A bit of an outsider struggling
to fit into her new surroundings, Nancy and her pals set out to solve a
mystery, make new friends, and establish their place in the community. KIDS
FIRST! Film Critic Calista B. comments, “Now, it’s no secret that Nancy Drew is
timeless. The books were first written in 1930 and they have been inspiring
women ever since. I believe Nancy Drew is timeless and we all need a little
girl power!” See her full review below.
Nancy Drew And The Hidden
Staircase
By Calista B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15
This movie is very entertaining
which is why we go to the movies. Even though I have no nostalgic attachment to
the Nancy Drew books, I really enjoyed this film.
The story is about Nancy Drew
who has just moved to a small town called River Heights.
She meets an elder woman named Flora who claims her house is haunted. Nancy decides to
investigate with the help of her friends, George and Bess, and Flora’s “mean
girl” niece, Helen. My biggest issue with this movie is the mystery. I
understand that this movie is aimed at younger kids, yet I feel the mystery is too
easy to solve. However, that is my only major problem with this film. Plus, I
didn’t mind this that much, since even though the mystery is obvious, I mostly
let it slide as I enjoyed the characters so much.
One thing I really like about
this film is the typical mean girl character, Helen. At first it seems like
Helen is just a stereotypical popular girl. Instead, she’s only mean for a
little bit of the movie. Halfway in she actually goes through a character arc.
I really like this as I honestly feel mean girl characters are so overdone at
this point. So it is nice to see this character done differently. However, my
favorite character is hands down Flora. She is a very funny and so memorable. Everyone
needs to have an Aunt Flora in their life. Flora had some of the best lines in
the movie.
I really like the cast of this
film. Sophia Lillis as Nancy Drew is fantastic. She is very engaging and I hope
to see more of her in the future. Linda Lavin as Flora is amazing. She brings
so much charisma and humor to every scene she is in. Zoe Renee as George and
Mackenzie Graham as Bess are also pretty good supporting characters. I wish
they were in the movie more.
Now, it’s no secret that Nancy Drew is timeless. The books were first written in 1930 by Carolyn Keene and and they have been inspiring women ever since. I believe Nancy Drew is timeless and we all need a little girl power!
I give this movie 3 out of 5
stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 18. This film comes out on March 15, 2019
so look for it.
Join an immersive IMAX adventure to experience the
life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most
amazing dogs. In this inspiring true story, our best friends are also real-life
superheroes. Journey around the globe to meet remarkable dogs who save lives
and discover the powerful bond they share with their human partners. Follow
‘Halo’, a rookie puppy training to join one of the most elite disaster response
teams in America.
Meet ‘Henry’, an avalanche rescue expert in the Canadian Rockies, ‘Reef’, a
Newfoundland lifeguard with the Italian coastguard, ‘Ricochet’, a Californian
surf legend helping people with special needs, and the Bloodhound brothers,
‘Tipper and Tony’, who are leading the fight to save endangered species in Africa.
As we discover the incredible abilities of dogs and the astonishing science
behind their superpowers, we’ll never look at our best friends the same way
again. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Lukas L. comments, “This movie really
shows that all dogs have super powers with their amazing senses, even if they
are not trained to dig 15 feet into the snow or lift forty times their own
weight.” See his full review below.
Superpower Dogs
By Lukas Loza, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, 12
I loved watching the film Superpower Dogs. The camera work is absolutely amazing with so
many interesting shots and lighting angles in this 3D IMAX production. The director really worked with so many
special effects to get lots of close ups and precise detailing. You really see
things from the dog’s point of view, as well as its trainer’s. It is a very
entertaining movie that appeals to all ages. This movie really shows that all
dogs have super powers with their amazing senses, even if they are not trained
to dig 15 feet into the snow or lift forty times their own weight.
The movie features a disaster response dog named Halo and
her journey to become a service dog for disaster response. She is joined by five other dogs named Henry
(avalanche rescue), Reef (water rescue), Ricochet (emotional support dog who
enjoys surfing) and Tony and Tipper (endangered species protection in Kenya). Their trainers play extremely important roles
in the film and also in their training. It shows what all the dogs do, but the
main focus is on Halo.
