KIDS FIRST! News

A mythical island with beasts of surprising size (fist-sized elephants and train-sized centipedes) is the setting for a Treasure Island-like adventure that will be released in theaters Feb. 10. Fourteen-year-old Blake Hawes, one of the winners of the 2012 KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search, thoroughly delves into the story and its presentation in his sensitive and observant review (below) of the film. The understanding stood him well, also, as he sat down with stars Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Dwayne Johnson and Luis Guzman on location in Hawaii to get them to share their experiences filming the movie (on video for KIDS FIRST!).

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Reviewed by Blake Hawes
(See his full review on video.)

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is a fun and entertaining movie and offers some brilliant eye candy in some of the most impressive action scenes. Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) has a new man in his life, his stepfather Hank (Dwayne Johnson). This movie is more about the relationship between Sean and Hank than a mindless cliché adventure movie. Sean grew up with a lot of loss of loved ones and people coming in and out of his life. Sean has trust issues with his new stepdad and doesn’t want to get too close to him, for he’s afraid that he’ll leave him due to his unfortunate past. Hank wants to play a bigger role in Sean’s life and hopes to finally make a bond between them.

Then they uncover the mystery of the Mysterious Island and go on an adventure to find Sean’s long-lost grandfather (Michael Caine). The only way to get to the island is by flying by helicopter. The quirky and fun tour guide (Luis Guzmán) is the comic relief in this huge journey. His daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens) is Sean’s love interest in the movie. The plot itself is easy to understand for younger audiences and it is fun to see how it plays out in the end. The movie is chockfull of massive set pieces, which all are creatively brought to life by cinematography and editing.

Hudgens doesn’t deliver the most believable performance of her career because of the fact that she acts more like a big-city girl than a hardened islander of their destination. But all in all, she has great chemistry between Hutcherson in the movie, and should be commended for it. Guzmán however, delivers some tongue-in-cheek jokes throughout the film. He’ll offer a couple of chuckles throughout the movie for older viewers, but most of his jokes will appeal to the younger audience.

I like this movie because of its frantic action sequences and surprisingly well-suited soundtrack. This movie may be scary for younger viewers at points such as the lizard chase sequences. The intensity and the importance of the given situation during the final act of the movie gives the audience a very good reason to sit on the edge of their seats. Overall, I think the movie is very entertaining and has many great moments. I give it eight out of ten stars.

Photos: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island poster (top), Blake Hawes with Vanessa Hudgens (bottom)

A mythical island with beasts of surprising size (fist-sized elephants and train-sized centipedes) is the setting for a Treasure Island-like adventure that will be released in theaters Feb. 10. Fourteen-year-old Blake Hawes, a finalist in the 2012 KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search (winners to be announced next week), thoroughly delves into the story and its presentation in his sensitive and observant review of the film.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Reviewed by Blake Hawes
(See his full review on video.)

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is a fun and entertaining movie and offers some brilliant eye candy in some of the most impressive action scenes. Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) has a new man in his life, his stepfather Hank (Dwayne Johnson). This movie is more about the relationship between Sean and Hank than a mindless cliche adventure movie. Sean grew up with a lot of loss of loved ones and people coming in and out of his life. Sean has trust issues with his new stepdad and doesn’t want to get too close to him, for he’s afraid that he’ll leave him due to his unfortunate past. Hank wants to play a bigger role in Sean’s life and hopes to finally make a bond between them.

Then they uncover the mystery of the Mysterious Island and go on an adventure to find Sean’s long-lost grandfather (Michael Caine). The only way to get to the island is by flying by helicopter. The quirky and fun tour guide (Luis Guzmán) is the comic relief in this huge journey. His daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens) is Sean’s love interest in the movie. The plot itself is easy to understand for younger audiences and it is fun to see how it plays out in the end. The movie is chockfull of massive set pieces, which all are creatively brought to life by cinematography and editing.

Hudgens doesn’t deliver the most believable performance of her career because of the fact that she acts more like a big-city girl than a hardened islander of their destination. But all in all, she has great chemistry between Hutcherson in the movie, and should be commended for it. Guzmán however, delivers some tongue-in-cheek jokes throughout the film. He’ll offer a couple of chuckles throughout the movie for older viewers, but most of his jokes will appeal to the younger audience.

I like this movie because of its frantic action sequences and surprisingly well-suited soundtrack. This movie may be scary for younger viewers at points such as the lizard chase sequences. The intensity and the importance of the given situation during the final act of the movie gives the audience a very good reason to sit on the edge of their seats. Overall, I think the movie is very entertaining and has many great moments. I give it eight out of ten stars.

