takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who just might be the son she gave up years ago in a secret adoption. Starring Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff. Directed by Paul Weitz. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "Admission", starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, is about a middle aged woman named Portia who works as an Admissions Officer at Princeton. When her longtime boyfriend leaves her and she finds her secret past resurfacing, she turns to her new friend, John Pressman, the principal of an alternative school. John introduces her to a senior, Jeremiah, who desperately wants to get into Princeton and seeks advice from Portia. But when Portia is led to believe that Jeremiah is her son that she gave up for adoption, she will do anything to secure him a place at Princeton. Portia risks everything for this young man, but will it pay off? I find this movie entertaining, but is quite different than what I expected it to be. In all honesty it's more of a witty chick-flick than a comedy. I think the storyline was pretty funny and touching which works for this movie. It really shows off how clever of an actress Tina Fey is, which is why she is my favorite in this film. I like Portia (Tina Fey) because she has so many ups and downs with her emotions and it's hilarious to watch her go from crying to being hilarious all in a scene. She deals with situations very calmly, but you can tell that behind her deserved mask, she is freaking out. Portia has some tension with her co-worker Corrine who is running for the same promotion as her. I love the way Portia shows her disdain for Corrine, and how she tries to cover up her dislike for her around the boss. She is definitely the highlight of comedy in this film. My favorite scene is when Portia checks in on Jeremiah when he stays the night on campus. She tries to sneak into a party he is at and awkwardly asks him if he needs anything, like a toothbrush! You can tell he is really weirded out by her questions, but he goes with her anyway to get a toothbrush. Their interaction at the store was so hilarious because Portia is trying to act motherly and Jeremiah has no clue what's going on. It's a very awkward, yet funny scene. I really enjoy this whole movie and each scene is very well composed and I don't feel like a single scene was out of place or necessary for the plot. Overall I recommend this film for ages 12 and up because there isn't any violence or excess cursing, but there are a few mild sexual situations. I give "Admission" 4 out of 5 stars, so go enroll at a theater near you! Raven Devanney, age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm |
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LOLADE LEIGH-THOMPSON Series: FOREIGN INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - Often misjudged as disorganized and uninterested in life, only 11-year-old Shola truly knows the internal conflict she faces and the pressures of dealing with the school bully until she meets the new girl Karena and they share a common bond. So why is her best friend Annabelle upset and her life more complicated? You're Beautiful, a story about self acceptance, reaching out and friendship. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very lovely short film that addresses a few things that school age kids deal with from bullying to friendship to keeping it all together. We see young Shoala struggling with all these things - making friends with the new girl at school, dealing with her best friend's jealousy and dealing with the obnoxious boy bullies. We see her hide her feelings from her mom, acting sully and withdrawn until everything falls apart and she finally confides in Mom and deals with her issues as a result. The ending song with all the girls in the studio together with the Mom is the icing on the cake. Nicely done. Great film for later elementary and middle school kids. Runtime: 28 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 9-13 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: DVD |
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WALMART Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 12-18 Topic - Family Description - The writer and producer of the smash hit NIM'S ISLAND brings you the much anticipated sequel, RETURN TO NIM'S ISLAND! Featuring Bindi Irwin in a wild ride filled with pristine beaches, exotic animals, dastardly pirates, and all your favorite characters from the original. After his cruise ship discovery of Nim and her beautiful island, Edmund tries to explain the wonder of his find to his classmates only to find that nobody will believe him. Frustrated, Edmund runs away and sneaks aboard the same fateful cruise ship as his last adventure and steals a row boat to make his way to Nim s Island. At the same time, Nim s world is turning upside down, as she s faced with the possibility of having to move to the mainland for her father to pursue his scientific research. Left alone for her last weekend on the island, Nim finds Edmund, as well as the pirate animal poachers that followed him! Soon, Nim and Edmund are in a stealth battle of cunning and wits to rescue her beloved sea lion Selkie. With Nim s know-how and Edmund s bravery, they are able to defeat the pirates and maybe even solve the scientific mystery that would allow Nim to stay on her beloved Island. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Return To Nim's Island, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, March 15, 2013. Following up on the success of Nim's Island, this sequel is a great platform for Bindi Irwin, through her portrayal of Nim, to introduce young people to the importance of protecting our earth and its fragile species. