KIDS FIRST! News

RK is a filmmaker, making a new film, in which he also plays the lead character of Mahboob. It’s a quaint film, like a tribute to the cinema of the sixties. People close to him are not really sure why RK wants to make this film. Edit begins and RK has a sinking feeling that this film is not going to come together, that this time he has really screwed up. His nightmares warn him of an impending disaster. Sure enough, one afternoon RK gets a call from the edit room- something terrible has happened. Mahboob has run away, run out of the film. Nobody can really understand why would he leave, where would he go. But he is not there anymore in the rushes- missing from the film negative as well. The fact is Mahboob was running away from his killers, and somehow he left the film and arrived in our world. RK finds him, brings him home- but Mahboob has no idea where he is from, or that he is any different from people around him. Slowly, he is told. They must convince him to go back to the film, so that RK can finish his film.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “A mind-bending film; RK/RKAY is a multi-layered film, shot and edited with care for small details. You’ll be tuned in, trying to figure out where the plot will go next, throughout the duration of the film.” See his full review below.

RK/RKAY
By Eshaan Mani, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

A mind-bending film; RK/RKAY is a multi-layered film, shot and edited with care for small details. You’ll be tuned in, trying to figure out where the plot will go next, throughout the duration of the film.

The storyline follows filmmaker RK (Rajat Kapoor) who is in the process of directing and starring in his film. He plays the lead character of Mahboob. The film opens with a nostalgic vignette for 1960s Bollywood films – the clamor on set, a high-maintenance actress as the female lead Gulabo (Mallika Sherawat) and a slight sepia tone. Everything seems to be going just fine when the editing for the film begins, but RK gets a call from the editing room. Mahboob has run out of the film and has somehow entered the real world, fleeing from the film’s cartoonish killers when RK finds him and brings him home to sort things out. RK must convince Mahboob to go back into the world of the film, as that is where he belongs.

RK/RKAY is a crowd-funded film, but you cannot tell from the incredible production quality. Director Rajat Kapoor is an experienced short and feature length film director and his expertise, even with a low budget, is evident. I am blown away by the cinematography, script and overall production quality. The film-within-a-film premise requires clear dialogue to avoid confusion, and RK/RKAY delivers. Even though it is a Hindi film, the subtitles are clear and you can easily follow what’s happening. I also love the cinematography; the film makes amazing use of light and shadows as well as colors. The film that RK is producing has a bit of a sepia or golden tint to it, as does Mahboob when he enters the real world. Depending on their mood, characters may be placed halfway, completely, or not at all in the shadow. Though the film tends to drag a bit in the second half, the whole production effort is impressive enough that one gets pulled back into the film.

RK/RKAY promotes messages of finding yourself, being dedicated to your projects, and staying true to love.

I give RK/RKAY 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 15 to 18, plus adults. RK/RKAY premieres in the US and Canada on May 14, 2021, in theatres and virtually.

In season two of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, the East High Wildcats, who are preparing to perform “Beauty and the Beast” as their spring musical, face off against rival school North High to win a prestigious and cutthroat student theater competition. Wigs are snatched, loyalties are tested, and ballads are belted.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “I really like Season 2 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series because it followed up with the first season’s plot, and really drew me in. I never wanted to stop watching! The storyline is very relatable, as well as the characters. The show throws in some interesting surprises, which keeps up the suspense.” Makena P. adds, “This show has many conflicts which keep the story interesting. There are so many emotions shown by the characters and they really start to really grow on you. You start rooting for them. I found myself shouting, “Go Ricky!” I really started to feel empathy for them, which is fun when watching a show.” Hazel A. warps it up with, “This series is truly light-hearted and fun. I was blown away by Sofia Wylie’s dancing, Dara Renee’s singing and each and every performance from the main cast. The dance numbers are perfectly choreographed and well executed. In this season we see many changes in the characters – primarily character development in EJ (Matt Cornett) and Gina (Sofia Wylie). Everyone has matured and is refreshed for the new twists and turns in this season’s storylines.” See their full reviews below.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2
By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

I really like Season 2 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series because it followed up with the first season’s plot, and really drew me in. I never wanted to stop watching! The storyline is very relatable, as well as the characters. The show throws in some interesting surprises, which keeps up the suspense.

