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The plot is about Sonic (Jaleel White) and his siblings, Sonia (Jaleel White) and Manic (Jaleel White) who team up, to search for their missing mother, Queen Aleena and to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik. I wouldn't say the animation is amazing, as it is a bit choppy and sluggish at times. However, it isn't the worst animated show to come out in the 90s, as it does have a style and it does feel like it belongs in the Sonic The Hedgehog universe. Also, I find it interesting that Sonic, Sonia and Manic's weapons are magic musical instruments. I really like that decision, as it shows that the series is a more creative and original adaptation.
Speaking of which, the main difference between this show and the games are the two completely original characters who are Sonic's siblings, Sonia and Manic. I found them interesting, but it feels as if they often get pushed aside to let Sonic be the star. I understand he's the main character, but Sonia and Manic don't really get much of a chance to show their personalities. Most of the time, it seems that they are just there to be there. Also, Sonia's voice is kind of irritating. It's super high pitched and nasal, and is somewhat distracting.
This show is an adaptation of the Sonic The Hedgehog series. As an adaptation, it's pretty good. However, it bares more resemblance to the Sonic comic books than the games. It has a similar setting to the comics and some of the characters seem similar. Sonic even looks like the comic adaptation of him, shorter and chubbier.
Sonic The Hedgehog has never really been known for fantastic, well written stories. Sometimes, the games have an engaging story, but writing has never been the focus of the series. So how is the story in Sonic Underground? Actually, not too shabby. The show has a set goal and some actual character development. However, there is only one season, with only forty episodes and that is probably a good thing. If it went on for multiple seasons, the show would probably turn into a wild goose chase looking for Queen Aleena.
By Calista B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13
Pocoyo (Alex Marty) is accompanied by his lovely friends Elly, Pato, Loula, Sleepy Bird and many more for a fun and exciting time of playing. The DVD helps preschool children learn languages in a simple and eye grabbing way. This compilation of the series elaborates on learning new vocabulary while laughing along in the adventures. The viewer can join Pocoyo and his friends on 11 playtime adventures as they learn the importance of playing with others!
I really like how the narrator (Stephen Fry) describes what goes on during the playtime sessions. This helps the kids pay attention and interact with the activities that are going on, which is a very positive aspect of this series. I also like how, at the end of each episode, there is a recap of all the words the kids and characters learned in each lesson. What is also good about the recaps is that it addresses the lesson in song, which is another fun way for kids to remember the information they obtained.
The theme of Let's Go Pocoyo: Playtime! is about learning new vocabulary in a fun and entertaining way that helps kids easily remember them. A message that comes through is to remember to have fun, with or without friends. For example, during the first episode, Pocoyo wants to play by himself, but later, he realizes that playing with his friends is more fun because it makes him happier.
I rate this DVD 4 out of 5 stars for its vibrant colors, wonderful cast, educational content, exciting storyline and much more. I recommend it for ages 2 to 6. I encourage parents to sit and watch this lively series with their children to learn how laughter can be incorporated while learning new languages and more. This DVD is available now so, go check it out.
By Imani Baptiste-Green, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15
Based on the works of Belgian cartoonist Peyo, this film follows Smurfette as she struggles to discover her identity. Smurfette was a lump of clay created by the evil wizard, Gargamel, who is the Smurfs' sworn foe. Whenever she tries to forget the terrible notion that she is not a true Smurf, something happens that reaffirms her of it. One day, while playing with a group of Smurfs, she sees something that may lead to the uncovering of a new faction of Smurfs. Smurfette, Hefty, Brainy and Clumsy set out on a journey together. With Gargamel on their heels, what they find could change the world around them forever.
The animation in this film is vibrant. The creatures in the forest surrounding the Lost Village are colorful and creative. The look and feel of the film overall pays homage to the original comics but also exploits the nuance and richness of modern computer animation techniques.
I don't care for the story in this film. Other than the addition of the Lost Village and its inhabitants, it feels pretty formulaic. The story has a lot of the tropes of the original cartoon and that isn't a bad thing, but the plot is predictable and the antics between Gargamel and the Smurfs in a full-length feature film grow old very fast. I would have liked to see this film take a different path than the adaptations before it, but it plays it safe.
The voice cast of this film includes a broad range of actors from Julia Roberts to Jack McBrayer. The film never really uses these actors to their full potential, sidelining many to bit cameos rather than real roles. Mandy Patinkin is a standout in this film as Papa Smurf, a wise guy who helps the Smurfs when they seek guidance. Patinkin is the perfect choice to play this role. His voice is both soothing and authoritative. Patinkin also has the right amount of charisma to voice this character.
The lesson of this film is that you will not be remembered for what you were good at, but the kindness in your heart. Smurfette has trouble finding a skill that will define her personality unlike her other Smurf pals. But that is not what is important in life. The way people will remember your legacy is by how you treated others. I recommend this film for ages 4 to 10 and you should be aware there is some crude humor. I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Reviewed by Benjamin P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11
I enjoyed the film Smurfs: The Lost Village because it teaches girls to be strong and confident within themselves. This movie also teaches kids that working together is better than working alone. I don't like that the movie implies there is a relationship between Papa Smurf and Smurfwillow or that it pushes a relationship between Smurfette and Hefty Smurf. This is not needed. I found this movie to not be as funny as the live action ones, which is weird since most children's animated films have a lot of funny moments.
The story is about Smurfette feeling lost and alone because she is the only girl in the village. She also feels like she isn't a real Smurf because she was made by Gargamel, who wants to take all the Smurfs to steal their magic. To save another Smurf Village from evil, Gargamel, Hefty, Clumsy, Nerdy and Smurfette work together to find the lost village and warn them about Gargamel. On this journey they discover the biggest secret in Smurf history and help Smurfette realize the power inside of her, that she is strong and fits in.
The animation in this movie is very detailed. It reminds me of a lot of the claymation in The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is much better than The Smurfs 2 (2013). It seems more animated and not as realistic which adds to the fantasy of being in the Smurf world. The backgrounds are quite pretty and mystical, especially when The Smurfs go to the Forbidden Forest.
The star-studded cast includes Demi Lovato, Julia Roberts, Rainn Wilson, Joe Manganiello and many, many more. Their voice acting is one of the best parts of the film, especially Demi Lovato's voice as Smurfetts. She acts in such a docile manner but still projects the strength of girl power.
My favorite character is Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) who is the funniest characters. I can relate to Clumsy in that I too am very clumsy. I always manage to trip over some object. I also really enjoyed the character Brainy (Danny Pudi) who is another funny character. I admire how he relies on his books for most of the movie, but gets over listening to how things should be and just cherishes living in the moment.
The message of this movie is all about team work and how girls are powerful. I recommend this movie to ages 5 to 7 and give this a 3 out of 5 stars. This film comes out April 7, 2017 in theaters nationwide so, check it out.
Reviewed by Carla P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
Very enjoyable, especially the cinematography and the script. The movie is surely watchable and suitable for younger kids. The introduction is interesting and makes sense. It does illustrate some basic mathematical concepts which may be appreciated by kids. The costumes and camera work are well executed. I didn't care for the special effects which looked fake to me, but the humor and characters are all very appealing. I like the story and characters in this movie. The jokes are very funny and suitable for a school-age audience. Also I like the costumes. The concepts and language are surely suitable for its audience. I give this a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this movie for kids of ages 6 to 12 years. Reviewed by Arjun N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic
Daughter of a wise and humble merchant (Kevin Kline), Belle (Emma Watson) is a bright and independent young lady who will be taken as a prisoner by a monstrous beast (Dan Stevens) in place of her elderly, caring father. As prisoner of the Beast in his cold dark castle, Belle soon builds a strong bond with the talking enchanted objects of the castle. Who will help break the lasting "forever curse" by bringing the Beast and Belle closer? Belle learns to look past the frightening physical appearance of the Beast and looks upon his caring gentle soul. But, will this be enough to break the lasting forever curse upon the castle and the Beast?
Incorporated as a live action film from Disney's original animated film, Beauty and the Beast, the whole cast delivers exquisite performances portraying each unique and iconic character. The caring, yet brave Belle is played by the talented actress Emma Watson. Watson has appeared in numerous films including the Harry Potter films, My Week with Marilyn and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Dan Stevens, known from Legion TV Series deftly portrays the terrifying Beast, a difficult character to play due to its temper.
From the songs, to the set designs, this film has it all. I truly appreciate and love that they took the 1991 Disney classic and turned it into a live action film. This is something that has not been seen before and was well directed by Bill Condon (Mr. Holmes, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 and 2, Dreamgirls). Being a huge Disney princess fan, I am highly pleased with the accuracy of this live action version. The costumes, songs, characters and plot are all very accurate. It made me feel as if I was in a Disney story book.
One of favorite things about this film and the story of Beauty and the Beast itself, is the message it depicts - that of looking past the physical and looking within. This is a moral that every viewer can learn from. The film is very successful in massaging this message and the audience will easily relate to the moral as the film unfolds before their eyes.
This enchanted, unbelievable film deserves 5 out of 5. I highly recommend it to families, young children and Disney fanatics. Kids and adults both will enjoy watching it and singing along with the iconic songs. You can catch Beauty and the Beast when it opens nationwide on March 17, 2017. Reviewed by Maria G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17
It has been 26 years since Disney released the animated film, Beauty and the Beast. Now, we have a remake with a slightly updated story, stunning visual effects, beautiful acting and an epic soundtrack. Here is another attempt to convert an animated film into a live action film. The classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast is predominantly a romance and, just like the original animated film, this one also has a strong comedic take with lots of funny scenes. There are also a hand full of scenes that are quite the opposite. These are filled with heart-wrenching drama that make you either hate or love the characters and get sucked into the story.
Beauty and the Beast (2017) is pretty much a carbon copy of the 1991 animated film. Belle is a beautiful but smart village girl who goes into the woods after her father goes missing. She discovers a cursed castle full of inanimate objects brought to life and a hateful prince turned into Beast. The Beast has locked up her father and she takes her father's place, being sentenced by the monster to live in the castle with him forever. The Beast's curse can be removed though. All he needs to do is to fall in love with someone and that person needs to love them back. The Beast and Belle start falling in love in what seems an impossible romance at first. There are challenges, as Belle still feels she is a prisoner and the townspeople think the Beast is a monster that needs to be destroyed.
