Archives for June 2023

Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental” is an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where Fire, Water, Earth and Air residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. The voice cast includes Leah Lewis as the fiery Ember; Mamoudou Athie as the water-guy Wade; Ronnie del Carmen as Ember’s soon-to-be retired dad, Bernie; Shila Ommi as Ember’s love-seeking mom, Cinder; Wendi McLendon-Covey as Wade’s stormy and Air-Ball-loving boss, Gale; Catherine O’Hara as Wade’s welcoming mom, Brook; Mason Wertheimer as Ember’s admiring neighbor, Clod; and Joe Pera as an overgrown city bureaucrat, Fern.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Sydney S. comments, “I absolutely love the movie Elemental! It shares an uplifting message that’s perfect for the younger generation. The animation is visually captivating, too. The whole concept and plot of the film (and the forbidden love story) is very clever and well-written.” Kendall B. adds, “Elemental has so many wonderful ‘elements,’ such as its detailed animation, playful voice-acting, and hilarious lines.” Emma D. wraps it up with, “Elemental is a beautiful animated film that fills the screen with color and excitement and is a great viewing experience for audiences of all ages. The animation is definitely the highlight of the film; the plot leaves a little to be desired.” See their full reviews below.

Elemental

By Sydney S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I absolutely love the movie Elemental! It shares an uplifting message that’s perfect for the younger generation. The animation is visually captivating, too. The whole concept and plot of the film (and the forbidden love story) is very clever and well-written.

The film takes us on the journey of a girl from the fire side of Element City meeting a guy from the water side. They try their best to solve a serious problem without conversing much. Who knows what happens when fire and water mix?

The main characters are Ember Lumen (Leah Lewis), Wade (Mamoudou Athie), Gale Cumulus (Wendi McLendon-Covey), Cinder (Sheila Vosough), Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen), Brook Ripple (Catherine O’Hara) and Alan Ripple (Matthew Yang King). The fire people usually stay away from all the other elements, so when Wade starts conversing with Ember, her parents don’t approve. Wade could extinguish Ember, and Ember could make Wade evaporate. All in all, it’s not a good mix. The concept of water and fire mixing is so clever and I applaud Pixar / Disney for this new idea. It represents everyone’s differences and the idea that each element is special. Also, Ember learns to control her anger issues, which is a lesson many people can learn from. This movie appeals to me visually as well as emotionally. The animation is incredible and it looks realistic even for being animated. Element City is beautiful and looks like a futuristic city. I felt like I was in the city with them while watching it. There’s a drastic change between the city and Ember’s hometown solely for fire people. I like the sets and how they relate to the elements. For instance, Wade’s house is mostly underwater, while other elements in the city live in trees. My favorite part of the film is when Wade starts the wave at the air basketball game they’re watching. All the water residents turn into an actual wave! All these pieces come together to make the movie entertaining, emotional, funny and captivating.

The film’s message is to follow your dreams and ignite your passions. It encourages others to do what they want to do with their life, rather than doing what other people ask them to do. In other words, be true to yourself. It also celebrates everyone’s differences.

I give Elemental 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18. It releases in theaters June 16, 2023 and is expected to start streaming on Disney+ shortly thereafter.

Elemental

By Kendall B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Elemental has so many wonderful ‘elements,’ such as its detailed animation, playful voice-acting, and hilarious lines.

The storyline is about Ember (Leah Lewis), a girl who has lived in Firetown in Element City her entire life and dreams of one day taking over the family shop, run by her father (Ronnie Del Carmen). When a city inspector, Wade (Mamoudou Athie) bursts through the pipes under the shop he notices many violations in the shop and threatens to send notes of these violations to the city. Ember chases him throughout the city to get the notes back but it’s too late. After hearing her story he decides to help her, and the two eventually develop a bond. But can fire and water ever be together?

The best thing about this film is the intricate detail put into every bit of animation. The city has so many different parts and the animation provides a look into every nook and cranny. Also, there are many element-related puns in every scene. This attention to detail and creativity is seen everywhere, but I particularly noticed it in the scene where Wade and Ember go to an air ball playoff game. From the team names to the game itself everything is so well crafted. Leah Lewis has so much emotion as Ember and her personality really shines throughout the film. The chemistry between Wade and Ember is remarkable for an animated film. We only hear their voices but the two voice-actors work so well together. My favorite part of Elemental is the scene where Ember and Wade try to touch for the first time. They don’t exactly know what is going to happen since they are fire and water so the audience is left in anticipation.

