Jury Coordination and Notes

Tomorrow’s Hope * Fills You With Positivity And Gratitude And Inspires You To Tackle All Your Challenges With Tenacity

March 25th, 2023

Set on the South Side of Chicago; against a layered backdrop of systemic inequality, the documentary explores a community’s unique embrace of the possibilities of early education through the eyes of its first graduates who are now approaching young adulthood. The film reunites three present-day high school seniors who started out in Educare Preschool’s first  class, exploring the effects of early childhood education as they navigate their way through difficult circumstances. While today the Educare Early Education Center is going strong, the documentary shows its utterly harrowing, yet remarkable early stages as “The Beethoven Project” located within “Forgotonia” – a name the film’s Portia Kennel uses to describe what was at the time the largest housing project in the world.​ Exploring the contrast of promises kept against a pervasive backdrop of promises broken, Tomorrow’s Hope celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. Produced by The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, Tomorrow’s Hope is “genuinely uplifting and inspiring in ways that even ‘feel-good’ fictional stories can’t often achieve” (Film Threat).

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “A film that will fill you with positivity and gratitude and inspire you to tackle all your challenges with tenacity, Tomorrow’s Hope is a wonderful experience for viewers of all ages.” See his full review and interview with director Thomas A. Morgan, below.  

Tomorrow’s Hope
By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

A film that will fill you with positivity and gratitude and inspire you to tackle all your challenges with tenacity, Tomorrow’s Hope is a wonderful experience for viewers of all ages.

Tomorrow’s Hope tells the story of three high school seniors who all started their academic journeys as the first class of the Educare Early Education Center. Educare is one of the few early education centers in the violence-ridden South Side of Chicago. The organization’s journey from “The Beethoven Project,” located in the projects, to a pile of rubble, and now to one of the most successful early education programs, preparing kids for a future of success, is documented with a clear-cut narrative structure.

Every individual interviewed for this film speaks their heart and tells their story in the raw, real manner it was meant to be told. Their stories, the light and dark moments alike, carry great weight and truly make the film what it is. The interviews in the film do not just touch your heart but also educate you about a reality many might not know: the story of “Forgotonia,” the moniker given to the Chicago projects as they underwent gentrification, and the people of the South Side. The film represents black voices well, as most, if not all, of the characters, are African-American. The individual interviews are stitched together with ample historical and live b-roll to form a concise but detailed 45-minute story. I especially love how Jacqueline, who works at Educare, and the spotlighted seniors interact in the shots together; their attachment to and warmth toward one another is palpable.

Tomorrow’s Hope promotes keeping your hopes up and persevering even against broken promises and catastrophes. Each of the subjects of the film has seen gun violence or gang violence take away those closest to them—it’s clear that it would be easy to fall into these traps. But they kept at it; all three went to college and made their families proud. As far as parental advisories go, there are mentions of death and violence.

I give Tomorrow’s Hope 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Tomorrow’s Hope is available on VOD and digital beginning March 21, 2023.

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The Mandalorian: Season 3 * One Huge Plot-Twist To What The Mandalorian Fans Have Come To Expect From The Series

March 15th, 2023

The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue. Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin has reunited with Grogu. Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. The Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tiana S. comments, “The Mandalorian is back for Season 3 and coming in hot! Episode 3 just dropped and it’s one huge plot-twist to what The Mandalorian fans have come to expect from the series. The creative team behind the show, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, are known to deliver huge surprises in past seasons and fans can expect the same mind-blowing shockers with this new season.” See her full review below.

The Mandalorian: Season 3
By Tiana Sirmans, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

The Mandalorian is back for Season 3 and coming in hot! Episode 3 just dropped and it’s one huge plot-twist to what The Mandalorian fans have come to expect from the series. The creative team behind the show, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, are known to deliver huge surprises in past seasons and fans can expect the same mind-blowing shockers with this new season.

The Mandalorian: Season 3, Episode 3 (Chapter 19: The Convert) starts with Mando (Pedro Pascal), Grogu and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) at the end of their journey to locate water on Mandalor so Mando may be forgiven for his transgressions and become a Mandalorian again. Surprisingly, this episode takes a turn and focuses more on Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi) as he works in the New Republic trying to adapt to the new lifestyle while he is constantly asked questions about his life experiences. His plans of a new experiment were practically going to be destroyed, which impacts him a lot. At the same time, he is also joined by one of his coworkers, Elia Kane (Katy O’Brian), who also appears in “Episode 3.”

