Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids Archives - Page 3 of 4

Maya The Bee

Maya the Bee features a spunky young bee, Maya, who won’t follow the rules of the hive. This is a lovely animated film, devoid of violence or other scary stuff, that you can safely share with your younger family members. It’s an engaging tale of adventure and friendship that teaches some poignant lessons about trust and honesty. The first version of this story was made in 1925 in Germany using micro-photography of real insects to tell the story. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Brooke S. comments, “Maya the Bee is a very funny movie. I laughed during many scenes and I also cried during a few scenes. I love the movie because the characters are funny and it teaches great lessons throughout the film.” Video review: https://youtu.be/BzDjUqX6hls Maya the Bee is an incredible animated film, written by Fin Edquist and Marcus Sauermann, directed by Alexs Stadermann. This is a very funny movie. I laughed during many scenes and I also cried during a few scenes. I love the movie because the characters are funny and it teaches great lessons throughout the film. The movie takes place in a bee hive located in a colorful meadow full of beautiful flowers. In the meadow, there are many different types of bugs. Inside of the bee hive, there are lots of worker bees. All of the bees have different jobs and the jobs are assigned by the royal advisor, Buzzlina (Jacki Weaver). For instance, one of the jobs is picking up pollen. Another job is watching the adorable little baby bees. This is also where Maya (Coco Jack Gillies) stays until spring. Maya wants to be independent and explore the hive. She does not like staying with the babies, so she sneaks out when she has the first opportunity. When Maya sneaks out, she causes a lot of chaos within the hive because she is very young and does not know what she is doing. She takes you on a fun and exciting adventure. The movie is well written. Alexs Stadermann draws out remarkable performances from the voice actors and brings out the best in each character. I love how Coco Jack Gillies expresses Maya’s feelings. Jacki Weaver makes the royal advisor, Buzzlina, seem so real. My favorite scene is when Willy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and Maya meet. They seem to like each other from the very beginning. Another favorite part is when there is a battle between the bees and another group of bugs. My least favorite part of the film is when something horrible happens to Maya and she finds out a secret about the queen. The message of the story is, everyone has a role to play in life. It takes everyone working as a team to get the job done. The movie is fun, fabulous and family-friendly. I recommend it for ages 4 to 18 as well as adults. I give this movie 5 out of 5 gold stars.

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

Paddington

Paddington is a British film based on the book A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond. This movie is about a young bear from Peru and his crazy adventures in London, England. The movie shows how one family learns to love and accept Paddington as their own. By Kamren W., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 8. Video review: https://youtu.be/1kyHJMPeUSY This film stars Tim Downie as Montgomery Clyde, Ben Wishaw as Paddington, Hugh Bonneville as Henry Brown Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown, Nicole Kidman as Millicent (Montgomery’s daughter). All of the actors and actresses have British accents, even Nicole Kidman who is Australian. This to me, makes the film seem more authentic. This movie is hilarious and heartwarming. Paddington has so many good parts it is hard to choose just one. One of my favorite scenes is when Paddington is in the bathroom and he mistakenly floods it. This is my favorite because it shows how curious Paddington is. The part that I disliked is when the explorer’s daughter (Nicole Kidman) wants to do something mean to Paddington. The visual effects don’t look real but they are exciting. I like the realness of Paddington the bear. The visual effects team, Framestore does a fine job in making this bear warm and cuddly from his wet nose to his flowing fur. I love that Paul King (Director) stays true to Michael Bond’s original story. Paddington contains a hidden message about being caring and working together, without having too much drama. This movie is rated PG for mild language. I did not understand some of the British wording, so I recommend this film to kids ages 6 to 18. This is a great film for the whole family to enjoy together. Younger kids will enjoy the many adventures Paddington experiences and older kids and adults will appreciate the entire story. The film proves that a family feature does not have to be too silly or mean. This is a total feel-good movie. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. The DVD/Blu-ray has a few bonus features which show how the movie was made, gives you insight into the characters and more.

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

The Sound of Music

The Most Beloved Family Film of All Time Turns 50! KIDS FIRST! Critic Clayton P. couldn’t have phrased it better: “Some might think Frozen is an amazing movie musical, but Rodger and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music is a million times better!” Video review: https://youtu.be/rPhSh9VDDPY The 50th Anniversary Edition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music is a must-have for every family. This 5-disc DVD set includes the movie in HD and standard definition, a new 60 minute documentary called The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg and lots of other special features. The Sound of Music is the best family film of all time because it brings everyone together with its great, true-life story of the Von Trapp family. The songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein are all wonderful and unforgettable. Each song is a masterpiece. The quality of the songwriting just cannot be compared with anything else. The Sound of Music stars Julie Andrews as Maria, a young Austrian woman who is training to be a nun at a monastery. Christopher Plummer stars as Captain Von Trapp, a wealthy Austrian naval captain who hires Maria as governess to his seven children. Directed by Robert Wise, it won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The Sound of Music is appropriate for all ages. The documentary, The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg is appropriate for those ages 10 to 18. I rate this new DVD set 5 out of 5 stars.

