KIDS FIRST! News

LAIKA has done it again! This stop motion animation film follows the life of Kubo who lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village until a spirit from the past turns his life upside down by re-igniting an age-old vendetta. This causes all sorts of havoc as gods and monsters chase Kubo who, in order to survive, must locate a magical suit of armor once worn by his late father, a legendary Samurai warrior. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. comments, “I loved this movie. It is original, beautiful to watch and has heart and soul. The quirkiness of this movie only adds to its lovability.” See her full review below.

Kubo And The Two Strings
By Morgan Bertsch, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

I love this movie. It is original, beautiful to watch and has heart and soul. The quirkiness of this movie only adds to its lovability. It is hard to find an original movie and using origami as the base of this movie is simply genius.

Kubo’s grandfather has stolen his eye and now is after the other and he will do whatever he has to, to get the other eye. His two aunts are frighten witches. His mother has lost all her memories and many dangers await Kubo and his only helpers are a monkey and a silly half man, half beetle and an endless supply of paper. I know this all sounds totally crazy, but it all works together quite nicely to make this incredible movie.

I struggled once trying to make an origami swan so I appreciate the origami in this film which has a mind of its own. Kubo plays a two-stringed instrument which transforms simple paper into magnificent, magical shapes and forms.

The voice-overs in this film are stupendous and really bring it to life. My favorite character is Kubo (Art Parkinson) who is just so adorable yet strong, independent and goodhearted. My other favorite is Monkey (Charlize Theron) who is brave, funny, clever and very stubborn. I love her character because of all these traits. Even though she is tough, she has a kind, sweet side that she shows how much she loves her son. There is also the beetle (Matthew McConaughey) who is hysterical, dangerous and a straight shooter or, at least according to him he is. I love his character because its funny and had me belly laughing. His affection for Monkey is adorable. Of course, there are villains of this film. The sisters, both played by Rooney Mara portrays them as crazy, wacko witches and her voice is perfectly scary. The other villain, The Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) is the weird Grandfather who wants Kubo’s other eye and he is super creepy.

One of my favorite scenes is when Kubo, Monkey and Beetle are trying to defeat a giant skeleton and find the sword of unbreakablity. It is adventurous and funny. The graphics are incredible, especially the way they created the skeleton. This is the biggest clay animation character ever made. I thought this action scene was intricate and believable.

I recommend this film for ages 7 to 18. Adults will like it too. I do want to suggest that if your child is younger than 7, they might get scared with the darkness and the villains, but if they can accept that it is all fake then they will be okay. I rate this film 5 out of 5 magical origami stars.

This remake of Pete’s Dragon follows the adventures of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley and more, this film truly appeals to a youth and family audience and makes a perfect family movie. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, “Pete’s Dragon is a great film that perfectly blends emotion and action in a heartwarming adventure of friendship and bravery.” Gerry O. adds, “Over the years, special effects have gotten better, acting more emotional, camera techniques more unique, and stories so much more exciting. Pete’s Dragon is a perfect example of the progress in the world of filmmaking.” Ryan R. sums it up with, “What I enjoy about this film is the animation of Elliot. The CGI’s are very realistic, for example the look of the fur and the detail of his chipped tooth ate perfect.” See their full reviews below.

Pete’s Dragon
By Benjamin P, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

Pete’s Dragon is a great film that perfectly blends emotion and action in a heartwarming adventure of friendship and bravery. Directed by David Lowery, Pete’s Dragon follows Pete (Oakes Fegley), a young boy who after a car accident survives in the woods for six years with the help of his friend Elliot, a dragon. When a park ranger named Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) finds Pete, he reenters society and must try to find a way to fit in while also trying to protect Elliot.

I like most of the characters in this film, but my favorite character is Elliot the dragon because he always looks after Pete and always does what’s best for him. The film and the visual effects make Elliot into a character I really do care about. He’s also funny and makes me laugh several times throughout the movie.

I love the cinematography in Pete’s Dragon. There are some breathtaking, massive shots of the forest where Elliot and Pete live.  The special effects in this film are fantastic, too. Instead of using animation to create Elliot like in the original, he is entirely in CGI and the results look fantastically life-like. I recommend you see this in 3D, especially for the flight sequences. Seeing Pete and Elliot glide through the mountains is very cool.