The previous Disney live-action remake was the classic Cinderella (2015). It suffered from the same problem as this one - the fact that an animated film is different from a live action film. The story, musical numbers and character interaction all feel much more real in a live action film, which causes fantasy love stories to lack credibility. Cinderella suffered from this problem and Beauty and the Beast is also affected by this challenge. However, its creators did a much better attempt at addressing the issue. Instead of simply taking a story and using a camera instead of a drawing pencil, the writers incorporated more intricacies to the plot than were in the 1991 version. There are back stories about the characters which enhanced and refined their personalities and made the plot richer. This allows for a film that isn't just a spin off on a 25-year-old animated film, but a truly enjoyable story on its own.
The film's quality is superb and the acting is a big plus. Two actors who stand out the most are Luke Evans (Gaston) and Josh Gad (Lefou). They are absolutely spectacular together and Disney generously incorporates some changes to Lefou from 1991, which shows him being slightly in love with Gaston. This change adds a lot of fun and silly moments. Emma Watson (Belle) also delivers a stupendous performance as Belle, although the my favorite Belle is that played by Paige O'Hara. Emma Watson's Belle doesn't seem like a main character, but more of a supporting one. There is no strong presence as we saw in the 1991 version where Paige's performance makes it apparent that Belle is the star along with the Beast. The rest of the cast performs wonderfully and bring the characters to life, with some slight changes to keep the film fresh and new.
The film's two strongest points are more technical. The cinematography and special effects are outstanding. The Beast looks very real and has immense detail, from his facial expressions, to his fur. The castle, magical servants and landscape are the pure definition of eye candy, and are the most beautiful parts of this film. This integrates perfectly with unique and spectacular cinematography that really does the film version justice. Another part that I commend the sound designers and mixers for is the music. The entire soundtrack plays impeccably with every scene and the musical numbers are extraordinary.
Out of all the wonderful cinematics and special effects, I would choose one musical number as my favorite scene - the Gaston number. In this scene, Lefou sings a song and gets the entire village to join in - about how great Gaston is. Not only does the song come out as entertaining, but the scene has fantastic visuals by everyone participating and truly brings justice to the scene. I prefer this version of the song over the original, which doesn't happen often with the remakes.
In general, this film, from its comedy, to its story, is meant for kids. This doesn't mean adults won't enjoy it. The nostalgia alone makes Beauty and the Beast an entertaining film and, dozens of times in the film, there are small references that adults can truly appreciate and enjoy. I recommend this film for ages 6 to 18 and believe adults will enjoy it as well. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars because it does outdo any other film this year in visuals, acting, music, cinematography and plot, but has some weak acting and still feels a bit like a forced conversion from animation to live action. Reviewed by Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Age 14
Disney has done it again! I was enchanted as I watched Disney's live-action remake of the 1991 animated classic, Beauty and the Beast. This film is different enough and certainly strong enough to stand on its own, and much better than the remake of Cinderella. Meet Belle (Emma Watson), who is a young woman who loves to read. She feels different because no one in her village knows how to read. They choose not to and treat her as if she is the oddball because of it. All she wants is an adventure. One day, her father, Maurice (Kevin Kline), gets taken and imprisoned by the Beast (Dan Stevens) in his remote castle. Belle searches for her father and finds him. To free her father, she exchanges her freedom for his and stays in the castle with the Beast. She starts to befriend everyone in the castle and she begins to develop a friendship with the Beast. If you want to know what else happens, you should go see the movie.
I enjoyed this movie because as soon as you see Emma Watson in action, you are enchanted by how she brings Belle to life. Her portrayal of the Disney princess, Belle, is perfect. I have never seen Ms. Watson sing before, and she sings considerably well. Dan Stevens is hilarious as the grumpy Beast. The CGIs are outstanding, especially the Beast. It is incredible how he transforms. I also like how they designed all the talking objects. Lumi�re, the candelabra (voiced by Ewan McGregor), Cogsworth, the pendulum clock (Ian McKellen) and Garderobe, the wardrobe (Audra McDonald) all look like real talking objects and are very comedic. On another note, the soundtrack is beautiful. I love the song, Beauty and the Beast by Ariana Grande and John Legend.
The only things I don't like about this movie are the few scary scenes. Because of them, I don't recommend this to younger kids. Some other scenes are a bit dark also. This is a know-your-kid kind of movie. Something interesting I want to point out is that one of the characters is gay (although if your blink you might miss the quick reference) and I like that Disney is trying to add more diversity in their films.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this to the ages 8 to 18 and I think adults might like it as well. I recommend this to people who like action, adventure, adaptations, family and Disney movies. Make sure to see Beauty and The Beast which comes out in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 17. This is definitely a must see and you won't regret watching at the theater. Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
There are twelve songs on the CD. It's too difficult to pick a favorite, I love "Barnyard Hoedown," "Jumping Beans," "Five Green and Speckled Frogs and "I Love Mommy. The reason why I like "Barnyard Hoedown" so much is because it is a country song with animal voices, a kid's choir and ends with a cow mooing. The "Jumping Beans" is really cool because of its Spanish flavor and the inclusion of a xylophone. I also think "Five Green and Speckled Frogs" is funny because of the frogs croaking in it. Finally, the "I Love Mommy" is particularly touching lullaby with having a heartfelt simple message about loving your family.
Dana Cohenour sings all the songs on the CD is really great. Her voice is very pretty and she can make funny sounds with her voice like singing with different accents. She also does the fun musical arrangements.
The message of this CD is about the importance of respecting animals, doing the right thing and loving your family. What sticks out in mind the most is the kids' choir singing, the animal voices and Dana singing in different styles. I also like all the nursery rhymes.
While I think kids of various ages will enjoy this, I recommend it to ages 3 to 7 because the songs are nursery rhymes with animal sounds. I give this 4 out of 5 musical stars for its positive upbeat songs and inclusion of animal and kid voices.
By Abigail Zoe L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9
Included are 16 unique songs kids can dance, sing, learn and just have a good time along with Raffi. This would be great for parties or sleepovers and will pick you up if you are feeling blue. They are very kid-friendly and teach lessons such as everyone grows up, what the sun is and what it does best. On the flip side, there are songs that are funny and silly and will have you up out of your seat and whirling around your house.
The Wheels on the Bus and If You're Happy and You Know It are classics that have a few twists added which make them even cuter. My favorites are Baby Beluga and Love Bug. I love these two because they are very sweet and very clever and had me laughing and dancing. The Baby Beluga is about a baby beluga's day and what it did. Love Bug is about the love bug and how everyone has one and how it shares love and happiness throughout the world.
This CD really made me feel like I was 5 or 6 again and I loved it. It really lets you be carefree and silly and not have to worry about things that older kids have to worry about. For example, things that really bothers me is that I have to do school, worry about money, boys and report cards and what my parents think of me. When I listen to this music I let all that stress go and kicked back to relax and just have fun and go back to that time of my life when I had no worries, bills or strife. I think that it could really help kids deal with all kinds of things and bring them a bit of joy to their day.
I recommend this for kids ages 2 to 12. Kids will love how Raffi sings songs that are fun and educational. They are easy to follow and invite the listeners to sing and dance along. I give this CD 5 out of 5 singing and dancing stars shooting across the sky.
Reviewed by Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
This CD is a mixture of new and old children's songs. Many of the old songs are favorites and the children got up and danced and sang along to them. Some of the newer or, not so familiar songs, are upbeat and exciting. The first half of the CD are fun, fast paced and kids loved them and danced along. Some of the slower paced ones did not hold my grandchildren's interest as much. An old favorite, "The Wheels on the Bus" was their favorite. Also a new version of De O, Daylight Come and Me Wanna Go Home is delightful. They know the words to this song and clapped their hands and danced along. They also were quite partial to "Down By the Bay," "Apples & Bananas," "Ring, Ring Banana Phone," "Let's Play" and "Shake the Sillies Out." My kids loved the faster paced songs.
The theme song throughout the DVD when the team is ready to go out on their mission, 'Here We Go, Na Na Na, Off to Healthyland' is great. I found myself singing to it too! The animation is fantastic. The colors are so bright and rich for each of the characters and each of the Great Helpees hatched is a different color! The songs are upbeat and uplifting! Having the words written on the screen helps adults learn the songs. The settings for each of the segments has lots of imagination built in and also has awesome colors. Each of the characters has their own unique costume and name. Shellfish Sheldon is a red lobster, Clicks the robot, Patches the tiger, Little Bird is Autistic as well as Trooper Charlie, who dances very well, and so many others. These segments are all very interesting and colorful and playful and educational as well. Some of the segments dealt with normalizing Autism and one explains about the devices that help Autistic children communicate with others. It stresses that 'even though we are all different, we are all the same'. The song, 'Each One of Us Is Different' helps us to understand more. The theme of this segment is that children with Autism can be a great friend, and our differences are Okay. Yes, I love this! Reviewed by Tina B., KIDS FIRST! Juror.
Mack and Moxy is a very enjoyable children's TV show series with multiple scenarios portraying life's messages in a fun and laughable tone. With its bright colors and relatable characters, this series is great for young children to enjoy.
In this four episode DVD, Mack, a tall blue moose who's a bit of an airhead, and Moxy, a pink and purple raccoon who's quick on her feet, take part in numerous adventures to help rescue the "Helpee Orbs" which play pivotal roles in helping others. In each episode, a human scout helps Mack and Moxy on their missions. Missions are assigned by multiple guest stars, such as Simone Biles or Keegan Michael-Key. Each episode is unique in its own way. The first has Mack and Moxy's team hunting for the Helpee in a playground. They play 4 square and even take a swing on the monkey bars. The second episode takes place in a desert. The third episode is underwater, with a family of octopi. These octopi grow a garden of fruits and veggies. The final episode takes place in a forest, where communication is controlled by music and technology.
My favorite character is Shellfish Sheldon (Hank Azaria) who has a lovable lisp and a persistency like none other. Even though Sheldon is supposed to be the bad guy, his personality makes his attempts to ruin the day a complete joke. Each time Sheldon makes his one time per episode appearance, he made me laugh. Additionally, the songs are very catchy and easy to remember. I played the songs in my head over and over again. I still remember lyrics from the song "Buckle Buckle, Seatbelts & Chuckle."
Each episode has a different message. One talks about how fairness is distributed on the playground. Another captures the importance of buckling your seat belt. One explains how eating the right food can greatly improve daily life. And one teaches how everyone is different, yet should be treated equally.