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This film has lots of action, very funny and is definitely great for the whole family to see. Let's return to Nim's Island to see how things are going with Nim (Bindi Irwin) and her Father (Matthew Lillard). One day they get a message that some people will be buying the island to build an attraction there, but Nim will not stand for it and comes up with some things to do to save what she calls home. She will do almost anything to protect the island and the animals that she loves so well. Everything is going fine until Edmund, (Toby Wallace), comes along to help but brings trouble. Will Nim get to keep and stay living at her personal resort or will she have to pack up and leave? I really love this film. It's the sequel to Nim's Island. I love the underwater shoots and the humor. The cast is doing an incredible job in interacting with the animals and making it all believable. My favorite character is Nim because she is not afraid to speak her mind, and will not let anyone push her around. My favorite scene is when Nim is going on the zip line. It looks really cool to ride and I would love to do it. I love the music as it fits in perfectly with the scenes. Brendan Maher directs "Nim's Island." Author of the "Nim's Island" series, Wendy Orr, is the inspiration behind this film. Everyone does an amazing job - from the animals to all the cast - it makes an impact with an environmental message. The big message is that you should do everything you can to help the marine and wildlife, if you cannot, please do not harm it. Additionally, it emphasizes the idea to "never give up on what you want to do." I recommend, "Return to Nim's Island" for ages 7 to 14. Parents will enjoy it as much as their kids. If you love the wild you will love this film. I give this film an overwhelming 5 out of 5 stars. I love the adventure, cinematography, action and, of course, the humor. Reviewed by Brianna Hope Beaton, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. The magic of the 2008 blockbuster hit "Nim's Island" is back in its sequel, aptly named, "Return to Nim's Island." The film is made up of a completely different cast, but the charm, quirkiness and the aura of excitement makes the island an endearing getaway for the adventurous child that lives in all of our hearts. Nim (Bindi Irwin), a precocious 14-year-old, still has a gift of immersing herself in nature. She lives on a tropical island with her scientist father Jack (Matthew Lillard) and her animal friends. When a boy named Edmund (Toby Wallace) shows up to explore the island, a wild series of events unravel. Nim, Edmund, and Jack must fight to defend their island and its abundant animal ecosystems from developers and poachers. Directed by Brendan Maher, the film opens up with amazing underwater cinematography, capturing my attention from the start. The shots of exotic creatures of all shapes and sizes are simply breathtaking. There is, of course, the environmental message behind the storyline. Not only will kids love the fun antics of Selkie the sea lion, but families will also be inspired to learn more about endangered animals and their habitats. I love the film's new cast. Bindi Irwin, daughter of the Crocodile Hunter star Steven Irwin, is perfectly cast as Nim because of her experience with nature and animals. Her portrayal of Nim takes the character to a whole new level. Nim has transformed into a tough, determined, feisty young lady who will do anything it takes to protect her human and animal friends. Toby Wallace's performance as Edmund is flawless - he has the good looks, the comic charisma, and the right amount of shyness around Nim. I love seeing Nim and Edmund bonding as friends. Their chemistry on screen is completely believable. Also, John Waters is certainly menacing as the antagonistic poacher. "Return to Nim's Island" will take families on a spectacular expedition underwater, into dark mysterious caves, and up awfully steep cliffs. The dialogue is hilarious and will make viewers laugh out loud throughout the movie. The music score truly captures the spirit of adventure. The wind instruments give the film a wild, natural down-to-earth feel. The movie has no profanity or slapstick humor - the lighthearted, clean quality carries the film on its own. I wish I could live on Nim's island and embrace the nature. It's a relief to see a movie with teenagers exploring the wild instead of being glued to their electronics. I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for all ages! Sail away with Nim and catch "Return to Nim's Island" on DVD available at Wal-mart. Cassandra Hsiao, age 13, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. "Return to Nim's Island" is an adventurous movie that will sail audience members to a far island where nature and people live happily together. Nim, now portrayed by Bindi Irwin, is a playful and smart girl that wants to save her island from a group of men who want to capture the exotic animals and birds. Once her father (Matthew Lillard) travels back to the mainland, a young boy named Edmund (Toby Wallace) lands on the island and meets Nim. They quickly become friends and both save the island from the invaders. "Return to Nim's Island" is a refreshing movie with tropical scenery, brave characters and a touching theme. The scenery in the movie, designed by Scott Bird, is so believable that I felt I was on the salty island. Furthermore, the art director makes Nim's tree house creative by adding the daring zip line. Judd Overton, the cinematographer, portrays the movie setting very well in the movie poster. Bindi and Toby play the role of Nim and Edmund perfectly. They build such a strong bond together, thus when Edmund leaves the island I felt sad for their broken friendships. The movie's theme: young people can be triumphant in anything they believe in, is a great incorporation by the writers Ray Boseley