KIDS FIRST! News

After 13 years, Dory and Nemo return to the big screen and now is available on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD. The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ryan R. comments, “I loved watching the brand new Blu-ray DVD Combo of Disney Pixar’s film, Finding Dory which is the sequel to Finding Nemo.  Fans of Finding Nemo will absolutely love this sequel.” Morgan B. adds, “Who knows what this crazy blue tang fish will do. This movie is about overcoming obstacles and finding your way through life. Even though Dory has short memory loss, somehow she always finds a way to make it work.” See their full reviews below.

Finding Dory Blu-Ray DVD Review
By Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

I loved watching the brand new Blu-ray DVD Combo of Disney Pixar’s film, Finding Dory which is the sequel to Finding Nemo.  Fans of Finding Nemo will absolutely love this sequel. The animations in this film are amazing, the humor is hilarious and witty, and the plot is so heartfelt.  It does not disappoint. Dory, is a forgetful but fearless blue tang fish (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) suffers from short term memory loss and she has struggled with this for her entire life. Then one day something happens to Dory that triggers her memory and she remembers that she has a family.  She tries to find them with the help of Nemo (voiced by Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks). The question is will Dory find her family, or will she forget to find them?

In the Blu-ray DVD Combo, aside from having the actually film, there are many bonus features which talk about how Finding Dory came to be. In What Were We Talking About it shows us the difficult routes the filmmakers had to make a narrative that worked involving Dory and her short-term memory loss. There are also bonus features that have interesting facts about how this movie was made. For example, in Animating and Acting it shows us how the director, voice actors and animators worked together to make the animations and performances believable. Another thing that is included is a theatrical short called Piper which is about an adorable hatchling venturing from her nest for the first time to dig for food.  Additionally, there are directors commentaries, deleted scenes (which are fun to watch), and many more. You can also use the scene selection option, pick what language you want the movie in, and play the movie.  If you want to know more about these features, you should buy this Blu-ray DVD Combo.

I love this Blu-ray DVD Combo because of its many features which are interesting and funny. My favorite one was called, The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar, this talks about how Hank was the most difficult Pixar character to create because it didn’t have the same formula as other Disney characters. They also explain how Hank took two and a half years to make, which is a long time since it usually takes nine months to create a character.  I also like how it shows and gives an explanation of why the deleted scenes didn’t make the final cut.

I give this Blu-ray DVD Combo of Finding Dory, 5 out of 5 amazing stars. I recommend this to kids ages 5 to 18 and I think adults might like this as well.  I also recommend this to people who like action, adventure, animation, comedy, and family movies.  You can find it on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital HD on November 15, 2016.

Finding Dory
By Morgan Bertsch, KIDS FIRST Film Critic Age 12

“What would Dory do?” Who knows what this crazy blue tang fish will do. This movie is about overcoming obstacles and finding your way through life. Even though Dory has short memory loss, somehow she always finds a way to make it work. Hence “Just keep swimming.” This movie is available on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on Oct. 25. You can get the Disney PIXAR movie in Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and on On-Demand on November 15th just in time for the holidays.

I enjoyed this movie but I thought it was missing the silliness and the humor of the first movie Finding Nemo. I found myself worrying and wondering rather than laughing and having a good time. At the same time it had a unique story line and the way it all played out was entertaining.

My favorite new Character is Hank the septopus (Ed O’Neill). He is introverted while Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is very outgoing and this combo was fun to watch. The fact that Hank also wanted to be in a small habitat in the aquarium and not in the ocean where he could be free was hilarious.