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

ALEXANDER and the Terrible, Horrible, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY!

This movie is an amazing, laugh-filled experience for the whole family. This Disney movie is based on the book written by Judith Viorst, directed by Miguel Arteta and stars Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner and Ed Oxenbould as Alexander. Alexander is a boy who has endless bad days. After a particularly bad day, he is feeling like the rest of his family never has any bad days, so he makes a birthday wish that they will all have a no good, very bad day. He wants them to feel what he feels, so that they might understand him. My favorite scene is when Alexander’s sister, who is starring as Peter Pan in her school play, wakes up with a cold and then drinks way too much cough syrup. The result of this over-medication happens on stage and is hilarious. Parents should know that there is some rude humor, with a bit of bad language and reckless behavior. But, this film is brought to you by Disney, so you can be pretty certain that is appropriate for the whole family. I loved ‘Alexander’s Very-Good Bonus Content,’ which is available on the Blu-Ray version of the film. It includes the very funny blooper reel and outtakes as well as a behind-the-scenes adventure filmed by Alexander, himself. I recommend this film for ages 5 to 18, as well as parents. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars for brilliant acting and a hilarious story. Be sure to check out this great, fun family film on Blu-Ray and DVD. It is available in stores and available for digital downloads now. This is Katie G. reporting for KIDS FIRST!

Kids

Paddington

Paddington is a great adventure, with lots of twists and turns. This film is playful, comedic and enjoyable and definitely a great film for friends and family. Paddington (Ben Whishaw, voice) is a rare breed of bear that travels all alone to London. He wants to find a home after his is destroyed. While there, he discovers that it’s not what he expects, but finds a family that’s willing to take him in and look after him for just a little while. This is when everyone’s adventure begins. Paddington is so outgoing and adorable. You can’t help but love this bear. He has an innocent way about him, but still is a little mischievous and gets into trouble. The visual effects and fur look very real and life-like. Nicole Kidman’s character (Millicent) is very determined to add Paddington to her collection of stuffed animals. She will stop at nothing to get him. She’s fierce, frightening and intimidating. I love the story line, humor and definitely the action. I liked that the climax of this film is very unpredictable and shocks the audience. My favorite character would have to be Paddington. He truly thinks of the wellbeing of others, and his curiosity is adorable. He reminds you of a child learning new things. A scene that I would call my favorite is when Paddington tries to return a wallet to a man that dropped it out of his pocket while walking out of an antique shop. Paddington chases him, trying to get the wallet to him. Finally, he catches up with the man by falling on him from the air. When he falls on the man, they both tumble down and about 30 wallets fall out of the man’s coat. Paddington catches a pickpocket and ends up in the paper on his first day in London. It’s a very comical scene that makes the audience crack up. One of the messages of this film is that families are not made up just by the people who are related to us, but friends and even animals can be a part of our family. I recommend Paddington for ages 8 to 16. However, it’s great for the whole family and anyone who loves bears. It’s rated PG, and there’s nothing really you would need to look out for. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a great film that makes you feel good, so please check it out. Video review here: http://youtu.be/wo4A3uyYKyc

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

Into The Woods

Into The Woods is a lively tale that tells the story of some of the most well-known Grimm Brothers fairy tales, but with an unexpected twist. In the film we see the stories “The Baker and his Wife,” “Cinderella,” “Rapunzel,” “Red Riding Hood” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” All of their lives intertwine, and it makes for a wild journey full of song, humor, heartbreak and wonderful lessons. Into The Woods captures the feel of seeing a musical live, with the over-the-top theatrics and set design. It translates so well to the screen and allows the audience to fully immerse itself into this incredible story. The costumes and locations for this film are beautiful, and the music is excellent. I caught myself singing along with the movie more than once. Something that I love about this film is that it isn’t the “classic” Disney version of these fairy tales that most of us grew up with. It goes back to the authentic stories from the Grimm Brothers themselves, with the obvious twist here and there. In this film, the bad stuff that tends to be cut out of modern fairy tales actually happens. For example, Cinderella’s stepsisters cut off bits of their feet to fit into the golden slipper, Rapunzel’s prince is blinded by blackberry thorns and there are no fairy godmothers. Rest assured, all of these misfortunes are done in very humorous ways. I also love that it takes all of these different fables and weaves them together so that everyone has a part in each other’s story. The final thing that really makes Into The Woods stand apart from other fairy tales is that not everyone gets a happy ending. You have to work with what you’re given and make the best of the situation. The entire cast is wonderful and so talented. Meryl Streep plays The Witch; Anna Kendrick plays Cinderella; Emily Blunt, The Baker’s Wife; Johnny Depp, The Wolf and Chris Pine, Cinderella’s Prince. Every character has a solo, and I’m so impressed with all of these actors’ amazing voices. I had no idea they could sing. This film brings in names and faces that are very recognizable and also incorporates actors that most of us have probably never seen. So, it’s a really nice mix of people that make up this cast. My favorite scene is when the two Princes sing “Agony.” It is the most hilarious scene in the film, and I laughed so hard, I cried. Prince Charming and his brother are lamenting over their princesses, Cinderella and Rapunzel, and it is the cheesiest, funniest thing I have seen in a long time. The Princes are the most melodramatic people, making everything a big deal, and this song highlights just how over-the-top they are. The entire audience was cracking up, and after the film was over, I could not stop singing “Agony.”

