KIDS FIRST! News

Film Critics Local Search continues in the greater NYC area through Feb. 28. This local competition is open to all children, ages 7 to 16 living in the greater New York area. You may enter online by submitting your child’s written and videotaped review of one of our official films.

For more info go to http://2013critic.kidsfirst.org
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for your child to audition for the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics who review all the newest films rated for kids, interview celebrities both on and off the Red Carpet and produce the #1 rated weekly radio show, KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions on Voice America Kids Network.

The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics program takes media literacy to the next level, teaching kids to be critical viewers and users of media. Reviews by the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics reach an audience of more than 6 million every month through broadcast and online media companies such as HDNet Movies kidScene, Kidsville News, Kidzworld.com, WorkingMother.com and GrandMagazine.com.

The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics have made a name for themselves in Hollywood, interviewing talent on the red carpet and off. They have posted more than 800 videotaped reviews on the KIDS FIRST! YouTube channel. Their latest film reviews include:  Wadjda, The Nut Job, Journey South Pacific, Planes, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, Saving Mr. Banks, Walking with Dinosaurs, Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United, The Book Thief, Turbo FAST, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and Frozen. They have interviewed Amir Talai, Logan Lerman, Ang Lee, Pixar’s John Lassetter, Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, Zachary Gordon, Selena Gomez, Willow Shields, Adam Sandler, Nick Cannon, Josh Hutcherson, Cloris Leachman, Kevin Durant, James Belushi and more.

Research shows that, during their school age years, most U.S. children spend more hours watching media than the hours they spend in school. Not all children’s media is bad. In fact, many programs can help increase a child’s cognitive, social and behavioral skills. Fundamental to KIDS FIRST! mission is teaching children to make critical media choices so that they seek out and use media in a beneficial way.  The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics program a national outreach effort promoting the critical media viewing to millions of children and families nationwide by sharing the skills they have developed and reviewing media on a weekly basis.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critics is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media.

Industry supporters of The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics program include Amazon.com, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Campaign support also comes from national nonprofit organizations that include the National Education Association and the National Council of Women’s Organizations, with a cumulative membership of over 17 million.

For information about the KIDS FIRST! and KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, visit:  http://www.kidsfirst.org
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Or, call us. 505.989.8076.

“The Lego Movie” comes out this weekend and we can’t say enough good things about it. The story is a simple one about how an ordinary guy behaves extraordinarily. What’s cool about this film is that everything in the movie is designed to look as if it was built out of Lego pieces – water, fire, laser bolts, explosions and smoke amongst them. The animation is a combination of stop-motion and CGI that looks like Lego-mation. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Keefer B says, “I love this movie! Just watching it makes me wonder what you can’t make out of Legos.” Gerry O adds, “This great film has comedy, adventure, suspense, music, romance, Legos and a great story line.” See their full reviews below.

The Lego Movie
Reviewed by Keefer B, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 13.
Full video review here.

This is a fast pace action, comedy, that shows that Lego’s are more than just plastic bricks. The story is about Emmet (Chris Pratt) who is just an ordinary guy that always follows the instructions. However, once he finds a magical relic, he is now known as the special person who is supposed to defeat Lord Business (Will Ferrell) from launching an evil plan. So with the help of Wildstyle (Elizabeth Banks), Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), and more hilarious characters, he sets out to save the world.

I love this movie! It has a “Toy Story” atmosphere to it that makes it entertaining. The writers don’t try to hide the fact that the Lego people are plastic figures, they just write it in the way that Lego figures would move and act. Even the characters sort of know what they are, although they don’t know everything. The jokes are always thrown at you and all of them get a laugh. It has a parody element to it that is surprisingly funny for kids and adults. When a company that has been around for generations and has so much merchandise, you can’t help but admire the creators for making fun of their toy. It does is heart-warming how creativity is important. The animation is marvelous – the way the characters build structures, vehicles and double-decker couches is an experience to see. Just watching this imaginative universe makes me wonder, “What can’t you make out of Legos”?!

My favorite character is hard to pick out of dozens of lovable characters. I would have to choose Good Cop / Bad Cop (Liam Neeson). I love this character’s double personality and he cracks me up every time I see him.

My favorite scene is when Emmet talks to Lord Business about how you don’t how to follow the instructions all the time. This scene shows and proves how Legos are important to people. How the simplicity of building a spaceship or anything, can spark inspiration for kids and adults to build.

The moral of the story is that everyone is special. Emmet does not think he has the mind or experience to fulfill his prophecy. He soon learns that if you believe in yourself you can do extraordinarily things.

