KIDS FIRST! News

The Ant-man is one of the lesser known Marvel characters and, with this new film, has quickly become a new favorite for many. The storyline reveals his origins and how he develops his astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength. And, of course, like any super-hero movie, how he has to work to save the world. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Harmony, age 16, comments, “From Marvel comes the newest superhero thriller, Ant-Man with a mixture of comedy and action that brings pleasure for people of all ages.” Tre’ana, age 11, adds, The technology is so transparent that it is truly believable. The visual and sound effects blew my mind.” See their full reviews below.

Ant-man
By Harmony M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

From Marvel comes the newest superhero thriller, Ant-Man with a mixture of comedy and action that brings pleasure for people of all ages. The film is about a scientist, Dr. Hank Pym, played by Michael Douglas, who gets forced out of his own company and left searching for someone to bravely take on the missions he requests. With his invention of a super suit which provides superpowers, shrinking abilities and the control of an army of ants, Pym finds his talent, Scott Lang, to be the one and only “Ant-Man.” Seeking redemption for his past criminal behavior, Scott accepts the challenge to save the world and fight off enemy scientist, Darren Cross from using his similar suit for evil. Things take a turn when the world is not the only thing that needs saving.

The film’s many wonderful aspects start with the amazing performances from actors including, Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Corey Stoll. I always know an acting performance from an antagonist is amazing when I actually believe the person is evil in real life. The acting job from Corey Stoll proves to be great when I find it hard to believe that he can be nice in real life. With his past experience in many comedic films, Paul Rudd easily and naturally portrays the witty character Scott without seeming fake or cheesy.

The movie is uplifting and funny in so many ways. The movie throws out jokes about other Marvel characters and icons, which are surprising and hilarious. The film is authentically different in style from the typical superhero or even Marvel film.

The film does include lots of violence and scenes with foul language which is why I’d definitely say the film is for people 13 years of age and older. Furthermore, I would recommend the film to people of ages 13 to 18. Adults will enjoy this as well. The film guarantees laughter and entertainment to people of all interests, including those who are not fans of Marvel or superhero movies. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars. Check it out coming to theatres on July 17th.

Ant-Man
By Tre’ana H., age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Ant-Man is a superhero who will definitely catch your eye. I can’t compare with the other Marvel films since I haven’t seen them but this film is fantastic. In the beginning there is some drama, but that transcends and goes deep into a sci-fi, action-pack film. Do you really need the 3-D glasses? The technology is so transparent that it is truly believable. The visual and sound effects blew my mind. The Ant-Man costume is equipped with aero-dynamic illusions that makes you speechless. The cast is swift with hilarious dialogue.

This film is about Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), a scientist who wants Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) to be Ant-Man. Dr. Hank Pym is amused about Scott past cat burglaries. He comes up with this outrageous scheme to set Scott up. Scott has just been released from prison and is trying to stay on a righteous path. The only thing he wants to do is spend time with his daughter, Cassie Lang (Abby Ryder Fortson), but he is having a hard time with her mother, Maggie Lang (Judy Greer) and her new boyfriend Paxton (Bobby Cannavale) because he does not have a job to pay his child support. Scott is not confident about being Ant-Man and he feels as though this task is not for him. Do you think Scott will be Ant-Man? Do you think he will get a chance to spend time with his daughter? Ant-Man opens in theaters on July 17, 2015.

My remarkable moment is when Luis (Michael Pena) says he does not get scared. So Scott (Paul Rudd) puts the Ant-Man suit on, shrinks and jumps on Luis’s shoulders. Luis is so scared he runs around the house like a chicken screaming and bumping into things. It is so humorous the whole audience starts laughing.

The message of the film is if someone gives you a task to accomplish and you feel in your heart you can do it and make a difference, stay on the mission until you accomplish the issue. The results will be more rewarding.

I recommend this film for ages 12 to 18 and I give it 5 out of 5 Stars because it is adventurous and a great Marvel comic movie.

Who didn’t fall in love with the Minions when we first saw them in Despicable Me? Now, they have a movie all of their own with the ever-so-talented Director Pierre Coffin voicing all 899 minions in this film. The story shows Stuart, Kevin and Bob being recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kayla P. comments, “Minions is a wonderful summer movie. It is filled with action and funny moments that will entertain many.” See her full review below.

Minions
By Kayla P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13

Minions is a wonderful summer movie. It is filled with action and funny moments that will entertain many. It begins with a single yellow organism at the dawn of time, which evolves into minions. The Minions travel through different periods of time and encounter people from T-Rex to Napoleon. The minions exist to serve. When they find themselves without a leader they fall into depression. Kevin has a plan to help his Minion friends find a new leader. He convinces Bob and Stuart (Pierre Coffin) to accompany him as they search for a new boss. Soon their journey leads them to villain-con and they find themselves with the biggest, baddest and the world’s first female villain, Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock).

My favorite part is when Bob is the King of England for a few hours and he has to make a speech. At the beginning of the speech he shouts, “King Bob!” and everyone starts to cheer for him. Then, he delivers his speech and, of course, he speaks in Minion-speak. Once Bob finishes his speech everyone is appalled and stands in complete silence. Bob then grabs the microphone and shouts, “King Bob”! Then everyone cheers. Bob sticks his hand out and drops the microphone and walks away.

My favorite character is Bob. He is very adorable and he is the baby of the group. Bob is frightened by the real world and tries hard to be brave for his Minion buddies. Bob has a little stuffed bear name Tim that he is very attached to. Whenever he is in a fight and drops Tim he runs back to get him.

The message of this movie is never give up! Throughout the movie the Minions are really determined to find themselves an evil villain to serve and when they do, they work hard to do whatever it takes to make their boss happy.