and Cathy Randall. The scene where Nim sneaks in the invaders' camp is so intense. The invaders could have come back any moment but Nim's plan is smart enough to lure the invaders long enough to rescue the birds. The first time she forgets to bring a pocket knife which is a bit funny because if someone is going to rescue they should be prepared. The scene I don't like is when Nim and Edmund are in the burning cave because it a bit dramatic and gave a scary image to young audiences. Yet, the director (Brendan Maher) films the scene to be so realistic, that I felt the heat of flames! Putting all the scenes together must be hard work, but Geoffrey Lamb successfully edits the film well. All the right angles and shots are placed in the right time sequence. The scenes from the city then to the island are all flawlessly edited. Along with film editing is the element of sound. Ocean waves, tropical winds, and music are beautifully harmonized in the movie. Nerida Tyson-Chew, the music director, perfectly unites the music along with the movie scenes. My favorite scene is at the end of the movie when Nim and her dad are finally together. It is a bit sad to see Edmund leave but now she has her father to help and guide her. I am so surprised with the animals used in the film. The sea lion was so smart and treated Nim like a sister. The movements of the sea lion are amazing and will leave the audience in awe. The white python snake is also intriguing because I have never seen a white snake before. Overall all the animals are unique to movie. I recommend "Return to Nim's Island" for 7 years old and up. This movie is great for the nature lovers and eco-friendly enthusiasts. I give This movie 5 out of 5 stars. This movie set sails into theaters April 4, 2013. But, you can purchase it sooner on DVD at your local Walmart. Patrick Nguyen, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-14 Suggested Retail Price: $ 12.96 Media: TV Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 12-18 Topic - Family Description - Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Oz The Great and Powerful tells the story of circus magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco), who dreams of becoming a great wizard. When he sets off in a hot air balloon, he encounters a tornado that sweeps him away to the brilliantly enchanting 3D world of Oz. Seeing this as an opportunity to make something of himself, Oscar aka Oz convinces the good people that he is the great wizard they have been waiting for. But, once he realizes that being the king of this great land is more work and less play, he has to decide whether or not to stay and protect the people that look up to him most, or continue in his ways of being a scammer. This movie is beautiful! The CGI is breathtakingly clear and crisp and the 3D pops. I especially love the opening credits because they are done in black and white and look like vintage pop-up books. I also love that when it shows dusty Kansas it is in black and white and the screen is small, but as soon as you reach Oz, the images morphs into vivid colors and the screen widens to reveal Oz in all its splendor. The musical score in this film is wonderful. The composer, Danny Elfman, keeps it lively and whimsical, while diming the mood of the music when the moment is right. My favorite characters are Oz, played by James Franco and Finley, voiced by Zach Braff. I like Oz because he is so cheesy and such a con man. He always plays girls and lies his way through every possible opportunity. But, Franco does it in a tasteful way that brings cleverness and humor to the film. I also like Finley who is Oz's assistant, an adorable little flying monkey. He is always making the funniest comments and is so honest. There is one scene when he is trying to distract someone, and he does the funniest things. I like how original this plot is because there have been countless numbers of films, plays and stories based on the Wizard of Oz, but I haven't seen one like this. It is a predictable story line which is usually a thumbs down for me, but this film is so good that it works. The land of Oz is so beautiful and uniquely designed, it is very visually pleasing. There are definitely some jump scares in this film because of the wicked , witches baboons and the evil forest. So, parents taking children, be advised that they may get frightened. I give Oz: The Great and Powerful 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 and up. Reviewed by Raven Devanney, age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. I have to say I loved this movie with a capital "L." "Oz the Great and Powerful" is 3-delicious and it's sure to be a huge hit. Disney did an awesome job of telling the story of how Oz came to the Land of Oz. Did I say I loved it? Just checking. The story starts as the classic Oz did in black and white. You meet Oswald who goes by Oz for short. He's a conman and two-bit magician in a traveling circus. He's not that great or powerful but he is smooth and knows how to be charming. He has a great story about a music box that he seems to use on every girl he meets and surprisingly it works, probably too well. Watch the movie to see how much trouble his sweet-talking can get him into. Oz is played by James Franco and he did an amazing job. In the land of Oz you meet three witches. Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams.) One is a wicked witch, one is a good witch and one is most likely a neutral witch as she states she only wants peace in the land. Then drops the Great Wizard from the sky that has been prophesized of and that they have been waiting on for a very long time. The wizard will bring peace to the land and be King. Oz however isn't interested until he see's the treasure of Oz. Well then of course he's all in. All of the witches did a great job, but kudos to Mila as she really got a good acting muscle workout. She was fabulous. My favorite character was the China Girl (Joey King.) She was beautiful, tender and brave. Her town was destroyed by the wicked witch's flying baboons. Yes, I said baboons and let me tell you they were frightening. I jumped more then once when they came into the story. But then again it wouldn't be a complete Oz adventure if there weren't frightening flying baboons or monkeys. It's an absolute must in any and all adventures based in Oz. The story is intertwined really well and when you think you know what's going on there comes a twist to make it even clearer. That is funny but the twists are what make this movie so great. That and the wonderful scenery, colors, costumes, characters and awesome 3D. My favorite scene was when Oz fixes the broken China Girl's legs. After all she was my favorite character. But a really close second was when Oz met Glinda in the graveyard at night in the middle of the enchanted forest. I would have liked to see more of the enchanted forest but there was a story that needed to be told. The age range is 8 and up because, monkey or baboon, those flying creatures are scary. I give this movie 5 out of 5 twinkling stars and it's a must see for all those that were ever enchanted by the Land of Oz. Morgan Bertsch, age 8, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. This movie is an incredible spin on an American movie classic. I think that the CG and the other effects in the movie do a really good job at telling the story better. Another thing that I like is that the movie can be seen in 3D which made it look really cool. This movie is awesome and if you see it I hope you like it too. This movie is all about a guy named Oz who is kind of a selfish man at first, but then he goes through this big journey through a land called Oz. When he gets to Oz everyone thinks he is the wizard. He is not but he still helps the land of Oz. He learns to treat people nice and with respect. The main characters in this movie are Oz, Theodora, Evanora, Glinda, Finley, Master Tinker, China Girl and Knuck. My favorite character in the movie is Oz because he is not very nice at first but does become nice on his journey. He is risking his life to save the world of Oz from the wicked witch of the west. That is why he is my favorite. My favorite part is at the beginning of the movie when he is doing a magic trick and he starts to make a girl float but someone watching sees a wire. He says, "Why am I in the need of wires?" and with that he got a sword and cut the wire and the girl was still floating. It was so cool! I bet you are going to love this part just as much as I do. I would recommend this movie for ages 7 and up. The movie is rated PG and there are some of things that could scare a younger audience. I think that kids should see this with their parents because it's a movie most parents watched when they were kids but a different take on it. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 10-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 5-12, ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - The world's very first prehistoric family goes on a road trip to an uncharted and fantastical world. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - coming soon KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This movie is about a family adventure that gave me tears and joy. A caveman and his family are forced to change because the earth is changing. They Croods are the last prehistoric family left to fend for themselves against the animals and elements. Everyone in the family goes by the simple rule "Fear keeps us Alive." The family hunts for food, including the super hyper 4-year-old Sandy. Grug (Nicolas Cage) is the father and his job is to take care and protect his family. Eep (Emma Stone) is the teenage daughter who always wants to be free to roam around. One day she sneaks out at night to follow the light and meets Guy (Ryan Reynolds) who is really skinny and super smart. Guy will forever change the Croods' lives. The plot in this movie made me laugh, think, cry and laugh again. I like the way they make Eep look like a normal healthy girl instead of a skinny "princess" like girly look. They make Guy a super skinny dude who needs belt to hold up his pants. My favorite part of the movie is when the family escape from danger - Grug always counts and makes sure everybody is safe. He likes to stop at 4 but Gran always come out alive as number 5. The special effects in this movie are so great. You can see the landscape, rocks and larva as if they are real. The 3-D effects makes everything so close that you want to reach out your hands to touch it. The cinematography shows how beautiful the earth is. It is filled with rocks, beautiful bright flowers, lush jungle, bright stars and the sun. There are so many different animals in this movie. All the animals are so detailed with colors, feathers, stripes and they are all so cute, even the dangerous ones. The only part I did not like is when the creatures are trying to catch the family for food. This part with 3-D effects seems too real with all the sharp teeth and claws. I was so scared when the claws come out so sharp and so close to you. The message in this movie is to face fear and accept changes. My favorite character is Sandy. She is a hyper creature in this very cute baby body. She's a great hunter and so cute. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 18. Reviewed by Cheyenne Nguyen, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Want to do something new that won't get you killed? Well then, this hilarious movie is for you! Written and directed by Chris Sanders and Kirk De Micco, this film has been five years in the making. This animated movie is the first animated movie about a family from Dreamworks, and they hit a home run with it. This film captures the voice over work of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. With Nicholas Cage as Grug, the father of the Crood clan; Catherine Keener as Ugga, the mother; Emma Stone as their daughter Eep; Clark Duke as their son Thunk; Sandy Thorn as the adorable yet terrifying baby Sandy; and Cloris Leachman as Gran. This film is about a pre-historic family that may have their differences but in the end, family comes first and they work through any problems. Follow them on a comedic adventure as they venture through a world entirely new to them and see how the adventure kicks in when they meet Guy, a pre-historic genius caveboy (Ryan Reynalds.) My favorite character is hard to choose because this is an amazing film and I love the entire Crood family because they are so relatable. They fight and make fun of each other and have fun together, but you can still see that they love each other and that reminds me of my family. No one scene stands out as my favorite, because this film is so entertaining from beginning to end. There is also a great message that this film delivers in telling you to not be afraid of change. Be fearless and go out and live life to its fullest. The animation in this film is extremely well done, from the detail in the animals fur, to the how realistic the water looks. Dreamworks Animation does a phenomenal job with this film and the 3D was outstanding. Alan Silvestri composed the original music for this film and does a great job in capturing the tone of every scene. This film is great for the entire family, it's a family film about a family! I rate this film a 5 out of 5 stars because it was just one of the best animated movies I have ever seen. I can't wait for this film to come out on Blu-ray so I can buy it and watch it again! Remember, "ride the sun into tomorrow." Julianna Noone, age 12, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. This animated film is incredibly funny and is a joy to watch. Eep (Emma Stone) and her family are the classic cave people. They grunt when they get mad, they have never seen fire and they hunt with their bare hands. They are stuck in a cave by their family leader, husband and father, Grug (Nicolas Cage.) The reason Grug is having his family stay in the cave is to keep them safe and away from harm. One night Eep, the oldest daughter, lets curiosity get the best of her and finds out that the earth is starting to end and they have to find higher ground to survive. Will they accept the challenge or will they keep hiding in their cave? I really like this film. It's very funny and keeps me laughing at the different situations and scenes. I feel a wide range of emotions as I go from hysterically laughing to a little crying. I absolutely love the 3D animation. It's vivid in colors with the scenes of the landscape, nature and animals in great depth. This is such a fantastic plot and I really like the characters. My favorite character is Eep because she is very brave, curious and just wants a real life. My favorite scene is when Eep is introducing herself and her family from her point of view. I like how she is telling the viewers how life is like for them. "The Croods" is rated PG with Kirk De Micco (Space Chimps) and Chris Sanders (How to Train your Dragon) directing it. It also stars the voice talents of Ryan Reynolds (Guy), Catherine Keener (Ugga), Cloris Leachman (Gran) and Clark Duke (Thunk). This is DreamWorks first animated film about a family going trough and dealing with changes. A big message in this film is that change is not always a bad thing. In addition, it's always good to listen to your parents because they know what's best for you. I recommend "The Croods" for ages 6 to 15 but adults will also enjoy it too. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars. It has great detail in the animation and makes me laugh a lot. Join the adventure and explore the outside world with "The Croods". Brianna Hope Beaton, Age 13, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. "The Croods" tells the story of a caveman family who has survived longer than any of their neighbors because they follow the simple rules of survival. One: stay in the cave; two: stay together; and three: never not be afraid. But when the world starts to change, so does their life. The Croods now have to travel to a new land and break all the rules they once lived by with the help of a new companion, Guy (Ryan Renolds.) Will the Croods make it on their journey of a lifetime, or will their old ways hold them back? I love this movie! It's actually a lot better than I thought it would be. I especially love the animation and 3D because there is so much attention to detail. The 3D is wonderful because it takes scenes that would otherwise be dull and adds really interesting visuals that pop. For example, there is a scene when the earth is shifting and there is quite a bit of dust, instead of it being a non-memorable shot, they add 3D dust particles everywhere that really make the imagery come to life. I also enjoyed the creativity of the animation. I was expecting the animals to be the typical prehistoric creatures you might see in a caveman film, but they are actually so cute and creative. They seemed to mix two separate species into one, like flying turtles, piranha birds, walking whales and rainbow tigers. The film is very visually entertaining. I love all the characters in this film because they all play such an important role and they all have such unique and interesting interactions with each other. Eep (Emma Stone), is the rebellious teenager who doesn't want to listen to her father. She falls for Guy and I like her because I can completely relate to her and her relationship with her dad. Then there is Grug (Nicholas Cage) who is the protective