KIDS FIRST! News

From Air Bud Entertainment comes the new film Pup Star about an adorable Yorkshire terrier competing in a televised singing competition who is separated from her owner by an opportunist dog pound worker and goes on a huge adventure to get back. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “To make a perfect family-friendly adventure film is a difficult task to achieve. You have to make it both entertaining and kid-friendly while including a positive, preferably inspirational messages. Pup Star, the latest installment in the Air Bud series, succeeds in this goal with assistance of wonderful music and fantastic acting.” Abigail Zoe L. adds, “Pup Star is a fun, fantastic, family-friendly film! It really is an amazing and inspiring movie with talking and singing dogs. I found myself cheering for the super talented Tiny and booing the bad guys, or should I say bad dogs!” See their full reviews below.

PUP STAR will release in select US theaters and Digital HD exclusively on Fandango’s premium on-demand video service, FandangoNOW (www.FandangoNOW.com) – August 30, 2016.

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

To make a perfect family-friendly adventure film is a difficult task to achieve. You have to make it both entertaining and kid-friendly while including a positive, preferably  inspirational message. Pup Star, the latest installment in the Air Bud series,  succeeds in this goal with assistance of wonderful music and fantastic acting.

The adventurous feel of the movie appeals to the audience. This film has more than that to offer though with its comedy, positive messages and a slight bit of drama. There is even some romance to keep the viewer entertained and at the edge of their seat .

The story starts when a young puppy named Tiny goes on a dog singing show and does quite well. She receives a golden ticket from the judge which allows her to go straight to the finals. Everything changes when Tiny gets captured by animal control and must go on a huge adventure to get back to her owner and also to the competition finals.

Pup Star has a wonderful story line and great acting by Tom Everett Scott, Kaitlyn Maher and Jed Rees. The voice over cast for the animals matches their characters and feels quite authentic. They each make their characters truly come to life. But, the best part of this film is that the story which is entertaining, suitable for young kids and easy to follow.

My favorite scene is when we first meet Tiny. She gets on stage and starts singing. Her song is beautiful and serves to introduce the style and the feel of the film. I also love this scene because, although the talking dogs are animated, it looks very realistic, as if the dogs are actually talking.

Pup Star would appeal to families and younger kids. I recommend it for kids ages 4 to 13 and rate it 5 out of 5 stars for its excellent acting that truly makes the characters come alive, its realistic animation, beautiful music and its fantastic story.

Pup Star
By Abigail Zoe Lewis, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

This epic story follows Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, an officer in the Roman army. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “The famous story of Ben-Hur has been done in film multiple times throughout the years, but none has reached this level of excitement and beautiful special effects. And none has ever been this action packed and intense.” Ryan R. adds, “Although it is two hours long, it does not drag. Morgan Freeman gives a very regal performance as Ilderim. His voice makes you want to pay attention when he narrates the story. I love this character because he helps Judah and they make a fantastic team!” See their full reviews below.

Ben-Hur
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

The famous story of Ben-Hur has been done in film multiple times throughout the years, but none has reached this level of excitement and beautiful special effects. And none has ever been this action packed and intense.

Although the plot seems confusing, it actually is easy to follow. Towards the beginning it may be a bit confusing, but by ten minutes into the film pieces snap into place. This film not only packs a lot of action, but it is also very historical and truly makes it look as if we are watching these scenes take place in ancient Rome and Jerusalem from the boats, to warfare, to their attire. Throughout the film, I felt transported back 2000 years to the large Roman Empire. Most of the special effects portray the chariot racing and the outcome is nothing short of spectacular, detailed and very realistic. It is exciting and intense, but also easy to follow. The acting in this film exceeded my expectations with many known actors such as Jack Huston and Morgan Freeman (Ilderim), but the entire cast delivers spectacular performances and really make their characters come to life and shine, as well as make the viewer think they actually are seeing life 2000 years ago.

My favorite scene is the galley slave scenes. In a way, these are also my least favorite scenes because it shows how terrible Romans treated these slaves. In one scene, you see Judah changing over the six years from a handsome and healthy prince to a depressed, skinny and beaten slave. Another factor of these scenes that impressed me were the visual effects. Judah escapes when the ship sinks in a battle. The scene is very dramatic, scary and intense. It is full of action and everything from soundtrack to acting makes it a heart-thumping moment.

Ben-Hur is intense with many adult references, but the mature aspect that concerns me most is the gore. Since this takes place in Ancient Rome, there are many violent acts that are unsuitable for young children. I recommend it for ages 14 to 18 and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. The acting, special effects and soundtrack are all fantastic but the story is slightly confusing at the beginning which makes it a bit annoying for the viewer.

Ben-Hur
By Ryan R., KIDS First! Film Critic, age 12

I did not exactly love the 2016 remake of the 1959 movie Ben-Hur, but I didn’t hate it either. This film takes place around 26 A.D. when Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) appears as the wealthy Jerusalem prince who is falsely accused of treason and is stripped of everything that he has and taken away. Judah’s adopted brother, Messala Severus (Toby Kebbell) betrays him and allows the Romans to make Judah a galley slave for five years. Judah escapes, returns home and seeks revenge. The question is: will Judah get his revenge?

Although it is two hours long, it does not drag. Morgan Freeman gives a very regal performance as Ilderim. His voice makes you want to pay attention when he narrates the story. I love this character because he helps Judah and they make a fantastic team! I think Jack Huston should have been cast as Jesus because his demeanor is very soft and peaceful.  He doesn’t project the strong, angry character that he should have as Judah Ben-Hur.  Rodrigo Santoro, who plays the role of Jesus should have played Judah Ben-Hur.  Don’t get me wrong, I love how Rodrigo Santoro portrays Jesus. His performance is stellar.  But the way he looks and carries himself would have made Rodrigo a more believable Judah.  Toby Kebbell’s Messala is the one casting that they got right. He acts and looks mean enough to make you to dislike him.

The setting looks epic and visually appealing.  The battle scene with the ships in the water is pretty intense but entertaining. However, some scenes are boring and a few scenes didn’t need to be there. The chariot race is a bit sloppy and roughly edited.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to kids ages 11 to 18. Younger kids might not understand what is going on and may be frightened by a few intense and grotesque scenes. There is also some bloody and gory violence. I also recommend this to adults who like action, adventure, remakes and Biblical films. This film opens Friday, August 19 so, put it on your radar screen.

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.