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An Elephant Living in the House. How the Skunk Got it's Stripe and Stink. Reading out loud to your children is a critical step in teaching your child to read , but it has a wonderful hidden benefit as well. When you take the time to read to your children you are taking time with them, with no distractions, no cell phone, no computer, no TV.
You are showing them that they are an important priority for you. They will love that special time with you, no matter their age. If you aren't a great reader, it's okay-just sit and listen to these short stories online with your child and talk about the stories together. As you take the time to read short stories online to and with your child, be aware of any areas they may be struggling with.
If they are struggling to read or sound out words, you will want to pay attention to those things. They might need glasses as I did in kindergarten , they may have hearing difficulties, or a learning disability such as dyslexia. If your child is struggling, this is the age to get them help, don't panic, just be aware. If your child is struggling to learn how to read or you suspect a reading or learning disability, we recommend checking out Learing Disabilities Reading Tutor online, it's a wonderful resource to start with.
Take the guesswork out of finding age appropriate books and stories! Usborne Reading Program includes books that are graded in seven levels. Each level has a gradual progression in terms of subject, style, narrative length, sentence structure and vocabulary. It also includes a very helpful Parent and Teacher Guide that helps you know what level to begin with.
Books by Beatrix Potter. Where the Sidewalk Ends. Download Our Free Gift. Read this free e-course and learn how we built this website and how we are making money from it everyday! If this stay-at-home mom can do it, so can you! The costumes are beautiful and the art direction and production design deserve an Oscar nomination. The message of this movie is about embracing your own courage and discovering yourself.
I think this is very important for kids to learn and understand the answer to so many questions. So many times we underestimate the power we have to make the world a better place. I give this film 5 of 5 stars and recommended it for ages 4 to To learn more about the us, visit storypirates. The imagination is brilliant throughout this project and the performances are impeccable.
Each song is based on a different child's original story so each structure is unique to that particular content. You know you're in for a ride when the opening song is "Fart Out Loud Day," written by two sisters from Colorado. These are well produced arrangements and performances that are absolutely creatively stimulating for young minds.
They are smart songs with a child's sensibility where imagination rules the day and written stories can blossom into something very special. The performances and production are first-rate across the board! Sharing observations and fun, silly ideas with peers can build positive social interaction. I would hope this concept would encourage a child to write down their own stories and observations. This would be a fun activity for the classroom. The hits keep coming and the smiles are plenty, so find your way to this gleaming pot of gold because Nothing Is Impossible!
I give this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 5 to It is well produced, entertaining and fun. These tunes are funny, addicting and creative. Kids and parents alike will love this music. Even as a teenager, I found this album really funny and musically impressive. I really enjoyed listening to each song and felt that I was listening to music that I could show my kids in years to come. Nothing is Impossible features songs written and sung by the creators of the hit Story Pirates Podcast. It's based entirely on stories written by young children.
The influences for these stories include six-year-old Leah from Maryland's story about being in the car hence the title "In the Car" , a comic made by eleven-year-old Peer from California "The Guy" and ten-year-old Alex from New York's story about a talking carrot "Fred the Carrot".
One story that really caught my eye was four-year-old Ethan's from New Jersey. Ethan has heterotaxy, so he has a special heart and battery. He said the reason behind writing his story was that he would "love to run and catch a seagull, but I can't even jump that high so I wrote a story about it. It is really heartwarming to listen to that song and read Ethan's artist statement.
Nothing is Impossible is really an awesome album. Some of these song lyrics are really creative, as are the concepts. It's hard to believe that young kids came up with these ideas. The songs promote self-love and positive messages for young kids, such as believing in yourself and being confident and proud. The concept of this collection is an original one. I've never heard of anyone basing songs off of kids' ideas. Kids can be smarter than grown-ups sometimes, so it is really interesting to see all of these cool concepts played out in song form.
I recommend Nothing is Impossible for kids ages 2 to 10 and give it 5 out of 5 stars, because of its creativity and humor. This CD is a fun and entertaining way for young children to enjoy music and life. Thanks to its positivity, it may also boost their spirits and confidence. I really enjoyed this CD and I think younger kids will enjoy it even more. Reviewed by Ella L. Seuss' beloved holiday classic. The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl's generous holiday spirit.
