KIDS FIRST! Jury Blog

A heart-pounding film that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface. Based on a true story, Last Breath is an electrifying story about teamwork, resilience, and a race against time to do the impossible.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Rayce S. comments, “Last Breath was a bit of a disappointment that didn’t get me emotionally connected to the characters until the end. Although the production values are high, the character development falls short… It wasn’t until the ending of the film that I finally started to like the characters. On the other hand, there definitely are some things that I like such as the underwater cinematography which is very good. There are some amazing shots such as when Chris Lemmons jumps off of the diving bell into total darkness.” See his full review below.

Last Breath
By Rayce S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Last Breath was a bit of a disappointment that didn’t get me emotionally connected to the characters until the end. Although the production values are high, the character development falls short.

The film is based on a true story about experienced deep-sea divers fighting the harsh weather to save a crewmate stuck hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface. It relates the story of a serious saturation diving accident in 2012, when diver Chris Lemons had his umbilical cable severed and became trapped around 330 feet under the sea without heat or light, and with only a small amount of breathing gas in his backup tank.

This film really disappointed me. I was let down that there was no “hook” for me, because I expected something more. It wasn’t until the ending of the film that I finally started to like the characters. On the other hand, there definitely are some things that I like such as the underwater cinematography which is very good. There are some amazing shots such as when Chris Lemmons jumps off of the diving bell into total darkness.  Woody Harrelson’s performance as Duncan Allock stands out; it was great to see him in a film that shows him in a serious role with depth.

Duncan is part of the team carrying out repairs when Chris’s accident occurs. Unfortunately, this story is intended to connect you with the main character, Chris Lemmons (Chris Cole) and make you feel empathetic for the situation he is in. That didn’t quite happen for me; I didn’t feel like I was there with him in the water experiencing it. The whole time the divers were underwater, I didn’t relate to their situation or feel particularly concerned for their wellbeing, even when Chris is in danger.  Perhaps that is due to a lack of character development to make us relate to them as human beings. Oddly enough, I was more interested in the character who was “asleep” for half of the film than the main actors.

The film’s message is don’t mess up.

I give Last Breath 2 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. This film releases in theaters on February 28, 2025.

In a world ravaged by ecological disaster and war, controlled by the AI-driven corporation known as GAMMA, a hidden realm endures—ruled with wisdom, magic, and resilience by the benevolent Once and Future Queen. Thirteen-year-old Allison is thrust into a universe of shifting realities and cryptic realms, guided by a mercurial White Rabbit, a mysterious Viking Sunstone necklace, and an array of newfound allies. On a quest to find her father—the inventor of an experimental virus capable of toppling GAMMA—Allison uncovers secrets that could change the fate of her world. As she faces dangerous foes, unexpected betrayals, and powerful revelations, she discovers she holds the key to restoring hope in a broken world. Welcome to Allison Wonderland—where magic, adventure, and destiny collide.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Josephine K. comments, “Allison Wonderland is a remarkable story! Sci-Fi, fantasy, and adventure all meet and make a delightfully entertaining book. I love the intricate and amusing descriptions of the people and places in the book.” Anna Clara B. adds, “I like the way the story is written, making us understand the plot which takes place in the future.” Kinsley H. wraps it up with, “Allison Wonderland is an unexpected take on Alice in Wonderland. Allison is a handicapped girl who makes the choice to fight the unknown in order to save the world. She is given the chance to walk again through an astral projection that allows her to leave her body behind.” See their full reviews below.

Allison Wonderland
By Josephine K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Allison Wonderland is a remarkable story! Sci-Fi, fantasy, and adventure all meet and make a delightfully entertaining book. I love the intricate and amusing descriptions of the people and places in the book. I also love each character’s individual personality and how that makes each one of them memorable.

The story follows Allison, a 13-year-old girl living in 2099 where the economic conditions are deteriorating. The AI robots are taking over the world, GAMMA, and threatening to destroy Wonderland. Allison has been called upon as the missing piece to destroying GAMMA once and for all. When one disaster leads to another, Allison gets caught up in a realm of down-right bombastic mayhem. From following a mysterious white rabbit to saving her android-infested world, Allison is in for an unforgettable adventure.

