Archives for August 2019

In 1987, during the austere days of Margaret Thatcher’s Britain, a teenager learns to live life, understand his family, and find his own voice through the music of Bruce Springsteen. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Arjun N. comments, “Blinded by the Light is a very inspirational comedy-drama based on the accounts of real-life writer Sarfraz Manzoor. It is buoyed by excellent performances and a lively script. The movie truly has something for everyone.” Ivey H. adds, “Blinded by the Light is a very interesting film about a boy wanting to become a writer.  He is introduced to a famous American singer and becomes inspired. It is a humorous film, but does touch on serious issues of family as well as cultural and economical struggles.” Morgan B. wraps it up with, “I love how the people who made this film brought back a bit of the past by making it take place in the 1980s. That makes it even more fun to watch, because we get to see things such as huge phones record players, cassette tapes and so much more. This makes it feel more realistic and fun to watch.” See their full reviews below.

Blinded by the Light
By Arjun N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

Blinded by the Light is a very inspirational comedy-drama based on the accounts of real-life writer Sarfraz Manzoor. It is buoyed by excellent performances and a lively script. The movie truly has something for everyone.

The film follows music fanatic and writer Javed (Viveik Kalra), who after discovering the back catalogue of Bruce Springsteen or “the Boss,” is inspired by lyrics that feel all too familiar to the aspirational teenager. Wanting to escape his racist hometown and the rules of his traditional Pakistani family, Javed finds himself caught between two worlds and must discover if he is born to run.

Viveik Kalra, as Javed, is phenomenal at making his character relatable and inspiring. Kalra, like Himesh Patel from Yesterday, debuts with charm as well. Javed is hilarious, but also takes the surroundings of Thatcher-era Britain seriously. He is a role model for all. Aaron Phagura, as Rhoops, is also a standout as his character’s similar situation to Javed’s adds layers to their identity complexes. Hayley Atwell, as Ms. Clay, is an English teacher who inspires Javed to write. I quite enjoyed her inclusion as she fits the role well. Kulvinder Ghir, as Malik, also impresses as Javed’s dad. His character can be too stereotypical of ethnic ways, but this feels intentional as it satirizes both his culture and English culture.

Gurinder Chadha directs with a nice blend of comedy and drama. He brings life to Manzoor’s memoirs and I never felt any awkward total shifts. Some editing choices also bring great style. But, substance is at the main focus here as Chadha’s and Paul Mayeda Berge’s script is smartly witty. My favorite scene is Javed’s final speech to the school. Kalra’s performance is award-worthy and the script boasts great messages in the movie’s themes of pursuing dreams. My only flaw is that the second act sometimes drags with a romantic subplot that spins its wheels quickly, despite Nell Williams’ impressive performance as Nell.

The message of this film is about pursuing your dream, and also about remembering your family and always staying in touch. I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18 as some language and racist behavior could be inappropriate for younger audience. The movie releases in theaters on August 16, 2019, so check it out.

Blinded by the Light
By Ivey H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13

Blinded by the Light is a very interesting film about a boy wanting to become a writer.  He is introduced to a famous American singer and becomes inspired. It is a humorous film, but does touch on serious issues of family as well as cultural and economical struggles.

Viveik Kalra plays his character Javed extremely well. Javed lacks confidence and struggles dealing with his father and his culture. He doesn’t feel like he fits in anywhere. You get the feeling he is held back by this. Along the way, people in his life believe in him and encourage him to go for his dreams.  His friend introduces him to Bruce Springsteen’s music, which inspires him. Then he transforms his look and gains more confidence.

His parents do not support his dream of becoming a writer.  The parents are excellent in this movie. His father is played by Kulvinder Ghir and his mother is played by Meera Ganatra. The father is hilarious and thinks that if an American is good at something, then they are Jewish. The whole family is dealing with money problems. I have to mention that his best friend, Matt is played by Dean-Charles Chapman who is fantastic in this role. He deals with his own issues in a different way.  They have a true friendship. My favorite part about Matt is his crazy 80s style hair. I love the costumes, music and dancing. It really takes you to another era. The wigs and the old jogging suits that they wear made me laugh! The costumes are bright for the 80s and the Pakistani outfits suit the family.  One of the funny parts that I like most is when the car won’t start and, instead of the dad pushing the car, he makes the entire family push it. Another funny part is when Javed celebrates his birthday and, to treat him like an adult, he is given pants as his gift. The movie exposes you to more serious matters of racism and what other cultures go through. It has very good timing and is a little quirky which I like.