Funny, heartwarming, and visually stunning, it's a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism. Crumpet with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. With a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs, the Grinch only sees his neighbors in Whoville when he runs out of food. Each year at Christmas they disrupt his tranquil solitude with their increasingly bigger, brighter, and louder celebrations.
When the Whos declare they are going to make Christmas three times bigger this year, the Grinch This film is based on the famous Dr. Seuss book about the Grinch who hates Christmas so much. He tries to spoil it for everyone in the very Christmassy town he lives in, Whoville. Meanwhile, a small Who child tries to catch Santa, so she can talk to him about something very important that she wants for Christmas.
The Grinch is an orphan and never had a family Christmas. He used to sit at his window watching all the Whos playing and celebrating outside. This made him hate Christmas. Years later, he decides to try to stop it. The Whos are a species that are always incredibly jolly around Christmas, so it will be hard to take it away from them.
I like how the music is the same music from How the Grinch Stole Christmas , but modernized with a hip-hop beat, complements to Danny Elfman. The way the Whos move around the town quickly is quite unique. Instead of roads, the Whos get around get on snowmobiles and sleds. The main characters in this movie are, The Grinch Benedict Cumberbatch , the only person that hates Christmas and Cindy Lou, Cameron Seely , the little-girl that is trying to catch Santa and talk to him. The Grinch lives in a cave north of Whoville that is full of rooms with inventive passageways and elevators to move between them.
It is clear that the Grinch is very inventive. For example, in the music room there is a thin pathway that leads to a massive organ for the Grinch to play and a tiny drum set, for Max, his faithful dog. The Grinch is always telling Max to stop playing because he is ruining the vibe, but eventually gives in. He does this most times Max wants something, showing he is not as mean a character as he pretends. Max is my favorite character in this movie. He goes about his day using Rube Goldberg machines to help the Grinch get ready for his day.
My favorite scene is when Cindy Lou is sliding down the hill to get to the postman and crashes into the Grinch. That scene is hilarious and cool at the same time, featuring lots of fast action and comedy. Another good scene is when the Grinch is choosing his clothes. Inside his closet, he has clothes that have tags on them that read, "sad, very sad, miserable, very miserable, Christmas or happy. This shows that the Grinch has been extremely sad lately. The message of this film is that being together with friends and family is the only gift you ever need. Cindy Lou shows this through how forgiving she is, even though he steals their Christmas.
I rate this movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 18, because it is a great family Christmas movie with a good message. This movie opens in theaters on November 9, Reviewed by Damon F. Film Critic, age 11 What a touching moment! This full-length animated film intensely has you gazing at the screen, without a doubt.
This enjoyable, wonderstruck, emotional, touching and kid-friendly movie is directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier. Get ready to enjoy this perky piece of family entertainment, just in time for the holidays. It is filled with memorable and touching moments that catch you off guard. The story follows a mean-spirited, cynical and grumpy Grinch who sets his eye on a mission, with his energetic dog Max, to destroy Christmas for one deplorable reason.
The Grinch really hates Christmas, especially the loud, bright celebrations in Whoville. In order to get some peace and quiet, the Grinch disguises himself as Santa Clause and you'll have to wait to see how he steals Christmas from The Who's. He doesn't expect what happens when he meets a young girl names Cindy Lou. The Grinch realizes he is only afraid of one thing that has affected him his whole life.
My favorite part of the film is when the grumpy and cruel Grinch changes his attitude and action choices. He has a change of heart and experiences his old ways to become happy and respectful as he feels valued which is what everyone should feel. A quick theory of what happens is the small young girl changes the Grinch heart with a sentence, and that sentence changes everything. This holiday film will definitely bring lots of laughs and humor.
The film certainly provides positive messages about optimism, compassion and generosity. The animation deserves a big round of applause. It is jaw dropping, extraordinary, realistic to the story theme, beautiful and vibrant. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 16, as well as adults. Truly, the whole family will enjoy the film. It is designed with so much reaction moments. Don't miss this live-action film when it opens nationwide November 9, Reviewed by Nathalia J.
After the first 10 minutes, you just accept for what it is and buy into the idea that this parallel universe has talking dogs in it. This film is the fourth in the Pup Star franchise and it is as cute and charming as the other, with a Christmas theme as its focus. Who can resist a combination of cute dogs with their even cuter puppies, celebrating a favorite holiday. Of course, there has to be a antagonist thrown in, in the form of a pack of evil dogs that want to take over Christmas and commercialize it, making more money than anyone ever imagined.
