KIDS FIRST! News

“Iron Man 3″ is the newest edition in this exciting superhero series. Rated PG-13 for intense and somewhat violent scenes, this film proves that a sequel can more than live up to it’s predecessors. Age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raven D. was extremely impressed with the action and says the “special effects, are outstanding and I absolutely love all of the different suits that Tony has created in this movie.” Equally impressed with the suits and special effects, 12-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Keefer B. notes “the way they move, attack, fight and look is wonderful” and tells us that the film is funny as well.

Iron Man 3

Reviewed by Keefer B.

See Keefer’s full video review here!

“Iron Man 3” is a blockbuster, serge forward, non-stop action movie with a few surprises, a couple disappointments and wallop of bigger-than-life, special effect-filled screens.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is back, and after fighting with the Avengers, faces a new threat, a terrorist named Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and a new foe Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce).We also see James Rhodes/Iron Patriot ( Don Cheadle) who helps Tony out in his time of crises. Not only is Tony facing the anxiety of keeping Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) safe, but also learns that it’s the man that makes the suit.

I love the special effects in this flick. The suits get better and better. The way they move, attach, fight and look is wonderful. Robert Downey Jr. continues his character development as Tony Stark and I love every minute he’s on screen. Gwyneth Paltrow is fantastic. She’s not just a damsel in distress. She saves Tony two different times and has a likable, lovable personality. The story is very engaging and the dialogue is great. The one thing I don’t like is the intellectual twist. I have mixed feelings about the turn of events in this film. My inner die-hard, comic book-loving side is disappointed, but my film critic side sees it as genius.

My favorite character is Harley (Ty Simpkins), a boy who befriends Tony and helps repair the Iron Man suit. Harley is bright, independent and a little too much like Tony. When you put the two together, you get non-stop laughter.

The moral of the story is: it’s not the suit that makes the man, it’s the man that makes the suit. Tony can’t sleep because he gets nightmares, so he spends all his time at night making more suits to protect himself and Pepper. The truth is, he saves Pepper without the suit.

My favorite scene is the final battle. The action is larger-than-life. The different suits, the way they fight, make you want to cheer. It gets you to the edge of your seat; it’s intense, fast and action-packed .

I recommend this to 11 year-olds and up. Bad language is low and the action not too intense for this age range. They will love the comedy. I give this 5 stars. Even if the twist is a little disappointing, it’s still amazing.

Also check out Raven D.’s full video review here!

Journey down under and meet a whole new breed of hero in “Koala Kid,” a laugh-filled, action-packed animated adventure with a rare white koala bear who just wants to fit in. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Canela R likes 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
by Canela R

See Canela’s full video review here!

“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.

Koala Kid is available now on DVD.

Check out KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O’s Koala Kid interview here!

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Tall Tale, two classic films for the whole family to enjoy, are screening throughout April on HDNet Movies - kidScene. KIDS FIRST! is proud of our affiliation with HDNet Movies and applauds their mission to bring some of the most fun and popular movies of their time to new audiences. Visit their website to see KIDS FIRST! Film Critic reviews and check out their upcoming programming.

Originally released in 2001, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is a hilarious kid-oriented sci-fi spoof. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Anthony Aranda reviewed the film when he was 9-years-old and said it was “interesting and really funny.” Below is a wonderful review from Adam Chernick, age 7. One of our newest KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, Adam says the film teaches us “that size is not as important as intelligence and courage.”

Click here to see Cheyenne Nguyen’s full video review!

Click here to hear KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions Radio Show review of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius!

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Reviewed by Adam Chernick

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 is 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. It is on HDNet Movies now.

Tall Tale is an action-packed film released in 1995 full of famous characters from the “wild west.” Patrick Nguyen, 14-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, aptly sums up his feelings when he tell us “Tall Tale is a well-rounded movie with lovely landscapes, great action sequences and a memorable theme.” Here is his full review of this classic film.

Click here to listen to the KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions Radio Show review of Tall Tale!

Tall Tale

Reviewed by Patrick Nguyen

Click here to see Patrick’s full video review!

This movie kept me on the edge of my seat with the fight scenes and I found it enjoyable to see the culture of the Wild West.