The theme of Elemental is that differences shouldn’t separate people, and you should not judge somebody because of theirs. Throughout the film grudges are held against Ember due to her being from Firetown. Water and fire are not allowed to be together, but the love Wade and Ember share overcomes the differences that were supposed to keep them apart.

I give Elemental 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18 plus adults. It releases in theatres June 16, 2023.

Elemental

Emma D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Elemental is a beautiful animated film that fills the screen with color and excitement and is a great viewing experience for audiences of all ages. The animation is definitely the highlight of the film; the plot leaves a little to be desired.

Elemental tells the story of Ember Lumen (Leah Lewis), a fire element who lives in the Element City, where water, land, fire and air residents live together.  Ember lives in the fire neighborhood and hopes to take over her dad’s fire shop, but her anger issues and inability to control her temper is standing in her way. One day, Ember meets Wade (Mamoudou Athie), a water element who tries to shut down her dad’s business. After convincing Wade by explaining what the business means to her family, Wade tries to help her; only it’s too late since the paperwork has already been sent to his boss. Wade and Ember must work together to save her dad’s business, and along the way, they discover more than they ever knew was possible.

Elemental is a beautiful film to watch. The animated creation of Elemental is incredible; every scene is filled with vibrant colors. I love all the elements that they incorporate into the city’s design, especially with the multi-cultural neighborhoods like those that you would find in an actual city. The character animation is also great, especially with Ember; it is fascinating to see her flames become brighter and change shape depending on the weather. My favorite scene of the movie is the one underwater, as those visuals are the best in the film. However, the plot leaves a little to be desired. There are a lot of conflicts that are fixed quickly, so none of them feel that significant. Although I love Wade and Ember together, it is a little confusing since it is shown multiple times that water and fire shouldn’t touch, so it feels counterintuitive to what is being stated in the film. Gale Cumulus (Wendi McLendon-Covey) is very funny and I loved watching her and wanted more. Also, Clod (Mason Wertheimer) is absolutely adorable; it was nice watching other elements to see how they operate, not just fire and water. My favorite relationship in the film is between Ember and her father (Ronnie del Carmen) — it was heartwarming to see the respect the two have for each other and the love they share.

Elemental conveys the message of family, respect and loving others. It also has underlying messages of not discriminating against others, which is important in a world where some people are not always treated fairly.

I give Elemental 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It releases in theaters on June 16, 2023.

Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Zoe C. comments, “Let’s travel back in time to January, 1940 when Flash first appeared in a comic book. Since then we’ve seen Flash in The Flash TV series that came out October 7, 2014. And now The Flash is on the big screen! This film is packed with action, comedy and many warm messages.” Kendall B. adds, “If you’re looking for a thrilling movie full of action, twists and turns and a fun plot, I suggest you watch The Flash. It features all that and more.” Benjamin P. wraps it up with, “The Flash is a truly rollicking, high-speed adventure through the multiverse loaded with action and countless heroes from all over the DC universe, and is equally adept at slowing down to linger on moments of humor and emotion throughout. It’s this approach to telling such a large-scale, densely plotted story that makes The Flash not just a good superhero movie, but just a good movie.” See their full reviews below.

The Flash

By Zoe C, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 14

Let’s travel back in time to January, 1940 when Flash first appeared in a comic book. Since then we’ve seen Flash in The Flash TV series that came out October 7, 2014. And now The Flash is on the big screen! This film is packed with action, comedy and many warm messages.

The film opens with Barry Alen (Ezra Miller) at a coffee shop and, as danger arises we see the fascinating way he turns into the Flash. With Barry’s dad in jail, balancing the life of being a superhero and suffering the loss of his mother, Barry gets worked up and discovers he has the ability to go back in time. He takes advantage of this new skill and accidentally changes the course of history. Barry becomes trapped in a new reality where General Zod is blood thirsty and wants to take over. He needs to create a new Justice League to fight back and undo what he’s done in hopes of returning to his normal life.

I like this film very much. I’m not huge on superheroes, but nonetheless I’ve always found them interesting. Despite not having much knowledge of superheroes and the DC universe I understood almost everything. There is a lot going on. Luckily the film keeps you captivated throughout and the story line is easy to follow.  I love the cast! Especially outstanding are the appearances by  Wonder Woman, Batman and especially Supergirl! Ezra Miller’s portrayal of Barry Alen is terrific. Ezra plays a younger version of Barry as well as an older version. He  really touches into the youth of his character and his contrast of the two personalities is terrific. Sasha Calle is the very first Latina to play Supergirl and plays her beautifully. She definitely is my favorite character in this film. And of course, huge kudos to Andy Muschietti, the director of this fantastic movie.