Photos: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island poster (top), Blake Hawes with Dwayne Johnson (bottom)

Sure, you enjoyed the film when Disney’s Buena Vista Pictures released it 20 years ago, but now get ready to enjoy it in a whole new way. Newly tricked out in 3-D, the animated classic that spawned a live musical that took Broadway by storm is hitting the theaters for a fresh run this month as Walt Disney Studios gives it both a theatrical and DVD release. Nine-year-old KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Anthony Aranda, who’s seen Beauty and the Beast in both dimensionalities, shares what the 3-D adds to the experience.

Anthony and his fellow 2011 KIDS FIRST! youth film critics have had a great year reviewing films and interviewing celebrities. Video reviews from all the hopefuls for 2012 are posted on our partner site WonderWorldTV. Be sure to vote - voting ends this weekend, at midnight, Jan. 15.

Beauty and the Beast
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(See his full review on video.)

This movie is being re-released in theaters in 3-D! It was very cool to see this in 3-D since I had already seen this movie at home in 2-D. The 3-D effects add a lot to the movie.

The movie is all about Belle, who finds out her father was taken by a Beast and she sets out to save him. She decides to take her father’s place as the Beast’s prisoner so that her father can go free. Belle will have to stay at the castle for the rest of her life. Belle starts to get to know the Beast and realizes he isn’t so bad after all. There is an enchantment on the castle, and if the Beast doesn’t learn to love another and have that person return the love then he will stay a Beast forever and everyone in the castle will also stay the way they are. 

Some of the main characters in the movie are Belle, Belle’s father, the Beast and Gaston. My favorite character is Chip. He is Mrs. Potts’ son and he is a little teacup. I like him because he is super funny and so tiny and cute. At the end, he says a really funny catchphrase to make people laugh. Chip says, “Do I still have to sleep in the cupboard?” even though he already turned back into a boy. I thought that was really funny. 

The re-release of this movie in 3-D is really cool. You can really feel like you can reach out and touch the trees and the castle in the movie. The Beast in 3-D is pretty scary at first (scarier in 3-D than he was in 2-D). Also, when they sing “Be Our Guest,” that whole scene is really cool because all the dishes and silverware are singing and dancing and that looks really cool in 3-D. During the fight scene at the end of the movie when the townspeople break into the castle, the clock is coming down the stairs and it looks like he is flying right at me. They do really good job.

I recommend this movie for all ages because the scary parts in the movie aren’t that bad. The Beast may scare some younger kids but only for a minute, and throughout the movie they learn that he is really nice after all. It is also really funny. Go out and see the re-release of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 3-D on January 13.  

Photos: Beauty and the Beast poster (top), Anthony Aranda (bottom)

The latest Mission: Impossible feature film, Paramount Pictures’ release Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, once again puts Tom Cruise leading an elite team of undercover agents (played by Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton) in a slick spy thriller. Unlike the capers of this film’s predecessors, this mission is not impossible to follow. While we may be suspending our disbelief that these agents can actually do the feats of skill and precision and daring that move our pulse rate into the danger zone, there are not the questions of why they’re doing them or, more basic, what exactly they’re doing that plagued Cruise’s previous Mission: Impossible forays. Fifteen-year-old KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Gabriella Chu shares why the film kept her on the edge of her seat.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Reviewed by Gabriella Chu
(See her full review on video.)

Are you into action? The latest Mission: Impossible has just been released. The Impossible Missions Force is blamed for the bombing of Kremlin, so Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team try to get back their reputation by preventing a nuclear missile from killing everyone on Earth. Can the team undertake this impossible mission?

Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol is a quick-witted picture fast on its feet. From the beginning, I was on the edge of my seat. Scene after scene, Hunt and his team are on the move. There are so many cool and inventive high-tech gadgets in the movie combined with breathtaking visuals, making it even more intense.

I recommend this film to teens 13 and up. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol is a wonderful cinematic experience filled with action, and I think almost everyone will enjoy its fast pace.

Photos: Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol poster (top), Gabriella Chu (bottom)

The iconic Sherlock Holmes has been a favorite of mystery buffs since his introduction to English literature in 1887, earning a knighthood for his creator, the Scottish physician Arthur Conan Doyle. Yet in spite of it being such a perennial favorite with a devoted following, Warner Bros.’ releases Sherlock Holmes, in 2009, and the current Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows are the only major film adaptations since the 1939 film The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The more staid Sherlock Holmes as played by Basil Rathbone has given way to a delightfully eccentric character in Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal. As KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Gabriella Chu (age 15) points out in her review, the British flavor of the story remains strong.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Reviewed by Gabriella Chu
(See her full review on video.)