This film really surprised me because, as a remake, it borrows almost nothing from its source material. I have to give credit to director David Lowery for creating this new story and world.

Most of the cast deliver great performances. Oakes Fegley excels in his role as Pete, especially considering this is one of his first roles and his co-star wasn’t really there during filming. The excellent Robert Redford is in the film as Grace’s dad. He tells how he once saw a dragon in the woods but Grace never believed him. I really like his character. He is kind and reminds his daughter of the importance of seeing more magic in life.

I like this film because, unlike some other recent Disney remakes, it doesn’t try to be darker than the original but creates a new story for a younger generation that the whole family can enjoy.

I give Pete’s Dragon an age rating of 5 to 12 for scenes of peril. There are two or three that could scare younger viewers. Pete’s Dragon will take you on an emotional journey filled with humor, adventure, and magic. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars.

Pete’s Dragon
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

Over the years, special effects have gotten better, acting more emotional, camera techniques more unique, and stories so much more exciting. Pete’s Dragon is a perfect example of the progress in the world of filmmaking.

This film, at its core, is an adventure of two friends – a boy and his dragon. There is much more to offer though. Pete’s Dragon offers exciting and spectacular action, yet includes some comedy to keep things bright and highlight the complex relationship between a child and his big friend.

The story begins when a young boy named Pete (Oakes Fegly), age five, gets into a car accident and sadly, both his parents pass away. Pete is now stranded in the woods and everything changes when he meets a green dragon he names Elliot. They live happily together for six years until Pete is discovered by other people and now must make a huge decision. Should he live with Elliot in the woods or go live with humans?

Pete’s Dragon truly makes Elliot come to life. Not only is his skin and fur deeply detailed, his expressions look natural and the way he moves is very realistic. It makes you want to get a dragon of your own! The creators made it so we see the actors interacting with Elliot and hugging him, despite the fact that his image was added in post production. The CGI is seamless and makes you truly believe he is a real life dragon. The actors interacted with Elliot emotionally even though he isn’t actually there when they shot their scenes. What is equally impressive is that the young kids deliver a level of talent equal to adult actors. I also greatly enjoyed the cinematography. The scenes of Elliot flying through the clouds with Pete on his back and seeing the town, woods and mountains below are simply  spectacular.

My favorite scene is when Pete and Elliot play in the woods and are having a blast. I love this scene because it truly shows that no matter the difference of age, height or even species, they are best friends. I also enjoyed this scene because it shows the peaceful beauty of the forest and represents the fantastic visual effects they created for Elliot moving around the forest.

This movie is recommended for kids, but not too young kids. I recommend it to ages 6 to 18. Adults will enjoy it as well, but very young kids may find it a bit too intense at times. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars for its beautiful cinematography, spectacular acting and very realistic special effects. It’s in theaters now so, go check it out.

Pete’s Dragon
By: Ryan R, KIDS FIRST! Film Critics age 12

I liked watching Pete’s Dragon. I enjoyed watching this film because of its fantastic animations and great pacing. After a terrible car crash, Pete (Oakes Fegley) is the only survivor. He is found and raised by a dragon named Elliot in the woods. Elliot is a huge, green, compassionate and joyful dragon.  Six years later Pete is discovered by Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) a forest ranger who wonders how is he the woods by himself.  He says that he lives in the woods with a dragon. Grace sets out to investigate if  his story can be true. To find out what happens, you have to go see the movie.

What I enjoy about this film is the animation of Elliot. The CGI’s are very realistic, for example the look of the fur and the detail of his chipped tooth ate perfect.  This film makes it look like there is a real dragon in the woods.  The pacing of this film is great, it isn’t rushed, choppy or slow. I didn’t feel like I was watching a movie for an hour and a half.  This movie didn’t make me feel empty like other films I have seen. I additionally like the sets, the town looks beautiful.  Another thing, the cast performances are fantastic.  Robert Redford’s performance is superb, I enjoy his performance as Grace’s father. He is a great character and Oakes Fegley is amazing as Pete.  His performance shows a new side of this character that is different when compared to the original version.

The directing is well done. The director and writer (David Lowery) turned this remake into a fantastic piece.  The entire art department made the CGI’s great and I give them props for all their hard work.

However, one thing I didn’t like is that some scenes were predictable.  I knew how some scenes were going to turn out. I didn’t feel surprised when certain things happened in the film.  Besides that this film is great.