This is a documentary so there are no actors involved. It is directed by Daniel Ferguson and
produced by Dominic Cunningham-Reid, George Duffield and Taran Davies. The cinematographer
is Reed Smoot. Big propos to all the
crew! There are all kinds of special effects where they show us a peak of the
dog’s anatomy. It is very realistic, but purposefully made as a special effect,
which is so great. Also, they show a physical representation of scents from a
dog’s perspective, since they have very exquisite smelling skills. It is
difficult to bring smells to life but this Imax movie does it!
The only bummer for me was I wish they gave a little more
attention and time to the other dogs in the movie. I think the director only had
45 minutes, so I imagine it would be hard to include lots of details about all
the dogs and their trainers.
The message of the film is that all dogs have superpowers,
even if they are not rescue dogs. This movie can will appeal to all animal
lovers (even cat lovers), even though the main focus is on dogs.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages
5 to 18, as well as adults. This film is playing now at select IMAX theaters. Go
check it out!
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Captain Marvel is an
extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds herself caught in the middle of an
intergalactic battle between her people and the Skrulls. Living on Earth in
1995, she keeps having recurring memories of another life as U.S. Air Force
pilot Carol Danvers. With help from Nick Fury, Captain Marvel tries to uncover
the secrets of her past while harnessing her special superpowers to end the war
with the evil Skrulls. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, “This film makes good use of its 90s setting. There are a lot of jokes
involving technology and pop culture from this period that work well. Also, the
soundtrack has a nice selection of songs from the 90s that complement the film
very well.” Arjun N. adds, Captain Marvel is a solid, if slightly flawed entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A
talented cast and savvy direction make for a crowd pleaser. Any superhero fan
must watch this as the hype for Avengers:
Endgame arises.” See their full reviews below.
Captain Marvel Benjamin P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13
Captain
Marvel is a fun, if sometimes flawed superhero
adventure that further develops the cosmic landscape of the Marvel movies with
good performances from Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson.
Captain
Marvel takes place in 1995 and follows Vers, a Kree
warrior with flaming fists on her way to becoming Captain Marvel who finds
herself on Earth after a mission gone wrong. She teams up with a detective
named Nick Fury to pick apart the secrets of her past. Meanwhile, Vers has to
stop the shapeshifting Skrulls from infiltrating the planet and putting an end
to the war with the Kree.
I like the performances in this film. Brie Larson
is good as Captain Marvel and brings an understated verve to the role. Larson
is good at delivering quips, but also has a few pretty powerful moments in her
performance that help develop Captain Marvel as a character. Samuel L. Jackson
is also good as Nick Fury. This is a different Fury from what we’re used to
with Jackson
offering some nuanced clues about the changes Fury will face in the future. In
Larson and Jackson’s third onscreen collaboration, the duo brings great
chemistry and the scenes with them playing off of each other are easily some of
this film’s best moments.
This film makes good use of its 90s setting.
There are a lot of jokes involving technology and pop culture from this period
that work well. Also, the soundtrack has a nice selection of songs from the 90s
that complement the film very well. The setting doesn’t feels like an attempt
to cash in on nostalgia, but the 90s theme gives the film a more pronounced
tone and humor. I also really enjoyed the element of mystery that comes with
the Skrulls’ ability to shapeshift into anyone and its clever use throughout
the film.
I do find quite a few flaws with this film. Jude
Law’s performance as Yon-Ragg, the Kree leader, is disappointing. He feels so
self-serious; it’s as if he’s in a different movie. There is a lot of
exposition throughout the first half that, after a while, is a chore to listen
to. Action scenes range from well-choreographed to hard to tell what is going
on.
I recommend this film for ages 9 to 18, for some
sci-fi violence and language and give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Captain Marvel falls a bit short of
being completely marvelous, but it’s enjoyable and well worth the price of
admission. I recommend you go see this film when it comes out on March 8, 2019.