father. He wants to follow the ways that he has always known, but gets envious that his family is following the strange instructions of Guy instead of the leader of the family. Thunk (Clark Duke) is Eep's younger brother. He always listens to his fathers rules and is very cautious and hilarious. Sandy (Randy Thom), is the crazy baby sister who is always attacking the rest of the family. She acts more like a dog then a toddler. Gran (Cloris Leachman) is the grandma of the family. She is so rambunctious and lively and Grug is always trying to find ways to finally make her die so he doesn't have to deal with his wife's mother, but Gran never passes away. Ugga is the protective yet understanding mother voiced by Catherine Keener. And last but not least is Guy (Ryan Reynolds) as the new age caveman who helps the Croods on their journey and has to put up with their strange methods of survival. My favorite scene is when the Croods come into jungle for the first time because you get a look at all the creatively designed creatures and environment. Overall I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars because it is funny, touching and a perfect family film. It shows a wonderful and surprisingly realistic family dynamic and it made me burst out laughing, as well as bringing me to tears. I recommend this movie for ages 6 and up, so be sure to head to your nearest theater to embark on a journey with "The Croods!" Raven Devanney, age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: FeatureFilm Buy Here (Amazon.com) |
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WARNER HOME ENTERTAINMENT Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 5-12, ANIMATION Topic - Family Description - The Mega Mondo Pop Cartoon-a-Con in sunny California marks the spot for mystery in this all-new original Scooby-Doo adventure! Herculoids Frankenstein Jr. and Space Ghost are just a few of the celebrated comic book characters headlining at the unconventional convention plus there's a megabucks movie premiere starring Scooby-Doo and Shaggy's all-time favorite super heroes Blue Falcon and Dynomutt! So when the gruesome villain Mr. Hyde unleashes monster bats howling hounds and sinister slime upon the festivities it's time for Mystery Incorporated to follow the clues and set their monster traps. But it's the pizza-snacking super-powered tag team of Shaggy and Scooby-Doo who tap into their inner super hero to prevent the entire event from being smothered in ghoulish green goo! Like right on Dog Wonder! Available now on DVD and Blu-ray. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang return to solve another mystery! In this feature length release, Scooby-Doo! Mask Of The Blue Falcon. Very entertaining for children and parents. I like that it has the style of old-school classic Scooby-Doo cartoons of the past, but with a more modern theme that kids today will relate to. It's a great mystery with a twist at the end that proves that not everything is as it seems - an important message in life. The DVD has easy menu access and fun bonus vintage cartoons. A great theme of friendship, respect and fun. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This animated film is very comical; action packed and is good to watch with the whole family. Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker) and the gang are out on another adventure. They all go to a comic convention in California to see the Blue Falcon and the Dog Wonder. While there, they come under attack by Mr. Hyde, who is Blue Falcon's arch enemy. He keeps appearing, disappearing, reappearing and creating destruction all over town. The gang has to solve another mystery. Will they discover who the crook really is or will they come up empty handed? I absolutely love this film because I love Scooby-Doo. The animation and the cinematography are very lively and colorful with great detail. I like how the previous voices of the past Scooby-Doo films are included in this production. My favorite character in this film, and all the other Scooby-Doo films, is Scooby-Doo. I like him because he is funny, he speaks his mind and he is the one that usually finds the hardest clues. Michael Ryan, wrote an amazing script with great humor and mystery. Characters Velma (Mindy Cohn), Shaggy and Scooby are right on with the classic Scooby-Doo films but more up-to-date. Director, Michael Goguen has made this film very up-to-date. A message found is that the person inside of you is what really matters not what you wear, who you are around or what you have. Also, you can be anything you want to be no matter what people say or do. Just work hard and put your mind to it. I recommend this film for ages 7 to 15 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. People who love Scooby-Doo mysteries, will definitely love and adore this film. It really has a great story line that flows smoothly and had me smiling and laughing a lot. I truly loved watching this great mystery film. See another Scooby-Doo and the gangs' adventure in Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon. It is available on a Combo Pack of Blu-Ray, DVD and Ultraviolet, with special features of Bonus Vintage Cartoons: Comic Book Caper, Reflections in a Ghoulish Eye and The Scooby Coupe. Brianna Hope Beaton, age 13, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. I've been a fan of Hanna-Barbera cartoons my whole life. It started with The Flintstones, Jetsons and Tom and Jerry, but I've also enjoyed less known favorites like Spaceghost, Captain Caveman, Josie and the Pussycats, Jabberjaw, Hong Kong Phooey and of course The Blue Falcon and his sidekick Dynomutt. This new addition from Twentieth Century Fox was good; however, I was missing something for it to be fantastic. The movie is set at the Mega Mondo Pop Cartoon-a-Con and it's to feature an