Tall Tale is an adventurous movie that takes audience members back to the 1900s where farming and family values were the essence of life. Daniel Hackett (Nick Stahl) hates the farm and wishes to move away. Daniel’s dad (Stephen Lang) is disappointed because he has put his sweat and blood into this farm so that Daniel would benefit and Daniel wants no part of it. An evil land baron wants to steal the farm and destroy their community and injures Daniel’s dad. Daniel tries to flee the scene but falls asleep and wakes up in the “wild west.” In the company of such “tall tale” legends as Pecos Bill (Patrick Swayze), Paul Bunyan (Oliver Platt,) and John Henry (Roger Aaron Brown,) Daniel realizes how to battle the villains he is facing in his real world.

Tall Tale is a well-rounded movie with lovely landscapes, great action sequences and a memorable theme. I adored the scenery in Tall Tale because I am a boy scout and really enjoy nature. From the mountains to the desert, the locations are all amazing. The western fight scenes with guns and fist fights are gripping and comedic at the same time because they yell funny quotes such as “Big as a redwood” or “Well, paint my toenails.” I think those help make the audience appreciate the language and culture of the West. When Daniel realizes his mistakes and stands up to the bad guys, he teaches an important theme: “No matter how small you are, you can stand up against the biggest challenges.” The one thing I didn’t enjoy was the drinking scene in the bar. Even though Daniel was not drinking alcohol, it gives the wrong message.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Pecos Bill and Daniel because it is so touching to see their relationship build. My favorite character, Peco Bill, is strong minded and physically. Patrick Swayze portrays his character so well that I did not recognize him as the slick dancer in “Dirty Dancing.” Paul Bunyan is also so funny from having a blue ox to going crazy during action scenes. Both of these characters help Daniel on his task to overcome evil.

My favorite scene is at the end of the movie when Daniel tries pushes the train back but gets trapped under the train. Pecos Bill, John Henry and Paul Bunyan come to rescue Daniel and successfully push the train back with the help if the village people. This moment is significant because the people stand up against the railroad company, thus keeping the land of Paradise Valley from its clutches.

I recommend Tall Tale for ages 10 and up. It is a bit scary with chainsaws, fighting and drinking scenes for kids younger than 10. I give Tall Tale 5 out of 5 stars.

Out in theaters on April 12 is the inspirational story of an American Legend, Jackie Robinson. This long-awaited story shows how the history-making signing of a black man with the Brooklyn Dodgers changed not only baseball but all sports - forever. It has received rave reviews from our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics who were lucky enough to have seen advance screenings. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raven Devanney, age 15, says this film was more than just educational, but also “has a sense of humor, wit and a whole lot of inspiration.” She cautions that the PG-13 rating is due to “racial slurs and slanderous language that may be hard for [some] children to understand.”

“42”

Review by Raven Devanney

Click here to see Raven’s full video review!

“42” tells the story of the American legend Jackie Robinson, the first African-American major league baseball player. This film takes place in the 1940s when racism and segregation were very prominent, so Jackie has to overcome many challenges and deal with the doubt and judgment people have towards him. With the support of journalist Wendell Smith (Andre Holland), Rachel Robinson (Nicole Beharie) and Dodger’s owner Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), Jackie proves he has what it takes to make it.

I really love this film. Not only is “42” educational, but it also has a sense of humor, wit and a whole lot of inspiration. This film captures the hardships that not only Jackie and his family dealt with, but also the hatred that was shown towards the people that supported him. I really like the cinematography and the way the camera angles are able to capture the movement of the players and the unspoken communication between the team members. The costume and set design is also very well done and accurate for that time period.

My favorite character is Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) because he really shows emotion in a realistic way. Jackie is faced with challenge after challenge, but always overcomes, and Chadwick did a phenomenal job of displaying all that was going through his characters mind with nothing but a simple expression. Chadwick also captured Jackie’s spunk and defiance towards the norms. Jackie Robinson is such an inspirational person and character. At any given moment he could have given up, let down the people that looked up to him, believe all the hate that was thrown at him, but he didn’t, and that’s what makes him a hero. I believe Jackie is a character that every man, woman and child can look up to and find inspiration in.