The bonus features in this film include deleted scenes, crew interviews, and some screen savers. They were all fascinating and they all kept my interest. I loved the deleted scene (Meeting Hank) is when Dory fist meats Hank and he is trying to help Dory get to her parents, but they can’t find them anywhere. This scene was very quirky and I found myself laughing and giggling in two seconds flat. I liked this scene more than the one they used in the film because Hank was very silly and sarcastic. Then my favorite interview (Skating and Sketching with Jason Deamer) is when one of the animators was describing what he thought of as key points for all the characters in the film. I liked this scene because we actually got to see the shapes and objects the illustrator sees when he draws the characters. The way they showed this gave you a look into what he thinks the charters look like and gave us a different perspective. My favorite screen saver was the Open Ocean exhibit it was very colorful, playful, and fascinating all rolled up into one really cool clip.

I love the flash back scenes were we learn about Dory and her back story. These scenes are my favorite because we see who her parents are and how she got lost. Jenny (Diane Keaton) Dory’s mom was very sweet and she just wants her daughter to be happy and not feel left out. Charlie (Eugene Levy) Dory’s dad is the kind of dad that everyone would love to have. He loves his family and he wants the best for his adorable daughter Dory who suffers short term memory loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Eugene Levy and his daughter and they are just sweet hearts and a fun interview. The adorable younger Dory (Sloane Murray) is just too cute for words. Her voice really matches the character because she sounds so childlike and innocent which made her perfect for this part.

This movie is rated PG but I think younger kids will love the septopus, the seals, the beluga whale and all the new quirky characters. Some of the content is sad and serious and might worry a younger audience if they are sensitive. Just remind them you will always be there and you will never forget them. I give this film 4 ½ out of 5 starfish. You can find it on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital HD on November 15, 2016.

Almost Christmas follows a dysfunctional family gathering together for their first Christmas since their mother died. KIDS FIRST! Adult juror Juanita S. comments, “I enjoyed Almost Christmas because Christmas is my favorite holiday and it brought back memories of my family’s gatherings.  I could identify with Walter Myers (Danny Glover) in his attempt to bring his somewhat dysfunctional family together at Christmas time and his desire to honor his deceased wife and preserve some traditions. I feel traditions are special.  What is not appealing is the suggestive material, drug use violence and profanity.” KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. adds, “Almost Christmas is a heartfelt story about a family at Christmas time. The comedy is well thought out  and the story line is terrific. This film is perfect for families who are enjoying the holiday season with each other.” See their full reviews below.

Almost Christmas
By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Age 12

Almost Christmas is a heartfelt story about a family at Christmas time. The comedy is well thought out  and the story line is terrific. This film is perfect for families who are enjoying the holiday season with each other.

The film is more about family than Christmas. There is no caroling, present wrapping or cookies. We just watch family members trying to find ways to put their differences aside and get along. The all-star cast is magnificent particularly Danny Glover as Walter, Gabrielle Union as Rachel, Mo’Nique as Aunt May) and many more. My favorite scene is when the uncle (J.B. Smoove) decides to fix the outdoor Christmas lights on the house and the kids watch him. After his wife warns him to get off the roof and let someone else fix the Santa Clause, he falls off the roof and lands on his face. This scene made me laugh so hard especially when the kids got out their phones to record it and post to their social media.

I adore Mo’Nique as Aunt May. She was adventurous and always willing to try new things even when the rest of the family is not. She doesn’t put up with any jazz from the four adult children. She is brutally honest and very humorous. She is the one who makes sure the family sticks together like glue.

All Walter (Danny Glover) wants for Christmas is to have his four children get along for five days. Walter is not quite sure how to do this because his wife usually dealt with such things, but since she is no longer around he finds that he needs to step up and make Christmas fantastic for his family. The only problem is that the children don’t get along with each other all that well.

The message is about families getting along. This family wants to spend their first Christmas together since their mother passed away, but families can be difficult. The message, beautifully demonstrated throughout the film, is that families should spend more time together and enjoy this time together.

I recommend this film for ages 13 to 18 because there is some drinking and some profanity. You should also know that this film discusses loss and how it hurts so it might not be appropriate for everyone. Other than, that this film is family friendly with great humor and story line. I give this film 5 out of 5 Christmas Carol stars. This film opens in theaters on November 11, 2016 so go check it out.