The moral of the story is one that we can all resonate, that Christmas is really about family, not commercialization. Look for this film on Netflix November It'll make a fun one to watch with your family Thanksgiving weekend and throughout the holiday season. Get grandma and auntie and Uncle Joe to sit down and laugh together watching the antics of these cute pups.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to I really like how the dogs are animated in this movie. It really looks as if they are actually talking and dancing. That makes the movie as entertaining as it is. The movie follows the pup's parents getting ready for Christmas. It also focuses on the pups as they carry out some crazy ideas and plans that sometimes get them into trouble.
For example, the pups decide to go to the North Pole to meet Santa, but while trying to do that, some evil dogs are trying to take over Christmas! Tiny and the Pup Star staff are working on the Christmas special while searching for the missing pups. The four new members to the Pup Star family are Brody Dillon Fontana , an adventurous little pup that thinks of something fun to do and his sisters usually follow.
Rosie Vivienne Rutherford is the pup who always thinks of herself as the star of everything. Cindy Oakley Bull is the pup who knows when something will go wrong, but none of her siblings ever listen to her. Last is Charlie Chloe Coleman , the sarcastic one, who has some of the best lines. My favorite scene in this movie is when the elves sing "The Worst Christmas Ever," while the villains think they are singing the same thing as they are - "The Best Christmas Ever. The reindeers are doing loop the loops, while going as fast as they can, just to be mean to Roland.
My favorite character is Brody, because he is adventurous and he loves to eat, just like me. He also comes up with a bunch of crazy ideas that get him in trouble, but I don't think he will ever learn. For example, in the beginning of the film Brody tries to eat both the turkey and the pumpkin pie. That really gets him into trouble. The message of this movie is that Christmas isn't just about the gifts, it is about being with family. The pups show that throughout the entire film. I rate this film 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 18, because it is an amusing movie that shows the meaning of Christmas in a great way.
I think adults will enjoy watching this film with their children. This movie will be available exclusively on Netflix on November 20, so look for it! Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Yup, it's Christmas time - presents, cookies, family and vacation time. This astonishing, touching, intriguing, heart-warming, well-intentioned and adorable movie is directed by Robert Vince and written by Pier Rae and Robert Vince.
This film follows Tiny and P. P whose four new pups take a trip into the dark night sky with a special guest named Santa Claus. Trouble comes with they find themselves with the evil dog Bark and trapped at the North Pole. The pups get saved, but you'll have to see the movie to know how. The lead characters in this film are Tiny voiced by Kaitlyn Maher , P. My absolute favorite part of this film, without giving anything away, is when the Christmas spirit is saved. I love how the four pups set on a quest to find Santa Claus and recover the true meaning of Christmas with the help of their family.
I think this part of the film will charm many because of the huge heart the little pups have! This film delivers a very special message. It's not about the gifts; it is about being with family. The pups show that meaning in this film. This touching movie will have you singing Christmas songs on your way to school, work and perhaps your Christmas recital. I give this film a 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 14, as well as adults.
Make sure to check it out! Film Critic, age Songs introduce the characters and share empowering social-emotional lessons that teach the power to win is always within! The songs are well-performed and produced, though somewhat repetitive in style. Children will be drawn to the vivid color and texture of the scenery and characters as well as the child-like voices. In addition, children will identify with the trials and tribulations of the little Otter, Pancake, as he learns life lessons with the help of the Zoonicorns.
Nicely produced and performed music. Orchestration is particularly well done on the Pancake story.
There is definitely value in the positive messages such as: You can do anything if you try. Keep your eyes on the prize. The sample episode and songs follow the uplifting winner approach of this concept and the 3-D visual style works well as a platform. One problem I have with it is that some concepts or particular phrase are over the heads of little target audience such as 'go with the flow' or 'dot your i's and cross your t's'. It teaches children about tools to use to overcome fear or self esteem issues. Recommended for ages 2 to 5. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Get ready to view real-life challenges and imaginative adventures in the dreamland Zooniverse.
This colorful masterpiece web series is created and executive produced by Mark Lubratt and directed by Cliff Dew and Ariel Yamus. The web series follows four Zoonicorns, magical hybrids of zebras and unicorns, taking young animals facing real-life issues on imaginative adventures in the dreamland Zooniverse.
