KIDS FIRST! News

“Space Warriors” is a live-action film about kids who attend Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. Though it is a fictional story, it is based on a real place and according to KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O., age 11, it “feels very real and positive.” All of our film critics agree that this is a fun and exciting film that inspired them to want to visit the real Space Camp. Adam C., Age 7, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic tells us that they even fact-checked the story with NASA “and it was plausible that this could have happened in real life.” Proving that it has multi-age and gender appeal, 13-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Cassandra H. calls this “a fun and unexpectedly down-to-earth film for all ages.”

Airing on May 31, this Hallmark Channel Original Movie is perfect for the whole family. You can hear our discussion about this film on the KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions Radio Show. Check out Cassandra H.’s full review below and many of our Film Critic’s full video reviews as well.

“Space Warriors”

Reviewed by Cassandra H.

See Cassandra’s full video review by visiting www.kidsfirst.org

Space geeks will envy the rip-roaring adventures in the movie, “Space Warriors.” I was pleasantly surprised to see that the plot was simpler than I imagined. Before I watched the movie, the title made me cringe, suggesting that it was about teenagers battling aliens in a cheesy rampage through outer space. Clearly, I was wrong to judge a movie by its poster. “Space Warriors” is a fun and unexpectedly down-to-earth film for all ages.

Jimmy Hawkins (Thomas Horn, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”), the son of a retired NASA astronaut, is a complete astronomy geek. His dream is to go to space, and the opportunity arises in the form of Space Camp, where teams can compete for the chance to go to space. His parents, played by Dermot Mulroney and Mira Sorvino, forbid him to join Space Camp fearing for his safety, but Jimmy joins anyway. At Space Camp he meets the brightest, nerdiest group of astronomy-lovers, called Space Warriors. They have to learn to work together as a team not only to win the competition, but to save the lives of three astronauts along the way as well.

Colonel Manley (Josh Lucas), one of the commanders at Space Camp, is one of my favorite characters – he’s witty and smart with just a touch of dry humor and sarcasm. Sean McNamara (“Soul Surfer”) is the director of “Space Warriors.” Along the same lines of “Soul Surfer,” this movie has many great themes that include teamwork, leadership, overcoming fear, thinking outside the box, making wise choices and most importantly, it shines a positive light on youth. The Space Warriors don’t let anyone look down on them because of their age – they prove to the entire world that age doesn’t matter as long as you have passion, a love of discovering, and an open mind.

The movie incorporates footage from history in outer space and was shot on-location at the Space Camp in Alabama. For science-lovers, this movie is the ultimate “easter egg” hunt, where geeks will want to shout and announce to other viewers, “That’s the actual footage of landing on the moon!” or “I’ve been on a moon-gravity stimulator just like that!” I found myself thinking that if I could go to a Space Camp that looks even half as fun as the one in the movie, it’d be the best summer of my life.

I recommend this movie for all ages, especially for aspiring scientists. I give it four out of five stars. “Space Warriors” will inspire viewers to look up and rekindle an excitement for learning about the unknown universe of space. Learn more about a world outside our own that we’ve barely begun to discover and catch “Space Warriors” on the Hallmark Channel, airing May 31!

Check out our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics full video reviews of Space Warriors!

Adam C.

Keefer B.

Gerry O.

Stacy and Valdi B.

“Iron Man 3” is the newest edition in this exciting superhero series. Rated PG-13 for intense and somewhat violent scenes, this film proves that a sequel can more than live up to it’s predecessors. Age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raven D. was extremely impressed with the action and says the “special effects, are outstanding and I absolutely love all of the different suits that Tony has created in this movie.” Equally impressed with the suits and special effects, 12-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Keefer B. notes “the way they move, attack, fight and look is wonderful” and tells us that the film is funny as well.

Iron Man 3

Reviewed by Keefer B.

See Keefer’s full video review here!

“Iron Man 3” is a blockbuster, serge forward, non-stop action movie with a few surprises, a couple disappointments and wallop of bigger-than-life, special effect-filled screens.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is back, and after fighting with the Avengers, faces a new threat, a terrorist named Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and a new foe Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce).We also see James Rhodes/Iron Patriot ( Don Cheadle) who helps Tony out in his time of crises. Not only is Tony facing the anxiety of keeping Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) safe, but also learns that it’s the man that makes the suit.

