KIDS FIRST! News

The time has come!  Marvel’s latest super hero film lands in theaters just in time for summer viewing. Based on the Civil War comic series which pits two favorite characters against each other – Captain America and Iron Man – this film’s story unfolds in a two and a half hour epic that, according to our KIDS FIRST! reporters, is worth every minute. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Brandon C., comments, “I have never had as much of a great time as I had watching Captain America: Civil War. Is that a great amount of hyperbole? Probably yes. But, hear me out.” Gerry O. adds, “The length of the film is very long (142 minutes) with many characters and with that Captain America: Civil War still ends up being so far, one of the best films of 2016.” Ryan R. concludes with, “The movie Captain America Civil War is finally here and let me tell you, “It is awesome!” I loved watching this movie for its amazing special effects, the high impact action scenes and the acting.” See their full reviews below.

Captain America: Civil War
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

Captain America: Civil War can easily be considered an action film, but it doesn’t stick to just that. The dramatic plot excites with careful writing and spectacular twists and turns. Of course, there can never be a superhero film without jokes here and there, but they don’t push it over the limit and keep the audience entertained.

The length of the film is very long (142 minutes) with many characters and, with that Captain America: Civil War still ends up being so far, one of the best films of 2016.

Captain America: Civil War starts off with several Avengers attempting to stop the robbing of a strong bio-weapon. The mission’s going well, however, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) accidentally kills dozens of civilians. The avengers must now sign a document saying that the UN (United Nations) can dictate where and what to do. The event becomes a disaster when a bomb goes off outside their headquarters. The Avengers are now split. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) agrees to accept whatever the UN has to say and not interfere. Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) wants to find the terrorist. Eventually, this split gets worse and worse. To find out who wins, what happens and who ignites the bomb, you need to watch the film.

The length of the film may be one big thing about it that some people will see as negative – two and a half hour run time can be trying. However, it perfectly fits this film. The plot unfolds as very thick, complex and long. To try to squeeze it in a shorter run time would make the story feel rushed and confusing. There are other negatives to this film. Much like Captain America: Winter Soldier, the fight scenes go way too fast. Camera shots are only a split second long in the most intense fight scenes, making it very hard to understand what’s going on. On top of that, there are a few plot holes in the film. And then, the viewer comes to the point that defeats all the other negatives: the final fight scenes. These fight scenes between characters combine exciting soundtrack, emotional acting, spectacular visual effects, smooth choreography and more. At times, up to 12 characters fight each other in the same scene and the end result is nothing less than epic!

My favorite scene features one of the fight sequences. It takes place in an airport with so many different superheroes including Black Panther, Spider man, Ant man, Iron Man, Captain America and many more. The feeling the viewer gets from it can only be called pure adrenaline. There many exciting moments in this film, but these perfectly put together fight scenes are easily the most exciting.

The film is not meant for young kids in the slightest. I recommend it to ages 13 through 18. I give it 5 out of 5 stars because, despite a few flaws – dramatic interactions between characters, emotional acting and nothing less than perfect fight scenes easily make up for those flaws.

Captain America: Civil War
Review by KIDS First! Film Critic, Ryan R. age 12

The movie Captain America Civil War is finally here and let me tell you, “It is awesome!” I loved watching this movie for its amazing special effects, the high impact action scenes and the acting. In this film, the government’s political interference regarding the Avengers’ activities and the repercussions that happen when they are trying to save lives causes Captain America and Iron Man to take opposing sides. The rift between them forces the other Avengers to choose sides, even though they don’t want to. Now are you behind Team Captain America or Team Iron Man?

Actors Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) and Paul Bettany (Vision) all give great performances that are dramatic, witty and comedic when necessary. Not to mention the stellar performances from the two newcomers Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther and Tom Holland as Spiderman.  Chadwick Boseman’s performance as Black Panther is very regal, strong and makes him one character not to mess with.  Tom Holland is an excellent choice for Spiderman.  I love how he portrays the character.  He is funny, clever and his interactions with Iron Man are great. I can’t wait to see the next Spiderman spinoff starring him. I also enjoyed the special effects, which are amazing and, in some instances, just jaw dropping!  The character’s costumes look fantastic as well.  The only characters I missed in this movie were The Hulk and Thor.