Minions is a wonderful movie! I recommend it for boys and girls ages 5 to 18-years-old. I give this movie 5 out of 5 golden stars. Minions opens in theaters July 10, 2015.

Breaking new ground and laying bare old myths, this PBS program, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ben Loeterman, explores the little-known history of Palestine during the latter part of the Ottoman Empire, a time of relative harmony between Arabs and Jews. Living side by side in the multi-lingual, cosmopolitan city of Jerusalem, Jews, Christians and Muslims intermingled with a cultural fluidity enjoyed by all. How did this land of milk and honey, so diverse and rich in culture, become the site of today’s bitter and seemingly intractable struggle? Was there a turning point when things could have been different? Weaving the raveled threads of Arab and Jewish narratives back together, “1913: SEEDS OF CONFLICT” provides new and fascinating insights into events that took place in Palestine which presaged a century of unrest. KIDS FIRST! juror, Juanita S. comments, “I enjoyed the film because it gave me answers to some questions I have about the conflict between Jewish and Arabic people.” See her full review below.

1913 Seeds of Conflict
Juanita S., KIDS FIRST! adult juror

The film is very eye opening about a very old and difficult conflict between Arabs and Jews and who owns Palestine. I enjoyed the film because it gave me answers to some questions I have about the conflict between Jewish and Arabic people.  It enlightened me about the geography.  I was not aware of the area called Ottoman and what was the Ottoman rule.

The film opens with the re-discovery of a film from 1913 that documents a time in history that few people know about.  I have often wondered what is the cause of this hatred between Jewish and Arab people?

The actors who portray the characters, Albert Antebi, a Sephardic Jew known as the Jewish “pasha”, Ruhi al-Khaalidi, the scion of a Palestine family and Jerusalem’s elected representative to the Ottoman Parliament, Khalil Sakdkini, a Christian schoolmaster and voice for Palestinian culture and Arthur Ruppin, a German Zionist who opens the Palestine Office to strategize the shape of a Jewish homeland that was to come are very authentic and speak in the native language.

I had to pay attention and read the subtitles.  Normally, I really do not like films with subtitles. However, 1913 Seeds of Conflict has very interesting and historical information.  The ending leaves you thinking about how something very small can trigger something very enormous.

I recommend this film for ages 12 to 18. The film meets the baseline KIDS FIRST! criteria and I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. PBS Distribution is releasing it on DVD on June 30.

Not all dogs are created equal. This story features a U.S. Marine dog that served in  Afghanistan and suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome. When he returns to the U.S., he has issues not uncommon to humans who’ve experienced similar experiences. This original story will pull on the heart-strings of any animal lover. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “Max is truly an inspirational adventure many will love and enjoy.”

Max
Reviewed by Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

This movie is about a marine who faces challenges on and off the battlefield. However, this marine is not a human. This marine is a dog, a dog that inspires many.  Max is truly an inspirational adventure many will love and enjoy.

This movie is truly a thriller with a pinch of mystery, however in the form of an adventure that is full of dramatic scenes. There is action with a sparkle of romance spicing up the story as well. At the end, and at its core, it is an inspirational and heartwarming story.

Max starts off when a soldier named Kyle, his squad and his search dog Max are heading to a town in Afghanistan to do their mission. On the way there, they get ambushed and Kyle passes away. Max is traumatized and develops post dramatic stress disorder. The only person who seems to have a positive affect on Max different is Kyle’s younger brother. Soon the two bond and start an epic adventure that holds a answer to a mysterious question. If you want to know what it is you have to watch the film!

This film tells an original story and very nicely too. Actors of all species are wonderful in portraying their parts and showing all the varied emotions of those characters. The director makes the story unfold smoothly. I think that some parts of the film are a little bit stretched out. However, Max will make you laugh, cry, gasp and awe. It is a joy to watch.

My favorite scene is when Max and Kyle’s little brother, Justin are just starting to get to know each other. Justin brings Max to his group of friends and they race down the hill together. Justin quickly picks up speed and not only does Max easily follow but, he also guides Justin down a safe path. I like the scene because it’s really the first time that Max and Justin work as one and it shows the full range of skills that Max has.

This film is rather violent and also has some very mature scenes. The story itself is sad at times and it does contain a bit of gore and intense violence, so I recommend it for ages 11 to 18. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars. For even with its minor imperfections, the creators did a wonderful job showing a heartwarming  and original story that generation after generation can be inspired by.

Entertainment News for Kids:

• About Us
  • Mission
  • Our Programs
  • KIDS FIRST!
  • Staff & Board
  • Meet Youth Reporters
  • CQCM Members
• Film Reviews
  • Search Reviews
  • Browse Reviews
  • Online Videos
  • Become a Juror
  • Submit a Title
  • Endorsement Description
  • Streamlined Reviews
• Film Festival
  • Find a Festival
  • Film Festival Selections
  • At a Theater Near You
  • Host a Festival
  • Submit a Title
  • Current Press
  • Festival Sponsors
  • Festival Home
• Film Critics
  • Media Literacy
  • Join our Jury
  • Search Reviews
• Blogs, News & Info
  • Current Newsletter
  • Press Room
  • Articles
  • Ranny's Coming Attractions
  • KIDS FIRST! News
  • KIDS FIRST! Podcast
  • From the Jury Blog
• Members/Sponsors
  • Become a member
  • Our Members
  • Our Sponsors
  • Join As Juror
  • Submit a Title
• Contact Us
• Social Media
  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • KIDS FIRST! on YouTube
  • Follow Us on Instagram
  • Join Us on Tik Tok
  • Join Us on FaceBook
  • KIDS FIRST! Radio Show
  • KIDS FIRST! on Linked In
• Home