Almost Christmas
Juanita Seon Leary, KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror

I enjoyed Almost Christmas because Christmas is my favorite holiday and it brought back memories of my family’s gatherings.  I could identify with Walter Myers (Danny Glover) in his attempt to bring his somewhat dysfunctional family together at Christmas time and his desire to honor his deceased wife and preserve some traditions. I feel traditions are special.  What is not appealing is the suggestive material, drug use violence and profanity.

Almost Christmas opens with a journey of the Myers’ lives and brings you to witness the five days before Christmas.  It moves quickly and I did not understand some things in the beginning of the film until later. Walter Myers lost his wife the previous year and attempts to bring his family together for the upcoming holidays. Will they survive?

The behaviors modeled by the characters are a mixture. Walter Myers is a man who worked hard and provided for his family, wife, two daughters and two sons. He is having a difficult time dealing with the loss of his wife and is unaware of the struggles his children are having. Cheryl (Kimberly Elise), the oldest daughter, pretends that her life is perfect when, for real, her marriage to Lonnie (J.B. Smoove) is one affair away from being over.

The youngest daughter Rachel (Gabrielle Union) is trying to get through law school while dealing with a recent divorce and struggling to get by. Christian, the oldest son, is happily married with two great kids but is obsessed with his political campaign. Evan (Jessie T. Usher), the youngest son, is in college and is currently fighting an addiction to painkillers.

One of my favorite parts is the heartfelt conversation between Aunt May (Mo’ Nique) and Walter (Danny Glover) over a piece of sweet potato pie Walter bakes. Aunt May lets him know not only does he love and care for her sister, his wife, but he also allows her to pursue her life and career.

Almost Christmas displays perseverance with Walter Myers’ attempt to make a sweet potato pie as good as his beloved deceased wife. It has many comedic elements throughout. Director David E. Talbert use multiple themes of loss, financial struggles, parenting and divorce as vital roles in developing the story.  Almost Christmas has colorful visuals, especially the costumes of Aunt May which are beautiful and look fabulous o her. The music is fun and memorable, the locations are quite realistic locations and the emotions the film evokes resonate with most of us.

I give this film 4 out 5 stars and recommend it for 14 to 18-year-olds as well as adults. You can see Almost Christmas at local theaters beginning Friday, November 11, 2016!

When Canterlot Highschool goes on a trip to Camp Everfree, they are surprised to find a magical force is causing strange things to happen around camp. With the help of the Mane 6 and especially Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle must confront the dark Midnight Sparkle within herself and embrace her newfound magical abilities to save the camp. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. comments, “This film is one of my favorites of this series. I love the story line and how it fits perfectly with the rest of the series.” See her full review below.

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree

By Morgan Bertsch, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

My Little Pony has caught up with sci-fi and now has dimensions where the ponies are teenagers. WOW! This is an awesome concept! I love this colorful DVD with its amazing storyline, fantastic characters and terrific animation. This film is one of my favorites of this series. I love the story line and how it fits perfectly with the rest of the series. The animation is fantastic. I love that they mix it with a little bit of Japanese anime. It really brings this film to life.