The catchy songs are the highlight of each episode and serve a purpose to help kids remember the important teachings. I recommend this DVD to ages 3 to 7 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. It is available on DVD now so, be sure to check it out.
Reviewed by Lara M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
Reviewed by Rachael V., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror.
This DVD is a fun story about aliens from outer space coming to Earth and discovering "hoomans". The aliens don't know anything about life on Earth and they learn and discover how things work on Earth. They have to use problem solving skills to find out where all the caterpillars disappear to when they turn into butterflies. It teaches them about the lifespan of a butterfly. It teaches them how to work together as a team, build friendships and how things work. It emphasizes trust, respect, team work and problem solving. The menu is easy to understand and use. You can move backwards and forwards easily through chapters. Visually, it is stunning. Kids will certainly enjoy it. The story makes sense. It starts with aliens landing on Earth, goes into finding their way around and ends with them understanding how things work on this planet. It is definitely fun to watch. I recommend it to children ages 2 to 7. Reviewed by Amanda M., KIDS FIRST! Juror.
This special Floogals DVD has eight episodes, stars Captain Fleeker, Officer Flo and Junior Boomer - aliens who have come to earth to explore the human's objects. Episode #1, Project Caterpillar, explains the process of metamorphosis to the Floogals as they watch and wait for the Hooman's caterpillars to change into butterflies. Episode #2 is Project Balloon, where the Floogals discover what a balloon is, how it works and why they are needed. The next Episode, #3 is Project Baby. The Floogals discover what a baby is exactly. Episode #4 is Project Bubbles. Along with discovering what a bubble is made of, the Floogals learn to work together to blow bubbles. In Project Hamster, the Floogals have to catch the Hooman's hamster that escapes the cage. In Project Robot, they take Hooman's son's robot to rescue officer Flo. The episode Project Garden Hose has them finding out that the hose is turned on by a lever and learning that hoses are used to water plants. The final episode is Project Magnet where the Floogals' learn what a magnet is and how it works. In each episode, kids learn the use of objects in our world.
My favorite character is Junior Boomer. Boomer's adolescent character and curiosity is fun to watch throughout every episode. Of course, the other characters are exciting to watch too. Officer Flo's intelligence and Captain Fleeker's leadership qualities greatly enhance the show. In addition, I enjoyed the live elements incorporated into the show. In Project Hamster, I like how a real hamster is in the show along with the animated Captain Fleeker, who are both in the hamster's cage.
Each episode teaches something different. Project Caterpillar teaches the audience about Metamorphosis. Project Balloon shows how balloons float. Project Baby demonstrates how we grow. Project Bubbles shows us what bubbles are made of. Project Hamster teaches about live animals and how to keep them in a cage. Project Robot shows how electronics work and how they run on batteries. Project Garden Hose demonstrates how a hose is used and how it works. Finally Project Magnet shows us how magnets work. As each episode teaches kids how ordinary objects in our world work, the Floogals' comedic characters and unique adventures make the show enjoyable. I recommend Floogals for ages 2 to 6 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. This DVD is available now wherever DVDs are sold so, go check it out. You're missing out if you don't share it with your preschoolers.
Reviewed by Lara M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
I love this fun and adorable DVD with its eight fun episodes that made me want to go on scientific adventures with my friends and family. All the episodes have fun things about science and they use the scientific method to teach kids about pets, magnets, garden hoses, toys and so much more.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an alien or to see an alien up close? Most people think that aliens would be bigger and better than us, but in this fun DVD there are aliens called Floogals that are adorable and fun-loving. The Floogals are aliens who want to find out more about humans, our surroundings and why we do all the different and quirky things that we love or need to do.
I love the animation and the way it is used together with live action to teach about the functions of ordinary household items. The aliens are animated, but the humans and the surrounding objects are live action. It is very different from what you mostly see today in the theater or on TV. I love that it isn't repetitive, but silly enough to have me laughing until I found myself wanting to do an experiment with the Floogals myself.
One of my favorite episodes is "Project Baby." I love this episode because it teaches kids about growing up, what babies are and what they need to grow up to become big and strong. They even think that the baby is the king of the humans and they also think that it was held in captivity because its crib looks like a hamster cage to them. My favorite character is Flo (Jules de Jongh). I love her voice and the way her character is so courteous and always on the lookout for adventure and projects to collaborate on with her fellow aliens. Another thing I enjoyed is the way that the Floogals guess things and then find out what they are. For example, in the episode "Project Garden Hose," they think that the hose is a snake or a straw of some sort, but, by using the work of science, they find out it is a garden hose and is used for watering plants in the garden.
I recommend this for ages 4 to 8. It is very creative and full of great conversations for adults and children. Children will learn in a fun, new, adventurous way. It will help them be great scientists and explorers when they are young and encourage them to do the same when they grow up. I give this fantastic DVD 5 out of 5 flying Floogal saucers. It is available now on DVD so, be sure to check it out.
By Morgan B. Bertsch, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12
Highly Recommended. The most appealing element of this title is the suspense that leads to an ending you do not expect. Visuals are very good. Clear bright colors. You can feel the land, the brown and dryness of the land. You see very vividly the faces of the villagers, young and old. A child will enjoy the suspense. Why did the young child take the photographer's bag and begins running through the countryside? It flows, in the beginning you know that she is a photographer. Through the chase after the little boy steals her bag you discover his reason. There really no dialogue to speak of. The only language are the shouts to the young man as he runs away with the woman's bag. While we don't want to encourage theft of someone's property, in the end we find out why the student took her bag. I recommend this for ages 5 to 18 and give it 4 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by Juanita S., KIDS FIRST! Juror
I found each segment quite interesting once I realized that this is a continuation of events in a child's life. The stories are thought-provoking and made for children, teens and adults because the themes are relative to everyone. I really enjoyed the animation and colorization of the videos. In each segment, a story opens with Mily asking a question about life. The first segment about the family history had Mily and her baby sister, Lola, curious as to 'where are babies before they are born!' The story takes Mily and Lola to various people for clarification and finally to their Mom who explains it to them on their level. They explore various themes throughout the segments including decision making, ideas about choices in jobs, rules vs. laws and, when it applies, "telling the truth and teaching responsibility. I really enjoyed this DVD and I think it will help children understand more about life's themes. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend to ages 5 to 12.
I like the style of the animation. The background of each scene is an actual photo of where it takes place, such as a kitchen. We see an actual photo of a kitchen. The characters' animation is over the background. I found that cool because I've never seen that before in animation.
The message of this movie is to ask questions when you wonder about things. It teaches kids to ask questions even if they seems dumb. If someone doesn't know something, they have the right to ask. No one should judge them for asking. It also teaches kids to be creative. In one of the episodes, Mily gets bored and doesn't know what to do. Her friends come up with ideas to keep her from not being bored. They get creative and make games.
My favorite character is Mily's little sister Lola because she nags Mily in a funny way. She annoys Mily sometimes but you can tell that they love each other. I love how she helps Mily with her questions. She may be younger but she helps Mily a lot.
I give this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 5 to 10. This DVD is available now wherever DVDs are sold so, be sure to look for it.
I have always been a huge Dr. Seuss fan. I have all of the original books and such. I was super excited when I watched my first The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That show! Here I am in my 20s and still just as excited as I was when I was little reading The Cat in the Hat. I love the way this show gets information across while managing to have the fun and goofy rhymes and great visuals. This creates a promising way for younger kids to learn while having fun. I highly recommend this show for anyone with small children. I recommend this for ages 3 through 8, although my one-year-old was pretty enthralled with the visuals and voices. I give this 5 out of 5 stars! Reviewed by Rachael V., KIDS FIRST! Juror
It is just another day playing in the backyard for Nick and Sally, until they are once again joined by the always lovable Cat in the Hat and his trusty pal, Fish. They soon have a visitor from outer-space - a flying robotic dog. The Cat in the Hat prepares his Space-ama-racer and takes Nick and Sally on an adventure to follow this space dog on a cosmic mission. The team encounters many obstacles along the way and must work together to help their new space dog friend and find their way back to planet Earth.
My favorite character is Space Rover because he has fun while learning and exploring his environment. Much like a real dog, Rover uses his senses to guide him and sometimes this gets him into some sticky situations. Thankfully the Cat in the Hat, Nick, Sally and Fish are there to help him out. This teaches the value of teamwork and problem-solving skills.
While Cat in the Hat knows a lot about Space is not considered a musical, the characters do break into an occasional song. I find these songs enjoyable and they actually add another level of fun to the experience. The Cat in the Hat (Martin Short) has a goofy voice that kids feel comfortable with and he uses words and phrases that are age appropriate, making the story easy for young audiences to follow. In line with other Dr. Seuss videos, this also speaks in rhyme throughout, but never to the point where I felt it was annoying. The animation is simple and plain, but still visually appealing. It is consistent with other Cat in the Hat videos.
I recommend this film for ages 2 to 8. Young children will appreciate the rhyming lyrics and easy to follow story line. Parents can be assured their children are learning within a fun environment. The Cat in the Hat knows a lot about Space does not disappoint, as it is right in-line with the other Dr. Seuss stories. I rate this DVD 4 out of 5 stars. It is available now on DVD.
Reviewed by Tristan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
I really enjoyed this DVD. The animation is colorful, the storyline is engaging and the characters are fun to watch. I like how the Cat rhymes and sings. I also like learning about space and the solar system. My favorite character is Rover the Dog who explores different planets and takes pictures of them. His tail squirts out fire when he flies, which I think is hysterical.
The story is about the adventures of Cat in the Hat with Sally, Nick and Fish as they follow a robot dog into space. They meet up with Rover's owner, Astronaut Audrey who guides them to different planets, through Asteroid fields and space junk. We learn that when Rover is on different planets he brings back rock samples to the space station so Astronaut Audrey can study them. The cool thing is that not only do the characters learn facts about space but so do we!
My favorite part of the DVD is when Rover the Dog goes to Nick and Sally's house and spends time digging in the yard, taking photos of flowers and everyone. I laughed my head off when Rover takes a picture of Fish which causes him to freak out! Fish freaks out because he thinks he's going to be eaten. Oh do I love Martin Short as the voice of The Cat in the Hat. He's super animated and super funny. I can't think of a better voice.