I love the special effects in this flick. The suits get better and better. The way they move, attach, fight and look is wonderful. Robert Downey Jr. continues his character development as Tony Stark and I love every minute he’s on screen. Gwyneth Paltrow is fantastic. She’s not just a damsel in distress. She saves Tony two different times and has a likable, lovable personality. The story is very engaging and the dialogue is great. The one thing I don’t like is the intellectual twist. I have mixed feelings about the turn of events in this film. My inner die-hard, comic book-loving side is disappointed, but my film critic side sees it as genius.

My favorite character is Harley (Ty Simpkins), a boy who befriends Tony and helps repair the Iron Man suit. Harley is bright, independent and a little too much like Tony. When you put the two together, you get non-stop laughter.

The moral of the story is: it’s not the suit that makes the man, it’s the man that makes the suit. Tony can’t sleep because he gets nightmares, so he spends all his time at night making more suits to protect himself and Pepper. The truth is, he saves Pepper without the suit.

My favorite scene is the final battle. The action is larger-than-life. The different suits, the way they fight, make you want to cheer. It gets you to the edge of your seat; it’s intense, fast and action-packed .

I recommend this to 11 year-olds and up. Bad language is low and the action not too intense for this age range. They will love the comedy. I give this 5 stars. Even if the twist is a little disappointing, it’s still amazing.

Also check out Raven D.’s full video review here!

Journey down under and meet a whole new breed of hero in "Koala Kid," a laugh-filled, action-packed animated adventure with a rare white koala bear who just wants to fit in. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Canela R likes this movie "because it has a funny story and at the same time, action and suspense is thrown in with lots of twists and turns."

Koala Kid by Canela R

See Canela’s full video review here!

“Koala Kid” is a animated film about a white Koala who doesn’t he think he fits in with his community of gray Koalas and comes to believe that he has special talents which he thinks can prove to everyone that he belongs. He does this by going on a miraculous journey to defeat an evil crocodile named Bog.

The Koala Kid’s name is Johnny and he’s voiced by Rob Schneider. As his journey continues he meets Miranda, a gray Koala (Yvonne Strahvoski), Hamish the Tasmanian Devil (Bret McKenzie) and his Monkey Photographer Lokie (Charlie Bewley). They battle with their wits and through action with Bog the villainous Crocodile (Alan Cumming, the Bad Guy from Spy Kids!) and his chief henchman, Blacktooth the Dingo (Tim Curry).

There is one moment that seems to capture the humor and suspense of this movie perfectly. When Bog the evil Croc is sleeping, the tiny wombats take Snorkles into the pond and capture Bog with a net. When Bog awakes, he shrugs them off of him as if it is nothing. I didn’t want to laugh because the Wombats are so cute, but it is funny.

I really like the animation in this film because it feels as if you’re really in the hot outback with all these fun characters.

The colorfulness adds to the fun I experienced. There is also one song in the movie which continues the colorfulness and had both me AND my mom tapping our feet, “Do You Come From a Land Down Under.” I think I’m still tapping my feet.

I think the message of this movie is no matter what you look like, you can always become a hero.

If you like adventurous cartoons as much as I do, then “Koala Kid” is the movie for you. I recommend this to kids ages six to sixteen because as much as it is a lifelong lesson that you can always use. There are some suspenseful moments that could be scary to the younger ones.

I rate this movie five out of five stars because it’s hilarious and colorful which speaks to the mind of kids and teens.

Koala Kid is available now on DVD.

Check out KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O’s Koala Kid interview here!

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Tall Tale, two classic films for the whole family to enjoy, are screening throughout April on HDNet Movies – kidScene. KIDS FIRST! is proud of our affiliation with HDNet Movies and applauds their mission to bring some of the most fun and popular movies of their time to new audiences. Visit their website to see KIDS FIRST! Film Critic reviews and check out their upcoming programming.

Originally released in 2001, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is a hilarious kid-oriented sci-fi spoof. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Anthony Aranda reviewed the film when he was 9-years-old and said it was “interesting and really funny.” Below is a wonderful review from Adam Chernick, age 7. One of our newest KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, Adam says the film teaches us “that size is not as important as intelligence and courage.”