The moral of the film is just because someone or something is different, doesn’t make them a monster. When people see Elliot they immediately are afraid, they want to hunt him down and eventually want to use him.   Even though Elliot is very friendly, and compassionate dragon.

I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this to kids ages 6 to 18 and I think adults might like this as well. I also recommend this to people who like children, family, action and adventure movies. Make sure to see this film on Friday, August 12.   Coming to a theater near you, this movie won’t disappoint you.

The latest installment of the Bourne franchise features Matt Damon once again who is now well aware of who he is and determined to expose the government’s secrets. The most dangerous former operative of the CIA is drawn out of hiding to uncover hidden truths about his past. “Why would he come back now?” CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones). KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “What happens when you are impressed by emotional acting, an exciting soundtrack and heart-thumping stunts? You get the perfect action thriller.” See his full review below.Jason Bourne
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

What happens when you are impressed by emotional acting, an exciting soundtrack and heart-thumping stunts? You get the perfect action thriller –  next installment in the Jason Bourne series.

This dramatic action film doesn’t contain one single joke and it is not a romance flick either. The characters experience multiple adventures and is a non-stop action-filled film  with an exciting scene at least every three minutes, keeping the viewer engaged the whole way through.

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) has taken to boxing matches for money, but everything changes when a friend of his, Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) comes to him with a flash drive filled with top-secret CIA information. Jason goes on a dangerous adventure where he loses friends, makes new enemies, finds old ones and more all to uncover his past when he was part of the CIA and what happened to him.

This story may sound confusing if the viewer is unfamiliar with previous Bourne stories. Although you can guess what happened in previous events as the film attempts to explain what Matt’s character is trying to achieve, if you know who Jason Bourne is and what the series are about, it’s easier to follow. The good thing is that you do not need to read every book of the series or watch all the previous films since the flashbacks and conversation mostly explains what happened before.

Throughout the film there is a very intense soundtrack that adds tension to the dramatic scenes. However, the soundtrack is always intense, including several scenes which contain dialogue and would be great without any of this intrusive music. The action scenes in this film are wonderful with car chases, jumping off buildings and fights in parking lots. Each action scene is epic and clearly shows a lot of work went in to make it perfect. One major problem with the action scenes is that the cinematography is very shaky and rapid. Although it helps put you “inside” the fight, it makes it very difficult to understand what is going on when it’s used extensively. Unfortunately, this is the case here and since this film is compiled of lots of shaky and rapid shots, it makes you feel slightly dizzy. The acting in this film is legendary, with returning cast from the previous Bourne films like Matt Damon and Julie Stiles. There are also many new characters such as Alicia Vikander who plays Heather Lee. Each member of the cast excels in their roles and I give them credit for such believable performances.

My favorite scene is one of the first action scenes when James Bourne and Nicky Parsons are trying to escape from Greece. One major problem is that the city is full of protests and riots coupled by the fact that the CIA is right on their tail. An epic motorcycle chase ensues as well as fighting sequences and more. It is exciting with perfect staging and the soundtrack adds a lot of intensity as well.

I do not recommend this film for young kids due to the language, violence, gore and more. I recommend it for ages 13 to 18. Younger kids would find it too intense and dramatic. I give it four out of five stars because, although it has minor problems such as dizzy cinematography and a relentless soundtrack, it is an entertaining and epic thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The latest installment of the Ice Age series features Scrat in his epic pursuit of his elusive acorn. To save themselves from peril, Manny, Sid, Diego, and the rest of the herd leave their home and embark on a quest full of thrills and spills, highs and lows, laughter and adventure while traveling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colorful new characters. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, “Ice Age: Collision Course is a good film with excellent animation, laugh-out-loud comedy and includes all your fun and favorite characters from the past movies.” Kamhai B. adds, “I really enjoyed this movie because it is hilarious and action packed. One of the funny parts of the movie is when Sid’s grandma (Wanda Skyes) says “that plan is so dumb I wish it had a face so I could slap it.” Brandon C. wraps it up with, “It may just be my getting older, but I felt slightly bored throughout the movie. Don’t get me wrong, Scrat (Chris Wedge) is comedy gold and Sid (John Leguizamo) commands any scene he is in.” See their full reviews below.