The moral of this film is “don’t jump to conclusions.” For example, when Bucky is accused of something, everyone in the government tries to kill him. Captain America tries to discover who did it, so he can prove the government wrong.  Another moral theme is “vengeance won’t make you feel whole and satisfied.” One of the Avengers learns this lesson at one point in the movie.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to people who like action, adventure, comic book-based and comedy movies. I recommend this film to kids ages 9 to18 and I think adults might like this as well. Some scenes may be a little intense for younger audiences. Make sure to see this film, which comes out May 6

Captain America: Civil War
By Brandon C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

After about eleven years of watching and reading Marvel – from comics to video games to movies to TV shows – I have never had as much of a great time as I had watching Captain America: Civil War. Is that a great amount of hyperbole? Probably yes. But, hear me out.

Captain America: Civil War is based on the Civil War comic series which feature Marvel heroes Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) facing off in an incredible battle. The comic series had multiple issues and pulled several elite characters into it, creating an epic battle along with an epic concept. Captain America: Civil War does not disappoint.

The film’s plot revolves around the idea that there have been too many casualties surrounding The Avengers – including their battles in New York, Washington and Sokovia. The United Nations present the remaining superheroes (as Thor and Hulk have disappeared) with a document called the Sokovian Accords, which state that the heroes can do their jobs only when they are told to do so and if they act outside of their boundaries then they will be arrested. Tony Stark and several others agree to sign the document, while Steve Rogers declines to sign. The superheroes form their teams throughout the movie and they eventually clash in a captivating and entertaining battle.

Captain America: Civil War includes the debuts of great characters such as Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and the new Spider-Man (Tom Holland). I cannot say enough how incredible of a job Tom Holland does as Spider-Man, as he is just one of the many actors in this film that creates intrigue and entertainment with their characters. As far as the storyline goes, the audience is presented with an excellent conflict which only furthers the anticipation as to who is going to win the battle. With other Marvel films, the good guys face the bad guy(s) and the good guys usually win. While some may get hurt, they usually end up fine at the end. In Captain America: Civil War, the audience does not have that luxury of just siding with “the good guys”. Both teams present great points and deliver spectacular dialogue that keeps the audience involved in whatever is going on.

Technically, Marvel Studios proves once again that it knows how to make a film. Everything, from the lighting, to the camera shot variety is darn perfect. While the introduction is a bit messy and hard to follow, it is a minor setback in an otherwise great film. On a personal note, the fight choreography is what stood out for me. I like realistic approaches to stories and films. In Captain America: Civil War, some of the fights feel almost too real as every punch and kick means something. Every blow and action creates a devastating impact that is so compelling you needed to just sit back in awe of what is transpiring.

In conclusion, Captain America: Civil War will get you on the edge of your seats and leave you fully entertained and satisfied. I believe the movie is intended for the other side of 13-year-olds, as the action scenes are very intense and the occasional cursing is rough as well. I give this movie 5 out of 5 Captain America shields because of its brutal fight scenes, beautiful story, flawless visuals and incredible dialogue.

This touching film follows a boy growing up in Dublin during the 1980s who escapes his strained family life by starting a band to impress the mysterious girl he likes. It touches on so many different themes while delivering a strong story about a boy and his music. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Giselle T. comments, “This movie left me speechless. Its different components are what made the movie outstanding. It shows the life of the poor as well as how emotional the life of a teenager can be.” See her full review below.

Sing Street

By Giselle T., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 16

This movie left me speechless. Its different components are what made the movie outstanding. It shows the life of the poor as well as how emotional the life of a teenager can be. The different personalities coming together and bonding show how distinctive all these young adults can be, while sharing such a powerful art.

