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Movie and Entertainment News >> Television >> Kids Movies
Kids Movies News
The movie Big Miracle, opening today in theaters, is based on a true story about the 1988 rescue of three gray whales. Different people and organizations with different agendas came to the aid of the whale family, and the movie really brings out the fact that people can do a lot when they work together, and also that there are many different causes people get involved in. In light of the Koman/Planned Parenthood saga in the news right now, I think the subject of choosing which causes to put your time and resources behind is particularly poignant. Here are a few of the causes related to the movie:
- Greenpeace: The character of Rachel (Drew Barrymore) in the movie is based on a real Greenpeace activist, Cindy Lowry, who helped free the whales in 1988 and has worked on a number of other environmental causes. To prepare for the role, Drew spent many hours talking with Cindy about her life and her life's work. Read more about Drew's experience getting to know Cindy.
- Oceana: Although he plays an oil tycoon in the move, Ted Danson founded founded the American Oceans Campaign in 1987, which folded into the international water-advocacy group Oceana, upon which Danson sits as a board member. Read more from Ted Danson about his character and how to help save the ocean.
- TAPS: The movie portrays a romance that develops between Alaska National Guard Colonel Scott Boyer (Dermot Mulroney) and White House executive assistant Kelly Meyers (Vinessa Shaw). This romance is actually a true story. Tom Carroll and Bonnie Mersinger, the National Guard commander and presidential executive assistant who worked together on the operation to free the whales in real life, fell in love through their many phone calls and were married. Sadly, several years later, Tom died in an Army National Guard plane crash. Finding no support group to help her through the difficult time that followed, Bonnie Carroll formed the national organization Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a front line partner with the Defense Department offering comfort and care to the families of America's fallen military heroes. Out of a tragic personal loss, Bonnie created something that now benefits hundreds of families.
Back in April I wrote about our family's plan to contribute to different causes. I'm glad this movie reminded me of our goals, which inspired me to get back on track. We have done okay since we made our goal in April. We have contributed time and/or resources to a different cause almost every month, but we have not been consistent about involving the kids, so that is something I have to improve. I love that this movie serves to remind us how important it is to try and do something good in the world.
More About Big Miracle:
- Big Miracle - Review for Parents
- Big Miracle - Movie Trailer and Synopsis
- Big Miracle Photos
- Big Miracle Educational Points to Talk About
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(Photo © Universal Pictures)
Which Cause Do You Fight For? originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 11:20:03.
Whether your are a fan of the 1992 Disney movie Newsies or not, you may be interested in finding out about the new musical based on the movie that opens soon at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre. Advance tickets are on sale now. Previews begin on March 15th, and opening night of the show on Broadway is March 29th. The show is currently scheduled to run until June 10th.
Going back to the original movie, the story is based on a true and historically fascinating event: The Newsboys Strike of 1899. Despite the interesting premise, sympathetic characters and great music, the movie was, as Steve Fickinger (VP of Creative Development and Licensing for Newsies on Broadway) put it, "a famous failure." But while the movie didn't last long in theaters, a following of fans grew to love it, and the story became one of the most requested to be turned into a musical. As part of a round table interview, I had the chance to talk with Steve about the new show, and he shared with us a little about what makes the musical, seven years in the making, a big success.
"[Newsies] is in the best sense of the word, I think, an old fashioned musical," Steve says. "It has tap dancing. It has dancing. It has soaring ballets. It's got toe-tapping tunes, and it's got a story that is oddly, fantastically timely; which is about the David versus Goliath, and the little guy taking on the big...behemoth, and you won't be surprised to hear who wins."
Before hitting Broadway, Newsies underwent a test run at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. According to Steve, these test runs are used to gauge public interest without subjecting the musical to intense scrutiny from the media. In the case of Newsies, however, Steve revealed, "The show just really caught fire in New Jersey, and the National Press came. We didn't, again really invite them, but they came anyway." The show was well received. Steve recounted the happy surprise saying, "We received an avalanche of great press on Newsies...and it was terrific. It was very, very exciting."
The musical features a score by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman which includes new songs as well as a few of the best songs from the movie, such as 'Carrying the Banner, 'Seize the Day,' 'King of New York' and 'Santa Fe.' Hopefully, the musical will enjoy a successful run in NY and go on tour so that those of us who live in other areas of the country will be able to see it as well. If you are lucky enough to live in NY or to travel there during the show's run, you can find out more and get tickets on the Newsies website.
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(Photo © Disney )
Extra! Extra! Read All About It! -- Newsies on Broadway originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 11:08:16.
