KIDS FIRST! News

Academy Award® winner Ron Howard returns to direct the latest bestseller in Dan Brown’s (Da Vinci Code) billion-dollar Robert Langdon series, Inferno, which finds the famous symbologist (again played by Tom Hanks) on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to stop a madman from unleashing a global virus that would wipe out half of the world’s population. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tre’ana H. comments, “It is interesting, but not for me. The director Ron Howard keeps you in suspense and on the edge of your seat, but there is so much going on in this film that it’s difficult to keep it all straight.” See her full review below.

Inferno

By Tre’ana H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I did not enjoy this film very much because it is like a jig saw puzzle where the pieces all need to be in place to figure it out and they’re not. It is interesting, but not for me. The director Ron Howard keeps you in suspense and on the edge of your seat, but there is so much going on in this film that it’s difficult to keep it all straight.

When Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) and together they must race across Europe against the clock to foil a deadly global plot that would wipe out half of the world’s population. I can’t reveal any more so please  go check it out for yourself.

The most memorable moment is when Robert Langdon and Sidse Bebett Knudsen (Elizabeth Sinskey)  get to Europe and, in order to stop the global plague, Sidse jumps into the water to help the police get control of the deadly plague. It is awesome the way she joins right in without any hesitation.

The film takes place all over Europe with beautiful scenery and amazing buildings with great artifacts. The moral message of this film is be aware of who you encounter when doing professional business. A person can befriend you, but that definitely does not mean they will be a true friend. In any job or something you play a part in, pay close attention to your surroundings.

I recommend this film for ages 15 to 18 and give it 3 out of 5 stars because it is not particularly child friendly. This film is better suited for older teens and adults. I talked with some adults about this film and even they stated that they had a hard time grasping this movie.

This movie hits theaters Friday, October 28, 2016 so go check it out and let me know what you think.

Blinky Bill the Movie is a 2015 Australian-American computer-animated adventure film based on the Blinky Bill character, an anthropomorphic koala created by Dorothy Wall for a children’s book series in 1933. Blinky Bill is a little koala with a big imagination. An adventurer at heart, he dreams of leaving the little town of Green Patch and following in his missing father’s footsteps. When Blinky discovers a mysterious marker that hints at his Dad’s whereabouts, he embarks on a journey that takes him beyond the boundary of Green Patch and into the wild and dangerous Outback. He quickly makes friends with Nutsy, a zoo koala, and Jacko, a nervous frill-necked lizard. Pursued relentlessly by a vengeful Cat who has a personal score to settle with Blinky, the trio must learn to work together if they ever want to survive the rugged Australian landscape and find Blinky’s father! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. comments, “This is actually a pretty cool film. I love the animation because it is so crisp and clear and detailed. I like that it’s so simple and colorful but yet has quite a lot of detail. It makes it seem like it’s real.” Linda D adds, “I love this film and think that any young child will absolutely love it too. It is an amazing film to watch as a family, filled with adventure, friendship and an unforgettable journey on a young koala’s quest to find his dad.” See their full reviews below.

Blinky Bill the Movie
By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

I love this film. It was very fun to watch. I like that the adventures are comical and it’s based on an Australian cartoon. It’s a movie based on koalas which I’m very happy about because they haven’t done that in a long time. Plus, it takes place in Australia so it has a few Australian words which are actually quite funny. And, of course, they have Australian accents which I like too.

It has quite a cast including Ryan Kwanten as Blinky Bill, an adventurous koala who decides to go look for his dad who has gone to the sea of white dragons to look after him mum and has been gone for almost a year. So, Blinky’s worried about him and decides to go on an epic quest. On his way he meets Nutsy   (Robin McLeavy) who is my favorite character. She is very silly and ditzy. Not only that but she’s kinda like a zoo koala, aka a city girl. I think she’s trying to find her inner wild side. She is very funny because she has some quite snotty remarks as well as she pretends that she doesn’t like Blinky Bill most of the time. You can tell that her character is dead. Then there is David Wenham who plays Jacko. Nutsy and Blinky Bill try to find him and they help him out when he gets stuck in a couple of situations. Let’s just say he’s very silly and I like the way that his character is so uppity. He’s very comical and a little crazy. But, that just adds to the excitement. Then there’s the evil Cat played by Rufus Sewell. He’s actually trailing behind Blinky and everyone else just because he doesn’t like koalas. He doesn’t like them because something happened in his past.