Are you into action films? The Sherlock Holmes sequel is out in theaters now. Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his sidekick, Dr. Watson (Jude Law), try to kill their foe, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), because Holmes believes he is linked to a number of recent crimes. They discover that Moriarty invests in companies in England owning cotton and other goods. He plans to start a war so that there will be a high demand for the goods, so he can make a fortune. Will Holmes succeed in preventing this war?

The cinematography of the movie was impressive. Several action scenes were filmed in slow motion, making it more thrilling. However, the lighting of the movie is gloomy, and it doesn’t really match the tone of the movie since it is a combination of action and adventure with a dash of comedy.

The storyline of the movie didn’t quite work for me, either. Although the film is like Mission Impossible in the 19th century, it’s a bit hard hearing what the characters are saying since they have a British accent, and the plot gets confusing at some parts. I did enjoy the ending of the film, though. It was interesting watching the director’s comparison of the face-off between Holmes and Professor Moriarty to a chess game.

I recommend this film to teens 13 and up, especially to fans of Sherlock Holmes. If you have a sharp eye and keen hearing, then you might find Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows intriguing.

Photos: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows poster (top), Gabriella Chu (bottom)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is good for a lot of laughs for audiences of all ages. That’s the word from seasoned KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Anthony Aranda (age 9). His review gives you a taste of what to expect from this Twentieth Century Fox release that’s in theaters now.

Kids aged six to 14, if you’d like a chance to be a KIDS FIRST! youth film critic, there are still a few days left to enter the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search. Get your submission in by midnight, Dec. 31.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(See his full review on video.)

I am reviewing a really funny movie called Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. This is awesome because there is a lot of action in the movie and everything the Chipmunks and Chipettes do is so funny.

This movie is all about Dave, the Chipmunks and the Chipettes, who go on vacation and have a really big adventure. They go on a cruise ship, and Alvin keeps causing lots of trouble on the ship (like always). Alvin comes up with a really great idea to fly on top of a kite. All of the other Chipmunks and Chipettes are holding the kite while Alvin is flying, but the wind picks up too hard. They start to fly away and Simon tries to help by tying the kite to Dave’s chair (while he is sleeping). This still doesn’t work and the chair and the chipmunks start to move down the deck of the ship. Eventually, the kite slips off the chair and the chair flips over. Dave wakes up to see the Chipmunks and the Chipettes fly away on the kite.

Some of the main characters in the movie are Dave, the Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon and Theodore), the Chipettes (Eleanor, Jeanette and Brittany), Zoe and Ian. My favorite character is Alvin because he is always having fun and causing lots of trouble. I also like him because, in the end, he learns that he can still have fun while being responsible.

My favorite part in the movie is when the Chipmunks and Chipettes meet Zoe when they are stranded on the island. She invites them to meet her friends, and when they get there they see that her friends are a bunch of sports balls. It’s really funny because it seems like she is a little crazy since she has been on the island for so long. We figure out later that there are spiders on the island that change a person’s personality and make them act differently. Later in the movie, Simon gets bitten by one of the spiders and then he starts acting like someone else. It is really funny.

I would recommend this movie for all ages because it is super funny and there was no violence or parts that would scare anyone. It also shows how much family means and that most families would do anything for each other. Go out and see this movie.

Photos: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked poster (top); Anthony Aranda (bottom)

As 15-year-old KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Gabriella Chu points out in her review of Walt Disney Studios release War Horse, war does not impact only the human participants. “It has a severe effect … on animals, too.” In addition to viewing the film’s screening at its red carpet event in New York, Gabriella - as a KIDS FIRST! youth film critic - had the opportunity to interview Michael Morpurgo, the author of the book on which the film is based. Gabriella’s insightful review will resonate with adults as well as with her fellow teens.

War Horse
Reviewed by Gabriella Chu
(See her full review on video.)

The acclaimed War Horse play and children’s book is now on the big screen! War Horse is a heartwarming tale about a father who buys a horse for his son on a whim. His son, Albert (played by Jeremy Irvine), develops an unbreakable bond with his horse, Joey. However, World War I approaches, and Joey is drafted into the military. Will the two ever reunite?