Sing Street is about a teenage boy living in a rural neighborhood and how he copes with his hurdles. Throughout his difficult moments he meets a girl that brings out a whole new side of him. One of the kids in the band known as Eamon (Mark McKenna) involved his pet rabbits in all the meetings with the band. He has this weird obsession with them and has about ten of them. It is hilarious how, everywhere he goes, he holds a bunny.

The location plays a huge part in this movie. It takes place in Ireland, in a poor community where everyone just looks forward to leaving for the city or sailing to London to find hope. The high school they go to is religious and only for males. It’s also very liberal in the sense kids smoke everywhere and do whatever they want at lunch, but it is very strict about uniform policies and respect. For instance, at one moment the main actor Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, referred to as Cosmo in the film, wears make up to school to make an image for himself with his band. The priest who is also the principal of the school, forces Cosmo physically to remove it.

Most importantly, I found this movie to be very inspirational. One of its messages is “never do anything halfway, just do it right.” As mentioned earlier, Cosmo meets a girl, Raphina, who motivates him to do something for her when, in fact, he benefits from it the most. She helps him manage his problems. One of the things she says that will always stick in my mind is to not only be sad, but make your sadness happy. Although you are in a bad place, make the best out of it. Write a song or express it in some way. I recommend this film for ages 14 to 18 and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. Viewer discretion is advised due to explicit language and violence.

Based on the true story about an mathematician, unknown outside the academic community, it’s a story waiting to be told – almost a century after his death in 1920. Growing up poor in Madras, India, Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar earns admittance to Cambridge University during WWI, where he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G.H. Hardy. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Lainey A. comments, “This live action feature film is incredible!  I fell in love with the main characters and enjoyed the true story. This biographical movie is very dramatic.” See her full review below.

The Man Who Knew Infinity
By Lainey A., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

This live action feature film is incredible!  I fell in love with the main characters and enjoyed the true story. This biographical movie is very dramatic.

This movie is set during WWI and takes place in India and at Trinity College in Cambridge. Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel) is 25 years old, lives in India and is recently married. He is an exceptional mathematician that receives mathematical formulas by meditating and in his sleep. His mentor encourages him to send his work to the professors at Trinity College.

Dr. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) is very impressed with Ramanujan’s work and tells him to come to England so Hardy can help create publications of his mathematical formulas. Ramanujan leaves India and travels to Cambridge, England, sadly leaving his mom and loving wife at home. When he arrives at Trinity College, he misses his family and the foods he was accustomed to having at home.

Making things more difficult, some of the professors are jealous of how smart Ramanujan is and are prejudiced because he is Indian. He comes up with many formulas, but Dr. Hardy says that no one will publish his work without proof of how he came up with the mathematical formulas since he only says, “It comes to me.”

Throughout the film, the relationship between Dr. Hardy and Ramanujan develops into a very strong one.  Dr. Hardy, in particular, is transformed because of knowing and eventually caring for Ramanujan.  Dr. Hardy, a devout atheist, does not believe in God and doesn’t believe in anything that cannot be proven scientifically.  He does not understand how his student comes up with all of these formulas and struggles with Ramanujan being as brilliant as he appears to be.

This movie is amazing in so many ways and also very inspirational and emotional.  I couldn’t help but fall in love with Dev Patel’s version of Ramanujan’s character.  He is so extraordinary and seems like such a nice person who I would want to know and be friends with.  My favorite scene is when Ramanujan is meditating and is given another formula.  His excitement in receiving this information is contagious.

The settings and scenery are very appropriate for the time this takes place and made me feel as if it could be during WWI. The costumes are well thought out for scenes in both India and Cambridge, and they definitely fit the time period.

I give this film five out of five stars because it is entertaining, informational and has a very interesting plot. I recommend this movie for ages 12 to 18. It may be difficult for younger audiences to follow, but I do believe that people should watch this movie to learn about other cultures and times and, of course, they should enjoy this very inspirational true story.