I give this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend this to 5 to18-year-olds. This film reminds us on how Legos can change our lives. We all had Legos once in our lives, whether you follow the instructions, build or just played with them, it does not matter. Legos have been around for generations and these bricks have shown us new worlds to explore and enjoy. This film is timeless and I hope it will be know for a long time.

The Lego Movie
Reviewed by Gerry O, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

This movie is something special. This movie will make kids’ dreams come true everywhere. What movie I’m talking about?  Well it’s “The Lego Movie” of course.

This great film has comedy, adventure, suspense, music, romance, LEGOS and a great story line.

The story is about an unlikely hero, who turns out to be part of a big prophesy and a lot of exciting battles and adventures. But, is this just all a part of a kid’s imagination or do Legos truly come to life when we are not looking?

I love so many things about this movie! A very unique part is the animation. It’s plastic, smooth and looks a lot like real Lego pieces. At parts it feels like its stop motion but it’s not. Most of the sets where were made out of hundreds of Legos. Imagine it, five adults playing with a whole bunch of Legos for work. I am sure most kids would wish to be a part of such production. If you add to the mix the voice-overs by amazing actors such as Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett and Will Ferrell – you get an animated film that will captivate your heart for sure.

I have a couple of favorite scenes. First, when Batman, Emmet, Wyldstyle, the Wizard and Benny are all stuck in the ocean on a ‘double decker couch.’ Batman says “It’s not like a gigantic ship will show up” and right when he says that, a ship comes out of nowhere. Then later, when they need a part and he says “It’s not like there’s a spaceship or anything” and what do you know, the Millennium Falcon drops by!

I recommend this movie to ages 2 to 17. Older people may not enjoy the humor as much as younger kids. I also give it 5 out of 5 stars.

“Ride Along” is the new PG-13-rated film produced by and featuring a toned down Ice Cube – the former gangsta rapper and Kevin Hart. It’s a buddy cop comedy with lots of gun fire, car chases, a few explosions and lots of funny one-liners. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raven D. surprisingly enjoyed it. “It is the perfect mix of action and comedy, making it a movie that practically everyone will enjoy.” See her full review below.

Ride Along
Reviewed by Raven Devanney
Video review available here.

“Ride Along” is the new fast paced comedy starring Kevin Hart who plays Ben, a video game obsessed, school security guard who wants to make it big in the police academy. His cop friend James played (Ice Cube), is less than thrilled when he finds out that Ben plans on marrying his younger sister. In order for Ben to prove he has what it takes to provide for his fiancé, he has to go on a ride along with James. What is supposed to be a mundane day of handling small complaints and annoying police work turns into a high stakes situation when Ben and James come face to face with a menace that has been hunted by the law for years.

I really enjoyed this film. It is a perfect mix of action and comedy, making it a movie that practically everyone will like. The cinematography is great and the action sequences are captured very well. “Ride Along” is one of those movies that I and my friends will be quoting because it has so many hilarious comments and the comedy balances out the suspenseful situations as the film heats up. There are definitely several twists and turns in the plot which kept me on my feet while laughing the whole time.

My favorite scene is when Ben and James find the group of men they have been searching for in an old warehouse. Ben is told to just wait in the car, but when backup fails to be of assistance, it’s his turn to come to James’ aid. This scene is hilarious and also super suspenseful because Ben doesn’t have any real training on how to handle these situations. He has to use his wit to talk himself and his partner out of harm’s way. However, Ben is a loud mouth and he only ends up getting even deeper in trouble. Kevin Hart does a fabulous job in this scene and a very unexpected move on Ben’s part shows his bravery, which is neat to see. Another fun thing about this part in the film is when the warehouse shootout takes place Ben uses his knowledge from his love of video games to assist him in the fight which made for some very comedic moments.

My favorite character is definitely Ben. Kevin Hart is one of my favorite stand-up comics and his energy and sense of humor are perfect for the big screen. His character is hilarious and he pairs very well with Ice Cube. The two of them really embodied their parts and it really pays off. I love that you can see Ben’s character develop as the movie progresses. He goes from being very sure of himself, to almost accepting defeat, and then bounces right back again to be the hero. He has so many hilarious moments throughout the movie and really makes the film what it is.

I recommend this film for ages 13 to 18 because there is definitely quite a bit of realistic violence throughout the film, strong language and sexual situations. I give “Ride Along” 4 out of 5 stars.