I enjoyed the break in the series to learn more about Dr. Pershing. I look forward to seeing how this episode connects to the others and all the storytelling possibilities and characters that come from it. The special effects, character designs and the CGI universe continue to wow viewers. This episode is a little slower and less action-packed than the others since it focuses more on Dr. Pershing, but it is still entertaining. It still has intense fight and chase scenes. Fun fact: This is actually the longest episode in the entire series. The storytelling, though not what fans are used to, still takes you on a seamless journey from the previous episode. 

This episode expands on the messages from the previous episodes and really touches on redemption and trust. Friendships are tested and true characters are revealed. Who people think are their friends may really not be in some cases and others are able to seek opportunities to redeem themselves and seek forgiveness.

The Mandalorian, Season 3: Episode 3 gets 4 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. May the force be with you as you check out this eight-episode season currently running on Disney+, with new episodes every Wednesday.

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Snow White And The Fairytale Fun Force * Unique Learning Fairytale With Adventure, Comedy, Friendship And Heroes

February 15th, 2023

Little Snow White is growing up fast! When her best friend, Dorothy, is in trouble, the sassy princess quickly calls on the bravest gang of fairytale characters ever assembled to come to her friend’s rescue! Together they are the Fairytale Fun Force and they are ready to spring into action!

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ethan P. comments, “I like Snow White and the Fairytale Fun Force because it is a unique kid’s fairytale cartoon where children are learning with humor. This show combines adventure and comedy with friendship and heroes.” Kendall B. adds, “My favorite thing about this movie is all the characters. They’re the normal fairytale characters that we all know and love, but each one has a little twist. Also, they’re all tiny and their animation is so adorable. I love the animation in this movie because the characters are so unique.” See their full reviews below.

Snow White and the Fairytale Fun Force
By Ethan P., KIDS FIRST!, Age 14

I like Snow White and the Fairytale Fun Force because it is a unique kid’s fairytale cartoon where children are learning with humor. This show combines adventure and comedy with friendship and heroes.

Snow White and the Fairytale Fun Force is about the first adventures of the Starship Fairy Dust. The Fairytale Fun Force is a group of fictional characters that includes Snow White, King Arthur, Robin Hood, Cupid, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood, Cheshire Cat, Hatter and more. These fictional characters work together to investigate strange situations such as the disappearance of Cupid’s magical bow, the Mad Hatter’s tea set and the Cheshire Cat’s body. The characters travel together in a spaceship named Starship Fairy Dust with Snow White as their captain.

The graphics are very vibrant, colorful and neat. Each scene has unique colorful backgrounds with floating objects that catch the audience’s attention. For example, Cupid’s scene has white and pink clouds with floating red hearts and confetti. Every scene has confetti and floating objects except the Starship scenes. The characters are illustrated as little children with heads bigger than their bodies. They are not typical fairytale characters like we are used to seeing in storybooks or movies. The voiceovers suit each character. Snow White looks and sounds tough; King Arthur looks smart and sounds slick; Pinocchio looks like a laid-back kid with a relaxed voice; Robin Hood sounds and acts like a smart teenager. My favorite scene is when Snow White visits Cupid to help him resolve the disappearance of his magic bow. She uses a little black humor by advising Cupid to make sure not to sit on a white couch.

This program teaches the audience fun facts about science, different languages, fruits or animals. For example, Easter Bunny explains to Pinocchio that rabbits’ ears are long to help rabbits control their body temperature.

I give Snow White and the Fairytale Fun Force 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It releases on DVD and Digital Media February 14, 2023. 

Snow White And The Fairy Tale Fun Force
By Kendall B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

If you’re looking for a movie to entertain your little kids then Snow White and The Fairy Tale Fun Force is a great film for just that! It has lots of adventures and fun animated characters.

Snow White and The Fairy Tale Fun Force follows Snow White, a sassy and adventurous princess. When her best friend, Dorothy (Dailyn Brunck), is in trouble she assembles The Fairy Tale Fun Force, a group of fairytale characters who are ready to do anything to save Dorothy. They go on many adventures and see many different characters on their mission.

