KIDS FIRST! News

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!

This fall, kids are in for a delightfully spooky treat on PBS KIDS. On October 28, PBS KIDS will premiere THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT HALLOWEEN! on television and streaming devices. The new movie follows Nick and Sally as the Cat in the Hat takes them on an exciting Halloween ride. Additionally, PBS KIDS will premiere new Halloween-themed episodes from DINOSAUR TRAIN, NATURE CAT, and READY JET GO! Encore programming from PEG + CAT, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and many others will also air and stream on PBS KIDS all month long.

The treats keep coming in October when PBS KIDS will offer a variety of Halloween-themed games for kids to play on the free PBS KIDS Games App and pbskids.org, including the Cat in the Hat Corn Maze Craze, Cat in the Hat Camp Time, NATURE CAT Park Builder and PEG + CAT Parade. A new Spooky Street and set of rewards will be launching on PBS KIDS’ popular virtual world Kart Kingdom as well. Hands-on activities, including pumpkin-carving templates with favorite PBS KIDS characters, are available on PBS Parents.

“Halloween is an exciting holiday for our audience, so we are celebrating this year with new programming from several of our popular series – including THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “PBS KIDS is dedicated to finding learning opportunities in the topics that kids are passionate about, and Halloween is no exception. During this festive season, when the school year is still just beginning for many students, PBS is proud to offer a wide array of content for kids, parents and teachers to keep the fun, exploration and learning going all October long.”

This fall, PBS will also offer PreK-12 teachers an easy way to integrate Halloween themes into their instruction with a range of curriculum-aligned videos, lesson plans and games. Teachers can use these resources to enhance homework assignments or kick-start classroom discussions. These free resources are available to teachers nationwide on pbslearningmedia.org. Examples include PEG + CAT’s Tiger Trick or Treat, PBS LearningMedia’s All About the Holidays: Halloween, PBS Digital Studios’ Frankenstein, M.D. and more.

More information on PBS KIDS’ Halloween programming, including when to watch, is included below. A variety of Halloween DVDs are also available from PBS Distribution.

New Programming

THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT HALLOWEEN!
Premieres and streaming October 28; re-airs October 29 – November 1

The Cat in the Hat takes Nick and Sally on a wild Halloween ride in this all-new movie.  Their fright-filled adventure takes them deep into the Oooky-ma-kooky Closet, where Nick and Sally discover the very best Halloween costumes ever.

DINOSAUR TRAIN
New episode premieres on October 17; streaming October 28

“Spooky Tree/Spinosaurus Super Model” – In “Spooky Tree,” as the Pteranodon family explores a mysterious tree that seems to come alive at night, they learn about bioluminescence along the way. Then, in “Spinosaurus Super Model,” Don tries to convince Old Spinosaurus to pose for a sculpture, highlighting the many features of the world’s largest land carnivore.

NATURE CAT
New episode premieres October 10; streaming October 14

“Runaway Pumpkin/Lady Bug Tough” – The backyard gang has a Halloween party featuring the biggest, most beautiful pumpkin ever.

READY JET GO!
New episode airs October 24; streaming October 28

“Jet’s First Halloween” (Parts 1 & 2) – In this special half-hour episode, Sydney, Sean and Mindy help Jet experience his first Halloween – from carving Jack-o-lanterns and dressing up in costumes, to trick-or-treating and going to a haunted house. Along the way, the gang learns about lunar eclipses and the Red Moon.

Encores
CURIOUS GEORGE: A Halloween Boo Fest

An encore presentation of the popular Halloween-themed movie airs on October 24, October 28, and October 31.

More PBS KIDS Favorites
Halloween episodes from the following series will also encore in October:

ARTHUR

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD

PEG + CAT

MARTHA SPEAKS

DINOSAUR TRAIN

THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!

SUPER WHY!

THOMAS & FRIENDS

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.

Gumby and Pokey return for fun-filled adventures in this new 60s set of 40 re-mastered claymation episodes from the late 60s. These cleverly written stories engage both children and adults with enduring themes that captivate today’s audiences as they did when first released. Special features include the art film The Clay Peacock, a special behind the scenes photo gallery, the re-mastered Have a Heart animated theme song, a never before heard Gumby song and super fun clay animated bumpers. Some of the animators who worked on these episodes share their experiences and many went on to animate more than sixty iconic films including Star Wars. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “The Adventures of Gumby: The 60s Series Volume 2 not only contains spectacular stop motion animation, but also has fantastic and fun adventures that kids and adults of all ages can greatly enjoy.” See his full review below.

The Adventures of Gumby: The 60s Series Volume 2
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

Fifty years ago, before computer animation, we had hand drawn animation and stop motion animation. The Adventures of Gumby: The 60s Series Volume 2 not only contains spectacular stop motion animation, but also has fantastic and fun adventures that kids and adults of all ages can greatly enjoy.