WADJDA, the first film shot in Saudi Arabia tells the story of an enterprising Saudi girl who signs on for her school’s Koran recitation competition as a way to raise the funds she needs in order to buy the green bicycle that has captured her interest. Nominated for an Academy Award in the Foreign Language category, this is a unique film that offers insight into another culture and understanding of the oppression of women that live there. “It’s mind-blowing to me that a movie about the oppression of women was made in the exact environment it depicts,” comments KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Cassandra H.  See her full review below.

WADJDA
Reviewed by Cassandra Hsiao
Video review available here.

A poignantly triumphant movie, the storyline of “WADJDA” is just as phenomenal as the story of how the film came to be. In short, “WADJDA” represents quite a number of firsts. It’s the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, a country where cinema is prohibited. Writer and director Haifaa Al Mansour is Saudi Arabia’s first female filmmaker. It is also the first submission from Saudi Arabia for the Foreign Language Category for the 2014 Academy Awards.

Set in a country known for its repression of women, the movie follows our title character—a 10-year-old spirited girl—in her journey to buy a new bicycle so she can race her best friend, neighbor and crush Abdullah. Even though Wadjda’s mother warns her to stay away from both bikes and boys because of their culture’s strict customs, Wadjda is determined to buy her bike with her own hard-earned money, no matter what the consequences. This, in turn, leads to joining a Koran competition at school. If she wins, she will have more than enough to buy a bike and therefore beat the boy next door.

Subtly, the film explores the repercussions from this society in which girls should only be seen, not heard and, in public, only their eyes should be seen, with the rest of their faces covered by black veils. Wadjda tests boundaries in her search for freedom of expression. Although she discovers the contradictions in her world, she’s determined to challenge women’s traditional roles. The movie covers major topics such as polygamy and child-brides, as well as smaller oppressions such as the restriction of driving and rules of women in the presence of men.

It’s mind-blowing to me that a movie about the oppression of women was made in the exact environment it depicts. On DVD, the making-of featurette explores in-depth the struggles and challenges that faced director Haifaa Al Mansour. The line, “respectable girls go inside,” is said to Wadjda in the film, and Mansour confronted the same problems. She had to direct her cast out-of-sight using a walkie-talkie to communicate with her cast and a monitor to watch the filming. She could not be seen working with men and often, when religious officials would come to inspect the bustle, production would be halted and moved to another location. It took close to five years to make the movie, but the effort is worth it.

First timer Waad Mohammed is perfect as the fun-loving rebel Wadjda. This film is rated PG and I recommend it for ages 10 to 18. The pace may be slow for kids under ten. This is truly a landmark film that the world needs to watch. I give it five out of five stars. Perhaps the most uplifting message is that although the plot is fiction, the remarkable story behind the movie is not, and that shows that revolution is possible. This film played in theaters last year and will be released on February 11 on DVD/Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Cassandra H, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Directors Stephen Judson and Greg MacGillivary who specialize in these big format nature films really surpass themselves in this incredible Imax 3D film about the South Pacific. You will take an underwater voyage to Indonesia where you learn about its inhabitants such as giant rays and whale sharks as well as efforts being made in the region for ocean conservation. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O says,” Not only that but this film is in 3D as well, together making a spectacular IMAX adventure that make you feel like you’re in the movie.” See his full review below

Journey to the South Pacific
Reviewed by Gerry O, age 11, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic
Video review available here.
Interview with the director available here.

This documentary, as you can guess from the title, is about fish and sea. Unlike many documentaries, this one doesn’t just educate you it also tells you a warming story.

This film has a lot of different things that everyone would love. It has education, geography, comedy, music, fish, culture and many more things everyone would enjoy.

The story begins when a young boy lives on an island in gorgeous Indonesia. What is very unique about the story is that it follows a boat that travels to different islands and takes kids from each on a “floating school” where they dive, play fun games and, of course, learn about fish. When the young boy goes on this boat, he leaves home for a couple months for a wonderful aquatic adventure.

My favorite scene is when they talk about the corals singing and they show different marine species making sounds with music-like voice overs and, the funny thing is, they do it in a chorus-like rhythm. I love it because it’s light hearted and funny.

Unlike most new movies, this film was taped on a real film, not digital. This gives more in-depth colors. And, it’s shot on Imax film which is ten times larger than 35mm which gives better quality because of the larger frame. Not only that but this film is in 3D as well, together making a spectacular IMAX adventure that make you feel like you’re in the movie. The director does a wonderful job as does the narrator. I’m impressed.

This movie is definitely suitable for ages 1 to 18. Younger kids would not understand it completely but they would still enjoy the colors and the music. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.  This movie is available in select Imax theaters nationwide.