Captain Marvel By Arjun Nair, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17
Captain Marvel is a solid, if slightly flawed entry in the Marvel
Cinematic Universe. A talented cast and savvy direction make for a crowd
pleaser. Any superhero fan must watch this as the hype for Avengers: Endgame arises.
The story follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one
of the universe’s most powerful heroes. Set in the 90s, this adventure follows
her struggle to regain her past as one mysterious incident created her powers.
Amidst this, a galactic war arises between the Kree, her brethren, and the
Skrulls, shapeshifting fugitives, as Carol remains the only one powerful enough
to end the war. This war takes to Earth, with S.H.I.E.L.D. in its adolescence
investigating. With this, Carol must team up with no other than a nascent Nick
Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as the two investigate all sides to this war.
Brie Larson, as Carol Danvers,
surprised me and is my favorite character as she is nothing like what the
controversial trailers portrayed – hardened and emotionless. In fact, she is
very sassy and witty, like Tony Stark, and even humanizes the character with
her relatable struggles. Sure she is stoic and hardened to some extent, but she
does everything she needs to, as audiences need to be sold of her importance in
not just Avengers: Endgame, but the
whole MCU, and that’s exactly what we get. Samuel L. Jackson, as Nick Fury, is
absolutely incredible, even if certain character decisions from a writing
standpoint are very questionable, with one reveal just baffling. The dynamics
between Danvers
and Fury is one of the movie’s best, with a buddy cop feel to it. It is
investing to watch the younger, more inexperienced Fury, with certain nods to
his future being a neat addition. The same goes to Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson.
It is a welcome surprise to see the simpler days of these two. Ben Mendelsohn,
as Talos, also gives his all with his Skrull leader a formidable foe and he is
more charismatic for it. As twists and turns reveal, he and his race became a
sympathetic asset, with their kind being one of the most intriguing amongst the
MCU roster. Last but not least, Jude Law, as Yon-Rogg, is interesting in his
mentorship of Carol, and the twists regarding his character add for an
emotional edge.
Anna
Boden and Ryan Fledge aptly direct the film, with a stylish approach somewhat like
Thor: Ragnarok. Every scene is well
produced, but the style and vision are sometimes lost amongst the craft. The
special effects are mostly on standard, but the de-aging effects for Samuel L.
Jackson and Clark Gregg rise far above the standard. They don’t look fake, and
all expressions are truly natural. We are truly in the future of seamless CGI. My
favorite scene is when Danvers
truly becomes Captain Marvel, unleashing her full power amongst an enemy crew.
The
message of this film is to never give up. Danvers
takes several hits, to the point of giving up, but she always rises up to the
challenge. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18
due to some intense violence and language. The movie released in theaters on March
8,, 2019, so check it out.
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KIDS FIRST! and Xerb.tv are proud to announce the launch of
a new, ad-free digital streaming service for high quality children’s
programming, on March 1, 2019. The content is curated from filmmakers from all
around the world and the bulk of the revenue from the
channel will go directly to the filmmakers. The rapidly growing Xerb.tv,
which launched in January, 2019 is providing KIDS FIRST! a platform to deliver
a collection of family-friendly content that is
inspirational, enriching and motivational.
“What the KIDS FIRST! Digital Channel (https://xerb.tv/channel/kidsfirst) offers
families is engaging, informative and fun content with pro-social values that
both kids and parents love,” comments Ranny Levy, founder and president of KIDS
FIRST! “It’s not so easy to find programming like this in the jungle of digital
channels, but KIDS FIRST! has 28 years experience in doing just that.”
The partnership came about when Levy met Xerb.tv founder, Eric Streeper, at a film event in Santa Fe, NM, where both companies are headquartered. Streeper, a Santa Fe native, spent eight years working in tech/entertainment in Los Angeles. The idea to create Xerb.tv came after working for a wildly popular YouTube star who, despite having a very large audience, wasn’t generating very much revenue from the platform. Streeper saw an opportunity to help filmmakers take control of their work and develop an audience to support it. While visiting his hometown two years ago, the creative and entrepreneurial energy there impressed Streeper and he realized it was the ideal place to launch his new media company. “Our goal is to level the playing field for creators,” Streeper proclaims, “and help them access the same resources that the big entertainment companies have.” When he met Levy he thought, “What a great way to give families access to programming that has been vetted by parents and kids reviewers alike through their extensive review process.”