The director Gurinder Chadha really delivers with this film. His timing and costumes are perfect. I didn’t really know who Bruce Springsteen was before, but I really like his music now. Thanks to Blinded by the Light, I am now a fan of this legendary musician.   

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages xx to xx. It opens in theaters August 16, 2019. Look for it and give it a chance.

Blinded by the Light
By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

Everyone get ready for a new adventure about a man and his relationship with a great artist who we all know as Bruce Springsteen.

My favorite character is Javed (Viveik Kalra), because he is someone that many people can relate to. He is a person dealing with many issues with his family, because they are very religious people who think that writing poems is wrong and that listening to nontraditional music is unheard of. On top of that, he is trying his best to become his own person and, with everyone on his back, it can be a bit hard for a young college student to do that.

I love how the people who made this film brought back a bit of the past by making it take place in the 1980s. That makes it even more fun to watch, because we get to see things such as huge phones record players, cassette tapes and so much more. This makes it feel more realistic and fun to watch.

The music is so good. I love how it all comes together to make a movie that sounds and looks so incredible. At times it not only looks like a film, but also a music video, all in one. This is a masterpiece in my mind and I greatly appreciate it.

I can’t wait to get the soundtrack of this film. The music is fun and friendly and has a deep meaning, which is something I admire. All the music is by Bruce Springsteen and now that I have heard some of his greatest hits I love him and his artwork. Can’t wait to get the soundtrack of this movie.

This one-of-a-kind true story is very inspirational as well as fun and lighthearted. It has a lot of meaning with its morals and values about following your dreams no matter what anyone tells you, have fun with your friends and family while you still can, and it’s okay to grow apart from your family and their values.

I recommend Blinded by the Light for ages 13 to 18. I think that adults will like this film as well even if they aren’t Bruce Springsteen fans. I give Blinded by the Light 5 out of 5 stars.  Make sure to look for Blinded by the Light at a theater near you when it opens August 16, 2019

Dog lovers believe their canine family members understand language, comprehend events, have opinions, exude loyalty. In “The Art of Racing In The Rain”, wise old dog Enzo Swift shares thoughts about the life experiences which prepared him to protect his family in times of greatest need. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Sahiba K. comments, “The Art of Racing in the Rain, brings the beloved novel to life but ultimately lacks memorability. The changes made in the movie make it a common story that is too well known. However, the losses in the screenplay are covered by clever character development and the lovable dog, Enzo.” Brock T. adds, “The production values for this film are high. The cars are super dynamic and fast. Director Simon Curtis brings the book to life in an appealing way and make you feel like you are at the race track. All the cast deliver wonderful performances.” Eva W. continues with, “The Art Of Racing In The Rain is a fantastic movie. Some scenes are very emotionally heavy and I don’t believe this film is suitable for young kids. There are parts that a younger child simply will not understand. I know because I am ten years old.” Zoe C. wraps it up with, “The Art of Racing in the Rain has happy moments, sad moments, funny ones and more. It has it all! At first, I didn’t know what to expect because, what does a dog have to do with racing? Well, there’s actually a lot more to the story than you would expect, and I absolutely fell in love with this film and all its characters.” See their full reviews below.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

By Sahiba K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 17

The Art of Racing in the Rain, brings the beloved novel to life but ultimately lacks memorability. The changes made in the movie make it a common story that is too well known. However, the losses in the screenplay are covered by clever character development and the lovable dog, Enzo.

The story follows the golden retriever Enzo (Kevin Costner) and his adventures alongside his owner Denny Swift (Milo Ventimiglia). They walk through life together and in doing so, Enzo learns the secrets of living happily.

Milo Ventimiglia has positives but also some negatives when taking on the role of Denny. In morose scenes, he fails to fully express the pains of his character while in loving and joyful scenes, he excels. However, from the beginning, Ventimiglia plays a large role in developing an unspoken apprehension that builds between Denny and his father-in-law, Maxwell (Martin Donovan). Donovan’s one look aroused tension in me. Whenever the two characters interact, I felt uneasy as if something wrong was bound to occur. This development of the characters is one of my favorite parts. Everything that happens is intentional so that the audience is aware of what each character is capable of doing.

