A Thousand Hills
Thirteen-year-old David tries to save his family's farm from an evil land-developer as he also tries to win the heart of Kelly, the prettiest girl in school. On the way he learns who he can trust as he grows from a boy into a young man. Adult Juror Comments: Good storyline; one that rural people will definitely relate to. Well produced, good production values. Slightly predictable but its strength is in the good performances, beautiful cinematography, and the faith-based storylines. Addresses values such as faith, forgiveness and trust, offering good talking points after the viewing. This is a no-frills production that focuses on the relationships between the characters and the depth of the characters rather than lots of special effects, bells and whistles. It is truly wholesome family fare that any parent would be happy to share with his or her children. The topics are perfect for religious oriented groups as faith and prayer are a strong components of the story.
Age: 8-12
DVD; 107 min.
Independent feature from THOUSAND HILLS PRODUCTIONS. Classical Baby (I'm Grown UP Now) - The Poetry Show
Featuring the characteristic animation of HBO Family's Peabody and Emmy Award-winning Classical Baby franchise, Classical Baby "I'm Grown Up Now: The Poetry Show" presents timeless treasures from the world of poetry, including classic works by William Shakespeare, Robert Louis Stevenson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Langston Hughes. With an all-star cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Wright, Andy Garcia and John Lithgow, this all-new half hour will plant the seeds for a lifelong love of the sound of words!
Age: 5-12
30 min.
Short from the HBO FAMILY CHANNEL. Jane Goodall's When Animals Talk
Just like any pet owner, Jane Goodall believes that all animals can talk - it's just that we don't always understand what they're saying. "When Animals Talk" recounts the amazing stories of animals that have hanged the lives of the people they've touched. We witness how animals can learn our language and find unique human-animal partnerships that make the world a better place. We also will discover how we humans can learn the languages of animals through science. We will listen in on the "conversations" that can take place between animals and humans, and the amazing results that these mutual comprehensions can yield. Dr. Goodall's message is that communicating with animals brings humankind closer to another world, and that such liaisons can bring about unexpected benefits to both.
Age: 8-12
89 min.
Feature film from GENIUS PRODUCTS.
Knights of the South Bronx
Middle-aged and recently unemployed, Richard Mason (Ted Danson) decides to return to his first love: teaching. He finds a job as an inner-city schoolteacher teaching fourth grade. Richard discovers a way to reach out to his skeptical students through the game of chess. Against all odds, he inspires his students to become champions, not only at chess, but in life! Ted Danson gives a compelling performance in this heroic, heartwarming story based on true events co-starring Keke Palmer and Malcolm David Kelley. Knights of the South Bronx proves that no matter who you are or where you come from, if you play like a winner, you can be a king! Adult Juror Comments: Wonderful film. Well paced. Follows a predictable storyline, not dissimilar to sports genre films - but the chess playing Ted Danson character is charismatic and charming. Based on a true story, the kids' dilemmas of how to succeed under the most difficult circumstances bring reality right into your living room. It's a feel-good kind of movie that you can enjoy sharing with the children in your life. Kid Juror Comments: Loved it. They weren't too sure at the out start and had to be coached into watching, but once it got started, they were glued to the screen. Definitely worth repeat viewing and telling others about.
Age: 10-18
DVD. 90 min.; $14.98
Independent feature from ALLUMINATION FILM WORKS. The Legend of Tillamook's Gold (pictured above)
A fourteen-year-old and her family move after her dad loses his job. As her parents struggle with problems, her Grandpa Jack and his friend, Standing Elk, seem to be the only ones with time for Julie. Adult Juror Comments: Enjoyable. Seeking a solution to her family's financial problems, a young woman decides to follow a local legend and hunt for a hidden treasure. She becomes enmeshed in local lore and Native American tradition as her search takes her out of her own comfort zone, into another realm. Well produced. Good performances by entire cast. Compelling storyline, well delivered. Some scenes of drinking, smoking, and running away but they are superseded by a good story and an excellent production. Kid Juror Comments: All the kids were glued to the screen. After the screening, they talked about how much they enjoyed it and would recommend it to their friends. "I really liked it because they looked for buried treasure. I like the legend" "My friends would like the story with the elk and the slave."