KIDS FIRST! has a team of more than 100 kids and adults who review and recommend films with no algorithms involved. The KIDS FIRST! reviewers go through extensive training to asure continuity in film selection. The films on the channel represent the diversity of the filmmakers who made them – from a documentary following the first Roma/Gipsy youth soccer team in Italy to one about educating girls in India. A high school student has created an animated series about the Mars Rovers. A Spanish film follows a 9-year-old boy dealing with loss. Another short is about a girl and her pet pig. A music video tells what it’s like to be an engineer. A feature film explores a changing mother/son dynamic and another one reveals the true story of an 11-year-old foster child with brittle bone disease who overcame his problems and directs his first musical. For a quick overview of the channel, check out the trailer at https://bit.ly/2T5LL1fLinks
Stats Number of films: 93 Number of filmmakers: 45 Number of countries: 15 Number of languages: 12 Price: $5.99/month
ABOUT KIDS FIRST! KIDS FIRST! Digital Channel is project of the 28-year-old national nonprofit (501-c-3) Coalition for Quality Children’s Media whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media. KIDS FIRST! Digital Channel is an online space where kids and families can watch movies that both inspire and teach – and where parents don’t have to worry about what their kids are watching. A former educator, Levy created an award-winning PBS show, produced an ACE-nominated television show and managed an independent film production and distribution company in the mid 80s. In 1991, Levy founded the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media and its KIDS FIRST! program. The KIDS FIRST! Digital Channel features original animated programming, music videos, feature length films and international programming from 15 different countries, teaching about people and cultures world-wide. You can access the channel at https://xerb.tv/channel/kidsfirst
About Xerb.tv Xerb.tv is a streaming service, similar to Netflix, but different. Xerb.tv allows independent filmmakers and organizations to create tailored subscription channels and share them with a devoted fan-base. Xerb.tv is changing how creators get paid online, how they build their audience, and how they collaborate with each other — all in an incredibly simple way. The future of content is independent. Are you a content creator, or want to run a channel? If you want to engage directly with an audience that loves your work and build a sustainable business around what you’re passionate about, we want to hear from you! Send us a message and come join our beta partner program. Xerb.tv is built for you.
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The Octonauts are a team of adventurers who explore the
world’s oceans, rescue aquatic creatures and protect their habitats – from the
bustling eco-system along the Amazon River to
the deepest depths of the Mariana Trench. Deploying a set of aquatic vehicles,
Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate, Kwazii, medic Peso and the rest of the
crew embark on missions around the globe before returning safely to their home
base, the Octopod. On this exciting DVD, join the Octonauts as they
journey to a colorful coral reef to rescue the creatures that live there! Come
along with Dashi as she saves a pair of surfing snails. And when poisonous sea
snakes get stranded on a beach, Peso must figure out a way to get them back
into the ocean. Enjoy these adventures and more with the Octonauts! KIDS FIRST!
Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “I really like the DVD Octonauts:
Reef Rescue, because we experience a new adventure with each episode. The animation is simple and has a rainbow of
splashy colors.” Lukas L. adds, “The character animations are very simple and that
works for me. Also, they have the most
adorable little personalities and vegetable helpers.” Nathalia J. wraps it up
with, “This show promotes positive social behavior by
presenting kind actions through rescuing others. It promotes team work, working
together and solving problems on an ocean adventure.” See their full reviews
below.
Octonauts: Reef Rescue By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11
I really
like the DVD Octonauts: Reef Rescue,
because we experience a new adventure with each episode. The animation is simple and has a rainbow of
splashy colors. The music is also very
playful, supporting the kaleidoscope of action in each different rescue
mission.