This is actually a pretty cool film. I love the animation because it is so crisp and clear and detailed. I like that it’s so simple and colorful but yet has quite a lot of detail. It makes it seem like it’s real. My favorite scene is probably Nutsy decides to finally go to her zoo home, which she’s been trying to do the entire time, but decides to go with Blinky Bill instead and go with his family as well as Jacko. It was very sweet and a very humble moment as well. And, it’s very silly, all because she decided to get over heights. It is actually very funny and the way the two of them bond is very adorable.

I recommend this film for ages 5 to 12. Kids will love the story, the animation and the adventure. Older adults will probably like it too because it is very funny and silly. I give this 5 out of 5 wild outback koala stars.

Blinky Bill The Movie
By Linda D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

I love this film and think that any young child will absolutely love it too. It is an amazing film to watch as a family, filled with adventure, friendship and an unforgettable journey on a young koala’s quest to find his dad.

Blinky Bill is an animated film about a young koala, Blinky Bill (Ryan Kwanten) who seeks adventure and goes out to find his father Mr. Bill (Richard Roxburgh) who has been missing for a year. He leaves without telling his mother Mrs. Bill (Deborah Mailman) but informs his friends about his trek into the Australian Outback. Leaving his home in the refuge of Greeanpatch, Blinky heads into civilization where he begins his adventure of dodging a cat (Rufus Sewell) who is intent on getting his revenge on Blinky. He encounters Nutsy (Robin McLeavy), a young female koala who is on her way to her new zoo when Blinky accidently runs into her and Jacko, a nervous frill-necked lizard. With his new friends, Blinky embarks on an adventure to save his dad.

The greatest feature of this film is how the animals appear, because the animals look cute and realistic at the same time. My favorite character is Nutsy, because she is strong and knows what she wants and, although all she knew was Zoo life after being orphaned, she is able to be open to new adventures with Blinky. My favorite part of this film is when Blinky throws fruit at the new ruler of the town, Mayor Cranklepot (Barry Otto)a lizard and gets him all dirty This is my favorite because everyone is laughing and that scene left me smiling. The moral of this story is that if you believe in something, go for it. If Blinky didn’t go after his father he would never have been able to go on his amazing adventure and meet his new friends.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars because of its appealing story line that packs a lot of fun into the film. I recommend this film for ages 4 to 6 since older children may get bored of the child-like situations, but adults might like to watch it with their younger children as a family. Blinky Bill is playing in theaters now and will be available on DVD on October 11, 2016.

Who doesn’t have mixed feelings about their middle school experience? It’s a time of transition and Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, based on the novel by James Patterson and Chris Tebbets will bring back memories and hysterics. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ryan R. comments, “Many people can relate to hating school at some point in their life and that is what makes this movie so relatable. I love the animations, because they are child friendly and are very well drawn.  It shows that it’s okay for you to have and use your imagination and be creative.” Mia A. adds, “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is the best movie I have seen for middle school kids in a long time! It is fun and creative, and I absolutely enjoyed it.” See their  full reviews below.Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I absolutely enjoyed watching this movie because I could relate to the characters. Also the humor is great and the cast is superb. Meet Rafe (Griffin Gluck) who is entering another middle school, due to his behavior. Rafe attends his new school, but there is too many rules and Rafe doesn’t like rules. So Rafe and his best friend Leo (Thomas Barbusca) decide to break every rule in the school. Rafe does this because the principal doesn’t promote creativity and destroys his notebook which is filled with all his drawings.