Yes, yes it is another Buddies movie! So, my 6 and 9-year-olds are so over these Buddies movies, but my three-year-old is still completely on board. In this latest Buddies adventure, the pups are off to Egypt, where they are in search of a magical necklace in the lost tomb of Cleocatra. The Buddies must make it there before their new found feisty feline nemesis, or she will use the necklace to rule the world.
If your family has been long time Buddies fans like ours, well, most of ours, you know that there have been quite a few Buddies movies. The reason the Buddies are so successful is simple: they are puppies, and they have personality. What kid doesn't like puppies? and each of the Buddies has his, or her, own very distinct and very stereotyped personality. The Buddies adventures have been fun and comical for kids. But, I gotta say that the last two movies have not been our favorites. They are starting to push it a little with the story lines and the content. If the makers of the Buddies movies can come up with some new storylines with a little meat to them, then I say keep them coming, but at this point if feels like they are petering out.
If you are new to the world of Buddies, here are a few other titles to check out:
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(Photo © Disney )
Treasure Buddies! originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 21:46:42.
Big Miracle opens in theaters this Friday, February 3. One of the things that struck me most about this movie, is how many educational veins there are running through it. This movie is a gold mine for homeschoolers, and parents and educators can find so many different things to use to teach and interest kids. If you homeschool, or like me, you are the type to try and subtly throw out educational themes for family discussions, check out this link to 10 educational topics in Big Miracle I thought would be particularly interesting for kids and families.
I had a chance to participate in some round table interviews with the cast of Big Miracle and director Ken Kwapis, and not only are there many stories and themes, but there is also one overriding theme of the movie which came out in almost every interview. As director Ken Kwapis put it:
"...There's so many sort of story strands. For instance, there's a geopolitical aspect. It's sort of a tale of the end of the Cold War. There's, what it's like to live in Alaska. It's a young boy's coming of age story. There's a kind of not quite romantic triangle in the middle of it. And all these things kind of hover around a rescue adventure."
All of stories form a cohesive theme, and here is what some of the cast had to say about that theme:
Kristen Bell (Jill Jerard): "I hope that kids and everyone will realize how unreasonably powerful it is when human beings can come together for a common goal. It's less about our relationship to the whales, and it's more about our relationship to each other - that people from different political backgrounds, different cultural backgrounds, and just opinionated human beings work together, they can make the impossible possible."
John Krasinski (Adam Carlson): John said about the story of the whale rescue and script "I thought that there was something really, really special that would bring together these people. And I think in this day and age with the social media, I think it's a great direct correlation. I personally believe that the time to believe in speaking up and having a voice and what can I do to help and all that is now. One Tweet, one Facebook page, one anything can start an entire movement for your favorite charity. You can get a pothole filled on Main Street. You can do whatever you want."
Ted Danson (Oil tycoon J.W. McGraw): "...To me, it's a movie about hope. That even though we are all so different, we actually are connected. And when you bump into a whale, it can't help but hit your heart in such a way that you can all rally around together to do something good in life."
So, the movie is based on a true story, it's about working together to achieve great things, and it's highly educational as well as entertaining. Not only that, but those of us who grew up in the '80s can have a blast going back to the past. Bring on the Def Leopard, ratted, hair and Lee Presson nails! Not to mention the typewriters and old school land line phones. Love it! Parents should know, however, that there is some language, and the movie is geared toward older kids, at least school age, and adults.
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(Photo © Universal Pictures )
Big Miracle - In Theaters Friday! originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 10:56:00.
Nominated for the 2012 Academy Awards for its great Visual Effects, Real Steel is getting well-deserved attention. The movie transports viewers to a very realistic, slightly futuristic and gritty world that is both believable and intriguing. Fans can now watch the great visual effects in high def in their own living rooms, and bonus features on the Blu-ray offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the remarkable effects were accomplished.
First and foremost, the Real Steel Blu-ray packages offer the Second Screen component. On an iPad, MAC or PC, you can sync with the movie and find out more about how the movie was made. Second Screen offers production and movie photos, video, interactive animation progression comparisons, movie trivia and more. For example, I was very interested when I watched the film as to how they did a scene involving a robot fighting a bull. The Second Screen allowed me to watch a component of the fight in layers to show what was filmed live action and what was special effects. Watching the movie along with Second Screen, director Shawn Levy also pauses the film at certain points to go in depth on a few interesting parts. The experience allows viewers to appreciate the film more, because we learn about little details that make the film what it is but may not stand out on their own.