advanced showing of the full length animation feature of the all new Blue Falcon movie. The Blue Falcon has been retired for many years and has come to only making money peddling t-shirts and autographs at these conventions. Poor Blue Falcon he deserved much more then that. The new Blue Falcon is all about blowing things up with very little left to the imagination of solving crimes. It's a good thing the Mystery Incorporated kids show up when they do because there is a mystery to solve and Fred, Daphne, Velma, Scooby and Norville "Shaggy" (I bet you didn't know that) show up to foil the Blue Falcon villain Mr. Hyde. In Mystery Incorporated fashion Velma is the brains of the operation while Fred is the trap operator and Scooby and Shaggy are the bait. Daphne, well she's preoccupied with collecting soft cuddly stuffed animals. The aging Falcon is insanely jealous of the new Blue Falcon movie has sworn that the new Blue Falcon movie will never be shown, putting himself in the position of suspect number one. Have you watched Scooby-Doo? Does the number one culprit ever become the actual villain? I'm just asking. What did this story miss? It missed the original Blue Falcon and Dynomutt. Yes, Scooby is the most famous talking dog but Dynomutt should have been given his kudos too. The cartoon characters never aged and it was sad to see what they did with Blue Falcon. Blue Falcon is reduced to a sad old man who snaps in and out of reality while ranting about how great he once was and how he hates what's become of his career. Sorry Falcon I apologize for what became of your character and wished they would have scripted this differently. My favorite scenes are actually inside the convention. Pay special attention to the posters on the wall and see how many of your old favorites made the cut into the movie. Many of mine did not but that doesn't stop me from reminiscing to a simpler time of when I was 4 and 5. Also when the Mystery Inc kids dress up as The Hurculoids I laughed my butt off as Fred wanted to stay in character as Zandor. Sorry Fred you are no Zandor but you looked cute in your costume. Who is the culprit trying to ruin the convention? Why does he/she want it ruined? Can the Mystery Inc kids solve the crime before the convention gets canceled? Does the Blue Falcon and Dynomutt ever make it to the big screen? Watch the movie to see. The recommended age range is 5 and up. I give this movie 4 out of 5 twinkling stars because I would really have liked to see more of the original Hanna-Barbera characters make special guest star appearances like they once did with Bewitched, The Harlem Globetrotters and even when the Jetsons met the Flintstones, but I guess that will be their next offering. Morgan Bertsch, age 8, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. A great mystery movie with a surprise ending that you will never expect. A Cartoon-A-Con is where the mystery starts. Shaggy and Scooby-Doo are enjoying their day visiting their favorite hero "Blue Falcon" at the Cartoon-A-Con. Bad things started to happen. Mr. Hyde begins terrorizing the Cartoon-A-Con. The suspects are; Garrison, the producer of the Blue Falcon movie, who will do anything to promote the movie, Brad Adams, the actor playing Blue Falcon and has no interest in being in the movie, looking for a way out and Hank Prince, owner of a comic book shop that Shaggy always go to. The plot makes me laugh throughout the movie. There are a lot of funny parts with Shaggy and Scooby trying to find the bad guys. The animation stays the same as the classic cartoon on TV, but this DTV movie has clear and crisp colors. The plot is just perfect, not too goofy or scary. The voice overs fit the characters and bring out the chemistry between Shaggy and Scooby-Doo. I love the relationship that Shaggy and Scooby-Doo have through out the movie. The part that I did not like is Velma seems to be very mean and hard on Shaggy and Scooby in this movie. My favorite parts of this movie are they are making fun of the comic convention attendees, the impression of Adam West by Brad Adams and the nerdy geeks dress up as superheroes. Also, it's making fun of the studio for pitching their latest movie. The message in this movie is things are not always what they seem. My favorite character is Scooby-Doo. He makes me laugh and he's a life saver. I rank this movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 and up. This combo pack has Blu-ray, DVD and Ultraviolet. Cheyenne Nguyen, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. I love Scooby-Doo because I love mystery movies and I also love the silly characters! This film is about The Mystery Incorporated Gang: Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred (Frank Welker, Mindy Cohn, Grey DeLisle and Matthew Lillard.) Frank Welker voices Scooby and Fred. The five friends go to the annual Pop-Comacon-Palooza, a comic book convention in California. While they are there visiting the original Blue Falcon lead actor, Owen Garrison (Jeff Bennett), there's a new Blue Falcon movie being screened. While Shaggy and Scooby are upset about the studios forgetting about Owen Garrison and the old Blue Falcon and Daphne is collecting 'Littlest Fuzzies," Velma and Fred are looking for a mystery. As soon as the premier to the new Blue Falcon starts, The Blue Falcon's arch nemesis appears at the scene, threatening all the people at the convention. You'll have to watch to find out if the whole town will be destroyed. My favorite scene in this film is at the end when they solve the mystery. I can't give the ending away, but it's very exciting! My favorite character in this film is Brad Adams (Diedrich Bader), the star of the new Blue Falcon movie. I like Brad because he is the stereotypical, full of himself movie actor. I find him quite amusing! "Scooby-Doo and the Mask of the Blue Falcon" is written by Michael Ryan, directed by Michael Goguen, and produced by Ben Maloney at Hanna-Barbara studios. It is the nineteenth installment in the direct-to-video Scooby-Doo film series released by Warner Home Video. As a bonus there are three old Scooby-Doo episodes to watch: "Comic Book Caper," "Reflections in a Ghoulish Eye" and "The Scooby Coupe." I recommend this film to kids between the ages of six through ten. I give "Scooby-Doo and the Mask of the Blue Falcon" 4 out of 5 stars because it is a bit slow at times and there is some crude humor. Camille Bajema, age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.98 Media: DVD |