Season 2 continues with the second semester of the character’s school year. No time has passed, and they are now moving on to the spring musical. Due to high competition, the cast decides to perform an unexpected show. Instead of High School Musical 2, they do Beauty and the Beast. Throughout the season they deal with unexpected changes and complicated romantic lives. This includes when the main character Nini (Olivia Rodrigo) moves to Colorado to pursue her dream, which stirs things up between Ricky (Joshua Bassett) and her.

I really enjoyed the storyline from this season. The plot is constantly changing and evolving and most characters go through a lot of development. You can see them growing from the first season to the second. I also love the songs and performances. Even though it’s a TV show, it feels like you are really there, watching them perform live. This is so important, because live performance can really capture the audience and make people want to keep watching. Lastly, this show can be very inspiring to young people. The plot is very relatable, which allows viewers to make a connection with it.

The message of this show is to always be yourself, and never give up on your dreams. This show does not have any profanity or inappropriate content.

I give High School Musical: The Musical: The Series 4 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 10 to 18. It premieres May 14, 2021 on Disney Plus.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2
By Makena P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2 is an intriguing show and is well-directed. All the characters like Nini (Olivia Rodrigo), Ricky (Joshua Bassett), EJ (Matt Cornett) and others play their characters with great personality. They have many emotions and they work so well together.

Episodes one through three are about students at East High that strive to be cast in the upcoming musical Beauty and The Beast. Nini has decided she is moving from East High to the Youth Actors Conservatory and Ricky doesn’t take it well. They planned to try a long-distance relationship, but they both miss each other dearly. A new girl comes to East High (Olivia Rose Keegan), but she doesn’t get cast in the play and becomes very angry and wants to do something about it.

This show has many conflicts which keep the story interesting. There are so many emotions shown by the characters and they really start to really grow on you. You start rooting for them. I found myself shouting, “Go Ricky!” I really started to feel empathy for them, which is fun when watching a show. Connecting to the characters makes all the difference. The costumes really fit the scenes and I love the costumes that the trio, Ashlyn (Julia Lester), Gina (Sofia Wylie) and Kourtney (Dara Renne) wear for their audition, they are very 90s and pop out amongst the others. The big auditorium where they hold the auditions is such an amazing set; it looks so intriguing. This show has lots of characters, which is great. There are ten main ones. 

This show has many conflicts which keep the story interesting. There are so many emotions shown by all the characters and they really start to really grow on you. You start rooting for them. I found myself shouting, “Go Ricky!” I really started to feel empathy for them, which is fun when watching a show. Connecting to the characters makes all the difference. This show has lots of characters, which is great. There are about ten main ones.

The message is about how following your dream is hard and will never be easy, but you should remember what you want and stay strong. If you doubt yourself during the process, you’ll get stuck. You have to work hard to achieve what you want.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 9 to 18, plus adults. This series premieres on Disney + on May 14, 2021.  

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2
By Hazel Avila, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series had a very successful Season 1 that revived the movie trilogy High School Musical. As successful as the first season was, buckle up wildcats for an even better Season 2. While watching the beginning of this season, I found myself having a great time as there was never a dull moment. This musical mockumentary style show is relatable, comedic and has a little slice of drama.

Season 2 starts with a recap of the previous one. We find the main gang, including Nini (Olivia Rodrigo) and Ricky (Joshua Bassett) back and better than ever. The students are getting ready to start the new semester and work on the spring musical. Ricky plans to have an amazing semester with his girlfriend Nini, but it turns out she has other plans that take her far away from East High. Everything doesn’t go as perfectly as everyone expected, but they try to do what they can to make things work.

This series is truly light-hearted and fun. I was blown away by Sofia Wylie’s dancing, Dara Renee’s singing and each and every performance from the main cast. The dance numbers are perfectly choreographed and well executed. In this season we see many changes in the characters – primarily character development in EJ (Matt Cornett) and Gina (Sofia Wylie). Everyone has matured and is refreshed for the new twists and turns in this season’s storylines. Something that I like about the show is that it has a fun and light-hearted comedic side, but it can also get serious and relatable. It gives the show balance. If you enjoyed Season 1 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series you are going to enjoy Season 2 a whole lot more! I have nothing but praise for this series that is current with trends and what teens are into these days.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2 lets the audience see the dramatic lives of high school theatre kids. With musical dance numbers and an amazing plot line, this an addicting show that somehow had me asking for more.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2 gets5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18. You can watch Season 2 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series starting May 14, 2021 on Disney Plus.