Many people can relate to hating school at some point in their life and that is what makes this movie so relatable. I love the animations, because they are child friendly and are very well drawn.  It shows that it’s okay for you to have and use your imagination and be creative. Additionally, the performances of Griffin Gluck, Thomas Barbusca, Isabela Moner, Alexa Nisenson and the entire cast is fantastic. You can tell that the actors took it seriously and when they portrayed their emotions, it doesn’t seem fake. It feels very real.  The soundtrack is perfect. It gives the right tone and energy for the scenes.  I love this movie so much there is nothing I didn’t like about it.

This is Alexa Nisenson’s first featured film and she gives an amazing performance as Georgia, making me laugh many times. Also, she makes you feel her emotions throughout the movie. The humor in this movie is great. I love the pranks Rafe uses to break the school rules which are created by the mean principal. My favorite scene is when Rafe puts post-it notes all over the school because I love how he created artwork with the post-it notes.

This movie is a must see, and I think that most kids will love this movie as well including the adults. I recommend it to kids ages 6 to 18. I give this movie 5 out of 5 amazing stars. I recommend it to people who like adventure, family, comedy and book-based movies. Be aware that this movie contains some mild language and kids under the age of 6 might not understand what is going on. Also, there are a few emotional scenes, so bring your tissues. Make sure to see this film when it opens October 7, 2016 in theaters nationwide.

Middle School: the Worst Years of my Life
By Mia A, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life is the best movie I have seen for middle school kids in a long time! It is fun and creative, and I absolutely enjoyed it.

This movie is based on the book by the same name, about a kid named Rafe (Griffin Gluck) who is in middle school. He is one of those troubled kids, although we really like him. He has been expelled from many schools and this is the last school he can get into. His school is very strict and he doesn’t like it at all, so he decides a plan to try to get back at the principal for making all these horrible rules.

My favorite character is Rafe, the main character, because he is hilarious! Rafe is very creative and shows a lot of emotions. His little sister Georgia (Alexa Nisenson) is very funny and sassy. There is one scene where Georgia cries and she almost made me cry. It is so realistic! Lauren Graham from The Gilmore Girls plays the loving mom. The other adults are more like human cartoons. Their behaviors are stereotypical and over the top silly.

The music really sets the tone of the movie and gets the audience involved. I enjoyed the music a lot because it includes some of the most popular songs today. It got me more into the movie and made me think it was a real middle school that other kids attended.

I think the animation is incredible!  It looks very much like a drawing from a very artistic person and it gives your brain something to think about. The animated creatures are funny and creative and they feel like they are Rafe’s friends.  The animation helps us explore more of Rafe’s imagination as the characters come to life. I really like how the characters are very detailed, colorful and look like they are hand sketched, making you think Rafe actually drew them.

The audience was very into this movie and were on the edge of their seats. The plot is very unexpected. The audience seemed to really connect to all the characters, especially one of the main teachers, Mr. Teller (Adam Pally). He is very relatable and seems like a great teacher that a lot of kids would want to have as their own teacher.

My favorite scene is when Rafe puts sticky notes all over the whole school. It’s very creative and funny.  I loved the artwork of the vice principal’s face in sticky notes. The use of color and design to the sticky notes is very creative.

I recommend this film for ages 8 to 15 rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It opens October 7, 2016 so go see it at your local theater. Your kids are going to love it!

Tim Burton graces us with his latest fantastic film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children based on the novel by Ransom Riggs. The story features a young man, Jacob finds Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and discovers clues to a mystery that stretches across time. The danger deepens after he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “Tim Burton, once again, excels in one main category – special effects. Despite CGI now creeping into every film, I love how he makes some monsters look like stop-motion animation. This makes them feel realistic and is a fantastic choice.” Na’im S. adds, “If you like movies that start off with a big action scene and keep that momentum going throughout the whole movie, you should definitely go check this movie out.” See their full reviews below.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

If you are looking for hilarious comedy, intense action scenes, spectacular visual effects, original and unique camera shots, exciting but unexpected story – there is only one film that combines all of these so perfectly and that is: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

There are so many elements that create this master piece. A lot of the film contains wonderful and original humor, but also balances it out with drama and intense scenes. The main story also contains strong elements of romance that is spectacular due to wonderful acting and a beautiful script.