The cast is so fun and entertaining. Twilight Sparkle (Tara Strong) is a loving main character. She shows this by helping her friends and trying to find ways to make the world a better place for everyone. She does this despite the fact that she is dealing with her evil dark side that came out in the last film. Plus, things at Camp Everfree are going wrong and strange things are happening all around camp. Sunset Shimmer (Rebecca Shoichet) is thoughtful, generous, wants to help everybody and wants to solve the mystery. She also helps Twilight Sparkle overcome her fear and gain more confidence about herself. Rainbow Dash and Applejack (Ashleigh Ball) is daring, adventurous and a total tomboy. She tries to do the most outrageous and dangerous stuff with her friends including rock climbing and archery. Applejack is brutally honest and cares deeply for everyone. She can be a bit mean at times, but she just wants you to know the truth about everything. She once told Rarity that her idea of a runway was dumb because they were in a forest and no one but her would use it. Pinkie Pie (Andrea Libman) is hyper and loves to throw parties anywhere, anytime and any place. She brings marshmallows to everything to make s’mores. She tries her best to be fun and bring life to the party. She even dares Rainbow to eat as many marshmallows as she can fit in her mouth in one bite while they are telling scary stories by the campfire.  Fluttershy (Andrea Libman) is shy, quiet and loves animals with all of her heart. She even goes to help a bird get back into its nest when she is in a hurry. Rarity (Tabitha St. Germain) loves to sew clothes for all her friends and is a complete girly girl at heart. She even wants a runway where she can show the other campers the clothes she has made.

Sunset Shimer is my stand out character. She wears a crown that has a spell cast on it and ends up with a demon inside her that she must fight off. Her character is compassionate. I like that she is always battling her caring side against her evil side. She is thoughtful of others. The way she tries everything in her power to help Twilight Sparkle overcome her fear is a great reminder to take good care of your friends and family, which is the theme of this film.

This is filled with magnificent songs that provide a musical theater vibe because the girls sing throughout the movie. They all have beautiful voices. You will want to learn the lyrics and sing along with them. They are so heartfelt that they really make you feel the emotions the characters are feeling. I recommend this film for ages 7 to 16. Younger kids will love the story and fun characters. Older kids will find it inspiring. I give this 5 out of 5 pony stars

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team is brought together to investigate, led by expert linguist Louise Banks. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers and, to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “This movie can only be described as something that starts out with a very simple idea and ends up turning into a complex and exciting story. Arrival is a truly sci-fi movie that you watch with your mouth open in amazement that gets better by the minute with an unforgettable and unpredictable ending.” See his full review below.

Arrival
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

This movie can only be described as something that starts out with a very simple idea and ends up turning into a complex and exciting story. Arrival is a truly sci-fi movie that you watch with your mouth open in amazement that gets better by the minute with an unforgettable and unpredictable ending.

Arrival begins when twelve UFOs touch down in random places on Earth. The whole world is panicking and the United States looks to a talented linguist named Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and a gifted Theoretical Physicist named Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) to help translate what the aliens really want from us and what their purpose on Earth is. Once the new team starts uncovering the information about the mysterious species, they find very surprising things that go against everything we once knew.

The movie is great overall but the ending is what really makes Arrival so legendary. The special effects are spectacular and the acting is extraordinary. Amy Adams excels in her role of Dr. Banks. What I most liked about the movie is how it all comes together. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the ending is mysterious and can be interpreted in hundreds of different ways depending on what angle you look at it from. The only other movies that have such perfect endings and make you actually think deeply about  what exactly is happening are Interstellar and Inception. Another thing about this film that blew me away is the cinematography. From giant aerial shots of 1500 foot UFOs to a fleet of battleships about to start an attack, the cinematography truly adds to the intensity and amazement of the film. My one small criticism has to do with the last few minutes. The creators stretch it out about five minutes too long in their attempt to show in very deep detail what exactly happens at the end. I feel like they could have shortened it and explained the ending instead of stretching it out, but that only lasts a couple of minutes and is hardly noticeable. Another huge perk is the sound editing and the soundtrack. The sounds of the UFOs and the aliens are intense and the music perfectly suits the story. This combination makes your heart thump and works wonders with surround sound.

My favorite scene is when the aliens first start writing in their language. They write using something that resembles ink that stays in the air. It is truly beautiful and unique. It is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen before in a sci-fi movie with aliens. I also like this scene because it is when they start talking about their language and how they talk backward and forward at the same time. If they think like this, they can write and create a complex sentence in a split of a second, which amazed me. I also admired how the story treats their language almost like an art form and not just a way of communication.