The movie mostly lives up to the expectations that the novel sets with a few weaknesses to note. Enzo’s narration is kept to a minimum as the entire movie could not be narrated by the dog. So to make up the loss, the relationships and development of Denny and his family are heightened. Music and cinematography techniques are incorporated to help bolster Enzo’s emotions and are highly effective tools. In several scenes, the music is lyrical, providing insight into what Enzo might wish to say. Similarly, the cinematography provides insight with a first person view from Enzo. It often switches to this perspective when there are emotions by other characters only Enzo can see. Thus it made me feel as if I was Enzo, observing intimate moments and experiencing his emotions. These techniques work well but with Enzo’s role slightly lessened, the story weakens and does become more mundane and predictable.

The message is “that which we manifest is before us,” or we make our own destiny. I give The Art of Racing in the Rain, 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 to 18. Be sure to check it out when it opens in theatres August 9, 2019.

The Art Of Racing In The Rain

By Brock T., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

The Art Of Racing In The Rain is a spectacular movie.  It takes on many emotions: happy, sad, thrilling, scared, then feeling all those emotions again.  The movie is based on the best-selling novel by Garth Stein.  

The Art Of Racing In The Rain is about a dog named Enzo (Kevin Costner, voice) who knows how to race cars really well. The dog studies the track and is great at helping – the best in fact. Enzo’s owner Denny Swift (Milo Ventimiglia) is trying to make it big as a race car driver and providing for his family. Enzo helps his owner Denny with knowing the track and also with navigating things in life. The film follows Denny and the people he loves – his wife, Eve (Amanda Seyfried), their young daughter Zoe (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and his best friend, Enzo. 

The production values for this film are high. The cars are super dynamic and fast. Director Simon Curtis brings the book to life in an appealing way and makes you feel like you are at the race track. All the cast deliver wonderful performances. My favorite part of The Art Of Racing In The Rain is when Denny gets to see his daughter again, and wins quality time with her.  This is dynamic.  My least favorite part is when the dad can’t be at the house for a significant life event, which made me sad.  I wish he could be there for comfort.

The message of this film is that when you get torn apart, you have to get back up.

I rate this movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18. Adults might like this too. It opens in theaters nationwide on August 9, 2019 so look for it.

The Art Of Racing In The Rain

By Eva W., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 10

The Art Of Racing In The Rain is a fantastic movie. Some scenes are very emotionally heavy and I don’t believe this film is suitable for young kids. There are parts that a younger child simply will not understand. I know because I am ten years old. Plus, there are scenes that are hard to watch and a few that are just plain scary. I definitely would not let my 8-year-old brother watch this movie.

The storyline is about a dog, Enzo (Kevin Costner, voice) who belongs to a race car driver named Denny (Milo Venimiglia). As Denny starts to have a family, Enzo is not pleased to have other people in the apartment. But as time goes on and the family gets bigger, Enzo warms up to everyone. 

The casting in this movie is amazing! Milo Venimiglia is known for his role as Peter Petrelli in the show Heroes. Denny’s girlfriend Eve is played by Amanda Seyfried, known for her work as Sophie in Mamma Mia Here We Go Again. I love Kevin Costner’s voice as Enzo. He sounds just like what I think Enzo would sound if he could actually speak.

The production values are quite high here. One example is shown in the dog’s training, which was done by Bonnie Judo. The dog almost seems part human. He stands on his back legs, barks like he is speaking and more! The casting is very well done as well. I was particularly impressed by the actresses who play the younger and older versions of Denny’s daughter.

There are a lot of funny parts in this film, but there are just as many sad parts. I laughed, cried, gasped and had so much different emotions throughout the film. You might want to bring your tissues. And, oddly enough, after you see this film, you will never feel the same way about Zebras again. There are also a lot of surprising parts too, so be ready.

I give The Art Of Racing In The Rain 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 to 18, as well as adults. It opens in theaters August 9, 2019 so look for it. 

The Art of Racing in the Rain

By Zoe C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

The Art of Racing in the Rain has happy moments, sad moments, funny ones and more. It has it all! At first, I didn’t know what to expect because, what does a dog have to do with racing? Well, there’s actually a lot more to the story than you would expect, and I absolutely fell in love with this film and all its characters.

This movie is about a dog who is adopted by a race car driver, Denny. Denny’s dog, Enzo, slowly learns about the human life, and he and Denny create a powerful bond. Enzo loves Denny no matter what, and he develops a love for car races and TV, too. But when Denny’s girlfriend Eve comes along, Enzo becomes a bit jealous. Denny and Eve get married and have a baby girl named Zoe. Later on, Denny has to face the obstacles of life as he does on the track. While Denny is very good at racing in the rain, he faces the unpredictable in life.