The songs introduce the characters and share empowering social-emotional lessons that teach the power to win is always within. When the animals fall asleep, the Zoonicorns appear in their dreams. The set of songs are well-performed and produced. Along with each song, you will meet seven new colorful, inspiring and adventurous friends as you visit beautiful Zooniverse.
The songs provide age appropriate lyrics for which kids can easily sing alone. How fun is this? The music provides positive impact for children to build their vocabulary. No question that every child will be drawn to the vivid colors and texture of the scenery and characters, as well as the child-like voices. This web series deliveries very powerful messages - for every problem, there is a solution; nothing is impossible, if you just believe in yourself; you can do anything; don't give up! Some of my favorite themes are about showing children to care about themselves, to be creative and to use their imaginations.
The Zoonicorns provides lots of positive answers. I believe the whole family will enjoy this web series and kids will certainly enjoy the catchy tunes This web series launches December 1, so look for it. Enjoy the fun adventures of the Zoonicorns. I recommend it for ages 2 to 5 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. Film Critic, age 9 The Zoonicorns are four mixes of Unicorns and Zebras that help other animals with their problems. As the Zoonicorns help others, they sing and their singing provides lyrics for which kids can easily sing along.
This singing is great for preschoolers. The Zoonicorns provide answers to problems. The solution they find for every problem is that it comes from within and nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself. Teaching a child about caring for themselves, using their imagination and creativity is another part of their message. The sing along builds up and introduces words to help the child expand their vocabulary, understanding new words and learning how to use them. This great web series comes out December 1, You can find it online so look for it. I recommend it for ages 2 to 6 and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Youth Reviewer, age 14 Runtime: Even grandpas can get dressed up like superheroes and save the day! What an untapped source of entertainment! They've got lots of spare time on their hands, so they willingly take over experiencing excitement and adventures in and around the hotel.
Deciding which fairy tales are appropriate for which age group is a problem which faces every At the simplest level there is the "Porridge Pot", while a considerably more complicated This is a tale which speaks well to five and six year olds. Simply great free children's stories aimed at ages , available for free download Five thousand years have now passed since it was destroyed, and only a.
Their older brother is the only other person who knows Grandpa's tiny secret. Enter the magical black cap. One soon discovers that old-fashioned magic can happen without things like remote controls. The shrunken grandpa reminds me of Tinkerbell flying around in the Peter Pan movies. Many comical scenes are included such as tiny grandpa entering the flashing spaceship and taking off to rescue a pair of panties stuck in a tree. I enjoyed the 3D animations of the flying objects like airplanes and spaceships.
It gives you a real sense of the vehicles quickly approaching and then retreating away from the audience. The actress who plays Olga Orbit conveys her star-struck amazement at the planets, while gazing out at the universe. Her spaced-out personality is very convincing. The special effects of the shrunken grandpa riding a bird, standing on a moving toy train and flying out from the chimney while inside a spaceship are all quite memorable.
The animation is smooth and well executed. My favorite part is when the eccentric astronomer Olga Orbit meets the full-size Captain Dumbletwit magic grandpa. Heroes can appear in real life, not only in cartoons.
The message of this film is to appreciate one's elders. They have a lot of wisdom and skill to offer the world around them. Take advantage of their kindness! I rate this show 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it for ages 5 to FEATURE Topic - Family Description - When an emotionally broken family moves into a house haunted by a suffering spirit, Tom the ghost sees an opportunity to try and save his soul by teaching the family how to live again.
He quickly discovers that is easier said than done. This film tells a story similar to BeetleJuice, in it's own way. The story follows Tom, a man who recently died and who is forced to live his afterlife in the house where he died, due to a technicality of his death. Soon after his death, a new family moves into his house. When I first saw this film I immediately thought of BeetleJuice, due to the premise of the story - a person dies and cannot leave the house, but interacts with a new family. But, that is where the similarities end.
This film has a good heart to its story and characters, however it has some flaws. The characters are pretty flat. The only one that is quirky and interesting is Franklin Poindexter. The sound quality is acceptable. The cinematography is decent. The sets, costumes and locations are a bit stagnant. There's nothing wrong with them, they just aren't that interesting. The characters stay within the same area of the house throughout the film. The costuming is unimaginative too. I think there was a budget constraint. It is a pretty slow-moving plot. Considering all that, I admire the filmmaker for the film's good heart and story, and the fact that he made it!