The film’s message that spoke to me is that our past is meant for us to learn and grow from, not to go back and change it. Be aware that there are brief sexual references, some nudity and some harsh language.

I give The Flash 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. Don’t miss The Flash when it opens in theaters and on MAX June 16, 2023.

The Flash

By Kendall B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

If you’re looking for a thrilling movie full of action, twists and turns and a fun plot, I suggest you watch The Flash. It features all that and more.

The film follows Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), better known as The Flash, a superhero with abilities to run at impossible speeds. After learning his powers can be used for time travel, he changes the tiniest detail in the life of his mom (Maribel Verdú) to ultimately save his whole family. He then arrives back to find that he has altered the future completely and is now trapped in a different reality, along with the current version of himself. In an attempt to recreate the moment he received his powers for this version, Barry loses his own. Now stuck in this new reality, how will he fix the mess he has created and defeat General Zod (Michael Shannon), who has come for superman?

While time travel storylines are common, the play this movie puts on it is very unique and exciting. When Barry is running and can see all the past moments of his life it is such a cool idea and the film’s editors bring it to life in their own special way. Barry shares a really great relationship with his mom, which isn’t focused on a lot in the movie but, when it is featured the actors execute the scene so perfectly and with so much heart and soul. Ezra Miller gives a spectacular performance as both versions of Barry. He shows off both the childish and mature traits of both characters, with lots of different viewpoints of them.  I must give lots of credit to the writers because the script is fantastic. The only thing holding this movie back is the distracting CGI in some scenes. My favorite part of the movie is a very emotional scene that is shared between Barry and his mom while he is in disguise. The scene is really sweet to watch and the emotion is conveyed throughout the screen.

The film’s message is that everything happens for a reason. Barry’s personality is shaped by some of the traumatic events that happened in his life; he tries to erase them which changes his life entirely. It just goes to show that everything in your life has made you the person you are today and you should not regret those situations that formed you, even if they did hurt a bit.

I give The Flash 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theatres June 16, 2023.

The Flash

By Benjamin P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 17

The Flash is a truly rollicking, high-speed adventure through the multiverse loaded with action and countless heroes from all over the DC universe, and is equally adept at slowing down to linger on moments of humor and emotion throughout. It’s this approach to telling such a large-scale, densely plotted story that makes The Flash not just a good superhero movie, but just a good movie.

The storyline follows the titular speedster, known as Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), a fidgety, nervous forensic tech who’s struggling to balance everything he’s got going on. When he’s not off helping the other members of the Justice League with their many adventures, he’s scrambling to make things work on time and fumbling his way through small talk with a former crush from college. All the while, he is haunted by the death of his mother and the father he lost as a result, locked up for a murder he didn’t commit. It’s a pretty standard character setup, but the story ramps up when, in a moment of sadness, Barry discovers he can rewind time by running at a speed faster than light. From there, he attempts to reverse his mother’s death, even at the caution of Bruce Wayne a.k.a Batman (Ben Affleck) that things can go out of control if time is manipulated. Barry succeeds in ensuring that his mom lives, but is thrust into a new universe with a different Batman (Michael Keaton) and no super-humans to avert a familiar, cosmic threat. He must also reckon with a wholly new, unanticipated obstacle: a different version of himself (Ezra Miller).

I had a good time – I laughed; I oohed and ahhed; and I was moved. It turns out that the key to keeping these DC movies, maybe not fresh but lively, is just making them as much of a blast as this one is. The Flash isn’t an origin story per se, but delves into the concept of origin. This is where so much of the friction of the film is derived. Are our greatest heroes supposed to accept that they are inevitably borne out of tragedy? And if they can change what made them the way they are, should they? Multiverses are everywhere in films right now, but The Flash uses the concept to ask new questions of established heroes and test the limits of their selflessness. As the film develops, Christina Hodson’s screenplay becomes a victim of its own ambition – there is a loaded roster of heroes and villains: Batman, Supergirl, The Flash, General Zod, making a return from his memorable appearance back in Man of Steel. It sometimes becomes too much to bear and there are points where it’s difficult to remember whose movie this is.

The lesson of The Flash is that we can’t change the past, so we must accept it. When Barry changes the past, the universe radically transforms — a metaphor for how we must accept what’s happened to us, rather than dwell on the past to the point that we deny ourselves a pleasant future. Be aware that there is some brief violence and some foul language.

I give The Flash 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The Flash zooms into theaters June16, 2023.