Enzo feels more human than dog, thanks to the beautiful voice narrating the story (Kevin Costner) from the dog’s point of view. This film makes me emotional, but I think that’s good because I definitely feel a connection when watching The Art of Racing in the Rain. I also think that at one point in the story there might be too much going on at the same time.  Even though that makes the movie interesting, it could have all happened at a slower pace.

I love the acting in the film, especially Enzo’s voice narration, and feel it is all believable. And I have a completely different perspective of my dog now, and wonder what she is thinking because Enzo has very interesting thoughts of the human world. I enjoy the comedy –  it’s a nice balance to what happens in the story. Milo Ventimiglia is great as Denny, and you care about him throughout the whole film. Amanda Seyfried plays Eve, Denny’s wife, and her character—although she doesn’t love dogs at first—experiences with her new four-legged friend one of the most important connections in her existence.

The message of this film is that we are all in control of our own lives, and dogs are the best friends that can join us in the ride of life.

I give The Art of Racing in the Rain 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 11 to 18 and adults as well. There are parts in this film that little kids would not understand and moments that wouldn’t be very appropriate for younger viewers. The Art of Racing in the Rain releases in theatres August 9, 2019.

The first two are from Dover Crafts! The holidays aren’t here yet but they will be approaching before you know it! These two books are a must-buy!

A deliciously creepy Victorian mansion is loaded with spooky fun, inside and out!
Enter an eerie world with this cut-and-assemble model, which allows you to see both sides of a haunted house. One side features the exterior of a tall, narrow home with bay windows, dormers, and a front porch. The other side reveals a busy interior with a variety of rooms plus a basement lab and haunted attic. Best of all, you’ll meet a colorful crew of supernatural residents — ghosts, zombies, werewolves, vampires, witches, and other ghouls. Simple instructions ensure that it’ll be easy to put your new house together and let the haunting begin!

This one is great for all ages and I love the simple directions!

Price: $12.95
ISBN: 9780486823973

Know someone who loves Unicorns and Christmas? This one is a must-buy!

More than 70 holiday-themed activities feature all kinds of colorful, seasonal treats: gingerbread men, sugar plum fairies, Christmas trees, flying reindeer, and, of course, happy unicorns! It’s packed with all kinds of festive fun, from memory and matching games to spot the differences, word searches, mazes, math challenges, drawing lessons, and lots more. Answers included.

I love this one! It’s perfect for children of all ages!

Price: $9.99
ISBN: 9780486832265

On Sale:
August 2019

Ever think about making your own gift wrap? This next one is for you!

Making Your Own Greeting Cards & Gift Wrap shows how to make a host of impressive cards, boxes, bags, tags, wrapping paper and envelopes.

Creative craft author Vivienne Bolton presents more than 50 fun and unique projects that use all of the wonderful materials now available to cardmakers, including stickers, transfers, napkins, wire, foam, rivets and punches. With these practical ideas for all occasions—birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, new baby, new home and more—you may never want to buy a card again.

I love this book and it is full of such wonderful ideas! I like that the instructions are not complicated and that the whole family will enjoy this book!

Here are a few more of my favorite crafty books for the Summer! They are sure to keep the kids entertained! These next three books are from the Quarto Group!

If you love anime and chibi, you’ve got to try Chibi Art Class: A Complete Course in Drawing Chibi Cuties and Beasties by Instagram sensation and anime artist Yoai. Chibi Art Class teaches how to draw and color charming chibi people and their signature features and props. You’ll find step-by-step instruction on drawing, coloring, and shading these vertically challenged, baby-faced characters and their kawaii little companions. I recommend this one for ages 7+.

Soap carving has gained huge popularity online, but while most online videos are of cutting or carving soap bars into shavings, Ultimate Soap Carving offers instruction on creating cool and adorable designs, as well as how to use shavings to make new bars and other simple body care products – author Makiko Sone (aka Mizutama Soap) even shows fun ways to gift your carvings once you’re done! This book amazed me! I loved seeing all the different animals carved out of soap!

If you like to draw and are drawn to all things adorable, you’ll love Draw 62 Animals and Make Them Cuteby Heegyum Kim! Kim leads us step-by-step in sketching dozens of charming creatures from bees to whales. Each project begins with easy-to-follow visual steps to build the animal, ending with variations you can try as you practice. Perfect for beginning artists or those looking to shake up their routine with a blast of cuteness. I had a lot of fun following these step by step directions and loved how simple the directions were! I am not an artist but I loved that I could learn to draw many of the animals in this book!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of all the books listed in this post. I only feature books that I recommend. Cover images and information was also provided. No other compensation was received.