Octonauts: Reef Rescue has a lot of lively characters, led
by Captain Barnacles, who is a bear. His
crew also includes a number of other animals including a penguin, an ex-pirate
kitten and a sea otter. The most creative
characters are vegimals – yes, part vegetable, part animal. And, each rescue ends swimmingly! (ha ha) The
DVD includes eight episodes, each a different adventure. It is an amazing place to learn a lot about
different sea creatures including a convict fish, very cute baby sea turtles, a
tiger shark, poisonous yellow-bellied sea snakes and my favorite – surfing
snails. I had no idea snails could surf
on bubbles.
There are
so many positive messages throughout this DVD.
My favorite is the importance of team work. The episodes also show how to protect the sea
habitat and how much hard work and fun it is to rescue sea life.
Octonauts Reef Rescue is very kid-friendly. It promotes
positive social behavior, teamwork and kindness to one another and animals. I
give this DVD 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 through 8. Adults
will also enjoy this as they watch it with their kids and will probably learn
something new. This DVD is available now, so look for it. I recommend it.
Octonauts: Reef Rescue By Lukas L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
I surprisingly
really enjoyed watching the loveable Octonauts: Reef Rescue. The
character animations are very simple and that works for me. Also, they have the most adorable little
personalities and vegetable helpers.
The stories
on this DVD are about a polar bear, cat, a penguin and their friends that
explore, rescue and protect underwater sea creatures and their habitats. In
these episodes, we learn about baby sea turtles, sunfish, tiger sharks and
more. There is always a conflict in every episode and they manage to come up
with the cleverest ways to save the day.
The series
stars voice-talent actors Ross Breen, Teresa Gallagher and Simon Greenall and
is produced by Adam Idelson. I really
like the animation and give props to the animator Willian Muir. He keeps it
very simple so that all ages can enjoy watching it. It is not just the main
characters that I enjoyed. Oh, no no no, I really enjoyed the animated sea
creatures as well. A lot of these sea creatures have very hard textures to
mimic, so they make it through very nicely, plus we get a little sneak peak of
the actual animals themselves at the end and that’s pretty cool.
This is the
kind of where they make learning fun, which they succeed at. There is not really a moral, but I it
definitely promotes a love of ocean life. This show is great at teaching kids about
marine life and their habitat. When I was younger, I was obsessed with animals
of all sorts and I adored this show. Watching it again reminds me why I loved
it so much! There are not a lot of other
shows that are dedicated to teaching kids about ocean life, so that’s a plus.
I give this
DVD 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 9. The
DVD is available now, so look for it.
Octonauts: Reef Rescue By Nathalia J. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10
Are
you ready to dive into adventure with your favorite underwater explores? This
90 minute, eight-episode, action-packed, powerful, thrilling and stimulating
DVD is loaded with excitement in every episode. You get to join the Octonauts
as they go on adventures through the glamorous, lovely, attractive and stunning
reef to rescue creatures in need of help.
The
Octonauts are a team of adventurers that explore the world’s oceans and protect
the creatures and habitats therein. You get to watch the Octonauts save a pair
of surfing snails through a rutted wave in the tide and save baby turtles from
an enormous wave and explore the lives of sunfish, yellow belly sea snakes and
colorful fish.
The lead
characters are Ross Breen (Captain Barnacles), Teresa Gallagher (Dashi), Simon
Greenall (Captain Barnacles) and produced by Adam Idelson.
My
favorite episode is the most adventurous and informational Episode 7, because
it shares multiple facts about the biggest fish in the ocean, sunfish. Fun fact: When sunfish get the case of the
itchies, smart fish masticate the itches off the sunfish which stay in the
sunfish’s skin.
This show
promotes positive social behavior by presenting kind actions through rescuing
others. It promotes team work, working together and solving problems on an
ocean adventure. Sounds like fun, huh?! This DVD is a great way for kids to
learn about reefs and so much more. Each episode is filled with beautifully
colored stories that will keep you engaged.
I
give this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 11. This DVD is now
available now so look for it!
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