An artist agrees to help his estranged father work on a memory-transfer technology that would help Alzheimer’s patients. However, when his dad dies under mysterious circumstances, he sets out to unravel the truth and further his research. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Maica N. comments, “The new movie Cerebrum is a sci-fi film that gives viewers a sense of what a path to insanity looks like. With an interesting concept, deception and lies, and the pursuit to uncover the truth, Cerebrum will keep your eyes glued to the screen until the end.” See her full review below.

Cerebrum
Maica N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, Age 13

The new movie Cerebrum is a sci-fi film that gives viewers a sense of what a path to insanity looks like. With an interesting concept, deception and lies, and the pursuit to uncover the truth, Cerebrum will keep your eyes glued to the screen until the end. For thought-provoking, mind-altering entertainment, this is the movie to watch.

Cerebrum is about a man named Tom (Christian James) who returns to his father’s home despite their tough, unfavorable relationship. Not long after arriving, Tom finds that his father Kirk (James Russo) is working on creating digital brains so that Alzheimer’s patients would never lose their memory. Enticed by a monetary payoff, Tom gives in to his father, agrees to become a guinea pig for this secret, untested procedure, and ends up committing a crime that he can’t remember. Working with Chloe (Alexxis Lemire), he has to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

This movie has a well-executed tone. The story is chaotic and dangerous, and is complemented by darkness and dusky colors. The setting for most of Cerebrum takes place in a dark and messy lab. This creates tension and gives the movie an eerie feel. Along with the settings, the characters’ wardrobe also matches the film’s tone. Tom always wears dark colors that match his character’s personality and the film’s plot. The background music, arranged by Edward Antonio, enhances the sense of conflict. For instance, in one scene where Tom and Andy (Anirudh Pisharody) are fighting outside, the music keeps building and building until the end of their fight. It emphasizes what is going on, which makes the scene more memorable. Although Cerebrum intends to highlight the process of sharing memories between people, the parts of the storyline where people actually exchange minds is somewhat confusing. Even if you are paying close attention, if you miss one thing, you could be thrown off entirely. Despite this, the film kept me interested until the end.

The message of Cerebrum is that the truth will always come out. Even though many people accuse Tom of committing the crime, he still perseveres to uncover what really happened and eventually, others learned the truth as well. There is some profanity, so a parent should be aware of that.  

Cerebrum is a captivating film, especially for fans of science fiction. It’s definitely unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 14 to 18, plus adults. Cerebrum releases to VOD May 4, 2021. Make sure you check it out!

Directed by Dave Grohl and inspired by his mother, Virginia Hanlon Grohl, and her critically-acclaimed book, From Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars, the Live Nation Productions From Cradle to Stage is a dynamic personal exploration of the special relationship between successful musicians and their moms. The six-part series will debut exclusively on Paramount+.

Honest, humorous and emotional, each episode features a famous performer and their mother, alongside Dave and Virginia, as they take an impassioned journey home and explore each artists’ upbringing and the tools they received as a young talent to survive the turbulence of success. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Heather S. comments, “This show is so creative. Virginia’s and David travel around the United States to learn more about their musical friends. It’s so interesting seeing rare videos and pictures of the stars, along with first-hand stories about their formative years. From Cradle To Stage shows how the love of music runs in the veins of these artists from an early age. You see how Virginia’s love of music spread to David, who grew up surrounded by music.” See her full review below.

From Cradle To Stage
By Heather Suarez, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

From Cradle To Stage is the ultimate music documentary series! From rock, to country, to pop, we learn so much about our favorite musicians and the women that raised them.  A plus is that we get to see their adorable baby pictures.

This new series is based on the book by the same name written by Virginia Hanlon Grohl, mother of David Grohl, drummer of Nirvana and guitarist for the Foo Fighters. The two discuss what it was like raising and being raised as a rock star. They also team up with Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Pharell Williams, Miranda Lambert and their mothers to talk about the childhoods of these incredible artists. The show answers a loaded question, “What was it like to raise a musician?”

This show is so creative. Virginia’s and David travel around the United States to learn more about their musical friends. It’s so interesting seeing rare videos and pictures of the stars, along with first-hand stories about their formative years. From Cradle To Stage shows how the love of music runs in the veins of these artists from an early age. You see how Virginia’s love of music spread to David, who grew up surrounded by music. It’s very insightful to watch how a mother’s love and support encouraged her child to pursue a mutual love for music. Although worrisome, these mothers always encouraged their children to pursue doing what they love. It’s heartwarming to gaze upon the mothers’ collection of framed platinum records and Rolling Stone magazines.