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

Hunger Games: Mockingjay

A Sure Hit With Teens and Tweens. The latest installment of The Hunger Games trilogy, based on the best-selling books by Suzanne Collins, was released to an eager youth adult crowd. With the Games now destroyed and in pieces, Katniss Everdeen, along with Gale, Finnick and Beetee, now end up in the so-thought “destroyed” District 13. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her friends, Katniss becomes the “Mockingjay” and the symbol of rebellion for the people. KIDS FIRST! Critics Brianna B. comments, “I completely love this film and the overall production. It’s intense and has such a grand feel to it. With scene after scene, it gets bigger and bigger, and you see just how powerful one voice can be.” See her full review below. Watch here http://youtu.be/T-bE_40fOcg. This epic story continues with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), who both play a big part in the lives of District 13’ers, each in his or her own way. They want to unite and save an entire nation. In order to do this, they need the help of their friends and new alliances. I completely love this film and the overall production. It’s intense and has such a grand feel to it. With scene after scene, it gets bigger and bigger, and you see just how powerful one voice can be. The aerial shots, emotions, excitement and anticipation of what’s happening next basically keep your eyes glued to the screen. I’ve read all the books, and this adaption is very true to the original stories. Jennifer Lawrence’s performance is incredible. She becomes her character completely, with a range of emotions –– anger, doubt, disbelief and feeling sorry. She is so convincing. My favorite character is Peeta. Although he is not on screen as much as the other characters, he plays a big part in the film. Peeta is what drives Katniss throughout the film as she struggles to get to him. Almost everything she does is a result of her wanting to save Peeta. I also like Peeta because, every time he is on screen, he seems to change and intensify the situation. My favorite scene is when Katniss sees Peeta for the very first time. She is shocked and, at the same time, grateful that he is alive. It is nice to see all of the questions that go though her mind through her own eyes. Katniss’ eyes reveal how she feels about Peeta. I recommend this film for ages 13 to 18, and I give it 4 out of 5 stars. It is a little slow in the beginning, but I understand why. They have to bring you up to speed with what happened in the previous film. I cannot wait to see Part Two!

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

Big Hero 6

The movie Big Hero 6 is adorable, funny, and downright enjoyable. The movie is about a young, intelligent, robotics fanatic named Hiro Hamada, voiced by Ryan Potter, who spends his days hustling adults in “bot fights” until his brother, Tadashi, voiced by Daniel Henney, introduces him to his college and friends. Hiro then spends his days trying to get accepted into his brother’s school to apply his knowledge of robotics to a greater cause. Hiro later develops a loveable bond between himself and an inflatable robot named Baymax, voiced by Scott Adsit. After Hiro encounters a dangerous force that threatens his future and safety of the city, he turns to Baymax and his friends to make a heroic group called “Big Hero 6” to fight evil. The movie takes us through an action-packed adventure that provides laughter, tears, tension and relief. The unpredictable plot makes the movie very exciting and hilarious. The movie is funny within the first few minutes, which is really delightful because it avoids a slow beginning. Even though this movie is about superheroes fighting evil with intense superhero gear, it does not follow the typical superhero expectations because the heroes handle situations differently than expected. The movie provides realism and surprisingly does not sugar coat certain scenarios. There are certain times where one would think, wow, I’m surprised Disney did that, but that surprise is good because it makes the movie stand out from the rest in a new and different way. The characters are so lovable, especially Baymax, an adorable robot whose only purpose is to make others feel better. Because of this, it is easy for the audience to get attached to the characters and engage with the movie emotionally. The movie is phenomenal and appeals to adults as much as children, which is a very special aspect. Not only does Big Hero 6 have clever dialogue, great special effects, lovable characters and nice music, but it also pays attention to little details and messages about education and friendship that contribute to an amazing movie as a whole. I will definitely watch this movie multiple times and recommend it ages 5 to 18.