Ratchet & Clank tells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way they’ll learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Abigail Zoe L. comments, “From the beginning to the end, the film kept me on the edge of my seat, as it is an adventurous, funny, heartwarming and witty story.” Ryan R. adds, “From the beginning to the end, the film kept me on the edge of my seat, as it is an adventurous, funny, heartwarming and witty story.” See their full reviews below.
Ratchet & Clank
By Abigail Zoe L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 8

I love the animated movie Ratchet & Clank which is based on the popular Play Station video game. From the beginning to the end, the film kept me on the edge of my seat, as it is an adventurous, funny, heartwarming and witty story. One of the funniest scenes is when Dr. Nefarious shoots Chairman Drek with a laser gun and turns him into a sheep.

The story follows the main character, Ratchet who wants to be a member of the famously respected Galactic Rangers team but unfortunately, is told he doesn’t have the right “stuff.” According to Captian Qwark, Ratchet may have heart but physically just doesn’t measure up as he is too small. However, Ratchet meets and names a robot Clank who is similarly small and both human and robot not only become the best of friends but a powerful duo. Together they make it their mission to try to save the Solana Galaxy from the evil Chairman Drek.

My favorite part of the story is when we learn the robot doesn’t measure up to his own kind. In fact, he is considered a “defect” to be terminated because he’s small, thinks for himself and doesn’t want to hurt humans but wants to help them.

I particularly enjoyed all the various voices talent for the animated characters. My favorite is that of Ratchet’s and I was fortunate enough to personally meet and interview both James Arnold Taylor and Bella Thorne (the voices of Ratchet and Cora) immediately following the movie screening. I loved seeing how their actual facial characteristics and physical mannerisms are incorporated into their animated on-screen film characters.

There’s not just one moral to this movie but three stand out in my mind.  First, is to always believe in yourself and never give up. Second, as told to Ratchet, “To be a hero you don’t have to do big things just right things.” Third, if the right thing requires you to do the wrong thing then probably the right thing is the wrong thing to do. I love these golden nuggets that make the characters seem very real as cleverly penned by the director, Kevin Munroe.

All ages will like Ratchet &Clank and it’s particularly well suited for ages 5 to 12. There’s no bad language that make it appropriate for young audiences. The sophisticated storyline, fun adventure, basic struggle of good vs. evil and plenty of twists and turns will appeal to more mature audience, as well. It’s also a story about two underdogs who together try to rise to the challenge. Do they succeed? Well, you’ll have to see the movie to find out!

Finally and on a personal note, I just love the relationship between Ratchet and Clank – two orphans in the universe finding each other and creating a lasting bond. Together the dynamic human and robot duo try to do the right thing in the right way.

I can’t wait until the sequel or maybe even a TV series.  I give this film 5 out of 5 galactic stars. Go see this movie. You’re going to love it!

Ratchet and Clank
Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I was very entertained watching Ratchet and Clank, which is a CG animated movie based on the iconic PlayStation video game.  Its animations are delightful and it has a great plot. Ratchet and Clank prove that, if you want to do something, it is not the size of the individual that matters it’s the heart!

In this movie, we meet Ratchet (James Arnold Taylor) who is the last of his kind, a foolhardy “lombax” who has grown up alone and dreams of being a Galactic Ranger, a well known hero. When he meets Clank (David Kaye), a small-sized robot who helps him accomplish his dream. Together they join forces with a team of interesting heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save every planet in the Solana Galaxy from being destroyed by the alien, Chairman Drek. I enjoyed this movie and I think other kids will enjoy this film.

I loved watching this movie because the CG animation is amazing and the colors are very vivid and rich. The characters look great.  It looks very child-friendly for younger audiences. I was satisfied with the comedy, because the jokes are funny and some of them are related to technology in our everyday lives. I enjoyed the plot of the movie because it tells a wonderful story of Ratchet and Clank without doing a disservice to the franchise. I also loved the voice acting performances of Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne, Rosario Dawson, Jim Ward, James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Armin Shimerman and Sylvester Stallone.  They all give stellar performances suitable for their characters. This movie also has a nice pace. It’s not rushed and doesn’t drag either. I can’t say anything negative I have to say about this film.