My favorite thing about this movie is all the characters. They’re the normal fairytale characters that we all know and love, but each one has a little twist. Also, they’re all tiny and their animation is so adorable. I love the animation in this movie because the characters are so unique. They all have their own special features that make them different. Arthur (Simon Hill) is my favorite character because he’s so cute and sweet. His voice is really high and squeaky and he’s always trying to help out. Another thing I enjoy about this film is that all of the characters get their own part of the movie when they go to different lands to find out what happened; not only do we get to see every character together, but we get to see them by themselves as well. My favorite scene is when Arthur visits the Cheshire Cat, because he’s lost his body and to find it the cat starts chanting. Arthur is so confused that eventually he just starts chanting along with the cat.

The message of Snow White and The Fairy Tale Fun Force is that friendship is stronger than anything. Snow White will do anything to save her best friend and it’s because she really cares about her.

I give Snow White and The Fairy Tale Fun Force 3.5 stars out of 5 and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It releases on Digital and Blu-Ray February 14, 2023.

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Wildcat * Inspiring Documentary That Can Turn Your Heart From Empty To Full At The Drop Of A Dime

December 28th, 2022

Wildcat follows the emotional and inspiring story of a young veteran (Harry Turner) on his journey into the Amazon. Once there, he meets a young woman (Samantha Zwicker) running a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center, and his life finds new meaning as he is entrusted with the life of an orphaned baby ocelot. What was meant to be an attempt to escape from life turns out to be an unexpected journey of love, discovery and healing.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Dominic D., comments, “Prepare to be inspired by a new documentary, Wildcat, directed and produced by Melissa Lesh and Trevor Beck Frost, leaves viewers in a whirlwind of emotions and can turn your heart from empty to full at the drop of a dime.” See his full review below.

Wildcat
By Dominic D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

https://youtu.be/a_0F-1Y7ZWA

Prepare to be inspired by a new documentary, !Wildcat, directed and produced by Melissa Lesh and Trevor Beck Frost, which leaves viewers in a whirlwind of emotions and can turn your heart from empty to full at the drop of a dime. This is a film that you are not going to want to miss.

Struggling with depression and PTSD as a result from his time spent as a British soldier in Afghanistan, young Harry Turner attempts to escape his world in order to restore peace to his troubled life.  That escape lands him deep within the Peruvian Amazon where he teams up with American scientist Samantha Zwicker, and together they work diligently to save injured and orphaned wildlife at Hoja Nueva Rehabilitation Center. The film focuses mainly on the duo’s efforts to rehabilitate and “re-wild” orphaned ocelots, and their work seems to put purpose back into their lives. Harry continues with his mental struggles throughout the film and, although his efforts at Hoja Nueva are helping him overcome these challenges, the film highlights for us that these struggles may never truly be defeated.

There is so much to love and appreciate in Wildcat.  The cinematography is terrific as it takes us to one of the most remote and biodiverse places on our globe, allowing viewers to get close up views of some incredible species of animals. The story demonstrates that beauty can indeed be woven into the lives of those who have dark days.  And since I absolutely love cats and our family has been involved in cat rescue for many decades, I commend Harry and Samantha for their efforts in wildcat conservation and highlighting for us how difficult yet rewarding this line of work can be.

Wildcat is a true masterpiece. There are so many important thoughts to take with you after watching the film, and yet the film’s most important message is about hope and courage.  Mental illness is a life threatening disease, but, with some hope and a whole lot of courage, someone suffering from this condition can learn to cope with their disorder.  There is certainly also the message about the importance of conservation and the willingness to volunteer in order to protect and restore our fragile ecosystems.  We need more wildlife warriors and this film just may be a call to action for those conservation minded people. Parents need to be aware of some adult language throughout the film and at times some of the scenes display some very dark moments for Harry.

I give Wildcat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12-18. Adults will also absolutely love this film. Wildcat releases on December 30, 2022, on Prime Video.

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Little Foot 3 * A Fun, Family-Friendly Mystery – Filled With Adventure That Grabs Your Attention

December 10th, 2022

Say it isn’t so! Little Foot has a foot odor problem! Will King Arthur defeat Little Foot’s crawly, stinky, creepy foot cooties just in time for the Yeti Snow Party? Join the adventure and find out in Little Foot 3!

