KIDS FIRST! News

KIDS FIRST! film critics hit the air waves starting today as reporters on the new weekly radio show KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions. In the 10-minute segments, the KF film critics will share their reviews of upcoming theatrical and DVD releases and itnerviews with the top talent in front of and behind the camera. Streaming on the VoiceAmerica Kids Channel, segments can be enjoyed, shared with friends, and re-enjoyed again.

On the debut segment of Aug. 2, coordinating with the movie’s Aug. 6 screening on NBC, eight-year-old KF film critic Anthony Aranda and 14-year-old KF film critic Raven Devanney discuss the made-for-TV movie Who Is Simon Miller? Find out why Raven describes it as a “super entertaining, edge-of-your-seat movie. From the very first scene, it grabs onto you and you’re hooked through the whole film.” And find out more about the storyline that Anthony hints at when he observes, “The movie is about a family who doesn’t know as much about each other as they think.”

Co-hosts Raven and Anthony will also share with listeners what it’s been like this year as a KIDS FIRST! film critic, a coveted spot eight lucky kids won in last year’s inaugural KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search when their written and video film reviews earned top marks from a panel of celebrity judges. Since January, the KF film critics have been reviewing new films and DVDs, attending Red Carpet events and premieres and interviewing talent on and off the Red Carpet, and they have a lot of stories to tell. In upcoming KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions segments, we’ll also hear from four other KF film critics: Ny’asia Bell, Sam Connan, Gabriella Chu and Makai Weber Colvin.

Listen in as the KIDS FIRST! film critics converse about what they liked or didn’t like about featured movies and what it was like to meet the talent. Next up (Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central) is an interview with Drew Koles, who plays Kevin Miller, one of the sons, in Who Is Simon Miller? View the trailer here.

“This movie is out of this world literally, because it takes place on Mars,” says KIDS FIRST! film critic Ny’Asia Bell (eight years old), talking about what happens after the hero’s mom is “Martian-napped” away from him. With its theatrical run only a few months ago, the Disney movie hits shelves (and online catalogs) on Aug. 9 in DVD and Blu-ray formats – standard and 3-D – enabling you to follow the earnest recommendation of KF film critic Anthony Aranda (in his full review below). The animated film’s action and storyline earned it high marks from Ny’Asia and an “awesome” from Anthony, who adds the insightful observation that different ages may enjoy the film on different levels. For instance, he says, “I am 8 and I found the movie to be a little scary because it made me think about how sad I would be if I lost my own mother.”

Mars Needs Moms
Reviewed by Ny’Asia Bell
(and see her review on video)

This movie is out of this world literally, because it takes place on Mars, AKA The Red Planet. The movie is about a little boy named Milo, voiced by Seth Dusky, who says some pretty mean things to his mom. Before he has a chance to apologize, she is Martian-napped and taken to Mars. He has 6.93 earth hours until sun rise to save her. Does he make it in time?!
 
My favorite part is when Gribble, voiced by Dan Fogler, saves Milo’s mom with the helmet that was meant for his mom. I thought that was very thoughtful.
 
My favorite characters are Gribble, because he’s just simply Gribbletastic; Ki, because she helps Milo, and she does something that no other Martian has ever done — she stands up to the supervisor, head of all Martians; and Milo, because he realizes that he needs his mom and is determined to do whatever he needs to save her.
 
I rate this movie 4 out of 5 stars because the Martians are a little scary, especially the supervisor. So for this reason, I recommend this movie to kids ages 7 and up.
 

Mars Needs Moms
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(and see his review on video) 

Hello everyone. My name is Anthony Aranda from KIDSFIRST! I just got finished watching an excellent movie called Mars Needs Moms. The movie is about a boy named Milo who goes on a big adventure to help save his mom from aliens. The aliens that live on Mars are not very good mothers so they look to Earth to find good mothers to steal.

My favorite characters are Milo, Milo’s mom, and Gribble. I liked Gribble because he helped Milo get his mother back and he helps Milo to see how important his mother truly is. My favorite part of the movie is when Milo has to save his new friend Gribble from the aliens. Gribble gets captured and the aliens are going to shoot him. Milo swings in to save the day and it is awesome.

This movie does have some characters that are bad and try to stop Milo from saving his mom. The aliens in the uniforms are bad because they listen to the Supervisor. The Supervisor controls everyone and wants everyone to do what she says.

I would recommend this movie for ages three and up. I think depending on what age you are is how you will see this movie. For example, my brother is 5 and he didn’t think the movie was scary at all. I am 8 and I found the movie to be a little scary because it made me think about how sad I would be if I lost my own mother. But don’t worry, everything turns out OK in the end! Go out and buy this movie when it comes out on Disney DVD and Blu-ray.

Photos: Mars Needs Moms (top), Ny’Asia Bell (middle), Anthony Aranda (bottom)