My favorite scene is when Jackie plays one of his first games as a Dodger. The manager of the opposing team is very slanderous and vile towards Jackie. He calls out awful racial slurs while Jackie is out on the field, but Jackie knows if he did anything about it he would be the one who gets punished. Finally after the other Dodgers had enough, Eddie Stanky marched over to the opposing team and told the manager to sit down. He knows he is breaking the rules, but when he sees a team member of his being harped on he takes a chance and stands up of for him. This scene shows that the color of one’s skin doesn’t matter and that Eddie would have done that for any one of his teammates. It’s a wonderful example of equity and sportsmanship and it is very moving.

I give “42” 5 out of 5 stars because it is touching, funny, educational and inspirational. It’s rated PG-13 which I agree with because it does run a bit long and younger children may find it hard to sit through, but it also contains a lot of racial slurs and slanderous language that may be hard for children to understand. This film is so incredible, so head to your nearest theater when “42” hits the fields on April 12, 2013.

Go to kidsfirst.org for more reviews of the film, “42.”

If you want your child to think you are the hippest parent around, you’d better jump on the app bandwagon now! Apps are available for all kinds of mobile devices and will keep the kiddos entertained when you are busy, or give you something fun to play along with them.

“Mibblio” is an app just for your iPad or iPad Mini. Perfect for the music lover in everyone, and sure to hold any pre-schoolers interest. Interactive and full of options, KIDS FIRST! Critic Canela Roey says, “For me, making the music is fun but some of the songs also demand me to dance!” and especially likes that you can add your own music and change it.

“Mibblio” (app for iPad and iPad Mini)

Reviewed by Canela Roey

Click here to see Canela’s full video review!

I like making music and I like watching funny videos. Now with Mibblio, I can do both of those at the same time.

“Mibblio” is an app for the iPad and iPad Mini where you take a story with existing music and you get to add your own musical taste to it. When a song is played, pictures move along with the music telling a story; simultaneously, you create your own musical experience by adding and removing instruments. You can either take away one existing musical sound or all of them. You can also add your own music at the same time. When it’s your own music, you have a keyboard and a choice of eight different instruments from wood, wind and string. Along the side of the screen you can also add 6 different string instruments as well as 10 percussion sounds. The possibilities of musical fun are endless.

The App is free and comes with one song to get started. There are eight other songs to choose from which cost $1.99 each. Fortunately, the free song is playful and catchy and a great way to throw yourself into the game. But there’s such a range of great songs with the other eight, you’d be cheating yourself for not at least trying just one more (or two or three or four or five or six or seven or eight.) One of the most fun songs for me was “On Top Of Spaghetti.” It was a song I knew and the pictures and music were funny, but also it was very inviting for me to join in and make it my own. “Wheels On The Bus” was a fun choice as well because you have a kiddie standard which you can dissect and reassemble into an entirely new experience.

For me, making the music is fun but some of the songs also demand me to dance! That’s a plus. The open-endedness really lets me be in control, which I like. It’s pretty simple to catch onto but if you’re younger than 7, you’ll probably need a grown up to show you the ropes.

The idea is very creative. The drawings are sweet and endearing and each song has its own look and feel. For example, one song, “Millie And Her Curly, Whirling Hair”, was sort of sad and the pictures were black and white, which complimented the emotion.

This is something I wish I had when I was younger! I’d recommend this app to ages 4 to 7. While I liked it, I think the kiddie song choices and unlimited creativity is perfect for the younger ones as I found myself getting a little tired of it after ten minutes or so. However, I could definitely see a younger child having loads of fun playing this game! My seven-year-old sister loves this app. She said, “I love music and that’s what I like to do!” So for younger kids, I give Mibblio five out of five stars.

The “Mibblio” app is available for the iPad and iPad Mini for free from the iTunes Store. I strongly recommend you get this app as your youngster will fall in love with it.

“Parental Guidance” seems to have something to appeal to every age group. A great film that even grandparents can really relate to. 13-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Brianna Hope Beaton, says “this is a good comedy that will keep you laughing” and Cheyenne Nguyen, our 9-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic points out that this film “has something for every age group to relate to.”

Rated PG, just like the title, this film is now available at all your favorite DVD resellers on DVD and Blu-ray.

“Parental Guidance”

Reviewed by Brianna Hope Beaton

Click here to see Brianna’s full video review!