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “Little Foot 3 is a fun, family-friendly mystery – full of adventure and definitely grabs your attention… Something that I really enjoy about the movie is its adventurous storyline. Little Foot’s expedition is a constant process.” Avalon N. adds, “Little Foot 3 is one that I think younger kids would enjoy. The storyline is very unique, maybe a little repetitive. However, it is a funny story with many different and diverse characters.” KIDS FIRST! Adult reviewer Elizabeth V. wraps it up with, “This film is all about how you should never give up. I really enjoyed the animation of this film and the vibrant colors for the characters. It is amazing that the film’s 14 voices are all made by five voice actors.” See their full reviews below.

Little Foot 3
By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST!, Film Critic, age 16

Little Foot 3 is a fun, family-friendly mystery – full of adventure and definitely grabs your attention.

Little Foot 3 follows Little Foot the Sasquatch who goes into space with his snowman friend. While he’s there, he visits Santa, who reveals to him that he’s suffering from something called shadow toes. This is when your feet have a terrible odor, making you, and every room you enter smell. Throughout the film we follow Little Foot as he undertakes a journey to end his shadow toes. 

Something that I really enjoy about the movie is its adventurous storyline. Little Foot’s expedition is a constant process. He is always meeting fun new characters, some of which are helpful, and some — not so much. Either way, it’s entertaining to see Little Foot interact with all these different personalities. Additionally, the picture quality stands out. All the colors are very vibrant and fun. However, I will say that the audio track isn’t always in synch with the characters’ lip movement. At times it’s very noticeable and can be quite distracting. This takes away from enjoying the film, because viewers are distracted. Lastly the storyline has a lot of creativity. They take already well-established characters like Snow White and Santa Claus, and put their own twist on them, by giving them different personalities or traits.

The message of the film is to never lose hope in finding a solution. 

Little Foot 3 gets 3 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 8. You can watch Little Foot 3 on DVD and VOD beginning December 6, 2022.

Little Foot 3
By Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Little Foot 3 is one that I think younger kids would enjoy. The storyline is very unique, maybe a little repetitive. However, it is a funny story with many different and diverse characters.

This storyline is about a Yeti named Little Foot (Simon Hill) who has a foot odor problem. He treks all over the galaxy in search of King Arthur (Kelsey Painter) who can cure his sickness. He needs his foot to be odor free for the Yeti Snow Party. On his way he meets many characters in faraway parts of the galaxy including Santa (KJ Schrock) and Mr. Fox (John Thompson) from Robin Hood. It is a standalone sequel to Little Foot 1 and 2

Little Foot 3 has a very impressive cast of voice actors. One thing that is so amazing is that there are only five voice actors, yet there are 14 voice parts! However, until I watched the credits I had no idea some actors voice multiple characters. The storyline is quite repetitive; every scene mostly involves Little Foot meeting someone and finding out where King Arthur is. There is one character that simply made me laugh every time — Misty the Snowman; he never speaks and only makes sounds. Yet somehow Little Foot understands every sound he makes. The animation style is very unique; it uses a blurred background and the animated characters have very big heads.

The message of this film is to never give up and keep on searching as you may find what you are looking for.

Little Foot 3 gets 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8, plus adults. Little Foot 3 releases on DVD and VOD December 6 2022.

Little Foot 3
By Elizabeth V., KIDS FIRST! Adult Reviewer

I found Little Foot 3 entertaining and designed well for its target age. It is a funny and heartfelt story about a Yeti named Little Foot who has a foot odor problem. He embarks on a journey to cure it in time for the Yeti Snow Party. This film is all about how you should never give up. I really enjoyed the animation of this film and the vibrant colors for the characters. It is amazing that the film’s 14 voices are all made by five voice actors.

Little Foot 3 gets 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It releases on DVD and VOD December 6, 2022. By Elizabeth V., KIDS FIRST! 

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Color Quest AR * Fantastic! The Ultimate Creativity App Combining Digital Drawing, Coloring And Augmented Reality Features

December 2nd, 2022

Color, learn, and discover fun characters that come to life in your exciting augmented reality quest for health! Stayhealthy’s new educational app includes fruits, vegetables, and a magical look into the human body with engaging new characters every month! Color your favorite character, press the magic button, read a fun health fact, and see your new creation come to life and dance in front of you in augmented reality (AR). Keep on coloring to unlock all the characters to win badges, play bonus games, and become the ultimate Magic Health Master in this coloring adventure!

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kyla C. comments, “Color Quest AR is a fantastic, interactive new app that I highly recommend.It is the ultimate creativity app, with a combination of digital drawing, coloring and augmented reality features that blew my mind.” See her complete review below.

