Watch Kids' Reviews of
LONG WAY NORTH (BLU-RAY/DVD COMBO)

I loved this film. It surprised me a lot. I have to admit that, when it first started it was a bit boring, but as the movie progressed, it got better and better. I like the film because the events are so unexpected. I would predict that something would happen and then, something completely different happened and I would stare at the screen in shock. I love that feeling because it's exciting. For me, when that happens, when you don't know what's going to happen next or that anything could happen, it makes the film intriguing and interesting. You are curious about what will happen next.

The movie takes place in 19th Century Saint Petersburg when a young girl from the Russian aristocracy named Sacha suffers over the fate of her grandfather. He is a renowned scientist and Arctic explorer who has yet to return from an expedition to the North Pole. Against the wishes of her parents, who have made marriage arrangements for her, Sacha flees home and launches her quest to search for her grandfather and his ship.

My favorite part is when Sacha saves the captain from falling off a cliff and dying. I like this scene because Sacha manages to win the captain's respect. Sacha was very judged and underestimated by the crew and captain, but she manages to prove all of them wrong. With her hard work and dedication, she shows them who she really is. Everyone finally starts respecting her and treats her respectfully. After she saves the captain's life, they stopped judging her.

The life lesson taught in this film is to never underestimate anyone, because you can be surprised. You can be surprised at who they really are or how they might change to attain a goal. Don't ever judge a book by its cover. Sacha changes throughout the movie in a huge way. She starts out as a spoiled girl that doesn't know how to work or make herself useful. But she is also very decided and dedicated in what she wants to accomplish and she will do anything to get that, even if it means preparing herself to work. During her journey, the sailors have very little faith in her and judge her heavily. They think she is a superficial girl that doesn't know what she is doing, but they are wrong. Sacha manages to prove the ship's crew that she is courageous, determined and a special young woman through her actions. So, this film teaches us an important lesson, to never judge a person by they way they look. You don't know what that person is capable of doing to achieve something that's important to them.

I recommend this movie to kids ages 6 to 14 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. This film is available now on DVD so, go check it out.

By Alejandra Garcia, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

This film is really cute and I enjoyed most of it but, I'm not going to lie, the beginning wasn't as promising as I thought it would be. It's gets off to a bit of a slow pace so, it took me time to get into it but eventually I did and ended up enjoying it. I really like the clean animation. It is pretty simple and I really enjoyed the music which gives a lasting tone to the overall film.

The story line is about a young Russian girl named Sasha who is in desperate need to find her grandfather who she had a very close relationship with. Throughout the film, she gets closer to finding her grandfather as well as becoming a mature woman.

My favorite part, hands down, is when Sasha prepares herself to go find her grandfather, not only physically but mentally. She is very determined and she works hard to get what she wants which is different for her since she is a pretty spoiled girl who gets everything done for her. So, it was inspiring to see that change in her.

The two lessons I learned from the film are, don't judge a book by its cover and be determined. She is judged very negatively by the townspeople and, although she could have been wrong, she wasn't. Also, she is very determined and that was inspiring to watch. I recommend this film to ages 5 to 10 and give it 4 out of 5 stars. This film comes out on DVD January 17, 2017 so, look for it wherever DVDs are sold.

By Nathalie Avendano, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

I really enjoyed this animated film because it is very adventurous, heart-warming and exciting. Not your normal, everyday plot. It is different since it's based in Russia with unusual names for the characters. The story is about Princess Sacha who is determined to prove that her Grandfather had found what he set out to find. The title gives you food for thought about what the story is about. (North to where? North Pole, North Canada, North America?) The colors are soft and the animation is spectacular, unlike any I've ever seen! I felt that the cover doesn't do justice to the actual movie. It's better then the cover would lead you to believe. I believe that watching this movie stimulates kids to question, probe and problem-solve. The vocabulary is age-appropriate and the music definitely adds depth to the production. Any young child would love this movie! I know I did! It flows evenly from the beginning to end, has great characters, a fantastic storyline and it definitely kept my interest. The animation and colors are fantastic! The message of this story is that you should believe in yourself and follow through with your plans. I recommend this movie for ages 5-10 and give it 5 out of 5 stars! Reviewed by Tina B. KIDS FIRST! Juror

1882, Saint Petersburg. Sasha, a young Russian aristocrat, has always been fascinated by her grandfather's life as an adventurer. A renowned explorer, he designed a magnificent arctic ship, but he hasn't returned from his last expedition to the North Pole. To save her family's honor, Sasha runs away. Headed towards the Great North, she follows her grandfather's trail in search of his famous ship.