{"id":12832,"date":"2024-11-14T05:33:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T12:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=12832"},"modified":"2024-11-14T15:47:44","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T22:47:44","slug":"an-intense-war-time-drama-with-stunning-performances-incredible-visual-effects-and-suspenseful-scenes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2024\/an-intense-war-time-drama-with-stunning-performances-incredible-visual-effects-and-suspenseful-scenes\/","title":{"rendered":"Blitz * An Intense War-Time Drama With Stunning Performances, Incredible Visual Effects And Suspenseful Scenes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-12833\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz.poster.png?resize=122%2C183&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"122\" height=\"183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz.poster.png?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz.poster.png?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 122px) 100vw, 122px\" \/>Steve McQueen\u2019s <em>Blitz<\/em> follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.<\/p>\n<p>KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, \u201cOne word to describe\u00a0<em>Blitz\u00a0<\/em>is \u2018jaw-dropping.\u2019 For\u00a0the majority of\u00a0the film, I was at the edge of my seat wondering what could\u00a0possibly\u00a0go wrong next. I\u00a0became\u00a0very invested\u00a0in what happened to the characters.\u00a0However, this film isn\u2019t for everyone.\u00a0<em>Blitz\u00a0<\/em>is a very\u00a0intense, immersive war-time drama right from the start.\u00a0This movie\u00a0has stunning performances, incredible visual\u00a0effects\u00a0and suspenseful scenes.\u201d See her full review below.<\/p>\n<p>Blitz<br \/>\nBy Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1c6G09Hlmk8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12844 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0114.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=222%2C125&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0114.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0114.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0114.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0114.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px\" \/>Blitz\u00a0<\/em>is a very\u00a0intense, immersive war-time drama right from the start.\u00a0This movie\u00a0has stunning performances, incredible visual\u00a0effects\u00a0and suspenseful scenes.<\/p>\n<p><em>Blitz<\/em>\u00a0is based in Britain in 1940 during World War 2. Rita (Saoirse Ronan), a single mom living with her dad (Paul Weller), sends her\u00a0nine-year-old\u00a0son, George (Elliott Heffernan), to the countryside\u00a0where she thinks he\u2019ll be safer away from the bombing occurring in London.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-12835\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0110.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=220%2C124&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0110.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0110.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/>Determined to get back to his family, George jumps off his train and embarks on a challenging journey\u00a0back\u00a0home as his mother desperately looks for him.<\/p>\n<p>One word to describe\u00a0<em>Blitz\u00a0<\/em>is \u201cjaw-dropping.\u201d\u00a0For\u00a0the majority of\u00a0the film, I was at the edge of my seat wondering what could\u00a0possibly\u00a0go wrong next.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12840 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0108.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=220%2C124&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0108.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0108.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0108.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0108.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/>I\u00a0became\u00a0very invested\u00a0in what happened to the characters.\u00a0However, this film isn\u2019t for everyone.\u00a0At times, it can be very dark, violent, and sad, just as World War 2 was\u00a0for many millions of people.\u00a0The pacing and plot may seem somewhat choppy, but this is for a reason.\u00a0In war, regardless of being on the winning or losing sides, everyone\u00a0loses something.\u00a0So,\u00a0when something starts, it may abruptly end, as many of the scenes in this movie do.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-12841\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0109.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=220%2C124&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0109.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0109.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0109.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0109.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/>As\u00a0I watched it, one thing I found very interesting was that the music, when the characters aren\u2019t singing, seems more fitting for a horror movie, which makes sense as the events during WWII were horrifying.\u00a0When the characters are singing, which they often do, it feels more cheerful; displaying the hope and\u00a0comfort that music brings to people.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12843 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0113.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=220%2C124&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0113.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0113.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0113.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0113.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/>The acting is\u00a0phenomenal.\u00a0Saoirse Ronan\u00a0gives an impactful performance with her beautiful singing voice as well as her fierceness for fighting for what she cares about\u00a0most \u2013 her son!\u00a0Elliott Heffernan\u00a0outstandingly\u00a0captures the defiant\u00a0nature of his character\u00a0and I sometimes forgot he is acting. The two of them perfectly portray\u00a0a relationship between a single mother and her son.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-12837\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0103.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=220%2C124&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0103.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0103.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0103.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Blitz_Photo_0103.jpg.photo_modal_show_home_large.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/>Blitz\u00a0<\/em>highlights the importance of family, fighting for your beliefs, and having resilience during\u00a0extremely difficult\u00a0circumstances. This movie may not be fit for sensitive viewers as there are\u00a0many\u00a0depictions of death, violence, war,\u00a0racism,\u00a0and profanity\u00a0and\u00a0it is not targeted to\u00a0young children.<\/p>\n<p>I give\u00a0<em>Blitz\u00a0<\/em>3.5 out of 5\u00a0stars and recommend it for ages 14 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on November 8 and streams on Apple TV+ beginning November 22, 2024.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iZwykQK9aZo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Steve McQueen\u2019s Blitz follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.<br \/>\nKIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, \u201cOne word to describe Blitz is \u2018jaw-dropping.\u2019 For the majority of the film, I was at the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly go wrong next. I became very invested in what happened to the characters. However, this film isn\u2019t for everyone. Blitz is a very intense, immersive war-time drama right from the start. This movie has stunning performances, incredible visual effects and suspenseful scenes.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4949,15],"tags":[8406,4104,8414,8415,8401,8404,8408,721,8409,8411,8405,8410,8402,8413,8407,8403,1164,4060,8400,8412],"class_list":["post-12832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-film","category-feature-film-reviews","tag-adam-somner","tag-benjamin-clementine","tag-bryony-hannah","tag-dominic-coleman","tag-elliot-heffernan","tag-elliott-heffernan","tag-erin-kellyman","tag-harris-dickinson","tag-hayley-squires","tag-jack-bence","tag-john-mackay","tag-joshua-mcguire","tag-kathy-burke","tag-leigh-gill","tag-liam-smith","tag-paul-weller","tag-saoirse-ronan","tag-stephen-graham","tag-steve-mcqueen","tag-tom-padley"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-3kY","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12832"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12848,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12832\/revisions\/12848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}