Eleanor The Great * Touching And Complex Story With Deep Emotions, Beautifully Presented
September 23rd, 2025
In Eleanor The Great, June Squibb brings to vivid life the witty and proudly troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who after a devastating loss, tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own. Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut is a comically poignant exploration of how the stories we hear become the stories we tell.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “I really like the film, Eleanor The Great. It has a simple but yet incredibly complex storyline, and conveys emotion in a beautiful way. It highlights different perspectives, and shows multiple sides to one story. I am really touched by this movie, and feel that it’s important for us as a society to bring more attention to films like this.” Valerie M. adds, “Eleanor The Great is the most heartfelt movie I’ve ever seen. Its story was handled with expert care, and the acting left me in awe…Eleanor is a beautiful character, and June Squibb’s brilliant acting really brings her to life.” See their full reviews below.
Eleanor The Great
Mikella G, KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, age 19
I really like the film, Eleanor The Great. It has a simple but yet incredibly complex storyline, and conveys emotion in a beautiful way. It highlights different perspectives, and shows multiple sides to one story. I am really touched by this movie, and feel that it’s important for us as a society to bring more attention to films like this.
Eleanor The Great follows the life of Eleanor (June Squibb), who is trying to navigate her way through life at its later stages. She recently moved back to New York to be with family, after losing one of her closest friends. While trying to find her place in the big city she calls home, she finds herself recalling old stories with nothing but pure intentions, however her small lies eventually catch up to her, and she must learn the power of honesty and accountability.
Scarlett Johansson’s directing style is a notable standout in this film. This movie highlights the often quietness and loneliness in people’s lives. Each camera angle brings that feeling to the screen. There are so many moments of stillness, where the audience is focused on one thing even, for example, watching Eleanor come back to New York. This is a place that she once called home, and you can really tell how much she’s taking it all in. It feels like I’m really seeing New York City through her eyes. Additionally, I enjoy the simplicity of this movie. It isn’t a huge blockbuster film, and it doesn’t take big expensive sets to make it happen. Everything feels extremely realistic, as if I’m just watching Eleanor’s life right beside her. Something else I enjoy is the storyline.
This is one of the first movies I’ve ever watched with an older woman as the main character. Getting to see her perspective on life is so interesting and refreshing. In most films the older characters are often pushed to the side, and seen as someone who has a lot of wisdom. Here, Eleanor is so much more than that. Of course we get her wise advice, but we also get to understand her life. We learn her struggles and dreams, but also what brings her happiness. Hearing her perspective on why she does certain things is fascinating and educational.
The message of Eleanor The Great is that life is valuable, and a reminder to take in everything, even the small things. Please be aware that this film does contain mentions of the Holocaust.
I give Eleanor The Great 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18 plus adults. This film will be released in select theaters starting September 26, 2025.
Eleanor The Great
By Valerie M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12
Eleanor The Great is the most heartfelt movie I’ve ever seen. Its story was handled with expert care, and the acting left me in awe.
The story follows Eleanor (June Squibb), a 94-year-old senior citizen, who lives with her best friend Bessie (Rita Zohar), a Holocaust survivor. One day Bessie suffers a heart attack; she survives, but ends up passing shortly afterwards. Filled with grief, Eleanor moves back to Bronx and accidentally joins a Holocaust support group. Under stress and grief, she feels compelled to share Bessie’s story as if it was her own. A young journalist named Nina (Erin Kellyman) approaches Eleanor after the meeting and asks her for an interview. That’s how Eleanor’s double life begins.
Eleanor is a beautiful character, and June Squibb’s brilliant acting really brings her to life. Right off the bat, I could sense her grief through the screen. Later, after a major event, when her fighting spirit is gone, the vacuum left behind is so palpable that she does not need to say anything to convey. I will go a step further and say that everyone’s performance in this film deserves a round of applause. They all tell this story with an outstanding authenticity that’s not typically found. Their emotions are raw, ugly and justified. I also enjoyed the suspense of Eleanor managing two identities. You can feel the tension building as you see how minor inconsistencies snowball into unbearable contradictions that Eleanor must keep up to maintain these two separate worlds. The measured pacing is the cherry on top. It feels real, as if everything is happening in real time.