Color Quest AR
By Kyla C, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13

Color Quest AR is a fantastic, interactive new app that I highly recommend.It is the ultimate creativity app, with a combination of digital drawing, coloring and augmented reality features that blew my mind.

In Color Quest AR, you can choose one of three fun characters available for free, or purchase any of other themed characters for a fee. Then, you proceed to the coloring screen, where you choose between various colors and brush sizes and use your finger to color in your chosen character. Once satisfied with your character, head on over to the augmented reality feature, where you can look through the screen and watch your personalized character come to life in front of you, no matter where you are!

There are apps for digital coloring; there are apps for augmented reality. But this one-of-a-kind app allows you to pursue both interests in a single app. My jaw dropped when I first saw my personally-colored character appear in front of me. I am so impressed by how real it truly seems. Your character just pops up in front of you, wherever you are. Another detail of the app that stands out is the wide variety of color options. There are six main colors, with five shades within each color option. In addition, there are four brush sizes. This allows you to color smaller areas without going outside of the lines, and use the brush more efficiently in larger areas. Even the eraser feature has different thicknesses, making it easier to make deletions. Color Quest AR has so many additional features that I can’t even begin to name them all. An important one to call attention to is the educational aspect. While the character is being loaded into augmented reality, a health fact pops up. These involve animals, parts of the body and many fun facts. This helps hold your attention during the time the loading circle spins. There is also a music video with the app’s characters, and background music options to immerse yourself in. If you look in the menu, you can even click to find a playlist that’ll spark your creativity and motivate you as well.

Color Quest AR excels at developing creativity, problem-solving skills and patience while also being educational and tons of fun. It is totally child-safe. One thing I will note is that there are optional in-app purchases. While the app can still be enjoyed and used without these paid features, be sure that your child doesn’t accidentally buy something without permission.

I give Color Quest AR 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. Color Quest AR is available now anywhere you get your apps.

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Limitless With Chris Hemsworth * Entertaining And Educational As Hemsworth Tests The Limits Of The Human Body And Finds What May Lead To A Longer Life

November 19th, 2022

A different way we can live better for longer: regenerating damage, maximizing strength, building resilience, shocking the body, supercharging memory and confronting mortality.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “This six episode docu-series is entertaining to watch, and, at times, educational – in a very fun way. Limitless With Chris Hemsworth tests the limits of the human body and finds what may lead to a longer life.” See her full review below.

Limitless With Chris Hemsworth
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

This six episode docu-series is entertaining to watch, and, at times, educational – in a very fun way. Limitless With Chris Hemsworth tests the limits of the human body and finds what may lead to a longer life.

Limitless With Chris Hemsworth follows — you guessed it — Chris Hemsworth, occasionally with his friends and family, on a six-episode journey to find ways to boost longevity and quality of life.

It’s fascinating to see some unexpected ways we could achieve longevity and a better life. Of course, not all of these actions can and/or should be imitated by the average person, but there are ways that you can modify what’s in the episodes and apply it to your own life.  Examples include fasting for one day a month or turning the shower on cold for the last 30 seconds or spending time in a sauna – these practices can help lead to a longer life. Some of the episodes include Stress-Proof, Memory, and Strength.

My favorite episode is Acceptance, where Chris gets to experience firsthand what it’s like to be old and how to accept that. I really found it interesting to watch Chris Hemsworth outside of the MCU and be just himself. It adds something more personal and makes the audience feel connected to him in a new way.

The message of Limitless With Chris Hemsworth is to accept aging because it’s a part of life, and yet there are ways to make life healthier and longer lasting. There are some very risky things done in this show that should not be done without expert supervision.

I give Limitless With Chris Hemsworth 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. This series comes out on Disney+ November 16, 2022.

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The Pay Day * A Supremely Well-Shot Entertaining Heist Film With Suspenseful Storyline

November 18th, 2022

Set in a post-pandemic world, The Pay Day follows a broke and frustrated IT technician (Kyla Frye) who is charged by a crime boss (Simon Callow) to embark on a one-woman heist to steal valuable data worth millions on the black market. As if the dangerous pitfalls of her mission weren’t enough, the sting gets more complicated when a charming con artist (Sam Benjamin) interrupts her mission attempting to swipe the loot for himself.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “A supremely well-shot entertainer, The Pay Day is a perfectly pleasant film for those looking for a heist film, even though there are some stilted dialogues and scenes that drag.” Mikella G. adds, “A stand out in this movie is the suspenseful storyline. I could never anticipate what was going to happen next. Just as I thought I figured it out, something completely different happened. For example, Jennifer and Cameron’s (Sam Benjamin) relationship goes through many different levels, and just when I thought I understood where their relationship was going, it turns out completely different.” See their full review below.