“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 does. 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.” I’m sure you will love it.

“Parental Guidance”

Reviewed by Cheyenne Nguyen

Click here to see Cheyenne’s full video review!

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 used 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.

“Jack The Giant Slayer” isn’t your ordinary fairytale. In fact, it’s rated PG-13 for a reason; intense scenes, violence and brief inappropriate images. But if you love intense special effects, complicated twisting story lines and amazing animation, this might just be the best fairy tale you’ve seen on screen yet. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raven Devanney, age 15, calls it “the familiar story of Jack and the Beanstalk with an entertaining twist.” Here is Raven’s review of “Jack The Giant Slayer.”

“Jack The Giant Slayer”

Reviewed by Raven Devanney

Click here to see Raven’s full video review!

“Jack The Giant Slayer” tells the familiar story of Jack and the Beanstalk with an entertaining twist. Jack (Nicholas Hoult) is a farm  boy who grew up hearing stories of a time long ago when giants and men were at war in the kingdom. You know that he goes to the market, comes back with magic beans, spills them and a giant beanstalk grows all the way up to a magic land, but here’s the twist. The Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) is captured by the giants and Jack, along with the kingdoms guardians, has to rescue her. But, they are betrayed by Roderick, the Princess’ elderly fiancée and the whole kingdom has to fight against the giants to save the land.

I really enjoyed this movie. I absolutely love the more modern twist on this age-old tale. One thing that I really enjoyed about the story line is when, at the end of the film, it shows the story being passed down from generation to generation and shows how the story gets “misinterpreted” into being the fairy tale we’ve all heard.

The CGI animation is very good. It isn’t one of those movies that blows me away with special effects and cinematography, but it is definitely well-made.

My favorite character is Jack because I really enjoy Nicholas Hoult in this film. He is the British actor who recently starred in “Warm Bodies” and has played supporting roles in many other films such as “X-Men: First Class” and “Clash of the Titans.” He has also starred in the British TV series “Skins” which I am absolutely obsessed with. I love his acting skills when it comes to conveying emotion in a very simple way. Not only do I love Nicholas Hoult, but I really enjoy the fact that Jack is just a farm boy and he is given the chance to prove himself as more than a commoner. He never gives up and he shows that he is clever and there is more to him than meets the eye.

I like that in the first few scenes of the movie it cuts back and forth between Jack and Princess Isabelle as children. It shows their parents reading them the stories of the days when giants and men fought in the kingdom and later in the film it cuts back and forth between the two arguing with their parents. I like these scenes because it shows that even though they were brought up in different ways and live completely different lives, they still have a lot in common.

One thing I want to mention is that the ending is very intense. It’s not necessarily scary, but it’s very suspenseful and I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat for the last 30 - 45 minutes. The film seems like its ending and I thought that there would be a second film to finish off the story, but then it continues to show the giants attacking the kingdom. This has its pros and cons. The good thing about putting the rescue of the Princess and the invasion of the city all into one film is that I honestly don’t think there is enough material to make a second film. The bad thing about this is I feel like the last half hour is very rushed and hectic. Everything happens really fast and I feel like something should have been embellished. Then again, it is an hour and 54 minutes so adding anything else would make the film to long.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars because it is very entertaining and is a wonderful adaptation of the fairytale that has been passed down for generations.  I think it’s suitable for ages 10 and up because there is no foul language or sexual scenes but there is action, suspense and violence. I think everyone will enjoy this movie because it has action, adventure, comedy, romance, fantasy, drama and it’s a classic story!

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.

According to Brianna Hope Beaton KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Nim teaches us “that you should do everything you can to help the marine and wildlife.” New KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Cassandra Hsiao, “Return to Nim’s Island will take families on a spectacular expedition underwater, into dark mysterious caves, and up awfully steep cliffs.” And new KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jailene Arias agrees with the others that the main message in the film is “don’t give up!”

Check out these great video reviews from two of our new KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, Cassandra Hsiao and Jailene Arias!

Return to Nim’s Island

Reviewed by Brianna Hope Beaton

Click here to see Brianna’s full video review!

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 does 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.

Tune in to see the Return to Nim’s Island on March 15 on the Hallmark Channel 8pm EST / 7PM CT.