Plus, I enjoyed the little reference to The Exorcist. My favorite scene is when Tom is visited by his dead, drunk, older brother. He tells Tom he needs to lighten up, that he is only going to be dead once, so enjoy it. The message is that we can all achieve a more gratifying existence, if we try.
Agreements are not carved in stone. There are always loopholes to be found, that can help turn bad situations into good ones. I believe a child would enjoy this due to its message. I give this 3. You should know that there is some mild language the words "shit" and "hell" a few times and some scenes with drinking, but nothing more. Reviewed by Angel U. Together they venture on a roadtrip and enjoy a perfect Summer day at the funfair.
You'll never be lonely or bored as long as you let your imagination lead the way. I love that Miles' best friend is a tree. We see what friendship means to Miles and his best friend, the tree, as they embark on a wonderful summer day, exploring fun things. The most appealing thing is definitely the 2D animation.
It is creative, colorful and vibrant. I had such a amazing experience watching this short film because the animation truly brings the story together as well as the creative kid friendly locations. It truly entertained me from beginning to end. I enjoyed the boy's explorations and the storyline I definitely think other kids will too. Who wouldn't like exploring all the fun places that he does in his imagination. Film Festival and give it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it for ages 4 to This short student-produced animated film makes a commentary summing up society's careless attitudes about air pollution and suggests a great way to help solve the problem.
I love how the environment fights back to ensure its own survival! This film illustrates how air pollution is caused by car engine exhaust as well as cigarette smoke. Mindless people leave their car engines running needlessly, while they blab on their cell phones. Clouds in the sky, choking on the fumes, politely ask the drivers to turn off their cars. They get mocked by the mean humans. In response, the clouds suck the drivers right out of their vehicles and later spit them out elsewhere. The simple, one-line animated figures and objects are delightful in their very flexible movements.
The director's use of single black lines is very effective in showing negative emotions, such as sneering by a driver and the resulting anger and frustration of the cloud. My favorite part of this film is the vacuum hose technique utilized by the clouds. I also enjoyed how the extracted drivers are later deposited onto an alternate form of non-polluting transportation. The message here is about respecting our fragile environment and getting healthful exercise at the same time.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, as well as adults. You should know the dialogue is in Spanish with English sub-titles. While he is helping her look for her parents he tells her a story. The story sounds like a fairytale but maybe it's not The Princess explains to him the history and importance of that magic land and makes him realise that it's place to be safeguarded for all and everyone Romance is alive and well!
But is the princess just a figment of the excavator's imagination? Is she just supposed to teach him something important, only to disappear? This subtitled Italian film begins with a lost little girl, Elisa, bumping into Matteo, an excavator inside a tunnel maze. This set establishes an ambiance of mystery, suspense and lonesomeness. Matteo proceeds to tell Eliza a story about a princess he once knew. The use of flashbacks is very effective to show the old man, Matteo, as a much younger man. The audio effect of whispering voices in the distance adds to the air of mystery.
The music director chooses a great musical score for the princess when she first arises out of the water. It makes her seem very seductive. The necklace that Matteo finds is an effective prop. You wonder if it has magical powers or holds some secret. The aerial views of the Italian countryside, with horses running through it, are very romantic. So are the architectural ruins that young Matteo and the princess go wandering through. My favorite part is the upside-down bat perched in one of the caves.
This makes Matteo's cave dwelling seem more realistic. One message of this film is to leave historical artifacts and treasures alone. Preserve their integrity to honor the past. Another message is that there are ways to overcome loneliness. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, as well as adults. It will make a lovely addition to any film festival for youth and families. The open way in which a young girl, Emma, embraces Jim is very touching. She satisfies his need for positive human contact in a simple, trusting fashion.
Their budding relationship restores one's faith in basic human kindness. Jim is an elderly veteran with pleasant memories of his recently deceased wife. However, there is an element of sadness and loneliness in his current existence. Emma's mom Carrie Plumley picks up on his good nature and helps nurture a friendship that forms between the three of them. The old man, Mr. Jim Jack Mansbach has a quick smile and knows how to make a child feel good about herself.