Ice Age: Collision Course
By Benjamin P, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

Ice Age: Collision Course is a good film with excellent animation, laugh-out-loud comedy and includes all your fun and favorite characters from the past movies. The film follows Manny (Ray Romano), Sid (John Leguizamo), Diego (Denis Leary) and the rest of the Ice Age gang as they must divert an asteroid from flinging them into a new age called extinction.

My favorite character in Ice Age: Collision Course is Scrat (Chris Wedge) who started out as a small character in the first Ice Age film and slowly became a fan favorite and the mascot of the franchise. Scrat lights up the screen every scene he is in. His brand of slapstick humor is more present here than in any other Ice Age film. I even kind of sympathize with this character because he goes through all this trouble just for an acorn.

Another character I like is Buck. Simon Pegg’s talent really shines in his voice over work here. Buck has a big personality and, just like Scrat, has some of the movie’s most memorable laughs. He is in a lot of my favorite sequences. My favorite part of this film is when Buck tries to find a strategy to save the mammals from disaster. He seeks help from personalities in his mind including Neil deBuck Weasel. I’m a big fan of a television show Neil deGrasse Tyson did called Cosmos, so it was funny to see his foray into voice acting.

This movie is a pleasant surprise considering this is the fifth film in the franchise. I thought by now the series had run dry, but this one excels on several fronts in terms of how it looks and how much it will make you laugh. I recommend you see this in 3D. It was cool seeing asteroids barreling towards me. The effects are very polished. The computer animation in this film excels and mixes lush backgrounds with great character design. The film has good comedy, most of the time. There are one or two scenes in this film that take the joke one step too far or where it is just plain gross.

I give Ice Age: Collision Course an age rating of 5 to 18 because of some crude humor and sequences that could be scary to younger viewers. I give Ice Age: Collision Course 3 out of 5 stars.

Ice Age: Collision Course
by Kamhai Beard, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I really enjoyed this movie because it is hilarious and action packed. One of the funny parts of the movie is when Sid’s grandma (Wanda Skyes) says “that plan is so dumb I wish it had a face so I could slap it.” An example of the action packed part is when Buck (Simon Peg) retrieves an egg from a group of dino birds who stole the egg. Another example is when the comet almost crashes into earth but Manny (Ray Romano) stops it from crashing into earth.

This movie is about a meteor that crashes into Earth every thousand years. So it is up to Sid (John Leguizamo), Manny and the other animals to stop the comet and save the day in only a matter of minutes. A side plot is about Peaches (Keke Palmer) who is getting married and moving far away from her parents. When her parents hear this, they try to stop her from doing it.

The graphics in this movie are great. I’ve seen other 3D movies, but this takes the cake. For example, when you see the 3D comets, they look as if they are real. So I think the graphics team excelled because the graphics are colorful, believable and bright. I also liked the part where they make everyone look old. I liked this part because it is just so realistic. I also like the storyline of the movie. It is so good, it had me at the edge of my seat. I think Ice Age: Collision Course is a great movie and recommend it to ages 5 through 13. I say 5-year-olds only because it will captivate and hold their attention. And I chose 13-year-olds because they will laugh and understand the hilarious humor in the movie. I the film 5 out of 5 stars because it is funny, entertaining, colorful and bright. You can find this movie at your local movie theater July 22, 2016. Thanks for reading, I’ll ice you later.

Ice Age: Collision Course
By Brandon Cela, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18

Going into this movie, I realized that I had not seen an Ice Age movie since I was a kid. While I still knew the main characters and the type of film I was in for, nothing prepared me for Ice Age: Collision Course. The movie follows the gang in their quest to survive and possibly stop an asteroid from hitting Earth. With the help of their new acquaintance Buck (Sean Penn), the original gang and their families band together through a big adventure in a very kid-friendly movie.

It may just be my getting older, but I felt slightly bored throughout the movie. Don’t get me wrong, Scrat (Chris Wedge) is comedy gold and Sid (John Leguizamo) commands any scene he is in. At the same time though, I just got annoyed by the other characters. The comedy feels a bit forced and I did not care for the characters. Also, I did not hear any great lines from Manny (Ray Romano) or Diego (Dennis Leary) for that matter.

Like I said, this movie is not meant for me. There is a great amount of kid-friendly comedy and the film has a Zootopia sort of tone of teaching the audience morals and life lessons. From a technical standpoint, I saw no flaws as everything is sound, from the editing to graphics to audio.