The transitions from Bessie to Eleanor after Bessie passes convey so much emotion and the cuts in the middle of scenes are perfectly placed. No one is interrupted, and instead, I was left wondering what they could have said. Another thing I found interesting is Nina’s character being a parallel to Eleanor’s. While Eleanor is old, confident and stands her ground, Nina is young and easily influenced. However, they have both lost someone close to them. They understand and share their feelings with each other, which leads to their friendship. Later, when Nina confronts Eleanor, we see that they are not so different after all.
The film’s message is that you cannot lie forever, and that telling the truth and admitting your mistakes is much more fulfilling. Note that there are discussions of death, mass genocide and references to explicit activities.
I give Eleanor The Great 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18 plus adults. Eleanor The Great releases in theaters on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the cinematic return of the global phenomenon, follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.
Party Time with Patrick is an album for kids and families that celebrate fun things in life like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, summer, holidays and more. Upbeat and fun, this album is meant to make you smile and sing along.
I really like the album Party Time With Patrick because the lyrics are super catchy, the topics are goofy, and the songs are enjoyable to listen to. The instrumentals are especially noteworthy.
The songs have a 1990s to early 2000s vibe, which might give some parents a bit of nostalgia. The instrumentals are my favorite part of each song. Props to Erik Gatchalian, who provides instrumentals for this album. He really works his magic and gives the songs that professional feel. However, at times it seems that the vocals and the instrumentals don’t mix all that well. Note that this album focuses primarily on fun topics. My favorite song is Champions because both the instrumentals and vocals really shine.
On first listen, I was not a fan of Party Time With Patrick. The frenetic, in-your-face vocals and relentless bounce of the music were off-putting to my dainty musical tastes. Imagine a marching band colliding with a sugar rush, and you’ll have the general idea. But in fairness, first impressions can be deceiving. So I did what any fair-minded reviewer does: I stepped back, looked to the margins, opened the blinders, and gave the whole thing a poke with a stick.
The album’s theme is celebrations—holidays of all shapes, sizes, and calendars. If you’ve ever thought, “We should throw a parade for Arbor Day,” Patrick’s your guy. It’s about year-round license to let your hair down (or up, or sideways—free country). It’s a rousing, rip-roaring sing-a-long of yearly celebrations from birthdays to New Years.
So, here’s my advice: give it a listen and decide for yourself. Maybe you’ll dance. Maybe you’ll wince. Maybe you’ll end up somewhere in between, tapping your foot in spite of yourself. Either way, it’s a party, and Patrick has already passed out the noisemakers.
A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now he’s faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs.
I love the movie Ne Zha 2, because of the humorous touches, incredible animation, and the several meaningful themes, such as family and good versus evil. It is extremely complex, and the characters all have their own stories.
The animation is incredible! This is visual storytelling at its best. This is a heartfelt movie with heartbreaking, yet sweet moments. One thing that really impressed me is how intense this film is; it fully immersed me in the story, as if I was a part of it. The message is inspiring and hopeful, which really gives the movie a meaningful touch. Ne Zha is portrayed as a demon child grappling with feelings of being replaced; Crystal Lee and Griffin Puatu provide the voice of Ne Zha, for his child and teenage form, very well. Michelle Yeoh and Vincent Rodriguez III portray the emotional depth of their characters so well with their voices. Ao Bing, one of the characters with the most internal conflict, is voiced by Aleks Le, whose voice perfectly matches the character. My favorite scene is when Ao Bing and Ne Zha break free of Master Wuliang’s (Robert Clotworthy) trap.
The film’s message is to be yourself. It reminds us of how we are perfect just the way we are. Be forewarned that it has several violent scenes, many deaths, and mild language, making it slightly unsuitable for younger children.
Ne Zha 2 is an epic film about two destined enemies becoming friends. I love this film because of the characters and the emotional aspect.
This film surprised me in all the ways a person can be surprised. Starting with the phenomenal animation, this film truly brings the story to life. The battle scenes in particular are stunning visually and very creative. My favorite scene is the final battle scene. The background music is astonishing and the sound effects are extremely realistic. I really enjoyed watching Lady Yin evolve into the caring mother she was born to be. I also enjoyed watching Taiyi Zhenren (Rick Zieff), taking Ne Zha under his wing. This film is an emotional roller coaster — it made me laugh, cry, and truly brought me joy like I have never experienced before from watching a film. Compared to Ne Zha, Ne Zha 2 is even better. The characters are very similar with some of the same qualities and some differences which made watching the movie fun. Ne Zha 2 taught me life is not in black and white, there is some gray too. The people of Chentang Pass come to understand why people do certain things to protect their people.