The director creates wonderful contrasting sets from the bland, silent living room and kitchen in Mr. Jim's house to the energetic, bustling playground where Emma hangs out with her friends. My favorite part of this film is the flashback scene when Jim, as a young soldier, carries his new bride across the threshold of their house. It is clear from the 24 on the doorpost that the couple lived in this same house throughout their entire marriage. It implies they had a happy, stable life together. The message in this film is about giving elders in our society a chance. The benefits will be experienced by both sides.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to Sparked by the elections results, we witness how a group of children, ages 7 to 11, at a democratic school in Harlem, New York City, responds to their concern about the direction their country might take as a result of Donald Trump elected as president.
Through an ongoing journey that involves their own civic law education, community involvement, and activism, they ultimately question the general perception of children' s limited role in politics and open the door for further discussion. I love hearing what young kids think about the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. What a great idea to let third and fourth graders choose the subjects they actually want to learn about at the Pono Democratic School. It is wonderful to see kids get so excited about their education.
One of their teachers, Jessica Greenberg, introduces a great notion that the fourth branch of government is actually "We the People. Students of many different ethnic backgrounds create a survey to ask other kids about their thoughts on the election. The cinematography is very effective in the scenes where the Pono school children are calling various people to inform them about the upcoming survey. This shows the maturity and confidence of these youngsters. The cinematography is excellent. I especially enjoyed the shots of scribbled rough drafts of the survey questions, leading up to a final typed draft.
It shows a true work-in-progress. I like the classical background music. The music director chose a theme that conjures up images of political royalty dancing in the White House. It is surprising how well these school kids analyze the results of their survey. They present the respondents' answers using quite sophisticated pie charts and bar graphs, showing various percentages.
The production designer chose a classroom at Long Island University as a place for the kids to present the results of their survey to an adult audience. My favorite part is when one young student exclaims how hard impossible, really it would be to share the survey with every single kid in Harlem. She throws her hands up in exasperation to emphasize the point. It is quite appropriate acting for a documentary. The message of this film is that children's education can be much more meaningful for them when their curiosity, creativity, emotions and natural intelligence are engaged.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 16, as well as adults. Any film festival looking to show an outstanding example of a contemporary school should certainly consider this film. They join two competing houses at school and become rivals. Soon, mysterious events draw both groups into a secret investigation and uncover a deadly plot to destroy the planet.
They must come together to save each other. However, after seeing the first episode I am now much more at ease with the show. This episode introduces siblings Alex and Hayley who recently lost their mother in an accident. Alex applies at Greenhouse Academy, a special school that only allows a select few into one of its two houses - the Ravens and the Eagles.
One favors physical achievement and the other favors academics. However, the ending of this episode suggests that there might be more to this story and the mother's accident than meets the eye. The characters are believable, although not remarkable. They are typical of teens that we have seen in other shows and they are all likable in their own way.
The pace is good. It is well produced with good visuals, sound and cinematography. The storyline is a bit cheesy, but I am hoping that there will be an interesting rivalry develop between the two houses, similar to what happens in Harry Potter houses. We will have to see how that all rolls out. I recommend Greenhouse Academy for ages 10 to 15 and give it 4 out of 5 stars.
It makes a great addition to any film festival looking for programming for tweens and teens. She still struggles with this, even though back then she wasn't even old enough to understand what was happening. That's because Eve receives videos from her mum every year on her birthday. In those videos her mother tells her about the life she lived before she passed away. Slowly Eve gets to know a mother she'll never meet again.
That's really hard for her, because it raises a lot of questions which she can't ask anyone about. Her father repressed his mourning a long time ago and it sometimes seems that he doesn't even recognize his daughter could be sad too. That's why Eve tries to connect with her past through making something.
She starts a film project for the mother she never got to know. I felt an immediate sense of sympathy for this young girl, Eve. She clearly has a lot to say to her dead mom and she finds a very sweet way to communicate with her. It's a little hard to believe that a dying mom would have the foresight or the energy to make a separate videotape for every one of her daughter's upcoming birthdays. Her father, Kaspar Erik van Welzen displays quite a bit of annoyance with Eve over some of her actions and she seems to enjoy defying her dad's wishes.
He apparently would like to forget about his deceased wife and focus on his new, pregnant wife. The director brings out the mixed emotions of this family. In this subtitled film from the Netherlands, year old Eve Suus Ordelman has a rather expressionless face as she views her deceased mother on the videotape.
