KIDS FIRST! News

With a year under his belt as a KIDS FIRST! youth film critic, nine-year-old Anthony Aranda brings his signature exuberance to his review of Happy Feet as he recommends the film for everyone from age three on up because “it can teach kids and adults how to be more accepting of people” and has “a lot of funny parts that the whole family will enjoy.”

The search is now on for the next lucky group of KIDS FIRST! youth film critics, and Happy Feet – released theatrically in  2006 and now available on DVD and Blu-ray to coincide with Warner Bros. Pictures’ theatrical release of Happy Feet 2 – is one of five titles for the 2012 KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search. It’s easy to enter, and the eight lucky kids (ages 6-14) who win will get to experience the thrill of interviewing film talent on the red carpet and screening films for review before the general public sees them – all while learning critical literacy skills in evaluating the visual media that constantly surrounds us.

The earlier you enter, the more votes you’re likely to amass, so check it out now: 2012 KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search.

Happy Feet
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda

I just finished watching an awesome movie called Happy Feet. This movie is really great because it is really interesting and shows how a penguin that is a little different from everyone else makes it through and proves to everyone that it is OK to be yourself.

The movie is about a penguin named Mumble who was born with happy feet. He is always bouncing up and down with his feet and dancing around. When he was just an egg, his dad dropped the egg, and that is why his father thinks he is always dancing. Mumble sets out on a journey to discover why all of the fish are missing and prove to his family that he is just another penguin like everyone else.

My favorite character in the movie is Mumble. I like Mumble because he is really funny and he never gives up. He is determined to find out who has taken all of the fish and he believes in himself. I also like Gloria because she is one of the only penguins who believe in Mumble besides Mumble’s mom.

I would recommend this movie for kids ages 3 to 18. The movie doesn’t have any inappropriate parts for younger viewers and it is a movie that can teach kids and adults how to be more accepting of people and not be mean just because someone is a little different. The movie also has a lot of funny parts that the whole family will enjoy. Happy Feet is an official movie title for the 2012 KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search.

Photo: Happy Feet poster (top), Anthony Aranda (bottom)

As a KIDS FIRST! youth film critic, nine-year-old Anthony Aranda has had a heady year. Recently returned from a trip to Pixar Studios in the Bay Area of California – where he interviewed Cars 2 writer/director John Lasseter – Anthony shares his review of the animated film that is now available from Disney on DVD and Blu-ray. In one word, he says it’s “amazing” – but he gives a lot more than one word to describe the story, the humor, the special effects … And his views are published online for a global audience and he even appears on a Web-streamed radio show as a regular contributor!

All that is part of the experience of being a KIDS FIRST! youth film critic, and the KF Film Critics Search is on now to give eight lucky kids ges six to 14 a chance to spend a year as a film critic, reviewing films before they’re released, attending red carpet events and interacting with film talent. The program is based on educationally sound principles that foster an ever-more-critical visual literacy, and it’s also an amazingly fun and exciting opportunity of a lifetime. Entering is easy, and we’ve got a lot of tips and guidelines to help you out. Check it out here. And remember – finalists are chosen by popular vote, so get your entry in early to build up those votes!

Cars 2
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda

Hello, everyone. My name is Anthony Aranda from KIDS FIRST! I just got finished watching an amazing movie called Cars 2! Race car Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater travel to compete in the World Grand Prix. Cars 2 brings back our favorite car friends in this excellent adventure movie!

My favorite characters are Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson), Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and Finn McMissile (Michael Caine). I like Lightning McQueen because he is really fast and he is really friendly. I like Mater because he is a really funny character and he doesn’t always know what’s going on. But even if he doesn’t know what’s going on, he is always the best friend McQueen could ever have. I like Finn McMissile because he is a great spy car and he helps Mater to see who he really is. Mater realizes that he is perfect just the way he is.

My favorite part of this movie is when Mater is being a spy and gets into a fire fight with the bad cars, but not on purpose! He says, “Dag Gum,” and then a gun pops out of his truck. Then he says, “Oh shoot,” and then the gun starts shooting! And then he says, “Not that kind of shoot,” and then a parachute pops out of his truck and he starts to fly away. It is sooo funny!

The animation and special effects in this movie are really cool. The bright lights and colors in the cars are amazing. The opening scene where Crabby is coming through the ocean is really cool. They had to use a lot of computer graphics in order to make the water actually look like it is waves. And of course the explosions are super cool.

I would recommend this movie for ages three and up. This movie does have some violence but it isn’t really scary or noticeable to younger kids. All in all, this is a great family movie that shows friendship and teamwork. Go out and buy this movie when it comes out on Disney DVD and Blu-ray.

Photos: Cars 2 DVD box art (top), Anthony Aranda (bottom)

Since his first appearance in French children’s literature in 1931 and introduction in English to England and America in 1933, Babar has become a global favorite whose attraction spans cultures and generations. Babar the Classic Series: Best Friends Forever is the latest Babar film, recently released on DVD. KIDS FIRST! film critic Makai Weber Colvin (age 9) gives it her highest rating.

Babar the Classic Series: Best Friends Forever
Reviewed by Makai Weber Colvin

Hi. I’m Makai Weber Colvin for KIDS FIRST! and I’m reviewing the movie Babar. This movie is about an elephant king named Babar. The movie follows Babar as he tells his kids stories about his own childhood.

Each story is told as a chapter and teaches a lesson, for example showing the children how to learn from their mistakes. My favorite scene in the movie is when the old lady, Madame, teaches Babar how to get along in the big city.