The Pay Day
By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

A supremely well-shot entertainer, The Pay Day is a perfectly pleasant film for those looking for a heist film, even though there are some stilted dialogues and scenes that drag.

The film follows a frustrated and recently-fired IT technician (Kyla Frye) who is charged by a crime boss (Simon Callow) to embark on a one-woman heist to steal valuable data worth $500 million on the black market.  Like all good heist films, it’s about people who feel neglected in society. Frye’s character is being evicted, and she feels that the whole world is against her. This opportunity to steal data is her chance to make it big. When a suave conman (Sam Benjamin) interrupts her mission to steal the loot for himself, matters grow even more complicated.

The cinematography in The Pay Day as well as the casting are two of the high points. Frye’s portrayal of a harried, desperate programmer looking for a way to make some cash is equally stirring and entertaining… though the film does focus on the latter more, due to the writing. This heist film sometimes wants to be a comedy and other times a romantic film, which makes it feel a little disjointed and somewhat like a series of sketches. For example, random flirting between Benjamin and Frye occupies 20 minutes of the film while Frye tries to extract files from a computer — whose, we don’t know yet. Speaking of random things, there are a bunch of odd elements in the film that seem either implausible or infantile to the point of being ridiculous, like a scene where a character survives a shot to the heart and another with a stilted and suggestive exchange about pomegranates. It’s largely the writing that makes the first half of the film drag, save for some scenes that really hit it out of the park. There are also tons of stereotypes thrown in, and some will make you cringe. For example a crime boss lounging with his cronies in a dimly lit bar; Pink Panther-esque background music; the typical green zeroes and ones speeding across the screen of a computer being hacked; and a scene where the protagonist sprints through sterile white walkways of every generic office complex.

The Pay Day promotes resourcefulness and resilience. There are some sexually suggestive scenes and discussions of smoking and alcohol.

I give The Pay Day 4 stars out of 5 and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The Pay Day releases in theaters on November 14, 2022.

The Pay Day
By Mikella Giustino, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

The Pay Day is a mysterious, intense film that is filled with questions and surprises. It is unpredictable, and has a crazy turn of events.

The Pay Day follows the life of Jennifer (Kyla Frye), a struggling computer tech trying to get out of debt. She is approached by Gates (Simon Callow) who runs big undercover money-making operations and he offers her a deal that she cannot resist. However, on Jennifer’s mission she discovers that there’s quite a bit of information that she was blind too, and she must learn to adapt to these quick changes and obstacles that are thrown her way.

A stand out in this movie is the suspenseful storyline. I could never anticipate what was going to happen next. Just as I thought I figured it out, something completely different happened. For example, Jennifer and Cameron’s (Sam Benjamin) relationship goes through many different levels, and just when I thought I understood where their relationship was going, it turns out completely different. This is a great aspect of the film, because it keeps the audience interested and engaged.

Furthermore, the pace of the film is great; It held my attention the entire time, and doesn’t feel too long or too short.  At some points, the storyline gets confusing due to the structure of the film. There are a few flashback moments, and then it reverts back to preset time, but it’s not always clear that the switch is taking place [7] so at times it feels like there is a lot going on. Lastly, each character is very strong; each has its own unique personality and the chemistry between all of them is evident.

The message of this film is that, when you listen to your heart, it will always lead you to do the right thing in the end. This film does have loud violent noises, including gunshots.

I give The Pay Day 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for  ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can watch The Pay Day in select theaters beginning November 14, 2022.


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Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams * Inspiring And Innovative, Exploring A Creative World That Shaped Our Lives

November 17th, 2022

Salvatore: Shoemaker Of Dreams is a portrait of a man whose vision, passion, and craftsmanship made him “shoemaker to the stars,” an architect of Hollywood magic, and an enduring cultural, fashion, and artistic influence.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams is a striking documentary that’s inspiring and innovative. It welcomes you into a creative world that shaped multiple aspects of life today.” See her full review below.

Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams
By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST!, Film Critic, age 16

Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams is a striking documentary that’s inspiring and innovative. It welcomes you into a creative world that shaped multiple aspects of life today.

Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams follows the life of Salvatore Ferragamo, the incredible shoemaker with insane intellectual talent. By the age of 16 he was off to America where his career exploded as he built a huge reputation in the film business. Although he provided shoes for some of the biggest icons in history, life wasn’t always the easiest for him. However, Salvatore Ferragamo remains one of the most loving, caring and well-known shoemakers to this day.

I really enjoy the storyline of this film; it’s not only extremely inspiring, but educational as well. It shows viewers how you can do anything that you put your mind to. I also appreciate the fact that it includes interviews with people who know Ferragamo and understand his culture. It really emphasizes the importance of his childhood and how that shaped him. Additionally, the structure of the film is really helpful. Using actual video clips from Ferragamo’s life, plus close friends and family members that explain his history is a really nice feature. This allows us to view Ferragamo on a more personal level.

Plus, the quality of the more dated clips still have great sound and picture  quality, which gives it a modern feeling, while remaining authentic to the time period. I also enjoyed the soundtrack and background music. The music is subtle and really makes a difference. In most of the montages, there is light piano playing in the background which elevates the film and really sets the mood/tone.

The message of Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams is to always follow your heart, passions and dreams.

I give Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams in select theaters November 18, 2022.


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Transformers: Earthspark * An Action-Packed Adventure With Heartwarming Friendships And Strong Family Bonds

November 15th, 2022

A new species of Transformers must find their place and purpose among Autobots, Decepticons, and the human family who adopts them.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Madeleine H. comments, “I like the series Transformers: Earthspark!   It is an action-packed adventure with heartwarming friendships and strong family bonds that I enjoyed with my whole family.” See her full review and red carpet interviews below.  

Transformers: Earthspark
Madeleine H. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

I like the series Transformers: Earthspark!   It is an action-packed adventure with heartwarming friendships and strong family bonds that I enjoyed with my whole family. 

Fans familiar with the Transformers franchise will enjoy the familiar characters and meet some new ones.  Anyone new to Transformers will quickly become acquainted with their history while discovering the first bots born on Earth along with a brother and sister duo, Robby Malto (Sydney Mikayla) and Mo (Zion Broadnax), who share a unique bond.  Robby and Mo recently moved from Philly to small town Witwicky where their mom, Dot Malto (Benni Latham) has taken a job as a park ranger and they have left their friends behind.  When Robby, frustrated with his new life, decides to bike back to Philly, his sister Mo, who is never left out of his adventures, follows along.  A strange encounter with Autobots and some unusual spiderbots has them tumbling off a bridge and discovering a secret cave.  Their curiosity and sense of adventure lead them to forming a bond with the first earthborn bots, Twitch (Kathreen Khavari) and Thrash (Zeno Robinson) who they are emotionally connected to.  Through some humorous activities and harrowing adventures Twitch and Trash become the vehicle bots that suit their personalities and are part of the Malto Family.

The production quality is superb with vivid animation and crisp colors; the images are so realistic. For example, the texture of Mo’s hair looks real. The voice acting is excellent with each character distinct and believable.  Robby is voiced by a female but sounds like a teen boy and when Mo and Robby take a tumble their grunts and groans sound believable. And of course, the action is exciting and explosive!  When the Transformers click into action the battles are fast and furious.

The sound effects really enrich the story and propel the action. The Autobots whirl and rev into their Transformer selves. In terms of the storyline, the amazing bond that Robby and Mo share is special, and the strength and determination of Mo is truly inspiring. It’s so great to see a female protagonist take the lead.  Another strong female character is Skywarp (Nicole Dubuc); she is smart, self-assured and fierce.  There are old school favorites from previous films in the franchise like Optimus Prime (Alan Tudyk), Mr. Malto (Jon Jon Briones) and Bumblebee (Danny Pud) who I love seeing here.

The message in these episodes revolve around togetherness and learning to fit in. These episodes are sure to be great fun with the classic struggles with the Autobot Decepticons Transformers robots, the togetherness of the human Malto Family, and the first Transformers robots to be born on Earth – the Terrans, who are learning how they fit in.

I give Transformer: Earthspark 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults.  Transformers: Earthspark premieres on Paramount + Friday, November 11, 2022.


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