Other bonus features include deleted and extended scenes, bloopers, audio commentary with director Shawn Levy, making-of features and a segment featuring Sugar Ray Leonard. If you are a Real Steel fan, the gem in this is the Butterfly scenes in the deleted scenes section. I really can't believe they took them out of the movie. I wish there was an extended version with those scenes woven back in, because they add something to the father-son relationship.
In the deleted scenes, the Second Screen and other bonus features, the focus seems to be on the artistic components of the movie -- not only on the visual aesthetics, but also on things like the interplay between actors' personalities on screen and off screen, the music, and character development of the non-human robots. For fans of Real Steel, the extra features are definitely worth purchasing the movie over just renting or streaming it.
More About Real Steel:
- Real Steel - Movie Review for Parents
- Real Steel - Movie Trailers, Clips and Info
- Real Steel Movie Photos
- Hugh Jackman on Kids and Movies
- How Director Shawn Levy Makes People Cry
- More Robot Movies
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(Photo © DreamWorks )
Real Steel Blu-ray Packs a Punch originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 09:58:56.
Disney Channel Original Movies have become exciting events for kids in about the 6-14 age group. The next movie to delight kids with a Disney style romantic comedy is Radio Rebel, premiering on the Disney Channel Friday, February 17, 2012 (8:30 p.m., ET/PT).
One fun thing about the new movie is that it's based on a book: Shrinking Violet. Like the book, the story in the movie follows Tara Adams, an introverted high school junior who is painfully shy at school, but finds her voice as she expresses her love for music through her nightly podcast and eventually on a radio station. Tara's life gets complicated, though, when her two separate worlds threaten to crash together.
If your kiddo loves the Disney Channel movies, check out the book and see if you can spark an interest in her reading the story as well. I haven't read the book yet, but if I get that done before the movie comes out I'll share some info about the content. Otherwise, this one is recommended for kids about 12-17, so you may want to read it first if you have any concerns about it being too mature.
The movie stars latest Disney sensation Debby Ryan and features her performing the smash hit, "We Got the Beat." I still love that song, so looking forward to hearing that.
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(Photo © Disney )
Radio Rebel - The Next Disney Channel Original Movie originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 12:55:11.
So, as we get closer to the Super Bowl (a.k.a. the ad industry's biggest success story), I've already been hearing people talk about what commercials might play during half time. Now I have to admit that it is pretty interesting to see the best of the best of what the creative advertising industry can come up with. Creating an ad is a collaborative process that takes talent, just like any other creative endeavor. So, if your kids are going to be watching the sponsored half-time show anyway, you can use the ads to teach them things both creative and fun as well as useful.
If your family really gets into the half-time ads every year, challenge your kids to come up with their own commercial to sell you on something they want or for a product they invent. They can make a sample product, compose a jingle, or act out a skit. Sit down with kids and discuss all the creative devices advertisers use to sell a product.
If you don't want to go that far, just ask your kids to point out the different strategies used in each ad to sell a product or service. The process of dissecting these ads and understanding how advertisers are trying to persuade them can help kids develop thinking skills and resist the urge to beg for things they see in commercials on TV or anywhere. Also help kids understand who pays for the commercials and why. For young kids, it's especially important and educational to combat commercials and open their eyes to the intents and purposes of advertising.
Combat Commercials originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 09:44:36.
We had this great vacation planned for my daughter's 10th birthday later this year, and when we announced the surprise, she surprised us right back. Her face fell, and she told us that what she wants most is to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Apparently, her good friend went there for Christmas vacation and had a ball.
Thanks to the books and the movies, my daughter is a Harry Potter fanatic. She loves to read, and she has read the series 3 times. She also loves the movies, and although she is too young for the PG-13 ones, we did let her watch an edited version of those movies once the last one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, became available. So, she has seen every movie, some of them several times. I didn't want to shell out the money for a theme park adventure this year, but considering her love for the series, and the fact that she is such a responsible, kind and helpful kid all around, I find myself wanting to indulge this Harry Potter theme park fantasy.
What I do know is that she is going to want to ride the dragon ride, and she will not be tall enough. I wonder if it's wise to do it this year (while she is in the Harry Potter phase), or wait until she and her sisters are a little older (and taller). If you've been to the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, drop me a line and let me know what you thought. Is it worth it? What about for kids 9 and under? Is it based more on the books or movies? If we end up going, I'll definitely share our experience of this theme park based on one of the most popular book and movie series ever made.
A Harry Potter Vacation? originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 10:58:01.