The moral of the series is to always have your child’s back. In the music industry, where some become famous Grammy winners and others are not as lucky, these mothers always supported their children. Whether or not the parents supported the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle and fame their child pursued, they always put their child’s happiness first. Always asking, “How can we help?” There are some warnings for this series in regards to adult language and mentions of alcohol and drugs.

I give From Cradle To Stage 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages older teens, plus adults. It is available on Paramount+ May 6, 2021.

Combining the talent of contemporary theater with the power of Greek myths, this podcast is an audio adventure for audiences of all ages. When young Perseus makes a rash promise to save his mother from the clutches of an evil king, he has to strike out on a dangerous quest. Hermes, god of luck and thieves (Hadestown’s André De Shields), is the host for this tale of terrifying monsters, powerful gods, and a brave girl who will change our hero’s life forever. This is a production of the Onassis Foundation.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “Live from Mount Olympus is a fresh take on effervescent Greek mythology with witty narration and amazing production quality that is sure to hook any and all listeners and spark an interest in these ancient stories.” Alma K. adds, “The Live from Mount Olympus podcast is great. It’s really engaging and it follows one of my favorite topics — Greek mythology.” Kyla C. says, “Many traditional stories include mythical elements and Live From Mount Olympus uses plenty of these, including sea serpents, gorgons, gods, royalty and so much more. Along with these elements, realistic sound effects are used to pull you in so that you can’t stop hitting the next play button!” Avalon N. concludes with, “The message is to be careful what you promise to do and take things seriously when you are considering doing something.” See their full reviews and talent interview below.

Live from Mount Olympus
By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Live from Mount Olympus is a fresh take on effervescent Greek mythology with witty narration and amazing production quality that is sure to hook any and all listeners and spark an interest in these ancient stories.

This TRAX podcast, backed by the Onassis Foundation, centers around Perseus (Divine Garland), our young hero who you may know from the Medusa myth. Perseus makes a rash promise to save his mother from an evil king and embarks upon several crazy adventures along the way. The show is narrated by Perseus’ sibling, another son of Zeus, Hermes (André De Shields), god of luck and thieves. The podcast has everything mythology fans will love: terrifying monsters, rich plot lines, powerful gods, the quintessential Greek theatrical elements of family, love and discovering oneself and your capabilities.

Live from Mount Olympus is produced by the Onassis Foundation. Many of the individuals on the podcast’s team are Tony award-winners or Peabody-award winners, and their prowess shows. The brilliantly-designed audio blends rich, mellifluous background music with spry, enthralling and engaging narration. Perseus’ and Hermes’ witty repartee also invites even those who loathe mythology (who could?) to listen to the podcast. Even though it’s a podcast, I could visualize all the characters right in front of me, especially the Gorgons and other monsters. Overall, the voice acting and production quality combine to make this podcast an even more fun and enriching experience!

Live from Mount Olympus promotes messages of perseverance, courage and exploration – three key elements to any Greek hero. It’s a great podcast for young kids to listen to in their free time for entertainment purposes; they’ll surely pick up some positive qualities from the podcast.

I give Live from Mount Olympus 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 9 to 18. Adults will enjoy this podcast as well. You can listen to Live from Mount Olympus on TRAX at https://www.trax.fm/live-from-mount-olympus

Live from Mount Olympus
By Alma K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

The Live from Mount Olympus podcast is great. It’s really engaging and it follows one of my favorite topics — Greek mythology. The introduction introduces Perseus and it’s amazing how they bring this story to life! — even in the introduction.

The storyline follows Perseus, son of Zeus and princess Danae. Baby Perseus, due to a prophecy of him killing his grandfather, is locked in a wooden crate along with his mother and pushed out to sea. The crate lands on Seriphus, where Perseus grows up, oblivious to his destiny. When King Polydectes tries to force Danae to marry him, Perseus makes a crazy vow to save his mother from the evil king and it leads him on all sorts of quests. Medusa? Sea monsters? The titan Atlas? Bring it on!

I’ve read a lot of mythology and know that when a God has a child with a mortal, that child is considered a demigod. Demi means half, which means that person is half-god. The most famous demigods in Greek Mythology are Heracles and Perseus. This is a great introduction to the myth of Perseus. When I read about Perseus, his story is barely mentioned, because there was so much else to talk about. This podcast is a really nice presentation of Perseus’ story. It’s super engaging.