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon

Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon –– Classic Cartoon Humor with a Sprinkle of Thrills Your favorite cat and mouse are back with song, sorcery and slapstick in this enchanted tale. The adventure begins when Tom and Jerry happen upon a mysterious glowing egg. Little do they know, this egg was stolen from a very large fire-breathing dragon! In a short time, baby Puffy hatches from his egg and chooses Tom as his mommy. The angry mama dragon wants her baby, but she’s not the only one –– a powerful witch named Drizelda captures the baby dragon for her own wicked plans! With the help of powerful allies and animal friends, Tom and Jerry fight tooth and claw to stop the witch and get the baby dragon back to his mother. The action takes flight in a climactic ending filled with might, magic and cartoon mayhem, of course! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “This is a story with a lot packed in it –– adventure to start with, covered in Tom and Jerry classic humor, with a sprinkle of thrills and all topped with family wrapped in one huge delicious story sandwich.” This is a classic Tom and Jerry film with all the goodness included! I thought Tom and Jerry would find a lost dragon in their normal house, but no! Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon is a hilarious family friendly adventure with a lot of unexpected turns. This is a story with a lot packed in it –– adventure to start with, covered in Tom and Jerry classic humor, with a sprinkle of thrilling and all topped with family wrapped in one huge delicious story sandwich. The story begins with a girl who owns an animal-care shop, but it is going out of business. Then, they find a dragon egg, and a whole bunch of stuff happens, including the girl facing her evil Aunty Witch! Of course, the girl’s two little helpers are a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry! What a fantastic Tom and Jerry film! This has everything right about it. Tom and Jerry don’t talk, but imitate talking. The slapstick humor makes you crack up throughout the entire film and much, much more! They cover all of it! The voices of the talking characters are fantastic, and they also make it so that Tom and Jerry are very close to main characters but are not in every scene. I like this because it lets the story develop much more smoothly and takes it much further. My favorite scene is probably in the very beginning when Jerry is awake and running around doing chores while Tom is lazily chilling on his pillow, not doing anything –– the classic Tom and Jerry scene. As usual, Jerry gets upset and teaches Tom a lesson. I love it because it’s such a classic moment for these favorite characters. This film is extremely family friendly. Even kids who don’t understand the characters will enjoy the bright colors, so a good age rating is 4 to18. I also give it 5 out of 5 stars for just an overall fantastic Tom and Jerry adventure.

Kids

The Giver

Based on Lois Lowry’s book, this highly anticipated film tells the story of a perfect world where everyone is happy. When Jonas is 12-years-old, he’s chosen to be the community’s Receiver of Memories, where he learns about pain, sadness, war and all the unhappy truths of the “real” world. He quickly realizes that his community is fake and faces difficult choices about his own life and his future. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Willie J. comments, “This film is really quite an achievement. To take such a loved and popular book, with tons of deep ideas and themes, and execute it as a film as wonderfully as Director Philip Noyce and company do, is great.” Samantha A. adds, “This movie is very captivating. I had my eyes glued to the screen the whole time, not wanting to miss a second of the story.” Willie J., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15 Full of pretense, theories on life and enough ideas to cause you to rethink your own ideas, The Giver is an intense film about the effects of accepting the good and bad memories of life. Being a huge Meryl Streep fan (Chief Elder), I was very excited to see her performance, and I was not disappointed. Jeff Bridges’ (The Giver) performance gives this film a veteran presence that adds to the wisdom their characters possess. As for Brenton Thwaites (Jonas) and Odeya Rush (Fiona), their performances show great promise for their careers. Their youth and lack of experience add a sense of naïveté to their characters that beautifully contradicts with the characters played by both Streep and Bridges. I find the script a bit pretentious but necessarily so. The premise itself is very complex but suitable for the subject matter. What could have been 90 minutes of melodrama turns into brilliant and intelligent conversations, thanks to the skills of the ensemble. I give an Oscar nod for both Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges. There is a scene towards the end of the film where The Giver and Chief Elder debate on the pros and cons of memories and allowing people to make decisions. That is one of the very best acted scenes I’ve seen this year. The dialogue is so poetic that we’re drawn into the fantasy instead of repulsed by its theatrical nature. My favorite part of the film, second to Meryl’s performance, is the beautiful cinematography by Ross Emery. Mr. Emery and Editor Barry Alexander Brown really come together wonderfully to create awesome moments of visual storytelling. The mixture of black and white with color, and the short shots of real life events give this film a certain vivacity the book is unable to give. This film is really quite an achievement. To take such a loved and popular book, with tons of deep ideas and themes, and execute as a film as wonderfully as Director Philip Noyce and company do, is great. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and really hope you see it. It opens theatrically on August 15. Due to the mature themes and ideas, I recommend this film for ages 14 to 18.

Category - Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

Maya The Bee

Paddington

The Sound of Music

ALEXANDER and the Terrible, Horrible, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY!

Paddington

Into The Woods

Hunger Games: Mockingjay

Big Hero 6

Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon

The Giver

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