The message of this collection is that space is fun and, as The Cat in The Hat says, "Space is planet Earth's biggest backyard." This means that space has a lot for us to explore and learn about such as: Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system. Mars is half the size of earth and has no gravity. Dust storms can cover the entire planet of Mars and last for days. Jupiter is the biggest planet, has no surface to land on and has a red spot that is a storm which has lasted for years. Also, the sun is so large that you can fit all the planets in the solar system into it. Wow! My head is spinning with all this exciting new information!
There are a lot of great songs and rhymes by the Cat in the Hat. Fish is really funny, has lots of personality and attitude, but at the same time is always worried. This DVD is extremely enjoyable. Not only does it teach kids about space but it has a dog. Who doesn't like a cute robot dog? I recommend it for ages 4 to 7 and give it 4 out of 5 stars (or should I say) cat hats for its humor, colorful animation and educational lessons. The DVD is available now wherever DVDs are sold so, be sure to check it out for your budding scientists!
Reviewed by Abigail Zoe L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9
If you have a child that loves My Little Pony, this one is sure to entertain and delight. It has great animation, a delightful story-line and it teaches all about the magic of friendship. It is entertaining but also has a powerful message as Twilight Sparkle and her friends go back in time. It is a true magical adventure with great characters, cool special effects and of course, good wins over evil. There is also a great sing-a-long bonus on the DVD titled "A Changeling Can Change." This one is fun to sing a long with and ?there are subtitles which makes it easy to do so. I recommend this one for ages 5? to 8 and give it 4 ?out of 5 ?stars.
Reviewed by Denise B.
The main purpose of My Little Pony is to educate both kids and adults about friendship and everyday issues. It teaches these lessons in a variety of ways, with each and every episode having its own independent adventure that contains hilarious comedy and even action from time to time.
There are five episodes total on DVD and they all focus on adventures around the Crystal Empire, a city in the My Little Pony world. Each adventure is completely different from the others. One is a time travel adventure, another is about protecting the Crystal Empire from freezing weather and another is about making friends with a creature that everyone assumes to be a monster. Despite the differences in each episode, they are all entertaining, unique and have wonderful messages behind them.
The production quality of this animated series has never gone down, but instead continues to improve. One key thing that surprises me most is the plot and the message behind the plot. This season fantastically creates new and interesting elements to continue the exciting journey of the characters. Speaking of characters, the voice-over work is still as emotional, original and natural as it was in the first episode.
Out of the five episodes, my favorite is the last one called The Times They are A Changeling. In this episode, one of the characters discovers a creature known as a changeling that can take the form of any other character. Unlike the rest of his species, he is not driven by hate and anger. The changeling struggles to prove to others that he is not a monster but just someone who wants a friend. This is a fantastic moral because it talks about how one specific person does not reflect what their entire race or nation is doing and should not be judged for the actions of others. It is a marvelous message that I feel is very important for both kids and adults to listen to in today's world.
My Little Pony is still great for kids, with bright colors, simple but hilarious jokes, and educational morals. But this series also appeals to adults with its compelling stories, relatable characters and morals that can apply to adults as much as they do to kids. I give My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Exploring the Crystal Empire 5 out of 5 stars for its beautiful animation, wonderful episodes, entertaining plot and compelling morals. This DVD is available now so, go check it out.
Reviewed by Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14
I love this My Little Pony DVD! These episodes are educating, exciting and captivating. I felt happy throughout the entire film and learned more about friendship. This film follows an alicorn, a unicorn and a pegasus, named Twilight Sparkle (Tara Strong) and her pet dragon, Spike (Cathy Weseluck) on their adventures in saving Equestria and the Crystal Empire.
In the first episode, Twilight Sparkle and Spike go on a quest to save the friendship between the ponies from Starlight Glimmer. Starlight Glimmer goes back in time to make sure Rainbow Dash (Ashleigh Ball) never creates a sonic boom. Twilight Sparkle has to figure out a way to stop Starlight Glimmer and save the friendship between the ponies.
In the second episode, the eight ponies attend a Crystalling for Twilight's baby brother, Shining Armour (Andrew Francis) who is also an alicorn. A baby, named Flurry Heart, cannot control her powers and destroys the crystal heart, a major part of the Crystalling ceremony. The team now must work together to fix the heart before the ceremony begins. In the final episode, an unexpected friendship forms between Spike and the feared changeling.
The greatest feature of this film is the value of friendship. I learned many lessons, including how you can be friends with anyone, how you can reconnect with old friends, and how you can make a friend of an enemy. Another great quality of the film was the many different personalities of the ponies, which simulated the diversity of the real world. My favorite character in this film was Rainbow Dash because she is loyal, strong, and courageous. My favorite part is when Twilight Sparkle and her friends first meet Flurry Heart, because she is so cute and everyone surprisingly finds out she had strong magical powers.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars because I was both informed and entertained by Twilight Sparkle and her friend's adventures. I would recommend this film for ages 4 to 10 because children this age may be excited to learn about friendship from mystical creatures. This film is out on DVD now, so make sure to watch it.
Reviewed by Linda D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
I really enjoyed My Little Pony: Exploring the Crystal Empire. It is a very positive story. I always have a strong liking towards this group of ponies' adventures because of their fun and exciting personalities. Friendship is the main theme of this collection of five episodes and a sing-along. Viewers are invited to join the Equestria crew for fun filled magical adventures filled with great spirit, along with interactive scenes which younger ages will enjoy.
Twilight Sparkle (Tara Strong) and her friends go on an adventure to explore the wonderful Crystal Empire. They are encountered by old enemies and obstacles, but are able to make new friendships along the way.
I have two scenes that are my favorites. The first is when Twilight finally connects with Starlight resulting in her to change her unfriendly ways and learn the true meaning of friendship. This is a very good representation showing how people are able to change no matter what the circumstances. Also, it represents how new friendships can be made within or without conflicts. My other favorite scene is the sing-along with all of the Equestria girls. I really like the songs because the ponies explain how friendship can change the world and make it a better place. Without friendship, the magic in Equestria isn't complete! Some other positive aspects of the movie are how every episode deals with friendship and the growth of it. Also, every episode has vibrant colors, great animation and, of course, a great cast!
The message prevalent in this DVD collection is about how strong friendships are for the entire world. Twilight Sparkle, along with her other friends, make is very clear throughout the film how powerful their friendship is. They discuss how they would not know what they would do without each other. Friendship is a powerful source of magic that the kids learn about throughout this film which makes it so fun and magical.
I rate this film 4 � out of 5 stars for its wonderful animation, bright colors, music and interesting storyline. I recommend this film for ages 5 through 10 because of its kid friendly theme. Parents will enjoy watching this as well because it is very family friendly. My Little Pony: Exploring the Crystal Empire is available now on DVD.
Reviewed by Imani B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
The film follows Travis (Johnny Orlando) who encounters some challenges when he goes to his grandparent's farm for the summer. By accident, he travels to a different world and gets some big help from the legendary Paul Bunyan (John Goodman) and his talking blue ox, Babe. When they get back to the normal world, they realize that he didn't just end up in a different world for no reason. He is chased after witnessing Blackstone, a magician, hypnotize a store owner and force her to sell her land to him. Blackstone's bodyguard is the one who chased him. Eventually, everyone realizes that Blackstone and his brother, Norm Blandsford (Kelsey Grammer) a greedy land developer, are working together. They realize the problem is bigger than they initially thought.
I love how John Goodman's voice perfectly fits what I think Paul Bunyan might sound like. His voice is deep and strong like a macho man, which seems really fitting. I also liked how Travis (Johnny Orlando) uses his voice to help us know what Travis is feeling. For example, when Travis wants to help Paul Bunyan find Babe, his voice sounds really determined, which shows the audience how persevering he is.
The animation is spectacular. I particularly enjoyed seeing how the body language of each character shows what they are feeling. I also enjoyed seeing Blackstone's hypnotic device on his hand. It is amazing how the animators made the light look like it was going toward the character and not just staying on the screen of the device. I almost felt like I was being hypnotized myself!
My favorite part of the film is when Babe escapes and starts drinking the toxic water. It amused me that he was so careless. I couldn't believe that he didn't see how the color of the water was abnormal and it looked really gross. It was funny to me when Norm Blandsford sees Babe who is just lying there, out cold.
This film's message is one that many children and even adults can relate to - even though you are small, you can still do big things. This doesn't only mean small size-wise. It can also mean small, as in just one person in a big world. This message encourages people to keep trying and to never give up, no matter what challenges are in your way, such as being small. The message can also inspire people to not limit themselves as to what they can do, because of things they can't control, such as being small, not pretty, or not being smart. This message is very important and could help a lot of people get over their insecurities and be more confident in themselves.
I really enjoyed watching this movie and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to ages of 4 to 10. You can watch this fantastic film on Google Play on January 12 and in theaters February 3. You should definitely check out this awesome movie. I think you'll be glad you did.
By Jolleen M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
The tall tale legends that everyone loves are back in this terrific, animated adventurous comedy. Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue talking Ox are hilarious once again they bring adventure and fun to Minnesota. I love the tales about Paul Bunyan and Babe, and how they can chop down tress with one swift whack of Paul's Ax. Babe is always by his side to help him, no matter how far they have to travel together. I am so happy to learn about this new comical animated film of 2017. It is the perfect movie to start the year off with your friends and family.
My favorite character is Travis because he is goodhearted, adventurous and comical. He shows that, by helping his grandparents around the farm where he lifts pumpkins, plants seeds and rakes leaves. He does all this because he is compassionate and protective about his grandparents and his family. He also has a funny since of humor and knows how to make a quick remark or two.
The scene when Travis first meets Paul Bunyan is hilarious. This scene reminds me of the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland, when she falls down it and how everything flouts around and it seems like there is no gravity. Paul is pretending to be a mean scary giant like the one from Jack and the Bean Stalk. He even repeats the lines from the giant. In a deep voice, he threatens to eat him and grind his bones but not even Paul Bunyan cannot keep a straight face.
The animation is great with many dimensions and it makes the story quite believable. There are great details and the scene where Paul Bunyan pushes a car is humorous, especially the expressions on the passengers' faces. And, since they do not know how to drive, it's doubly funny. The scenery made me want to take a visit to the country and go to a fair.