I love how writers Alexie Basil and Nathan Yungerberg wrote it so it is very lifelike and you feel as if you are actually there watching it all. I also like the accent of Andromeda; when I heard that, I sort of perked up. It makes you pay attention. Tony Award-winner Andre De Shields voices Hermes, messenger of the gods and narrator of the show. He just makes you want to keep listening! The only issue I have is that sometimes the tone of the voiceovers doesn’t match the words they are saying. The entire podcast is super engaging. I don’t think I could imagine a better adaptation of the myth of Perseus.

The podcast teaches multiple lessons – think before you speak; listen to your parents; don’t make rash promises are a few.

I really like Live from Mount Olympus and rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s engaging; it’s amazing. I recommend it for ages 4 to 18, plus adults. If a person enjoys Greek mythology, this podcast is a must. Even my five-year-old brother was hooked! You can listen to Live from Mount Olympus on TRAX at https://www.trax.fm/live-from-mount-olympus

Live From Mount Olympus
By Kyla C, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

Live From Mount Olympus is an interesting podcast retelling the Greek myth of Perseus with a few flaws, but plenty of mythical elements, characterized voice acting, and nice sound effects. This is a great podcast for kids and young teens who love myths!

This podcast follows Perseus (Divine Garland) as he braves the quest of collecting the gorgon Medusa’s head. In addition to this mission, the episodes reveal some interesting relationships as Perseus journeys home. If you always wanted to know what happened from the time Perseus gets Medusa’s head to when he returns to his island, this podcast is for you.

Many traditional stories include mythical elements and Live From Mount Olympus uses plenty of these, including sea serpents, gorgons, gods, royalty and so much more. Along with these elements, realistic sound effects are used to pull you in so that you can’t stop hitting the next play button! Sound effects are vital because there is nothing on the screen to guide you. Natural sounds like birds, rushing water and wind are often in the background, making it more realistic. Sometimes podcasts only have background noises when it is important to the plot, but that is Live from Mount Olympus makes full use of them throughout each episode.

Voice acting is the key aspect when creating podcasts and the actors have to use the tone of their voices to help the audience understand what’s going on. Most of these episodes have plenty of characterized acting, but in some action scenes it is hard to understand exactly what is happening. Sometimes the suspense level is low because I was not sure what was going on. For example, in Medusa’s cave, it is supposed to be a very breathtaking moment. I found that, because I was unsure where everyone is or what they’re doing, it lost some excitement. The characters are noticeably different in this podcast than in the original stories. This could be disappointing if you’re hoping for more character connections to those stories. Perseus does not have as much pride as his character originally had, and has other personality differences.

The message of this podcast is “do not let your pride get in the way. Showing how bravery is rewarded is another component. “

I give Live From Mount Olympus 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 13. Listen to Live From Mount Olympus on Trax at https://www.trax.fm/live-from-mount-olympus

Live From Mount Olympus
Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

The podcast Live From Mount Olympus tells an intriguing tale filled with action and adventure, that is sure to leave you itching to hear the next episode.

The podcast is based on Greek mythology, narrated by Andre De Shields as the voice of Hermes, the ancient God of thieves, luck and much more. Divine Garland plays the role of a boy named Perseus, who is the son of Zeus, God of the sky and leader of the Olympians and Jullian Walker plays Danea. Perseus makes a rash promise to an evil king to save his mom and ends up embarking on a dangerous journey. 

This podcast is about characters from Greek mythology that go on a new quest which is not from the original Greek myths. The voice actors all make this feel like a story that is taking place. We hear a range of emotions in their voices from fear to annoyance, and more. They make this new story something that makes history believable. The sound effects are excellent and really enhance the story. This is a podcast where sometimes things get really fast and intense, but you can easily figure out what is happening – especially if you are into Greek mythology. It is an amazing podcast which I hope will have a sequel.

The message is to be careful what you promise to do and take things seriously when you are considering doing something. In this story, Perseus makes a rash promise without knowing what he has to do to save his mom. He ends up getting a task that some people think is impossible. If he had thought more about what he said, he might not have been stuck with the situation that he was.

I give Live From Mount Olympus 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 9 to18, plus adults. I also recommend you review the original story of Perseus before you listen to this. This is an adventure you will not want to miss. You can listen to Live From Mount Olympus on TRAX at https://www.trax.fm/live-from-mount-olympus.