The story begins when Jake (Asa Butterfield), as a teenager, loses his grandfather. His grandfather’s dying words are to find someone and talk to them about something. This of course is confusing to him and he decides to convince his parents to take a vacation to Wales to find out if all the bedtime stories his grandpa told him about peculiar children with magical-like powers are true. He finds out that there is a very big danger to the children and the home and he is the only one that can possibly stop it. The only question – is he up to the task and is it real?

Tim Burton, once again, excels in one main category – special effects. Despite CGI now creeping into every film, I love how he makes some monsters look like stop-motion animation. This makes them feel realistic and is a fantastic choice. The rest of the monsters and special effects can only be described as stunning with stunning detail and realistic looking characters. That isn’t the only great thing about this film though. There is also a legendary and complex story with many twists and turns that keeps your attention and keeps bringing unexpected additions to the plot. The actors truly make the story come to life and excel in their roles. From comedy scenes, to romance scenes, each feels realistic and natural.

Speaking of scenes, my favorite would be when they take a giant sunken cruise ship and resurface it. I choose this scene for one main reason – the special effects. Even though the whole sequence lasts less than five minutes, it will leave you in awe as they take a hundred foot long ship and launch it back from the bottom of the ocean. This scene shows how much effort creators really put into the special effects for the movie – this moment is truly a centerpiece.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children may seem like a great family friendly film, but it is far from that. There is some gore and graphic scenes so it is inappropriate for young children. I recommend it for ages 12 to 18. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars simply because it is so spectacular from the acting, to the exciting story and, of course, to the phenomenal special effects. This film opens in theaters September 30 so, go check it out.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Na’im S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

If you like movies that start off with a big action scene and keep that momentum going throughout the whole movie, you should definitely go check this movie out. Director Tim Burton uses really exotic and unusual special effects that make you feel like you are back in the mid 1900s when the movie takes place. If you watch this movie, you might feel like you are on a big adventure with the Peculiar Children.

This movie is about this boy named Jake (Asa Butterfield) whose uncle was killed by one of the evil Peculiars. Jake’s uncle gave him a message right before he died to go to see Miss Peregrine and all the Peculiars. Jake goes on a journey with his father, back in time, to Miss Peregrine’s home for Peculiar Children. Jake meets a bunch of different Peculiar Children and they go on a quest to save Miss Peregrine and all the others. The head of the Evil Peculiars, Barron (Samuel L. Jackson) is hungry for human eye balls, which is the only thing that can keep Barron looking human. Barron has the ability of looking like anyone in the world which really throws everyone off in the beginning and ending of the movie. Also Barron has a special peculiarity which really helps him but it hurts others.

What is really interesting about this movie is how one character really steps up and leads the team of Peculiar Children to fight the Evil Peculiars. It is nice to see how someone can go from being shy to being a leader.

I recommend this movie for 10 to 18-year-olds. Adults will also love this movie because of the thrills and suspense it contains. I do not recommend it for younger kids because it is very scary in some parts and they would probably get very frightened.

I give this movie 5 out of 5 solid gold stars for its suspense, thrills and humor and because it makes you want to keep watching to the very end.

From Warner Bros Animation comes Storks, about those eloquent birds known for delivering babies, but have moved on from delivering babies to packages. When an order for a baby appears, the best delivery stork must scramble to fix the error by delivering the baby. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “Storks is a film unlike most other animated comedies. Not only does it appeal to kids, with fantastic morals and fun and silly humor, it appeals to adults as well.” Morgan B. adds, “It is one of the cutest movies that I have seen this year. It has humor, an original story line, family and the cutest thing ever – babies.” See their full reviews below.