That being said, Ice Age: Collision Course lacks in entertainment value. When you have Ray Romano and Dennis Leary – two great comedic talents – at your disposal and you give them little to nothing to work with, you are not utilizing your talent properly. It would be the equivalent of the New England Patriots not starting Tom Brady as their quarterback. It makes no sense. In conclusion, while the film as a whole is not as appealing as I thought it would be, there are still some great moments throughout the film including some sneaky references and a few Neil deGrasse Tyson appearances. I give Ice Age: Collision Course 3 out of 5 stars for the great technical aspects but lackluster entertainment value.

From the producers of Despicable Me, The Lorax and Minions comes another family-friendly animated film in this story about a terrier named Max whose quiet life is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray mutt whom Max instantly dislikes. With vibrant animation and a great cast, this is one you can share with your entire family. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Willie J. comments, “This film will not dazzle you with a wonderfully woven plot, but it will undoubtedly entertain you with dynamic characters and strong jokes that land more often than not.” See his full review below.

The Secret Life of Pets
By Willie Jones, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Let the debates begin and if they haven’t begun, allow me to start: Zootopia or The Secret Life of Pets? – two acclaimed comedic animated movies featuring talking animals. Well, I’d like to throw in my opinion – The Secret Life of Pets, while less cleverly plotted, is much better written and animated. This film will not dazzle you with a wonderfully woven plot, but it will undoubtedly entertain you with dynamic characters and strong jokes that land more often than not.

The day of New York City misadventures for Max and the newly picked up Duke, is reminiscent of those zany 50s and 60s comedies. Without coincidence, those decades were very popular for films set in the “City that Never Sleeps”, particularly for comedies. Jokes about hipsters moving to Brooklyn and New York City alleyways are featured in the film, paying homage to the city. But even better than that, are the beautiful shots of New York City in this film. It would give the opening scene in Manhattan a run for its money. The cinematography in this film is absolutely gorgeous, worthy of being full sized paintings to hang on your wall. Master shots include New York City at night with the lights from the moon and the buildings illuminating the city, aerial shots of the city in the daytime with beautiful weather and an air of inspiration. The images captured in this film are among some of the best of any animated feature ever and I’ve no issue saying that.

But, the imagery isn’t the best part of the movie. Naturally, its the characters of the film. For a comedy of this nature to be successful, the writer/s must come up with strong characters who make strong choices. So the jokes end up bolder and have a higher probability of landing. This movie is filled with those. Archetypes pervade the movie  such as the longing ingénue, the idiotic gang leader, the fearless elder and the neurotic straight man (the main character). These familiar characters were popular in comedies during the 50s and 60s and further highlight the style of film this is, which is quite refreshing. As a matter of fact, the relationship between Duke and Max is reminiscent of Walter Matthau (Duke) and Max (Jack Lemmon), who were a successful duo in cinema in the 50s and 60s. This film is so much like others of that era, I can see Billy Wilder directing this.

Lastly, and what impressed me most, is the score. It is an up tempo, lighthearted score. But, what makes it so impressive is how often it is used. In today’s comedies, a score isn’t used often. Because we’re in an age of off-beat, dry comedy, an accompanying score ruins the tone and wipes away the awkwardness. This film uses the score like those comedies of the 50s and 60s, which creates a more lighthearted comedic tone and gives comedic rhythm to the scene. It also makes scene transitions less awkward and helps with pace. The score itself is a wonderful, having been scored by the great Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 & 2). I’d love to see it in contention for the Best Score Oscar (although seeing the fate of Inside Out’s beautiful score, it may not happen).

So with all of this nostalgia, the movie really impressed me. It’s not easy to go against the grain and pay homage to classic Hollywood. Speaking of which, I am loving this trend in animated films today that reference older movies. Inside Out referenced Chinatown, this movie referenced Some Like it Hot (a cat says to a dog trying to date her, “I’m a cat” and the dog says “Well, nobody’s perfect”), The Birds, and Grease (even singing a song from the musical). It’s very satisfying for movie fans.

With all of that said, I give this movie 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. The reason it misses out on perfection for me is because I feel the plot could have been tighter and I wish the film had a little bit more to say, or at least say it meant to say a little louder. But nonetheless, I know your kids will enjoy this film and you will too. I recommend it for ages 6 to 18 and it can be seen at a local theater near you when it opens July 8.