The animation is simple and pleasant. I call it “old school” because the style reminds me of an older cartoon style, like it is drawn by hand and not a computer.  The voices in Babar are so friendly, I feel like I am chatting with my own friends.

I think all ages can enjoy this movie, although older teens and tweens might get bored with the chapters and lessons. I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars.

Photos: Babar the Classic Series: Best Friends Forever poster (top), Makai Weber Colvin (bottom)

As of today, the general public can start purchasing Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas on Blu-ray and DVD – in 3-D. It’s a viewing experience the kids at this summer’s KIDS FIRST! boot camp were able to enjoy earlier – and with added appreciation, as the boot camp was held at Disney Studios and KF coupled the screening with an informative presentation on how the movie was made and how the effects were created. “This film … is pretty much great for anyone,” says KF film critic Jonah Menegaz. “I know many adults who love this movie and many kids who love it, too.”

Jonah and a couple of his fellow Boot Campers share their impressions:

Tiarra (age 9) enthuses, “The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D is great! Don’t expect so many things to pop out at you, but the 3-D aspect of the film makes it better than the 2-D version. It makes the film seem so alive. I love it especially because it was created by Tim Burton and I think every film Tim Burton is involved in is GREAT! I think the age range for this is everyone over age 5. This is a great family film. I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. I love it!!”

Kate (age 10) started off with a little more skepticism: “Before I saw the movie, I said to myself, ‘Don’t get your hopes up, it is just another presentation that is as good as any regular 2-D movie. Why bother?'” But that attitude got a quick readjustment: “But by the end of the movie, I didn’t want it to end. Everything seemed too real. The snowflakes were surrounding me and the Oogie Boogie man was going to kill me. I noticed things that I had never seen before, like the graveyard has texture and when Sally burns something, the embers stay lit. Then, I got a glimpse of just how long it took to make Nightmare Before Christmas when I read that Jack Skellington and Sally had over 200 faces each for talking and expressions. Wow! This pack is definitely worth getting. I give this additional feature 4 out of 5 stars.”

And the review from KF film critic Jonah Menegaz (age 13): “The Nightmare Before Christmas. The name pretty much spells out the story. Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, and all of his friends in Halloween Town like to scare people on Halloween. But Jack is getting tired of all the shrieks and then he finds Christmas Town.

This is an AMAZING MOVIE. The claymation, or stop-motion animation, is incredible. Everything moves smoothly and has a certain style to it that I just love. It is also great because the film was made in the ’70s which makes it even [more amazing] considering that the technology is so much better today than it was back then.

The movie is coming out on Blu-ray / 3-D. The 3-D home experience is good 3-D, except since the movie wasn’t made for 3-D (because 3-D wasn’t invented when they were making the movie) nothing really pops out at you. It just adds depth.

This film, I would say, is for ages 5 and up. It is pretty much great for anyone. I know many adults who love this movie and many kids who love it, too. Overall, I would give this movie 5 out of 5 stars because it is so amazing.”

Some movies are best suited to a niche audience, and KIDS FIRST! film critics find Disney’s Prom – about high school teens getting ready for that titular big occasion – one that will be best enjoyed by kids not quite into their high school years. Nine-year-old Makai Colvin singels out her favorite part (“I really like the music …”) and 13-year-old Raven Devanney shares why the music struck a chord with her, too (“… awesome because it really shows the emotions of the scenes.”). Prom is as much comedy as it is drama, and eight-year-old Anthony Aranda shares how his favorite character, Lloyd, plays to both genres (Lloyd uses rose petals to ask a girl to the prom, but puts them on the wrong car. “So he was kind of embarrassed.”).

With the film set for Blu-ray and DVD release on Aug. 30, here are Makai’s, Raven’s and Anthony’s full reviews, and be sure to catch them also on video.

Prom
Reviewed by Makai Colvin
(and see her review on video)

I just saw the movie Prom starred by Aimee Teegarden and Thomas McDonell. The movie Prom is about five different love stories. Some of them stay together, some of them grow apart, and some of them are together for the first time.

I really like the music except for some didn’t fit into the plot. I think it could have been a little bit more realistic.

I give this movie three out of five stars. I think the age limit for this movie is nine, maybe up to 15.

Prom
Reviewed by Raven Delanney
(and see her review on video)

Disney’s Prom is the story of average teenagers dealing with the challenges of preparing for their big prom night. This movie was entertaining although it’s not my favorite. I thought the cinematography was wonderful, and the soundtrack was awesome because it really shows the emotions of the scenes.

My favorite character is Lloyd because he can never find a date and the worst is always happening to his very creative ways of asking girls to the prom.

I give this movie four out of five stars. I also think it’s for ages 8-12 because younger kids will get bored by all the high school drama and I think older teens might get bored also by the storyline.

Prom
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(and see his review on video)

This movie was great. I liked it. My favorite character in the movie would have to be Lloyd because he couldn’t a date for prom and he was really funny. My favorite part in the movie is when Lloyd thought he was putting some flower petals on a girl’s car but he really put it on the principal’s car, and that said “prom.” So he was kind of embarrassed.

I would recommend this movie for [ages] 8-12 because this movie was great but not all 8- to 12-year-olds might like it.

Go out and see this movie when it premieres in theaters.

Due out this month on Blu-ray and DVD, Prom is also one of the films featured on the Aug. 30 episode of KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions hosted by Raven Devanney and fellow KIDS FIRST! film critic Sam Connan. Check it out here.

Photos (top to bottom): Prom poster, Makai Colvin, Raven Devanney and Anthony Aranda