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HDNET MOVIES LLC Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 8-12 Topic - Family Description - Jack London's classic adventure story about the friendship developed between a Yukon Gold Hunter and the mixed dog-wolf he rescues from the hands of a man who mistreats him. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Originally released in 1991, screening throughout March 2013 on HDNet Movies - kidScene. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - This 1991 Walt Disney film is very interesting, entertaining, and has a great message. Jack Conroy (Ethan Hawke) is trying to get some gold and get rich. He wants to hitch-hike along with Alex Larson (Klaus Maria Brandauer) because they are both traveling in the same direction. Alex is not too happy about his company but reluctantly lets him come along. On the way the two come into contact with some wolves and out of self defense they kill the mother of a cub, but they have no idea, so they keep going on with their journey. White Fang is now a lonesome cub without a mother and thinks that the world is full of hate, but Jack proves him wrong as he earns his trust and together they start a great adventure. I like films that have animals in them, especially dogs or anything similar, so of course I like this one. I think the cinematography and the acting is very well done. I also like the soundtrack because it really fits in good and none of it is out of place. My favorite scene is in the very beginning when you see White Fang as a little cub. He is so cute and fluffy. My favorite character is Jack because he is very persistent in everything he is doing. Director, Randal Kleiser does an amazing job with this film. Alongside him are writers Jeanne Rosenberg, David Fallon and Nick Thiel who do a great job in converting this story from Jack London's Novel into an amazing script. Other actors and actresses in this film are Susan Hogan (Belinda Casey), James Remar (Beauty Smith), and Billy Moseley (Luke). A big message in this film is that you should never give up no matter where you are, who is around you, what the situation is or when it's happening. In this film Jack is battling the ice cold water, the wolves, and even though he thinks about giving up, he does not. I recommend "White Fang" for ages 8 to 15. Some of the scenes are a little too aggressive for younger ages and they might want to turn away. It is still a good film for the family to see. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars. This is a good film but some of the plot does not make sense and I do not understand why it is part of the film. I like everything else about it. Check out Jack Conroy's big adventure in the film White Fang. Brianna Hope Beaton, age 13, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: TV |
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HDNET MOVIES LLC Series: FEATURE FILM, AGES 5-12 Topic - Family Description - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen star as a pair of long lost twins, raised separately, who hatch a plan to bring their single parents together. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Originally released in 1995. Screening throughout March 2013 on HDNet Movies - kidScene. Positive story in which the girls resolve problems such as anger and conflict between themselves and the adults. Set in a real world with valid social pressures. Acting is believable and endearing. Stimulates kids and parents to communicate better. "It Takes Two" is about two girls who look identical. One is an orphan, Amanda Lemmon (Mary Kate Olsen.) Ashley Olsen plays Alyssa Callaway, whose incredibly rich father, Roger, is played by Steve Gutenberg. When Amanda and Alyssa meet at summer camp, they decide to switch places. Amanda tries to sabotage Alyssa's father's marriage with her evil stepmother, while Alyssa attends Camp Callaway, a camp for orphans created by Alyssa's mother who is no longer living. The girls try to get Amanda's case worker, Diane Barrows, played by Kirstie Alley, to fall in love with her dad and marry him before evil Clarise Kensington (Jane Sibbet) beats Diane to the alter! My favorite character in this film is Diane Barrows. I love Diane because when the horrid Butkis family tries to adopt Amanda, she steps in and saves the day. I also like Diane because she's a kid at heart and loves to have a good time! My favorite scene in this film is when Mr. Callaway comes to his deceased wife's camp. He and Diane have dinner together and end up having a food fight and then jump into a lake! I love this part because it's hilarious! "It Takes Two" is written by Deborah Dean Davis and directed by Andy Tennant. I recommend this film to girls ages six to ten because although some parts are for a more mature audience, this movie appeals to a younger audience as well. I give this film three out of five stars because it is pretty much the same as the movie "The Parent Trap" and I don't like that. I like movies that are more original. Camille Bajema, age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 6-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ Media: TV |