Life of Pi received rave reviews in the theaters, nothing new for the multiple award-winning director Ang Lee, but part of the credit goes to advances in technology that enable the film’s special effects.

According to KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Brianna Hope Beaton, age 13, “The visual effects are amazing.” KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Cheyenne Nguyen, age 9, says “The special effect of the tiger is the best part. It seems so real, I thought that the tiger is actually in the boat with Pi.” Click here to see Brianna and Cheyenne’s video review!

Experience the thrill and beauty of Life of Pi all over again! Now available on DVD and Blu-ray. Enter our KIDS FIRST! Critics Go Local Campaign, by submitting your review of Life of Pi and win free movie tickets or a free skin for your favorite mobile device. Go here for details.

Life of Pi

Reviewed by Brianna Hope Beaton

This is truly an amazing story, with a great adventure that is hard to believe.

Pi (Suraj Sharma), an Indian boy, is on a ship with his family who is moving to Canada. One night, there is a terrible storm that sinks the ship and only Pi, a hyena, zebra, orangutan and a Bengal tiger whose name is Richard Parker survive. They are all in one of the small lifeboats trying to stay alive. After a while, it becomes only Pi and Richard Parker who are adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Pi is now trying to survive, but is in fear of Richard Parker.

Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, this adventure is created in 3-D and is one of my new favorites. The visual effects are amazing and capture the marine life really well, with all its beautiful colors. I like the way this film is set up like someone is telling it as a story; this really keeps my attention. One of my favorite scenes is when a big whale comes out of the ocean; it is so big and pretty to see. It is incredible. I also like the way we learn how the tiger is named Richard Parker. It is somewhat funny and unusual.

I would love to know how director Ang Lee directs all the animals in this film; it is truly amazing how they act. David Magee (screenplay writer) does a remarkable job transforming a great novel into an amazing script. Other members of the cast in Life of Pi include Vibish Sivakumar (Ravi Patel) and Rafe Spall (The Writer).

A big message I found is to never lose hope no matter where you are in life. Pi is in the middle of the ocean for many, many days with a big storm and a tiger, but through it all he never loses hope to be rescued.

I recommend this film for ages 8 to adults. Younger ages may be a little frightened when they see some of the animal scenes, but other than that, this is a must-see. You can enjoy it with your family and friends.

I give Life of Pi five out of five stars. I love the message and the visual effects. This is a great story of hope and determination. Believe the unbelievable and see the amazing adventure in Life of Pi.

Life of Pi

Reviewed by Cheyenne Nguyen

Life of Pi is the most amazing 3-D-quality movie that shows underwater footage and sea life.

Life of Pi is based on a popular novel by Yann Martel that sold over 7 million copies. It’s about a boy name Piscine Patel, known as Pi (Suraj Sharma). He has a good life growing up in his father’s zoo in Pondicherry, a French colony. Due to hard times, they have to close down the zoo and move some of the animals to Canada with them.

The move to Canada is in a big Japanese cargo ship, and all the animals are at the bottom of the ship. The big storm hits the ship and sinks the ship. The survivors are Pi, the tiger (Richard Parker), zebra, hyena, orangutan and a rat. They are all in a small lifeboat from the cargo ship. After several days, the only two survivors are Pi and Richard Parker. They are afraid of each other but need each other to survive.

There are so many scenes with great cinematography. The most memorable ones are the underwater footage, and the sinking of the cargo ship is so real and clear. The 3-D brings out the glowing of the jelly fish and the blue whale vividly.

The special effect of the tiger is the best part. It seems so real, I thought that the tiger is actually in the boat with Pi.

The part I did not like is when the animals are fighting each other. It’s too hard to watch the survival of the fittest.

The acting in this movie is so great. Suraj shows a lot of emotions with his eyes, and he stays in his character, and the audience can feel his emotions. It’s so amazing to see his weight loss as the days go by at sea.

My favorite character is Richard Parker. He helps Pi survive the shipwreck and at times he seems more human than creature.

The lesson in this movie is anything is possible. Pi survives over seven months in the Pacific Ocean with just faith and Richard Parker.

I rank this movie four out of five stars. I give this movie an age range of 8 and up.