This Friday, January 13, Disney's Beauty and the Beast waltzes into theaters once again -- this time in 3D. A whole new generation of kids will be able to experience the film, one of the most beloved of the Disney Princess stories, on the big screen. For little girls and those who are fans of the movie, it will be an event to remember, and I'm sure many will dress up for the occasion.
In addition, little princess fans will be treated to the animated short "Tangled Ever After," which is also in 3D and plays right before the Beauty and the Beast film. The short is a comical little story about Rapunzel and Flinn's wedding day, in which the horse Maximus and Pascal the chameleon race on a hilarious misadventure around town trying to secure a roll-away wedding ring. The short is animated in the same quaint style as the original movie and chalk full of the quirky humor that helped make Tangled such a big, and memorable, success.
I wonder, though, about how the overall 3D experience will go over for the youngest fans. I know that our youngest, who is just about to turn four, has only recently learned to tolerate the 3D glass for an entire film. The 3D in Beauty and the Beast is somewhat unlike what we see in today's movies that are generally animated to look fabulous in 3D. Since Beauty and the Beast has been converted after the fact, it reminds me of watching a movie in a shadow box, where each layer of scenery is separated in order to create the 3D effect. In a couple of scenes, some parts of the picture seemed slightly out of focus even, and yet, I liked it. Maybe it's because I love shadow boxes. I thought the effect added to the charm of the movie and fit perfectly with the quaint settings, and I'm certain that my three girls (who are all thrilled that the movie is going to be in theaters again, even though they've already seen it numerous times) will like it as well. So, if your child is willing to put up with the glasses, seeing Beauty and the Beast in 3D promises to be a delightful outing fit for a princess (or prince, as the case may be).
If your child has never been to a 3D movie, this would be a great first to try it out. Familiar characters and a beloved story tend to help keep very young kids' attention pretty well, and even if they take the glasses off a few times (which they probably will), at least they won't miss anything and can still enjoy the music and movie experience. Even though my little one used to take her glasses off half way through the 3D movies we saw, she would still sit and watch the rest of a movie in blurry 2D.
I also imagine this would be a fabulous idea for a Valentine's daddy/daughter date night (or afternoon, to take advantage of matinee prices). I'm thinking a formal invitation along with "the usual things -- flowers, chocolates, promises (night out at the movies) you DO intend to keep" would make any little girl's whole year. And, here are a few other things you and your little ones might enjoy:
- Beauty and the Beast Coloring Pages
- Beauty and the Beast on Blu-ray
- Tangled Ever After Clip
- Info About the Beauty and the Beast Broadway show (highly recommend)
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(Photo © Disney. All rights reserved.)
Tale as Old as Time - In Theaters Once Again! originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Monday, January 9th, 2012 at 11:42:24.
Lately, when I balance our checking account I keep seeing little charges. There's the usual Netflix monthly subscription fee. Occasional X-box or Microsoft Live fees, iTunes charges, Amazon charges for the Kindles. And here's the weird thing, we don't even use each of the technologies that create these charges that much (except the Kindles, which never seem to get turned off). My girls play X-Box Kinect games maybe once every week or two on average. We don't watch that much on our TV that requires paying a charge or fee (like Hulu, Vudu, etc.). Yet somehow, we seem to be racking up a lot of little charges lately.
In an effort to put an end to this, we gave our kids gift cards for Christmas. Once the gift cards to iTunes or Kindle are gone, they will have to start paying for the little charges themselves. Advances in technology have made it too easy. We hear a song we like, we can immediately whip out the cell phone or other small electronic device and purchase it on the spot. Feel like watching a movie? Turn on the TV and stream whatever you want within a few minutes. Kids playing a game on some handheld device and need to upgrade it? Done. Thankfully, we were able to disable the wireless on our kids' music storage devices, so at least there will be no surprise purchases.
Learning to manage money is going to be a whole new ball game for my kids than it was for me. So far, although we've tried to teach our young kids a lot about money and related lessons, we have not employed the time, energy and consistency necessary to require them to actually manage money on their own. Now that our kids are almost daily asking for a new Kindle book, to download a song or watch a movie, I see that we can procrastinate no longer. This is going to be a harder resolution for me than it will be for them, but I truly believe that teaching our kids to be wise about their use of time and money in this day and age will be one of the most important gifts we could possibly give them. So, here we go 2012!
How Many Media Charges Will You Rack Up in 2012? originally appeared on About.com Kids Movies / TV on Thursday, January 5th, 2012 at 10:11:28.