The movie has a charming story. When I interviewed the author of the children’s book War Horse, Michael Morpurgo, he told me that his book shows how war does not produce a severe effect on only people but on animals, too, specifically horses. It is interesting watching director Steven Spielberg’s translation of that theme into film. One notable scene shows the horse, Joey, galloping fiercely through no man’s land but then forced to slow down after he is tangled in a bunch of wires. After intense war, both opposing sides come together to detangle the horse! I found it touching because it shows that it takes both sides to solve a problem, and when the movie shows both soldiers cutting the wires from the horse, I thought of it as a symbol, like they were ending their conflict between each other. The cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski, filmed the scene beautifully, which helped produce such an emotional effect on the audience.

The cinematography in general is wonderful, especially when Kaminski zooms in on the feet of the horses and the faces of the horses as they gallop across the vast fields. Most of the beauty of the movie comes from the horses, and I think the horse trainers did an impeccable job, particularly Zelie Bullen, who trained the main horse, Joey.

I recommend this movie to teens ages 13 and up. It is a pleasant family film because it is not too brutal, yet it still packs in all of the action and intensity of war. The movie is a bit slow in the beginning, so younger teens may get bored, but it quickly picks up the pace as the war begins. This is a moving tale to watch and will bring the entire family together for the holidays.

Photos: War Horse poster (top), Gabriella Chu (bottom)

Nine-year-old KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Anthony Aranda has seen and reviewed a lot of movies during this past year, since being named one of the winners of the inaugural KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search, and while he’s given many a positive recommendation, this is the first to earn the raves he gives The Adventures of Tintin: “… one of the best adventure movies that I have ever seen.” Featuring the extremely life-like animaiton of The Polar Express, the movie is another triumph for acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, who directed, and Peter Jackson, who produced. It opens in theaters today.

The Adventures of Tintin
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(See his full review on video.)

This movie is really cool. This movie is one of the best adventure movies that I have ever seen. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

This movie is all about Tintin, who sees a model of a boat called the Unicorn, which has a secret passage to find a riddle. There are three models, and if he finds all three and holds them up to the sun he would see a clue to find out where the real Unicorn sank so that he can find all the treasure. Tintin goes on this adventure with his dog, Snowy, and meets Captain Haddock, who helps him along the way.

Some of the main characters in the movie are Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock and Inspector Thompson. My favorite character is Captain Haddock because he is a really funny character. Sometimes when he drinks he breaks down doors, and he doesn’t really know what water is because he is always drinking alcohol. I also like Tintin because he loves adventure and is always solving mysteries.

My favorite part in the movie is when Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock are on an airplane and are running out of fuel. They are going to pour alcohol into the fuel tank so Captain Haddock gets on top of the airplane — but he accidently left the alcohol inside of the plane. Since he always drinks alcohol, he burps inside of the fuel tank and that makes the engine start going really fast! That was really funny!

I would recommend this movie for all ages 6 and up because kids any younger would probably think this movie is kind of scary. The movie also references alcohol and has some violence. They have sword fighting, big machines that shoot guns, and bottles being thrown at people. The scenes are really cool action scenes but not appropriate for everyone. Go out and see this movie in theaters on December 21st.

For more information about this year’s KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search (submission deadline of midnight Dec. 31 coming up soon), visit http://www.kidsfirst.org/become-a-juror/2011FilmCriticsCampaign.html.

Photos: The Adventures of Tintin poster (top), Anthony Aranda (bottom)

No need for the usual “suspension of disbelief” to enjoy this family entertainment offering from Twentieth Century Fox, as this rather whimsical premise is based on the real experiences of a real family. Nine-year-old Anthony Aranda, enjoying the perks of a film critic as one of last year’s KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search winners, got to preview the movie prior to its upcoming release on Dec. 23. (The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search for next year’s youth film critics is open through Dec. 31.) The movie has its sad parts, KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Anthony shares, but many more funny parts that kept him laughing.

We Bought a Zoo
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(See his full review on video.)

Hello, everyone. My name is Anthony Aranda from KIDS FIRST! and I am reviewing a really cool movie called We Bought a Zoo. I really like this movie; it is kind of funny, a little sad, but really cool.

This movie is all about Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, who is living with his family in the city trying to deal with the death of his wife and raise his two kids. His son Dylan is not doing so well and keeps getting into trouble. Dylan finally gets expelled and so they have to find him a new school. Benjamin decides that it’s time for them to move and start a new life, and they find a really cool house out of the city and want to buy it. But they soon realize that this house comes with a zoo. His daughter Rosie loves the house, though, so they decide to give it a try.

Some of the main characters in the movie are Benjamin Mee, Kelly Foster, Duncan, Dylan and Rosie. My favorite character is Benjamin because he is a really funny character. When he gets mad he does some really funny stuff like throwing a tantrum all by himself, which kept me laughing. He is also a really good dad even though he doesn’t exactly know what he’s doing.