The film’s message is that not everyone is all good or all bad. When we see other’s differences and celebrate them, then we can all become one team and defeat the real enemy. Note that there are some violent scenes that are inappropriate for younger children.
The eighth album by award-winning children’s music artist Andy Z is brimming with fervor, fun, and sincerity. It features a well-balanced mix of stand-out original songs and kids’ classics ranging from lighthearted to heartfelt, playful to deeply thoughtful.
I like Andy Z – My Voice because it’s fun, playful and some of the songs have an underlying message.
Andy Z’s vocals are amazing; he enunciates clearly and uses language that young children are familiar with. He really makes sure that the listener understands what he’s saying. Also, the recording quality is outstanding; there is no static or background noise. The variety of genres is noteworthy. I love how he mixes in multiple genres like jazz for “Song For My Baby” and soft rock in “Buzzabee.” In addition, Andy Z’s way of creating ear-wormy tunes and fun lyrics, some of the songs in this album are deeper than you think. For example, in “My Voice” he references the beauty of free speech, and in “It’s Not Your Fault” he explains that not everything that happens to you is your fault. This album is by far one of the best children’s albums I am aware of. My favorite song is the one about the tipping boat, because it really shows Andy Z’s fun lyricism.
I like the music album Andy Z – My Voice because it’s upbeat, engaging and gets you moving. I love that there are a variety of different instruments played in every song and, even though it gets a little silly at times, I think younger kids will love it.
Also, something that is fun and captivating on the album is having kids join Andy Z on various songs. One of the most exciting things is that there are some songs that kids may recognize and be excited to hear his interpretation of a familiar tune. I like how at the end of the soundtrack it settles kids down to get ready for bed and go to sleep. I actually think I prefer the instrumentation and background music better than the actual lyrics and I didn’t particularly care for some of the songs. One of the other things I really like is how Andy Z takes a silly subject and turns it into an interesting, catchy song. It’s memorable to me, and I think it is very amazing to be able to do that. There is also a special collaboration with the 123 Andres, and they sing “Flutter Flutter Butterfly” in Spanish, which is really cool.
Andy Z – My Voice is a family-friendly music album that features a plethora of tracks that help inspire, educate, and entertain young children. The humorous and engaging lyrics, the sound quality of the instruments, and the variety of tones are what make this album worth listening to!
Vocal expression is abundant, and his diction allows for the lyrics to be heard with clarity. In addition, every song utilizes a wide range of dynamics. The lullabies like “Song For My Baby” and “Lullaby” demonstrate Andy Z’s ability to modulate his voice to a softer pianissimo dynamic, while maintaining clarity in his enunciation. Much livelier tracks like “Five Green Speckled Frogs” are very humorous, which provides a stark contrast in tone and expression to the more reverberative songs like “It’s Not Your Fault.” On the other hand, the structure of the album and the random organization causes a bit of a lack of continuity. While the order of the songs may feel somewhat scattered and thematically different, Andy Z pays a meaningful tribute to the different styles of music, from original compositions to revamped classics.
The music in Andy Z – My Voice covers a variety of upbeat danceable tunes and insightful lyrics. This album is a musical gift for your child – expertly conceived and performed.
After eight albums, Andy Z keeps honing his craft and this album is a result of his dedication to his music and continued development of his personal ‘voice.’
As we share, as Andy Z has done, with this album, My Voice, we hope that our many years of experience and awareness will transpose and touch the hearts of many others. This album does exactly that.Why is My Voice a KIDS FIRST! All-Star? After more than 8,000 live performances in every imaginable setting and climate, I can say, “It takes one to know one.” Andy’s a kindred spirit with an irresistible appeal to kids—and, yes, parents too. They’ll grin at the familiar riffs and nod knowingly. (I suspect he knows more than four chords.) Like the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper or Magical Mystery Tour, Andy invites us into his world—full of musical colors, funny voices, and whimsical twists—guiding his audience on a magical journey and bringing them back safe, sound, and a little richer for the ride. Andy Z hits all the right notes—and a few delightfully unexpected ones—reminding us that the best music for kids is music everyone loves. We’ll be sitting by the headsets waiting for your next album, so don’t wait too long. Catch you on the flip side!