Storks
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

Storks is a film unlike most other animated comedies. Not only does it appeal to kids, with fantastic morals and fun and silly humor, it appeals to adults as well. This makes Storks a true family comedy that also has beautiful animation, wonderful voice acting and a unique story.

Storks is predominantly a comedy. The story itself is an adventure, but there also some drama here and there to keep things exciting and, just to make sure you never get bored, there are also a few action scenes that are both intense and hilarious.

This movie starts out showing storks delivering babies. This all changes when one Stork decides to stop delivering babies and starts producing and delivering goods instead. One young stork named Junior (Andy Samberg) discovers that a baby was accidentally made and tries to eliminate the problem by delivering the baby. On the way, they meet old friends, new friends and also make enemies.

The humor in this film is fantastic. Not only is it original and never gets boring, the funniest parts are when characters in the film point out something that shouldn’t be possible. That, combined with a great soundtrack and perfect voice acting, makes for very funny scenes. The animation in Storks contains a lot of bright colors as well as many beautiful scenery shots. The voice-over cast really suits their roles, even if their character has only three lines, they make the nonexistent character come to life.

My favorite scene is when Junior and his partner, Tulip (Kate Crown) are captured by a pack of wolves. The wolves fall in love with the baby and the two are able to escape and grab the baby. What I love about this scene is that the wolves form different vehicles using their bodies. It is hilarious to watch the wolves talk to each other and see the characters point out how impossible it is. This makes the scene hilarious and also, is very action packed. While laughing, the viewer is on the edge of their seat in excitement.

Storks is meant for kids, but can appeal to adults too. I recommend it for ages 6 to 18 plus adults. There are some dramatic scenes that may be too intense for younger kids. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars for original and hilarious comedy, unique plot, beautiful soundtrack, wonderful voice acting and spectacular animation. It opens in theaters September 23, 2016 so be sure to check it out.

Storks
By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

I love this movie so much. It is one of the cutest movies that I have seen this year. It has humor, an original story line, family and the cutest thing ever – babies. The story is unique, fun and adventurous, all of which make it a perfect family film that you will want to watch again and again.

The voiceovers really fit the characters perfectly and bring this film to life. One of my favorites is Tulip played by Katie Crown who is perfect for this part because she is silly, fun, bubbly and just wants to help. But every time she tries to help, chaos always finds a way to happen. My other favorite character is Junior. Andy Samberg plays this part perfectly as a determined, hysterical and ambitious character. Tulip and Junior make the perfect odd team. Then there is the Gardner Family – Mrs. Gardner (Jennifer Aniston) who I have had the pleasure of meeting, Mr. Gardner (Ty Burrell) and their son Nate Gardner (Anton Starkman). This family is adorable and funny. They build their house to be a giant carnival slide for the storks to deliver their new baby. I would love my house to look like that. Last but not least, there are the bad guys – Hunter (Kelsey Grammer) and his sidekick Pigeon Toady (Stephen Kramer Glickman) who is a friend of mine. These two characters are humorous and play the villains we love to hate so much. Toady is very small, but you know what they say “dynamite comes in small packages.”

The animation in his film is colorful, fast paced and a joy to watch. You can see every feather and hair on every bird and human. This film is also gender friendly with strong female as well as strong male characters. These are two of the main reasons why I really liked it.

My favorite scene is when The Wolf Pack (Keegan-Michael & Jordan Peele) try to take an adorable little baby named Diamond Destiny to raise her as a wolf. I love this scene because it is one of the funniest scenes in the movie. The wolves actually become a submarine, boat, plane and so much more. It is humorous and silly and you can’t help but laugh along with the rest of the audience.

I recommend this for ages 5 to 18. Adults will enjoy this as well. Everyone will love the babies, the comedy and the overall cuteness of this film. Adults will want to spend more time with their children after watching this film. The children will want a new baby sibling to play with so they can see real storks in action. I give this film 5 out of 5 adorable ninja skilled babies.