Click here to see Cheyenne Nguyen’s full video review!

Click here to hear KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions Radio Show review of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius!

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Reviewed by Adam Chernick

If you enjoy adventure and action movies than you will love Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

Jimmy is a very intelligent boy who creates all kinds of inventions including a rocket plane, robot dog and burp soda to name a few. Jimmy manages to get all of the parents of his town abducted by space aliens . Will Jimmy and his friends be able to rescue their parents before the space aliens eat them?

Jimmy and his robot dog are my favorite characters. Jimmy (Debi Derryberry) is a genius but also mischievous as he sneaks out of his house to go to Rocketland with his friends. His parents tell him rockets are dangerous but Jimmy insists on playing with them anyway. The robot dog is funny especially when he pretends to be Jimmy so his parents do not know Jimmy is gone.

My favorite part is when all the children use different amusement park rides as rockets to go into space and battle the space aliens. It is exciting to see how Jimmy and his robot dog figure out a way to escape and leave space safely.

The music is fun especially Kids In America and how so many scenes are set to music.

The film teaches us be careful what you wish for as Jimmy and his friends think a world without their parents is what they desire only to find out that they are sad and missing their parents without them. The main message the film is that is size is not as important as intelligence and courage. Jimmy learns this lesson on his space journey as he sees how with his intelligence and courage he is able to save the day.

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. Younger audiences up to age twelve will want to see this funny and action-packed movie. It is on HDNet Movies now.

Tall Tale is an action-packed film released in 1995 full of famous characters from the “wild west.” Patrick Nguyen, 14-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, aptly sums up his feelings when he tell us “Tall Tale is a well-rounded movie with lovely landscapes, great action sequences and a memorable theme.” Here is his full review of this classic film.

Click here to listen to the KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions Radio Show review of Tall Tale!

Tall Tale

Reviewed by Patrick Nguyen

Click here to see Patrick’s full video review!

This movie kept me on the edge of my seat with the fight scenes and I found it enjoyable to see the culture of the Wild West.

Tall Tale is an adventurous movie that takes audience members back to the 1900s where farming and family values were the essence of life. Daniel Hackett (Nick Stahl) hates the farm and wishes to move away. Daniel’s dad (Stephen Lang) is disappointed because he has put his sweat and blood into this farm so that Daniel would benefit and Daniel wants no part of it. An evil land baron wants to steal the farm and destroy their community and injures Daniel’s dad. Daniel tries to flee the scene but falls asleep and wakes up in the “wild west.” In the company of such “tall tale” legends as Pecos Bill (Patrick Swayze), Paul Bunyan (Oliver Platt,) and John Henry (Roger Aaron Brown,) Daniel realizes how to battle the villains he is facing in his real world.

Tall Tale is a well-rounded movie with lovely landscapes, great action sequences and a memorable theme. I adored the scenery in Tall Tale because I am a boy scout and really enjoy nature. From the mountains to the desert, the locations are all amazing. The western fight scenes with guns and fist fights are gripping and comedic at the same time because they yell funny quotes such as “Big as a redwood” or “Well, paint my toenails.” I think those help make the audience appreciate the language and culture of the West. When Daniel realizes his mistakes and stands up to the bad guys, he teaches an important theme: “No matter how small you are, you can stand up against the biggest challenges.” The one thing I didn’t enjoy was the drinking scene in the bar. Even though Daniel was not drinking alcohol, it gives the wrong message.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Pecos Bill and Daniel because it is so touching to see their relationship build. My favorite character, Peco Bill, is strong minded and physically. Patrick Swayze portrays his character so well that I did not recognize him as the slick dancer in “Dirty Dancing.” Paul Bunyan is also so funny from having a blue ox to going crazy during action scenes. Both of these characters help Daniel on his task to overcome evil.

My favorite scene is at the end of the movie when Daniel tries pushes the train back but gets trapped under the train. Pecos Bill, John Henry and Paul Bunyan come to rescue Daniel and successfully push the train back with the help if the village people. This moment is significant because the people stand up against the railroad company, thus keeping the land of Paradise Valley from its clutches.

I recommend Tall Tale for ages 10 and up. It is a bit scary with chainsaws, fighting and drinking scenes for kids younger than 10. I give Tall Tale 5 out of 5 stars.