This series is meant to be an adventure but it doesn’t hold back on humor and will make you laugh time and again. It also has some mild action and even a slight bit of intensity, but nothing to be too concerned about. Even those intense scenes are full of light and good nature.

Each episode focuses on a different story. Some may focus on an adventure into a dinosaur world or into space or even into a micro world where germs live. Each episode follows Gumby and his friends and what happens during their adventures while teaching kids some valuable information. Most episodes have some sort of moral message and, since there isn’t a continuing, viewers can watch at any point of the series and understand what is going on. I enjoy the fact that, despite most of it being pretty fantasy-like, it intertwines actual science and real-world knowledge to the point where I found myself learning stuff about economics, which was a pleasant surprise!

My favorite episode is Shady Lemonade. In this one, Gumby and his friends go to a lemonade place and discover that the owner scammed them. Later that day, they save a man’s cat and the man gives them a very large reward. They decide to use that money so people can get lemonade at a cheap price and not worry about getting scammed. I picked this episode because, despite it not have some fun adventure, it is still a unique and fun story which kept me entertained. On top of that, the moral of the story is great – for every action there is a reaction, just like it shows in Shady Lemonade.

The Adventures of Gumby: The 60s Series Volume 2 has so much to love about it. Stop motion animation is sadly a dying art and, in this series, you see what makes it so fantastic. This is an art form that has more of a human touch. In hand drawn animation, you draw pictures with pen and paper. In computer animation, you type on a keyboard. With stop motion, you physically touch the characters and alter them at will. On top of that, the voice acting is wonderful as are the songs. There is some background music in many episodes, which isn’t too noticeable but adds to the flow of the show. Despite it being over 50 years old, I still greatly enjoyed it and laughed throughout every episode. I also admire the series because its creators don’t ever talk about morals or try to explain them, but you still learn a good lesson from the fun, easy-going stories.

This series is designed for kids and parents have nothing to worry about. I recommend it for ages 4 to 18. I believe adults will enjoy this show too, even though it is a kid’s show, because it sparks your imagination and its out of this world stories will make you laugh. For spectacular stop motion animation, wonderful voice acting, fantastic songs and perfect stories, I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Soarin’ Over Equestria offers a compilation of five episodes from the popular TV series following Rainbow Dash’s quest to join the elite team of Pegasus called Wonder Bolts. Joined by all your favorite winged Ponies, they show you Equestria the way it was meant to be seen… from above! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “…there have been many great episodes. Some are adventurous, some funny but always entertaining. My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Soarin’ Over Equestria has five episodes from all six seasons that truly demonstrate hilarious moments, wonderful stories and fantastic morals.” See his full review below.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Soarin’ Over Equestria
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

After six years of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic cartoons, there have been many great episodes. Some are adventurous, some funny but always entertaining. The DVD, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Soarin’ Over Equestria has five episodes from all six seasons that truly demonstrate hilarious moments, wonderful stories and fantastic morals.

This series is mostly an adventure but there are many more elements to the show. There is very mild and child friendly drama, as well as a good amount of humor that will make audiences laugh. On top of that, there is the occasional action scene that is child friendly, but exciting. These genres are truly shown in the five episodes on this DVD.

Even though all the episodes are from different seasons, they all follow the story of one of the characters, Rainbow Dash (Ashleigh Ball) trying to accomplish her dream of joining a very elite team of Pegasus, called the Wonder Bolts. There isn’t a central plot related to the main story of the show, so those who haven’t seen the show before do not have to worry about being able to follow the story.

Despite there being six seasons, over 100 episodes, multiple movies and more, the show is still fresh and exciting. There are many big plot reveals in the latest seasons and it never loses its charm. This can truly be seen in these five episodes because, despite some being six years apart in release, they all still have an even level of quality, from colorful but detailed animation, to spectacular voiceover work. The DVD also comes with a sing-along bonus feature that younger kids will enjoy. The biggest part about this DVD is, of course, the morals about friendship. Each message is different, from getting over fears, to don’t make wrong assumptions or don’t fall to peer pressure. All of them are good morals that both kids and adults could learn from and are important ones that should be followed in life.

My favorite episode is Testing Testing, 1, 2, 3. In this episode, Rainbow Dash needs to take a test to sign up to be part of the Wonder Bolts. The main problem is she has never really studied for anything before, so all her friends attempt to help her study in different ways. I like this episode because it talks about how everyone studies differently and the plot of this episode is a perfect example. Some people like flashcards, while others like little films about it. Another great feature about this episode is that it’s hilarious and the story has an unexpected ending.

This DVD is meant for young children and I recommend it for ages 4 to 18. Younger kids may not appreciate it fully and I know plenty of older ones who are still fans. I give this DVD 5 out of 5 stars for its beautiful songs, colorful animation, emotional voice acting and complex but entertaining plots. This DVD is available now.