My favorite part in the movie is when Benjamin Mee is inside the porcupine pit and he thinks they are nice at first but then the porcupine starts running after him and he jumps over the fence and lands on pointy stuff. So when they try to take them off he keeps screaming! That was really funny.

I would recommend this movie for ages 10 and up because there are some scary parts in this movie that younger kids might not like. The movie is sad because the mom dies and the family is still trying to deal with that. The pictures that Dylan draws are kind of violent and scary and there is also some kissing in the movie that is not appropriative for younger viewers. Go out and see this movie in theaters on December 23rd.

Photos: We Bought a Zoo poster (top), Anthony Aranda (bottom)

As Breaking Dawn draws fans to the theaters for Summit Entertainment’s release of the latest installment of The Twilight Saga, KIDS FIRST! youth film critics Daniel and Jonah Menegaz (age 13) each share a thoughtful analysis of the movie.

Eight new KIDS FIRST! youth film critics will get their chance to review films and experience the thrill of red carpet interviews as we hold our second annual KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search.

Entering is fun and easy - and, if you live in the New York City area, entering includes the extra opportunity of a chance to receive a ticket to the Mama Doni Band’s Chanukah Fever concert Dec. 18 at the famed 92nd Street Y located on Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street in Manhattan or a copy of the Mama Doni CD “Chanukah Fever.” Scroll down for more information.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Park 1
Reviewed by Daniel Menegaz

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is the first half of the final installment of the Twilight Saga movies based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer that has gripped the nation since Twilight first came out on print. It is the tortured love story between Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), the vampire.

In this first part, Bella gets married and then gets pregnant on her honeymoon. The movie ends with her opening her bright red eyes as a vampire.

Having read Breaking Dawn, I thought it was fairly accurate to the story. However, the book doesn’t have quite enough information to stretch into two movies, so the movie was a little boring. The movie had some heavy drama; in fact, that was something I didn’t like. All the characters seemed to be depressed at what should have been a happy moment. Other than that, the movie was fairly good.

I really enjoyed the soundtrack and particularly the scenes. The movie had some very stunning nature shots.

I think this movie is for ages 13 and up because of very inappropriate subject matter regarding the sex and Bella’s pregnancy.

Overall, I would give this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a movie filled with drama, vampires and werewolves, this is your movie.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
Reviewed by Jonah Menegaz

Twlight. I shouldn’t have to say another word. The iconic books have swept the nation, and every girl who reads it loves it. Every girl who reads it sees and loves the movie, hence why the movies are so popular.

In case you haven’t read the books, this particular movie, based on Breaking Dawn, is about Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) getting married, and, while on their honeymoon, having sex. Edward being a vampire, they didn’t know it was possible to have a baby, but they did.

The acting and the portrayal of the characters were good and pretty believable, except for the fact that every time the main characters were supposed to look happy, they look all weary and depressed.

The make-up was good, considering how much of it they needed to put on and make it look the same in every scene, perfect in every scene, although sometimes it got to be a tad bit too much.

The sets were amazing, and they shot on location. The scene where Edward and Bella had the wedding was beautiful. The [sound stage] sets were great, too, if they used any.

Breaking Dawn was rightfully rated PG-13 because of sexual content and some violence. I would not recommend this movie for people under the age of 11. 

Overall, I’d rate this move 5.5 out of 10.

Photos: Breaking Dawn poster (top), Daniel Menegaz (middle), Jonah Menegaz (bottom)

Know a child who wants to be like Daniel and Jonah – or who aspires to become the next Roger Ebert? Here’s an opportunity for them. Enter the KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Search. http://bit.ly/rGImlF

Entering is fun and easy - and, if you live in the NEW YORK CITY area, entering includes the extra opportunity of a chance to receive a ticket to the Mama Doni Band’s Chanukah Fever concert Dec. 18, 2011 at the famed 92nd Street Y located on Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street in Manhattan or a copy
of the Mama Doni CD “Chanukah Fever.”

To enter, “LIKE” KIDS First Film Festival Official Site, https://www.facebook.com/KIDSFIRSTFilmFestival, and let us know you have entered the campaign for youth film critics. We will draw from entries tagged on our wall beginning Nov. 22, 2011. Winners will be notified by Dec. 15, 2011.

For more information about the prize, read all about it @https://www.facebook.com/events/275692132468415/ and then let us know you want to win tickets or a CD to New York’s CHANUKAH FEVER CONCERT.