The story begins with a young boy named Travis (Johnny Orlando) who goes to his grandparents farm with his sister Whitney (Lola Wayne Villa). When his Grandpa (Mark Hamill, Star Wars - the one and only Luke Skywalker) asks him to buy a tape measurer, he is chased by a stranger and falls into a tree that leads him to the world of Paul Bunyan and Babe. Paul Bunyan (John Goodman) and Babe (Jeff Foxworthy) help Travis by getting him home to his grandparent's farm. While Travis is with Paul and Babe he finds out that an evil, greedy land developer and his brother who is a hypnotist (Kelsey Grammer) are trying to hypnotize the townspeople to get them sell their land. While they are trying to do this, Travis's Grandma (Kay Cole) is protesting against the mall they plan to build.
I recommend this to ages 6 to 18. Kids will love the funny jokes, the bright animation and the quirky characters and the fun plot. Adults will also like the silliness of the film, but it isn't too silly so they will also enjoy it with their family. It is the perfect way to relax and have a good time smiling and laughing with your favorite tall tale legends and some new characters as well. I give this film 5 out of 5 gigantic blue talking stars.
By Morgan Bertsch, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12
The 35-minute lesson is fast paced, kid-focused instruction, that doesn't feel like instruction at all. The teacher, Marie Laure, is engaging, welcoming and animated in her delivery. Marie uses animated backgrounds, props and body language to demonstrate the meanings of words.
French for Kids: Les Saisons has return animated characters Fritzi, the mouse and Rito the fox planning a birthday celebration for Fritzi. Catchy, yet parent-friendly songs are interspersed throughout the stories to further help explain the concepts and add visual and auditory interest. The curriculum is reinforced with print words of key concepts (French only), bright colors, animation and cute videos of kids from diverse races playing in the different seasons - summer in the pool, autumn at a pumpkin farm and trick or treating.
Total immersion instruction means that there is no other language presented other than the one you are wanting to teach. This approach leaves learners relying on their other senses, besides auditory, to determine the meaning of words. Total immersion typically incorporates different learning strategies including visual, auditory and kinesthetic through a variety of multimedia approaches. The lack of English on this DVD was more distracting to me as an adult, than my daughter, who readily embraced the French only instruction. The literature says that there are English subtitles, which this reviewer was not able to locate. Thankfully, a parent/teacher translation guide is included which lists the English translation of the songs as well as key concepts of the lessons.
The Whistlefritz educator's French collection is highlighted on homeschool.com's Top 100 Educational Websites of 2016 as the perfect companion for parents who are homeschooling their young children. I give this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 5. French for Kids: Les Saisons is available now wherever DVDs are sold so, go check it out. Reviewed by Ruth A.,KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror.
Les Saisons follows Fritzi, a cute and cheery mouse who attends a birthday party and then wonders when his own birthday is. His friend Marie helps guide him through the year and tells him all the special traits of winter, spring, summer and fall so he can figure it out. I had fun joining Marie and Fritzi in a well-paced lesson and jovial sing-a-long about the seasons - all in French.
The entire program runs 35 minutes and, while it's about the seasons, it also covers vocabulary on saying "hi," saying your name and other basic phrases as well as special vocabulary about holidays. This program really helps children understand by repeating words over and over and singing about the words to make it fun. The teacher Marie pronounces everything very slowly and clearly. A group of kids also repeat key words and contribute to a better understanding of what is going on onscreen. This DVD mixes animation and live action together successfully to make sure kids can follow the pronunciation but also have fun with its cast of animated characters. The lesson also includes footage of kids doing several pastimes related to the season being discussed which keeps things interesting. For instance, when they talk about fall, they shows kids jumping into piles of leaves.
This DVD has a special features video that explains Whistlefritz's inventive philosophy about immersion and what exactly learning by immersion means. I recommend you watch that before showing kids the DVD.
I give French for Kids: Les Saisons an age recommendation of 2 to 8. There is nothing objectionable about this DVD, but I think it is most comprehensible for children at least 2-years-old. I'm not a parent, so that's your call. The DVD's length and cheerful atmosphere should keep your child's attention. I give French for Kids: Les Saisons 4 out of 5 stars. This is an excellent resource for your child to begin to learn some basic French. This DVD is available on Amazon and other places where DVDs are sold. Do check out some of the other titles from its producer, Whistlefritz while you're at it.
I love this fun filled DVD that teaches kids how to read and speak French while learning about the seasons. I like how they mix learning with something that I had a wonderful time watching. I found myself dancing, singing and laughing the whole time.
This DVD is full of colorful animation and adorable videos of children swimming, having snowball fights, jumping into leaf piles and enjoying all the seasons. It is the perfect blend of animation, live action and music that will have any child laughing, dancing and learning. The live action videos show what the weather is like and how to find entertainment that each season offers. While these videos play, they have a song in French describing that season and activities the children are doing.
The unique characters will have you laughing and smiling throughout the entire DVD. The characters are a mouse, cat, dog and Marie. Marie teaches the correct pronunciation of words through her storytelling. The video also includes children who speak French which adds a bit of cuteness to the video and shows kids that it's easy for other kids to learn to speak French too.
I love the way they teach French by immersion. It is very different but kept me interested. I delight in the fact that the entire video is in French. I have never seen this use of immersion in learning a language before and I really appreciate that in this DVD.
I recommend this program for ages 2 to 7. Kids will love the storyline, characters and animation in this DVD. The videos will encourage them to try something new, get up and exercise. Older kids might think it is a bit too childish and might not like it as much as the younger ones do. I give this DVD 4 out of 5 French fantastic stars. If you want to learn French and have fun at the same time, then this is the perfect DVD for you. Bonne chance and au revoir. The DVD is available in stores and online now so, go check it out! You'll be glad you did.
Reviewed by Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
In this DVD, embark on adventures with Alice, Brian and Cherry Berry to search high and low for the letters Q, R, S, T, and U. Queen Scribble is organizing a Quick Quiz at Capital Castle. She has been writing�the questions for several days and today is the day they have all been waiting for. King Wordy was asked to be the quizmaster, and he is very excited! However, one of the contestants, Q-Monster, is missing! Will they find him in time so that he can play in the quiz with the other ABC Monsters? Find out!
Get set for a spellbinding series of magical adventures that engages preschool children's imaginations, while making learning exciting and entertaining.���
This is a perfect show for all little kids because it teaches phonics, writing and reading, how to recognize words and letters and so much more. It's really important for kids to learn how to solve puzzles and how to solve problems. This DVD is great at teaching them how to do those things as well. This is a perfect series. It has a wonderful, fun way of teaching. It's energetic and gets them up, dancing and laughing and, the next thing you know, they're singing the alphabet just like Alice, Cherry Berry and Brian. You'll be smiling and telling them what a great job they're doing.
I definitely encourage you to share this with your preschoolers because it teaches things that most kids don't want to learn, but makes it fun and energetic so they will want to watch this DVD over and over again. My favorites episode is Rain and Raffles. I love that one because there is the adorable R-Monster, who is my favorite monster or alphabet letter. One of my favorites I should say, because there are many. Other than that episode, I really like the way that they have so many fun and new characters such as the adorable rabbit who has a magnificent garden full of radishes, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, any kind of vegetable you can think of. They've probably got it. There is even a gigantic radish that you'll learn more about when you watch the DVD. I love this DVD because it's fun and exciting and I love how it teaches so many different letters and so many different words. I mean, they have one amazing episode about the letter R. That's what I call terrific. All these letters are just magnificent because they all are so different from each other. None of them are the same color and they all have their own perspective and personality which I love.
I recommend this DVD for ages 2 to 5. Kids will learn and have a great time. They'll have fun as they sing, dance and learn. It's also great teaching kids how to solve problems. Have fun. I give this 4 out of 5 Alphabet Fantastic Stars. This is available on DVD January 24, 2017 so, go check it out.
Reviewed by Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12.
ABC Monsters: Starring QRSTU is very impressive with its colorful animation and learning style. I really like the nature backgrounds when the characters are outside. I also like how, at the end of every episode, a song plays and the characters sing and dance. The color and life put into the animation accentuates the themes of happiness and playfulness that the show exudes.
In this DVD, there are five different stories - Queen Scribble's Quiz, Rain and Raffles, Sandy Shores, Ticket to Ride and Unique Cycle. Each story follows Alice, Bryan and Cherry Berry in finding missing the letters Q, R, S, T and U. They follow clues and have to find words starting with the featured letter. For example, in the Q section, one of the clues is "Q Monster was nervous for the Q - - Z." You have to fill in the blank with the clues the show provides the audience with (such as Q Monster saying, "I'm nervous for the quiz"). The show is a great educational experience for young learners.
This DVD targets preschoolers who are learning how to spell and they deliver a great production. This is a wonderful show for teaching young learners alphabet letters and simple words. The producers have been careful to make sure that the spelling and reading comprehension skills are tattooed into the audience's brains by including songs and cute little riddles. I'm impressed with what the team at ABC Monsters has created.
This DVD is a colorful and energetic learning show suitable for ages 2 to 5 and I give it 3 out of 5 stars. If you're looking for a great learning show for your wee ones, be sure to check this out. It's available on DVD January 24, 2017 wherever DVDs are sold.
Reviewed by Ella L, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
The Snake is tired of constantly losing against the Little Prince so he decides to risk it all! He goes back to B612, kidnaps Rose and brings her back to his planet. By doing so, he might lose everything because if the Little Prince comes to the Snake's home planet and frees Rose, the Little Prince will also rescue all the gloomy prisoners! Will the Snake regret kidnapping Rose and possibly losing all of his prisoners?
The Little Prince: The Planet the Snake is about The Little Prince's journey to rescue his Rose who has been kidnapped by an evil Snake. The prince uses his magic, the help of his friends and his courage to follow the clues to get to the Snake's planet. He faces many treacheries and traps set up by the Snake on his journey, but he perseveres to rescue his Rose. The series has some very detailed animation and the characters show some great expressions. The overall result very visually interesting. This DVD is a bit darker than other titles in The Little Prince series. I didn't like how it references other episodes of the series because, this makes it unable to stand alone, but it does make me want to see the others! Aidan Drummond and Brian Drummond do the voices of The Little Prince and his Fox. Their expressions, like sadness and joy, are done with great character in their voices.
My favorite part of the DVD are the fight scenes between The Little Prince and the Gloomies. These are monsters that are created out of sadness and the loss of hope. These scenes are always very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I also felt that they are spread out enough that they don't get boring or repetitive but keep a consistent theme throughout the show.
The moral of the show is to never lose hope. I feel this is important because it teaches kids to never to give up on their dreams. It also teaches the importance and power of love and reassures us that good always conquers evil. The Little Prince: The Planet the Snake is an interesting film and makes a great addition to the Little Prince series. I give it 5 out of five stars because it is dramatic and exciting. I recommend it for ages 5 to15. It is available on DVD January 10, 2017 so, go check it out.