This movie has messages about friendship, heroism, discovering one’s identity and the importance of listening to each other.  It also shows that you should think before you act.  These lessons can help kids learn about the importance of listening and understanding.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for kids ages 4 to 18. I think adults might like this as well. I also recommend it to people who like family, action, adventure, movies based on video games and comedy movies. It’s in theaters April 29, so make sure you go see it with your kids.

The film takes place in an alternate Paris of the 1940s, where France is ruled by a totalitarian regime. There are two Eiffel Towers and the Parisians go around in blimps powered by bicycles.  April is a third generation scientist.  Her grandfather and both her parents are chemists.  But, her parents disappear early in the film when hunted down by the authorities. The scientists of the world have been disappearing and her parents are the most recent casualties.  April lives in a secret hideout in the head of a massive public statue with her intellectual, talking cat, Darwin.  She is the last scientist to evade capture. The adventure heats up when a robotic rat tells her that her parents are still alive and being held captive in a jungle laboratory.  With the help of her Grandfather’s inventions, Darwin and Julius, a shady, police informer, April goes in search of her parents. Thus begins an incredible adventure.

April and the Extraordinary World has a magical, hand-drawn, animation style.  Although it has a very gray palate, the film is highly inventive and has a fresh feeling, compared to the computer generated animated films that we are now accustomed to.  You can see the dedication and effort of the creators in each frame of the film.

The film also has a strong moral message about pollution, conserving the earth and responsible science. There’s a poignant scene where her Grandfather tells her to meet him at the “Oak”.  It’s the last tree in Paris and it’s exhibited in a conservatory!

April and the Extraordinary World has won a Cristal award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and was nominated for a Cesar last year as well.  It is 105 minutes.  The film is appropriate for 8 to 18 year olds. I give April and the Extraordinary World 4.5 out of 5 stars.

April and the Extraordinary World
By Benjamin P, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 10

April and the Extraordinary World is hard to describe but fun to watch. This is a science fiction film with sprinkles of history, science, comedy and action. April, an independent girl who doesn’t give up, and her talking cat Darwin take you along on a thrilling ride through a gloomy past that shows you how important science and history are to where we are today. This animated film made me think and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Inspired by the works of French writer Jacques Tardi, April and the Extraordinary World starts out in 1870 when Napoleon III wants to create an invincible army. His project fails and unleashes two super lizards into the world. This change in history causes a world many years later that relies on steam and coal. In that dark dystopia, we meet a girl named April, who has inherited a knack for chemistry from her ancestor, the scientist at the center of Napoleon III’s plot. April’s parents are about to discover, at last, an invincibility serum. They are about to test their creation when, they are pursued by the authorities and the ruthless inspector Pizoni (Bouli Lanners). April’s parents mysteriously disappear.

After April escapes the police and avoids going to an orphanage, she decides that she must live by herself on the streets with her cat Darwin. Ten years later, April gets a message from her father through a bionic rat spy and is convinced her parents are still out there. With the help of her cat, a street kid named Julius (Marc-Andre Grondin) who is not as he seems and her grandpa Pops (Jean Rochefort), she intends to find her parents.

My favorite part of this film is when Pops' house turns into an almost spider-like vehicle so April can escape from a mysterious dark cloud that seems to be chasing her. The scene has high-octane action that kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire scene. My favorite character is Darwin the cat because he is very funny and is very loyal to April throughout the film.

This film is surprisingly good and different than most other animated films. The filmmakers make the steam-punk world look very cool and science fiction fans will enjoy it. I definitely wouldn't recommend this movie for really little kids even though it’s animated. You have to know a little bit about science and history and there is gun play and scenes of peril. I give April and the Extraordinary World an age rating of 10 to16. Adults will also enjoy this film.

This film was made in France and thanks to GKIDS is distributed in the United States. This film has been released in two different versions - one in French with subtitles and one in English. They are both in limited release, so if you can it find playing at a theater near you, I highly recommend you see it. I give April and the Extraordinary World 4 out of 5 stars.