There is a presence of some mature language in a few scenes as well as very intense and dramatic moments, so I recommend it for ages 13 to 18. I give it 5 out of 5 stars despite one small hiccup because of just how it makes you think about life and the future and gets your adrenaline pumping. This film opens in theaters November 11, 2016 so be sure to go check it out, especially if you are a sci-fi fan like me.

Mech-X4 is an American comedy television series created by Steve Marmel. The series stars Nathaniel James Potvin, Kamran Lucas, Pearce Joza and Raymond Cham. The series is scheduled to premiere on November 12, 2016, on Disney XD. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. comments, “I … was pleasantly surprised because this is not your typical Disney TV show. It made me feel like I was watching a movie with its wonderful storyline, graphics and acting. In this incredible show, there is an amazing cast, graphics and an awesome story line – all of which are quite believable.” See her full review below.

Mech-X4
By Morgan Bertsch, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Amazing! I got a sneak peek of the first episode of Mech-X4 and was pleasantly surprised because this is not your typical Disney TV show. It made me feel like I was watching a movie with its wonderful storyline, graphics and acting. In this incredible show, there is an amazing cast, graphics and an awesome storyline – all of which are quite believable. This fun-filled adventure show airs on Disney and Disney XD Saturday, November 12 so be sure to check it out.

This show stars Ryan Walker (Nathaniel James Potvin). With his dreamy eyes, he is a typical teenage boy who finds out that he is a technopath.  While chit chatting with Nathaniel, I discovered that he loves his super power which is being the master of all technology.  His personality matches his character perfectly as he is fun and easy to talk to. His new-found superpower awakens a 150 foot robot called Mech-X4 and its job is to protect the city from crazy monsters.

Ryan Walker then recruits his friends to help. Harris (Kamran Lucas) is the brains of the group. In real life, he has been doing Martial arts since he was 5 years old and he does most of his own stunts. Harris is cautious and protective of his friends and the new-found robot.  Harris is a geek who wants to make sure that everyone has their facts straight before they jump into things. He is amazing at martial arts and play his character quite believingly.

Spyder (Pearce Joza) is adventurous and ready for anything. I also met him and found his easy going nature quite enjoyable. In real life, he loves snowboarding. He provides the comedic relief for the group and is extremely funny. He loves all the gadgets for the robot and, since this is all new for them, sometimes things don’t work out as planned.

Ryan also recruits his brother Mark (Raymond Cham) to help. He is not a mechanic in real life, like his character and the two of them are exact opposites. Mark’s main job is to be the mechanic and fix everything. Mark is usually the leader in his family so he has to get used to the fact that he needs to let his brother shine and he has to stand back a bit. Raymond loves the idea of mixing two animals together to get cool and creative monsters for the show. He wishes he had the super power to see free movies at the box office. Skateboarding is his thing.

I was lucky enough to be able to meet all these fantastic actors and visit with them about their roles in this show. They are all so grateful to be a part of this magnificent show. The one thing that is missing is girl power. Disney already gave the green on Season 2 before Season 1 even airs. WOW ! And, the guys told me to keep a look out for girl power coming soon.

The graphics of this show are spectacular. I love the way the robot and monsters all seem so realistic. It feels like you really are there and as if you are going on this adventure with Ryan and his friends while protecting the world. I love all the amazing places they shot in Canada, the wonderful acting and the insight into each character.

My favorite scene in this episode is when Ryan, Spyder, Mark and Harris are fighting a gigantic snake/octopus monster with the robot. It is filled with action, adventure and a little comedy. Plus the graphics are incredible and realistic.

I recommend this series for ages 8 to 18 because the action and comedy. I also think adults will enjoy it, especially the story line and the characters. According to Steve Marmel and Anupam Nigam, Executive Producers of the show, their target audience is a wide range. They want parents to enjoy watching this TV show with their kids. Be sure to check out my amazing interviews and learn more about the cast on our YouTube Channel. I give this TV show 5 out of 5 gigantic robot stars.