This book is delightful. I love how Allison is portrayed; she is smart, witty, and emotionally strong. You can see some of Allison’s personality traits in her mom, dad, and Aunt Genevieve, adding a layer of complexity to the characters. Reading the story through Allison’s eyes is comical because she makes witty jokes that tell us more and more about her character. The vocabulary is unique and challenging, adding a level of appeal to the lexophiles of the world. My favorite setting is when Allison is in The Last Train to Clarksonville Station because it is described with so much bizarre detail that it’s fun to imagine what it would look like. My favorite character is Puffin because she is hilarious and has a lot of charisma. She may be small but her personality definitely isn’t.

The book’s message is that your friends and family are always by your side through thick and thin. The story effectively conveys just how important family is. This is a positive and uplifting message that is thoughtful and relatable.

I give Allison Wonderland 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. This book will be released later this yet; no date has been set.

Allison Wonderland
By Kinsley H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Allison Wonderland, a fantasy-sci-fi novella by J.R. Wood, is a quick trip through alternate realities and cryptic realms with an apocalyptic twist on the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland. I enjoyed this new view of Wonderland and all of its oddities.

This short novel is about a ravaged world that has been taken over by an AI-driven corporation called GAMMA. The once and future Queen provides salvation by creating a hidden realm full of magic and wisdom that is protected from the disaster outside its walls. Allison (with two L’s) is a wheelchair bound thirteen-year-old who has been chosen by her father to defeat GAMMA and restore a broken world.

Allison Wonderland is an unexpected take on Alice in Wonderland. Allison is a handicapped girl who makes the choice to fight the unknown in order to save the world. She is given the chance to walk again through an astral projection that allows her to leave her body behind. Alice, on the other hand, is suddenly thrust into Wonderland by accident and has to find her courage through trials and tribulations. She comes from a privileged world and is merely bored and looking for something to do.

Allison, like Alice, follows an unpredictable White Rabbit, falls through rabbit hole-like portals, encounters strange creatures, and gets to enjoy the enchantments of Wonderland. The text provides vivid details that are candy for the imagination and allow the mind to travel away from the descriptions of the original, famous tale. There are some details that are in stark contrast, like the queens. Allison gets the privilege of the once and future Queen who is both wise and kind, whereas Alice gets a crazy Queen of Hearts who enjoys beheadings. It was a lot of fun to read and look for parallels to the first version.

The message of this novella is that everyday people can be heroes. Readers get to follow a young girl who does not let her disability or a destroyed world stop her from making a difference. Parents should be aware that the text has a lot of advanced vocabulary, so it may be difficult for younger readers. There is no bad language; however, the content does include scary topics.

I give Allison Wonderland 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Its release information is not available at this time.

Allison Wonderland
By Anna Clara B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Allison Wonderland is an intriguing book that captured my attention from the first page. I like the way the story is written, making us understand the plot which takes place in the future.

The book talks about Allison, a balance beam athlete, who suffers an accident. In 2099, the world is upside down and she decides to go to Wonderland, where everything changes.

I like the book because from the first few pages it made me want to read until the end. I like science fiction books; it is one of my favorite genres. While I was reading, a special part captured my attention – the part when the phrase “one of all and all for one” is written, because this is something necessary for us, even if you want to be alone. We really need others in our adventures and special moments. The characters in the book are very well developed. Learning how to deal with different kinds of situations gives them maturity.

I like how the narrator tells us about their personalities. I can perfectly imagine the scenes exactly how they develop in my mind. For example, there’s a phrase about “a very skinny lady” that makes me visualize the character and the scene she is in. Another thing that I like is the way how the location is referred to – it’s so far from our reality and described in a way that intrigues me.

The book’s message is that we are not better alone; there’s always someone we can count on in our life. It also reminds us to be careful because the world can change suddenly.