By Rohan F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10
The Little Prince: The Planet of the Snake is one of the sequels of the series based on this book. This is a wonderful movie for children and I like it because of its message.
Some of you might know the very popular novel The Little Prince by French author Antoine de Saint-Exup�ry. The Little Prince has been adapted into numerous forms over the decades, books, theater, film, audio record, as well as movies. The Little Prince: The Planet of the Snake is about a young boy that should leave his home planet with his companion Fox to try to defeat the snake that is creating chaos, putting the universe in danger and has also kidnapped his flower friend, Rose. The Little Prince and Fox go on a quest to save Rose, but in their journey, they fight danger and go through many adventures. The Little Prince and Fox discover many interesting things in their journey to rescue Rose and protect the planets. The other challenge is to find their way back home.
I like how the producers adapted this iconic novel into a contemporary animated video for kids. Through this film, kids get to know another tale of adventures based on this classic children's literature. The voice actors are quite wonderful. I particularly like Paul Dobson's voice as the Snake as his sinister act was very believable. The animation is modern CGI which brings this classic into a contemporary format. However, the animation isn't like a Disney film; it is more like the show Miraculous Ladybug.
My favorite character is Fox. I love how comic he is and laughed a lot at his funny comments. I also like how the Fox helps The Prince not lose hope when they think they lost Rose. The message of this movie is to not lose hope. The Prince loses hope but the Fox helps him carry on in saving Rose. That is a good message for children. They can learn to help their friends when they feel sad or want to give up. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 4 to 7. You can find this movie at your local store or on Amazon on January 10, 2017 so, go check it out.
Reviewed by Carla P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
This DVD contains six seasonal episodes of Thomas Edison's Secret Lab that create one special holiday story. It features four kid geniuses who help a virtual Thomas Edison to solve every day and unusual problems using science. In the first episode, Stranger in a Strange Lab, the kids learn about wormholes from Albert Einstein so they can help Thomas Edison's Friend, Bob, with an urgent, top-secret project. In the following episodes, which include Sturm und Drag, All the Heavy Lifting, Twas the Night Before Liftoff, Von Bolt Meets Santa, and And to all a Good Flight, they help him solve problems with his project using their scientific knowledge, scientific theories and the help of historic geniuses such as Isaac Newton, Pythagoras and George Cayley. Meanwhile, Thomas Edison's steampunk robot, Van Bolt, digs deeper into Bob's secrets to reveal his true identity and the real reason his project is so urgent.
This film is very funny and educational, teaching science, history and vocabulary in a very entertaining way. It also contains loads of cool fun facts. I really like how all the scientists that help the four kids are real scientists from history such as Albert Einstein. From watching this DVD, I learned that George Cayley created one of the first flying machine, how airplanes fly and the amount of time you can be in freezing temperatures before getting hypothermia or frostbit. I also learned that batteries die quicker in cold temperatures and how space suits work. My favorite part of the DVD is the original music videos at the end of every episode. They are funny, cool, and catchy and actually help to remember the facts!
I give this DVD five out of five stars because there was nothing I didn't like about it. I recommend it for children age 5 to 13 and I think it would make great holiday viewing for kids that are interested in science and engineering. It is available on DVD now so go check it out.
By Rohan Foxe, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11
My overall thought about this film is very positive. It is a very fun interactive movie that various kids will enjoy due to its learning experience. While watching, I felt as if I was being taught something new while celebrating the Christmas spirit. You will definitely not be bored throughout the film.
The story is about a secret lab developed by Thomas Edison (Livingston Taylor) in a world that no one knows about. In that lab, a virtual version of Thomas was built along with a robot named Von Bolt. A long period of time passes and a young girl named Angie (Philipa Alexander) discovers the lab. An old friend of Edison comes to town and asks the Secret Lab Kids to help him. The viewer is invited to join the cast of Thomas Edison's Secret Lab in solving the mystery of the secret project and the mysterious friend.
My favorite scenes would have to be the sudden sing along tunes. Each tune has a new lesson that is introduced at different times. Science is taught with touches of the Christmas spirit as well. I really admire how the writers create similarities between science and Christmas for kids to get them into the spirit of the holidays. For example, a song explains the scientific history of Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein, but the characters also talk about what they want to do for Christmas. Another example is when Von Bot teaches the kids about the magic of Christmas and what it is really about. I felt as if I was being taught new information and opinions about science by the characters in the film, which I found positive and enjoyable.
Without giving away the ending, the moral message is to focus on the task at hand and work together as a team to get things done. At first, the characters have trouble realizing that they were given a special mission that needed to be completed by a certain time because they were so focused on the fact that Christmas was coming soon. I really like how the writers tried to not to make the message so repetitive since many children's movies are. It really is a fun and calm, interactive movie to watch. I recommend this film for children ages 5 to 12 due to its childish, yet mature message and educational information. I also think parents would enjoy watching this along with their kids and they may even learn something new like I did. I rate this 5 out of 5 stars because of its merry Holiday spirit and interactive learning experiences. This DVD is available now so, go check it out.
By Imani Baptiste-Green, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15
About the Director: Antje Heyn (*1979 in Bergen auf R�gen) is a Berlin based animation director and illustrator. Her work is inspired by daily observations of urban living and culture as well as nature and animals. Besides setting her heart on creating characters and bringing them to life she teaches animation at art academys and is running the Protoplanet Studio.
Director's statement: The incredibly talented people that contributed to this production made this film a joy to create. This film aims to be appealing to a wide range of ages. So, no violence, no sex, no explosions! These apparent restrictions enabled the story to focus on the building of relationships between friends and the psychological challenge the protagonist is faced with. Certain philosophical matters that subtly deal with questions such as racism and the path to success will be easier to be picked up by the more mature members of the audience. In this film we also get to know Cyprus by seeing traditions in front of significant landmarks and by hearing Cypriot characters communicate in their native language.
When Canterlot High School goes on a field trip to Camp Everfree, they're surprised to find a magical force is causing strange things to happen. Twilight Sparkle , with the help of the Mane 6 and especially Sunset Shimmer (who refuses to give up on her), must confront the dark "Midnight Sparkle", within herself and embrace her newfound magical abilities to save the beloved camp from closing down for good!
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.
Reviewed by Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
I enjoyed watching this film. The storyline is engaging, the animation is stylized with bright colors and the characters have a bouncy feel when they move.
Twilight Sparkle (played by who?) and her friends go to a Summer Camp, when strange things start happening. I can't really say more because I don't want to give away the ending. I will admit the characters only have one personality trait, but they still manage to be entertaining. One of my favorite things about this movie is the character designs. If you ignore the unnatural skin and hair colors, Scott MacDonald makes characters that look really attractive and the clothes are outfits I actually want to wear.
The animation isn't the best, but I appreciate the effort and it has a unique style, so I give it a pass. My only complaint is that it feels like you have to watch the previous shows and previous movies to understand it since the characters reference past events. As someone who doesn't watch this show, I was often quite confused. However, that is only a slight problem, and it's not really the movie's fault.
I should also say that the composer of the original songs, Daniel Ingram, has created some really catchy tunes that managed to get stuck in my head. The voice actors are convincing, and obviously very invested in voicing their characters, even if I don't understand how Andrea Libman manages to make her voice that high for Pinkie Pie's voice.
I recommend this show for ages 8 to 13 and I can see some older kids and teens enjoying this too. Although, I wouldn't use this particular film as an introduction to the show. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Calista B. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13
This animated film seemed a bit slow at times and honestly, at first...I was thinking..."Wait! This whole film is simply about a bunch of kids trying to entertain themselves on Winter school break by having a major snowball fight." I was wondering how a film could be based around this whole concept. But, this film is packed with some very powerful life lessons and messages. The characters are entertaining and two of the main characters, Luke and Sophie were my favorites. They are the leaders of the opposing teams of the snowball fight. The beginning of the film starts out as a way to have fun during Winter break but this fun turns into a more serious not so fun war and there are sadly some consequences. But, this is when the characters learn about friendship and even more important...that when there is war....no one wins. This message came thru loud and clear and really left me saying "Wow! This film is so much more than kids having a major snowball fight to entertain themselves." I was actually speechless and impressed with how this meaningful message was portrayed through this film. I give this one 4 stars and highly recommend for ages 8 to18. Reviewed by Denise B., KIDS FIRST! Juror
I appreciate this film because I love how it shows a beautiful, snowy village and the kids in this village having fun in the snow. I also like the fort the kids make in this movie. I love the characters. They are silly, quirky and sometimes bashful. I also liked their appearance and how they are drawn. The jokes are also funny; this is another great film for kids. I really enjoyed the scenery too.
The moral theme in this film is an important one. Basically, there are no winners when it comes to war. The kids end up learning this lesson. Their friendly snowball fight soon takes an ugly turn which leads to some serious conflicts and a surprise. I think there are other life lessons in this film but that is the main one that stands out for me.
My favorite character is Nicky (voiced by Liz MacRae). When Nicky shares his ideas with his friends, they underestimate him and knock his ideas down. I love that he doesn't allow what they say to discourage him and he continues on his own and accomplishes his idea. I respect his persistence and how he collaborates so well with his friends. I enjoyed how he makes things and they turn out well. I appreciate his imagination. I can relate to him because people sometimes knock down some of my ideas too. But I continue to go forward with my ideas and prove them wrong.
I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars because the animation is great and it has an important message. I recommend this to kids ages 3 to 18. I think adults might like this as well. I also recommend this to people who like family, comedy, adventure and action movies. Snowtime! is available now on DVD so, go check it out.
Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12.
It is 90 degrees in Los Angeles California and 48 degrees in Colorado and it is winter for another month, with snow falling in other states. What is a group of kids to do over winter break? Have a snowball fight, of course. The group splits into two teams and away we go. The story line is great. We got a glimpse of the backstory of characters and learn what motivates them and makes them who they are.
I have two favorite characters. The first is Sophie voiced by Luchina Paris. She is the older sister and is always coming up with a plan to defeat the other team. My second is four eyes because of his crazy glasses. Many of the best parts of the movie are due to his ingenious inventions he makes to keep the fort in his team's control. They are creative and awesome. I would have picked his team just to see the inventions he made - slides, escape hatches, automated snowball throws and traps to keep the other team on their toes. The story line has a bit of a love story angle but seems to fizzle out and is not completed. If they make a part two I hope they continue this story line and leave it with a better conclusion.