Age: 8-12
107 min.
Feature film from MAITLAND PRIMROSE. Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy
According to legend, Butch Cassidy died in Bolivia. But what if he made it back to the States under an assumed name with a fortune in Ortega gold? Young Roy Parker aims to find out after discovering an old belt buckle that once belonged to his Great Uncle Leroy (a.k.a. "Butch Cassidy"). Roy's determined to redeem the family name, learn his uncle's true fate - and find Butch's stash of buried treasure - with the help of his best friend, his arch rival and the girl who has stolen his heart. But they're not alone; a dastardly villain is hot on their trail and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on the fabled loot! Adult Juror Comments: This is really a fun "kid caper." Set in the West, during the time when cool high school boys were Eagle Scouts, the story is just fun with adventure, suspense and great characters including several nasty villains. Four friends work together (or in some cases, not) to solve the mystery of young Roy Parker's uncle (Butch Cassidy) who ruined the family name. So hold on for a wild twist on the Butch Cassidy legend. The thing I liked most about this film is Roy Parker's persistence in proving that his Great Uncle Leroy wasn't as evil as legend says he was. His quest to redeem his family's name leads him on a wild adventure where he learns that there isn't always a solid divide between determining what is good and what is bad. We learn that the man who actually wants to keep Butch Cassidy's infamous label as an outlaw is a greedy thief himself and we see Butch Cassidy's name in a positive light as well, which shows that while not everybody is fully good or fully evil, we are ultimately the ones who decide which side we want ourselves to follow. Kid Juror Comments: A big hit with kids. They loved the adventure, the connection with Butch Cassidy and the storyline. "The personalities of the main characters are cool, witty and adventurous; good role models." "The presentation of this film was carried out well for the genre of the film. The action and chase sequences were effective in achieving the desired edge-of-your-seat reaction." "The art direction and set design of this film were one of the most outstanding strengths of this film. Making the set look and feel as if it was set in the 1950's was executed well and the landscape shots were amazing." "Dares to show how 'bad' people (i.e.. outlaw, Butch Cassidy) aren't always 100% 'bad.'"
Age: 8-12
DVD; 90 min.; $29.98
Independent feature from ALLUMINATION FILM WORKS. Train Master
Jeremiah works for Western Railroad in the Northwest. After Brett purchases the Western Railroad, he fires Jeremiah. When Brett's son and Jeremiah's grandchildren end up on a runaway train together, the two men must join forces to save the kids. Adult Juror Comments: Quite a story, well done. It is perhaps a bit too long but still worth viewing. The character change in this film is probably one of the "Train Master's" strongest points. The distant, power-driven father learns that there are more important things in life than work; the depressed grandfather must overcome his depression and self-pity so that he can save the distressed children; and the children learn that they must work together despite their grudges so that they can stop a possibly huge disaster. The score and set design accurately assist in setting up the mischievous mood of the film. Overall, "Train Master"' presents a heart-warming and thrilling ride from beginning to end. Kid Juror Comments: Fun and suspenseful adventure with many exciting dilemmas; strong, smart and independent children. The presentation of the adult character's acting is a little unbelievable such as the mother's reaction to the kid's fighting at the table over vegetables/fruits and the grandfather's reaction to finding out his grandchildren are aboard the runaway train. Maintained a simple yet effective means of visually capturing fright and excitement of what parents/children would probably feel in such a situation. The acting was a bit overdramatic at times, but the children did an excellent job at interacting with each other and displaying a change of heart at the end. Shows how conflicting sides must learn to unite and work together in order to accomplish something for a positive change.
Age: 8-12
DVD; 101 min.
Independent feature from PHIL BRANSOM PRODUCTIONS. |