She just smiles and tears up briefly as she watches and listens to her mom speak. Have her emotions been numbed by the early loss of her mother? There are some interesting close-up camera views of Eve's secret stash of personal items stored on her video camera. Some of these scenes presumably would be included in the movie she's making for her mom. There is a creepy use of lighting from her flashlight while Eve visits her mom's gravesite at night.
My favorite part of this film is when Eve's pet dog helps her unwrap her birthday presents. The message is that just because someone you love has died, they do not have to be gone from your life. That someone will always be watching over you. Film Festival, especially for tweens and teens. Anyone who has lost a parent will particularly resonate with this film.
Team Teenettes is a film that doesn't take itself too seriously. It is more of a comedy than anything else. The storyline follows the Teenettes, a trio of female super heroes who are called to action anytime their city is in danger. The film feels like an homage and a mockery of shows such as Powerpuff Girls and Power Rangers. When one of the main characters questions the team's actions, she is told to "just go along with it. It has a type of situation similar to The Room. I actually enjoyed the hokey acting and the sub-par visual effects. Even the villain, "The Evil Doctor" has the most ridiculous reason as to why he wants to destroy the city.
I couldn't help but laugh at the premise as well as the scenes when the Evil Doctor and his assistant interact with each other. The background music reminds me of the "Bulk and Skull" theme from Power Rangers. That song only plays when the characters Bulk and Skull are on screen and are messing something up or acting dumb. The most unappealing aspect of this film is the acting, which is pretty amateurish. However, I still think that younger kids would enjoy it, especially the special effects. The scenes jump around a bit as the plot develops and the beginning is a bit jarring because you are thrown into an action scene without any introduction to the characters or the plot.
It has some vocabulary that might go over the youth audience's heads. On the other hand, the cinematography and audio is very good. The sets are appropriate and the costumes work. If you are looking for something campy and fun, then this will suit the bill. IT doesn't take itself too seriously and your audience won't either.
She tries hard to cry. It gives us some insight into their culture. The storyline here is about Ung-Bi, a child actor, both in the film and in real life. She is adorable, in both appearance and performance. The film follows her auditioning for a role in a film when she has difficulty crying to play her character. She tries everything to learn how to cry on cue, from trying to think of something sad to trying to make herself sad.
As a fellow filmmaker, I know that working with child actors can be difficult, from forgetting their lines to not being able to portray a particular emotion. But, I never found it irritating. This short film has a build up to something I thought was going to happen, but it never does. I like how it averted my expectations. The cinematography is very good. The plot flows easily and is easy to follow. The vocabulary is age appropriate for a youth audience.
The performances are all very good. All the child actors are very talented and deliver very good performances, especially Ung-Bi. Helping him is the sheriffs young granddaughter who soon finds herself in a heap of trouble.
It's a story about chasing your dreams, of how far you should follow them, and what price you wish to pay for them. It is a western, yet with everything that happens in the film it feels more like a cheesy 70s cop show. The story follows Danny Lou, a cowboy investigating the murder of his old flame Donna, after her marriage to a wealthy tycoon.
Danny, along with the help of the local sheriff's young granddaughter tries to bring Donna's killer to justice and track down the large fortune that she had donated with the unwilling help of her husband. The most appealing thing is its charm. The acting is pretty believable with a few hiccups. Kids would enjoy the storyline of the film. The production values are quite good from the visuals, to the audio track to the sets and locations to the acting.
The vocabulary is definitely appropriate for the audience. The costumes are out of Western Central! The soundtrack feels a bit out of place, but that adds to the humor of the film. The film feels like homage to other westerns. It has a few things that make it stand out. For example, in one sequence Danny chases someone and it reminded me of a chase scene in a buddy cop movie, with a little humor thrown in.
I enjoyed this film, although I felt it could have been a bit shorter. When I thought it had ended, it kept going. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it. It's well made, has some goofy characters, humor and is entirely watchable. I give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to I should add that the dialogue is in Swedish with English sub-titles. Welcome back Gumby and Pokey in this wild, wacky and inventive collection of '80s episodes. Featuring 50 clay-animated episodes, fully remastered from their original camera rolls and soundtracks.
Having been a fan of the original Gumby series, I enjoyed seeing my favorite characters rejuvenated on screen with better film quality and sound. The stories are always so eccentric and fun-loving and this collection is no different. During this story, Gumby and friends are invited to King Ott's birthday party from the middle ages book. I love seeing all of these characters brought to life in true Gumby form; the shapes and colors are fantastic. This DVD is captivating for the younger ages. I recommend it for ages 3 to 7 and give it 5 out of 5 stars for its timelessness.