The hardest part of having two teams is the fact that they are all really good friends. There are many moments when you see them struggle because they are fighting their friends. It is all in fun but still there is a goal, which is to take the fort from the other team
I loved the graphics and animation. It is believable and easy to watch. You forget the characters are animated and look at them as if they are real people. The fort, well let's say it is the most awesome snow castle ever and I would love to play in it.
Most children's movies are fun, cute and quirky and leave you feeling upbeat. This movie left me feeling sad. I loved the movie but I did not like the ending. No spoilers, but I wish they had added more to the ending of the movie. But, there is a message and everyone will get it. It is one, which we should all know.
I recommend this movie for ages 6 and up. Younger kids might not totally grasp the story line but they will love the graphics and a good snowball fight.
I give this movie 4 1/2 out of 5 shooting snowballs. This movie is brought to you by Shout! Factory and is available now on DVD so, go check it out.
Beauty and the Beast has many different genres, the main one being romance. Along with that is a sense of adventure and excitement. The film also has its share of exciting scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat almost the entire time, even if you saw it many times before.
It begins when Belle (Paige O'Hara), a young girl in a village, has to rescue her father from a big and scary Beast living in a dark castle. Belle then has to stay in the castle for the rest of her life to free her father. It turns out that the Beast is, in fact a prince, under a dark and magical curse. This curse makes him a horrible Beast and the only way to break it is to find a girl that will fall in love with him. The Beast and Belle start bonding and falling in love.
Beauty and the Beast is an extraordinary masterpiece for many of the reasons I mentioned, but what impresses me the most is the animation. Despite its now 25 years old and way before the first computer animation, there are scenes in the film where it incorporates 3D like effects and looks almost exactly like today's computer animation. To think that it was actually drawn by hand is spectacular and astonishing. On top of that, the voice over work is simply phenomenal, from singing to talking, each emotion and role is played ideally. Speaking of music, the songs in this animated classic are fantastically done from the beat to the lyrics, to the actual voiceover artists singing the songs, to very well-orchestrated scenes.
The DVD also comes with several very cool bonus features. The most exciting to me is the sneak peak of the 2017 live action version of Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. It shows the cast reading lines, some special effects and even several sets. If that is not enough to spark viewers' curiosity, there are also many facts about Beauty and the Beast as well as some footage of the actual recording booths where the original cast recorded their lines. I also enjoyed the part when it talks about how Walt Disney never really got to do this story, even though he wanted to, and thus in 1991, his creative team did it to honor his wishes.
My favorite scene is when Belle goes down to eat dinner in the castle for the first time. In this castle, all the servants are magically turned into utilities. Just to name a few, there are talking clocks, teapots, knives, a stove, wardrobes, candles and more. They all do a big musical number with the classic song, "Be my Guest", which sounds spectacular and the animated musical number has many parts that are just hysterical.
Despite some violent scenes, it is still perfect for kids. I recommend it for ages 5 to 18. Younger kids may find the Beast scary or may not enjoy the more intense scenes. I give Beauty and the Beast 5 out of 5 stars for absolutely phenomenal animation, an exciting and detailed story, beautiful songs and emotional voiceover work. Here's to another 25 years with a new generation!
This is the classic tale of a brave girl and a gigantic scary beast is coming to your home on DVD and Blue Ray and its available right now.
I am so happy that Disney is bringing this film back. The music is spectacular and makes you want to sing. Lucky for you there are three different versions - the original that was shown in theaters, a sing along so you can be in the film in your own special way and a special edition. How cool is that? Also included are many bonus features such as 25 fun facts about the film and a reading section so you can be there with the cast and the crew. There are interviews with the music team who created the music and many other interesting and fun things to watch on this home entertainment version.
As for the talent in this film. The voice-overs are superb and well suited for their roles. Belle (Paige O'Hara) is my favorite character. Belle is a daring, caring girl who wants more in life than the same thing over and over again. She dreams about having an adventure and her wish comes true when she gets a giant adventure of her own. The Beast (Robby Benson) is one scary, mean creature. You wonder if he will continue to lash out at people or change his ways. There are also the evil villains. Gaston (Richard White) is so vain that he loves himself more than anyone else. He is just a big bully who gets what he wants, when he wants it. Last, there are the amazing enchanted pieces of furniture and silverware - Lumiere (Jerry Orbach), the charming and handsome candle stick holder, Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers), the mean grouchy clock who wants to be boss and Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury) and Chip (Bradley Pierce) the adorable mother and son who are all too cute for words.
The animation is incredible and very detailed from the falling snow to the red rose, the dancing and the scenery. All are breath taking.
My favorite scene is when the furniture and silverware and all the other magical items in the castle fight the angry villagers to protect their home. I love this scene because not only it is original but it's very funny. I love all the unique and different ways the items fight off the villagers. It makes me laugh every time.
I recommend this film for ages 5 to 18. They will love the magic and the fun characters. Adults and older kids will love to see this film again or perhaps see it for the first time. There is just a bit of violence when Gaston has a perilous death and The Beast can be a bit too scary for really young children. This is a perfect Disney magical musical for the whole family. I give it 5 out of 5 enchanting red roses.
Reviewed by Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11.
This is an animated movie where the main character is a little boy named Pocoyo. There is also a silly duck named Pato who has crazy eyes, a pink elephant named Elly, a cute colorful dog named Loula and a little bird named Sleepy Bird. There is also a narrator with an English accent which I think is cool.
In the beginning, I thought Pocoyo was mean because he tries to scare his friends a lot. As the movie developed, I realized that Pocoyo is just a little boy who is learning how to treat others just like any other kid.
My favorite character is Pato because he is so silly and has crazy looking eyes, especially when he is scared. The movie is perfect for Halloween because there are monsters, silly Halloween dress ups and aliens, but it isn't too scary for younger kids. The characters do silly things that made me laugh but also made me think "where are the parents?" Then I remembered, it's just a movie and Pocoyo and his friends have great imaginations!
This movie is perfect for younger kids who will learn important lessons and learn to use their imagination - both of which are very important. I loved this show when it played on Nick Jr. when I was younger and I still love it now thanks to this movie. I watched the movie with my 3-year-old cousin and she loved it. She laughed the entire time and now this is her favorite show. I recommend this for kids ages 1 to 6. I think parents will like it too since it teaches kids important life lesson about how to treat others in a fun way. This is a perfect movie for families to watch together this Halloween. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars because I don't think the characters talk enough.
By Katlyn Martins, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween is an animated film about Nick and Sally who wait until the very last minute, Halloween Day, to get their costumes. The Cat (Martin Short) takes them on a journey full of excitement to find their Halloween costumes in the Oooky-ma-kooky Closet. They must travel through many spooky places to find this special closet. They trek through scary caves and an eerie tree forest. They encounter howlers, shockers and scary fandangles. They even find out The Cat doesn't like pumpkin patches.
The greatest feature of this film is its colorful animation. The visual appeal attracts viewers and pulls them in with fun, happy and cheerful characters. My favorite character is definitely The Cat. His optimism and imaginative ideas make you want to see where he's going to take the kids next. My favorite part of this film is when they get to go to the Oooky-ma-kooky Closet and try on various costumes as pirates, cowgirls and animals. The song that accompanies this scene, "What Will You Be?" stayed in my head for a long time afterwards. This is my favorite episode because I love playing dress up and this scene is right up my alley.
I give this film 4 out of 5 stars because the film is great, but not for my age range. I recommend this film for children ages 3 to 7 because of the youngish scenarios. It's a feel-good movie that will give young viewers a fun friendly Halloween movie that's not too scary. It is available on DVD now so go check it out.
Reviewed by Linda D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
Room on the Broom is about a witch and her cat who go on a trip and the witch drops something from her broom. She flies down to get it but a wild animal finds it. When they give it back, they ask if they can come with her. Meanwhile, a scary monster chases them but they are unaware. This happens three times and soon there are so many creatures on the broom that it becomes too heavy.
I like the animation because of its detail. The expressions of the characters are very amusing and made me laugh. I also enjoyed the music because it sets the mood for each scene. My favorite part of the film is when the monster captures the witch and it seems like she's doomed. I like this part because it is a twist on the rest of the film. This part is also the scariest part for younger kids so, be forewarned. I like this scene because it is action packed and suspenseful.
The stellar cast includes Simon Pegg as the narrator. Gillian Anderson does the witch's voice. The four animals are played by Rob Brydon, Martin Clunes, Sally Hawkins and David Walliams.
The moral of this film is to be kind and make friends and it talks about the importance of friendship. If parents have their children read the book along with the narrator, it becomes a more educational experience.
Room on the Broom is a great film. I give it four and a half out of five stars because it is a fun film for younger children. I recommend it for ages 2 to 8 and I think parents will enjoy watching it with their younger kids. This is a perfect Halloween film for younger kids.
Reviewed by Rohan D. Foxe, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11
I enjoyed watching this movie because I love the music. If you didn't know, this movie is a musical. It is fantastic! I love how they turn well-known songs into their own new version of the song by changing the arrangement. Another reason why I love this movie is because of its cast. The cast's chemistry is evident as you watch the interaction between the characters throughout the film. Anna Kendrick's and Justin Timberlake's performances are fantastic because they take you on an emotional journey and make you feel it. I love how Justin Timberlake's character goes through changes throughout the film and Anna Kendrick's character Poppy is hilarious. She made me laugh a lot.
The supporting cast members are superb as well and their characters, in some scenes, steal the show. For instance, Biggie (James Corden) is so hilarious in one scene, but I can't say which one because it would spoil the movie. Also the performances of Gwen Stefani, Russell Brand, Zooey Deschanel and many others will have you laughing as they deliver a bunch of jokes as well.
This film is amazing and has a positive message - "You don't need things or people to be happy. Your happiness lies within yourself and you should be proud of who you are."
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to kids ages 6 to 18. I think adults may like this as well. The Bergens may be a bit scary looking so kids under age 6 might find it too intense. I also recommend this to people who like action, adventure, musicals and family movies. This film comes out November 4, 2016 in theaters nationwide. Make sure to see this movie, because it is worth seeing.
Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
This is a terrific film. The small, adorable and fun Troll dolls are making a comeback in the new feature film Trolls. The cutest ever Trolls play opposite the pessimistic Bergens. These are fun, energetic characters as well as grumpy characters who blend together to make this film perfectly engaging. There are also stupendous songs that make you just get up and out of your seat, singing and dancing.
The animation is very vivid, extraordinarily colorful and detailed which is perfect for the little ones who will love the colors and the fun characters in this film. The way everything so detailed, realistic and whimsical makes this film really stand out in a way that appeals to both kids and adults.
The cast is brilliant especially Poppy (Anna Kendrick) who is the happiest, kindest, sweetest troll of them all. She always see the bright side of things and reminds me of myself when I was younger. Maybe that's why she is my favorite character. Plus, Poppy is an amazing singer just like Branch (Justin Timberlake).
Branch the grumpy, sad troll is also very sarcastic and funny. He is a favorite because of how his smart remarks add a lot of humor to this film. Justin Timberlake, who I recently met, is nothing like his character in real life. He is an absolute sweet heart in person. I got to talk with him recently on the rainbow carpet for Trolls and learned that he loves to sing and dance and he had a splendid time working on this film. He is also the executive music producer for this movie.
Bridget (Zooey Deschanel) is an unhappy scullery maid who is in love with someone. She needs a little help to get him to notice her and hence, the matchmaking begins. Last, there is Chef (Christine Baranski), the villain we all love to hate. She is crazy and frightful. She likes to eat trolls and that keeps the story interesting and intriguing for older kids.
My favorite scene is when Poppy is singing a fun song called "Get Back up Again" while she is almost eaten, stepped on and everything painful and horrible happens. I love this scene because it made me laugh so hard. It makes you want to get out of your seat and sing along with her. I also love the way that she gets back up no matter what, thinks positive and tries her best to help everyone, no matter what happens to her along the way.
I recommend this film for ages 5 to 18 because younger kids will love the fun songs, colorful animation and the silly adorable characters and older kids will love the scary villain and the story line. This is a feel good family friendly movie that parents will enjoy as well. I give this film 5 out of 5 rainbow troll stars. Be sure to check my interviews on the rainbow carpet where you can meet actors who play these characters and learn more secrets. This film comes out November 4 in theaters nationwide so, go check it out.
Finding Dory follows one year after the events of Finding Nemo. Nemo, (Hayden Rolence), Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) are all back in the coral reef, living happily. However, everything changes when Dory gets a memory about her past and her family. They all then go on a quest to the far away coast of California to find Dory's parents. On the search for her parents they meet new friends and see old friends. Many events lead up to one main event. Do they find Dory's parents or not? If you want to find out, you have to watch the film.
As much as I enjoyed this sequel, I was disappointed as it felt like Finding Dory made some of the same mistakes that Star Wars: The Force Awakens made. Both were massively hyped films to continue a successful franchise. Both movies seemed to repeat a lot of the story line from the previous film. The events in Finding Dory are almost exactly like the events of Finding Nemo. This makes it very boring and quite predictable for people who saw the first film. On top of that, Finding Nemo is a fantasy but is done much more true to science. Some of the moments in Finding Dory feel forced even for a fairy tale. On top of that, the jokes in Finding Dory are somewhat repetitive, lack originality and, only a few times, are actually funny. What is especially enjoyable are the scenes with Ty Burrell's voicing the Beluga character. The first film was a complete success in its comedy. You could see Finding Nemo twenty times and still laugh. With Finding Dory, I'm not sure someone would watch it multiple times.
However, there is one thing I really adore about this film - the cast. Since it's been thirteen years after Finding Nemo, the quality of the voice acting was a big question. But after watching the film, I can say it feels like it was made directly after Finding Nemo in 2003. What is most impressive - Hayden Rolence who voices Nemo. Of course, since it's been thirteen years, the actor who voiced Nemo can no longer do the same voice so they had to find a new kid. Hayden is stupendous in this role and I could not notice a difference between the two.
My favorite scene is when they introduce my new favorite character, Hank (Ed O'Neill), an octopus. Hank finds Dory and agrees to take her to where they think her parents are in return for something that Hank needs. This scene is hilarious and the dialog between the octopus and Dory is delightful.
Finding Dory is meant for kids and thus, has nothing parents should be worried about. Because of a few action scenes, I recommend it to ages 4 through 18. I give it 4 out of 5 stars because the story is so similar to the original and seems rushed and even a bit boring at times. But the voice acting and amazing animation by Pixar makes it all worth the wait.
Reviewed by Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14.
I love the new Disney / Pixar film, Finding Dory which is the sequel to Finding Nemo. Fans of Finding Nemo will absolutely love this sequel. The animation is amazing, the humor 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 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?"
This film's humor is so hilarious, I laughed my pants off and that's why I love it so much. Some of the jokes are also funny for adults, which I also liked. I love the animation because Pixar makes the sea life in this film look so realistic and the colors are so rich and vivid. The characters are adorable, kid-friendly and nice. Pixar has done it again. They made me feel all kinds of emotions - happiness, fear and sadness, just to name a few. I love the film from beginning to end. It is really fantastic.
Ellen DeGeneres is child-like and goofy. Her portrayal of Dory really excels. However, my favorite character is Hank, the octopus (voiced by Ed O'Neil) who gives an outstanding performance). He can camouflage into anything. I love how he has that ability. I also like how he makes so many hilarious jokes. He assists Dory on her adventure to find her family so he can leave the Marine Life Institute and go to Cleveland. We see how Hank's personality slowly changes throughout this film because of Dory. I just love how Dory grows on him and how he helps her no matter what.
Also, I noticed that all the characters in this film have some type of disability in some way or another and all of them learn to overcome it. That is a very important message in this film.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to kids ages 4 to 18. You should be aware that there is one short scene that involves an octopus that may scare some children but it is very brief. I also recommend this film to people who like children, family and action movies. And, I think that adults will enjoy this. Make sure to see this film when it opens Friday June 17.
Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12.
The anticipated sequel Finding Dory is adorable and fun, but not a match for the original. It's a brilliant and enjoyable movie on its own. The only problem is the bar was set in Finding Nemo. Basically, it is fun, but nowhere near as compelling as Finding Nemo. Considering the amount of time that has passed since the first one, they did everything they could to keep things consistent with the original which is a big plus.
The film focuses on the forgetful, yet friendly blue fish Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) and her journey to find her family. The plot is connected with a series of flashbacks from Dory's childhood and in bursts of random memories which is different and unexpected. I really like how they connected scenes and referred to experiences from the first film and I love that they even have many appearances from the original characters.
The film provides outstanding humor as Pixar always does, giving people of all ages unforgettable enjoyment. I was extremely relieved to see the same style of animation and camera work in the second film because I feared that, after all these years, they would try to advance the details and tweak the animation. However, it is safe to say the film resembles the first and the consistency is very comforting.
In comparison to the other sequels Pixar and Disney have created, Finding Dory is very impressive. The movie can be a bit of a let down if one's mindset is on the expectations from the first one, but it is a fun adventure on its own.
I was concerned whether Dory could successfully carry the role of a main character since she had previously played a supporting role, but she carried it out well. The supporting cast really stands out and brings the comedy to life and their pleasant personalities bring a fun element to the film.
One of the best aspects of this film is the focus on character development rather than the fun journey. Pixar provides more than just comedy and entertainment for the kids. The film contains thoughtful messages and shines a light on mental disabilities.
While the film is not as good as you expect it, it is not as bad as you feared. The film is definitely worth watching. I recommend it for ages 5 to 18. People who saw the first film will particularly enjoy it. Otherwise it might be difficult to fully understand. I give this film a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Check it out when it opens in theaters June 17th.
Reviewed by Harmony M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16.
The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking, showing beautiful landscapes of Mongolia and astonishing nature scenes. The movie is a team collaboration with the participation of various producers, executive producers and an excellent director, Otto Bell. Although the production crew was small, they made quite a striking film. This is Otto Bell's first true story documentary which is impressive because the quality of the production is remarkable. The collaboration of the various producers helped make the film possible. The narrator is Star War's Daisy Ridley which sweet narration can help young kids understand and follow the story.
Otto Bell found out about Aisholpan and her remarkable story from a BBC segment and decided to make a film about the story. All the characters are real, so there aren't any characters. My favorite personage is Aisholpan because she is confident in herself and goes through many challenges. My favorite scene is when Aisholpan wins a contest. It is such an inspiring moment! Another great scene is when Aisholpan catches an eagle because it shows her fearlessness and how accomplished and brave she is.
The message of the film is to follow your dreams and to preserve family traditions. This movie is very moving and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this to ages 5 to 18. This movie opens in New York and Los Angeles on November 2 and nationwide on December 23, 2016. Go check it out if you are up for a real life adventure with a girl heroine.
Reviewed by Carla Paz, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12
Dino Dan: The Wonderful Wizard of Dinoz is a short film about Trek Henderson having a vivid dream that seems familiar to the story The Wizard of Oz except, of course, there are dinosaurs in it. Trek, a junior dinosaur expert just loves dinosaurs and everything in his life is comprised of the prehistoric creatures. His room is filled with dinosaur inspired posters, clothing, bedding and toys. So, it probably made sense for him to dream about them after his mom read him a bedtime story in preparation for his big trip to the Dino Museum the next day. There are three additional tales included on this DVD that are about a school musical about dinosaurs and overcoming stage fright, having night vision to seek out a veggie thieving dinosaur and a great battle between two of the largest known dinosaurs.
The greatest feature of this DVD is the education you get in learning all about the different types of dinosaurs there are. It's not only about the T-Rex and Triceratops. There are over 600 species such as the Troodon and Albertosaurus. The bright colors are visually appealing. They enhance the story and help viewers in learning about these amazing creatures.
My favorite character is Trek. His knowledge and passion for dinosaurs is very inspiring. My favorite part is when Trek arrives at the Land Of Dinoz and his new friends, the Scare-Troodon (Penelope), the Tin-Dromaeosaurus (Bobby) and the Cowardly Stygimoloch (Hannah) realize they each have the power of courage, wisdom and caring within them, just like Dorothy and her friends did in the Wizard of Oz.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars because it is family friendly, informative, humorous and a great mix of live action and CGI animation. You also get a bonus of three other mini stories packed in the adventurous 60 minutes. I recommend this DVD for children ages 4 to 7 since this is usually the age the fascination for dinosaurs occurs and they will want to learn more. This film is available on DVD now, so make sure to go check it out.
Reviewed by Linda D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12
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