Reviewed by Rachael V. The 80's Series is a good show that retains the groundbreaking animation and immense amount of creativity at the forefront of past iterations of Gumby. This DVD contains over 40 episodes that follow the vivacious chunk of green clay named Gumby and his friends - Pokey, Prickle the little yellow dinosaur and a blue flying mermaid named Goo.
Gumby can go anywhere, including inside books, and turn into anything. The crew goes on lots of fantastical and quirky adventures together. One of the things I enjoy about this DVD is its diverse set of characters. This collection has all the favorite characters from the previous series such as The Blockheads and Professor Kapp. My favorite character from this collection is Gumby. This altruistic do-gooder is a character whose values are something kids can aspire to adopt. Gumby is one of the few characters that, if we all aspired to be, the world would be a better place.
He is very likable and consistently fights for the common good. I also really like Gumby's friends. This collection also highlights how pivotal these characters were to the series' success. I really enjoy Gumby as a character, but without Prickle, Goo and Pokey as foils and characters for him to interact with, this series just wouldn't be as good. I really have to give credit to the animators for using Claymation and not going with another type of animation. When such a specific brand like Gumby is been created and such dynamic characters are established, it's difficult to divert from the Claymation style.
The difference here is I can tell that the character models and the environments have improved from the 60s, but the show doesn't lose the charm of the Claymation format. The 80's Series for ages 6 to 8. These are short cartoons that match younger kids' attention spans. The episodes are extremely colorful, but I think kids under age 6 won't understand the jokes. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I didn't find this collection as compelling as the 60s series, but it carries the torch of the Gumby legacy well. You can find this collection on DVD now. Reviewed by Benjamin P.
How awesome is that! The s show was a hit when mom was growing up and it bought back so many memories for her. Welcome back Gumby and Pokey in this wild, wacky and inventive collection of 80s episodes, created and written by Joe Clokey. My favorite character is, by all odds Gumby, because he is always so energetic and happy. I enjoyed watching how Gumby and his genial friend Pokey take an adventure through an Ice Cave.
I enjoyed this mirthful episode because it made me laugh. I really enjoyed seeing the characters come to life. The colors also really bring a sense of enjoyment. The characters in this series are Gumby, Pokey and Prickle, an adorable yellow dinosaur that looks like a dragon. I have to tell you about the story behind this release.
Did you know that each episode and song was fully re-mastered from the original camera rolls and soundtracks? How cool is that! Here's a chance to see Gumby as it has never been seen before. I give this DVD 3. This series is certainly unique and will definitely bring back memories if you grew up watching Gumby. This DVD is available now so, check it out. Film Critic, age 10 What I like about this collection is that each episode is different and each character is made differently.
The clay figurines are all unique and super cute. It is a different type of show than what I am used to seeing. I don't often see animated clay shows like this. The claymation is a little old school, like in my parents' days. In some episodes it seems a little slow moving, but according to my parents, Gumby was a pretty hip and legit cartoon to watch when they were young. Gumby, Pokey and friends make a major comeback in this re-mastered collection. The characters are all made of clay and delivered in "claymation" on this two disc DVD.
You do not want to miss out on this wacky, wild and original 50 episodes. One of my favorite episodes is "Gumby's Circus," where you see this circus almost flip upside down by the Blockheads. My favorite character is Goo, because she is blue like my favorite color and very cute. I love mermaids and it so happens that Goo plays a mermaid. Her powers are extremely awesome! She has the power to fly and spit balls of clay. My favorite part of "Gumby's Circus" is when Gumby allows his sister Ming to be part of his circus show.
Gumby's parents, Gumbo and Gumba attend the circus show to check out Gumby and Ming's performances. They are definitely proud of their children. The message of this show is about Gumby being kind-hearted by allowing his sister to join his circus act. Although the Blockheads try to ruin the circus show, by destroying the tent, they are captured by a Good Samaritan cowboy and put into a cage until authorities arrive.
Everyone helps save the circus from becoming a huge disaster.
It's great animation for a child starting to recognize persons and things. It's available on DVD now, so check it out. Reviewed by Sev'n F. Film Critic, age 9 Runtime: They have a playing room where they have all their toys. When they have any problem, with their imagination they fly to Agua Viva, where all their toys get life.