Leigh Paatsch’s ultimate school holidays movie guide
THERE are plenty of blockbusters hitting screens this school holidays but which film is best? Leigh Paatsch is here with all the details and his verdict on what movies kids will love the most.
School Holidays
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THERE are plenty of blockbusters hitting screens this school holidays but which film is best? Leigh Paatsch is here with all the details and his verdict on what movies kids will love the most.
The Lego Ninjago Movie (PG, 101 min)
Who?: the voices of Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Jackie Chan.
What?: Animated adventure. Six young ninjas are tasked with defending their island home of Ninjago. With the aid of a mystical Sensei, they must overcome their greatest foe: the dreaded war lord Garmadon.
Well ... ?: It has only been six months since The Lego Batman Movie, and now we have another cartoon adventure based on the smash hit toy line. This one marks a fair drop in standards, and will only really appeal to kids (boys, in particular) who know their Ninjago (which has already spawned a TV series) inside out.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: *1/2
5yo — 8yo: **1/2
9yo — 12yo: ***
13yo+: **
Captain Underpants (G, 88 min) ***TOP PICK***
Who?: the voices of Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Thomas Middleditch.
What?: Animated comedy. Two overly imaginative pranksters hypnotise their principal into thinking he’s a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.
Well ... ?: Don’t be put off by the unpromising title, parents. This fast-paced frolic is easily the best animated option out there for kids this holidays. The movie is at its best when it drops its story altogether and presses forward with madcap pranks and crazy diversions aplenty. Really hits the spot for primary schoolers.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: ***1/2
5yo — 8yo: ****
9yo — 12yo: ***
13yo+: **
The Emoji Movie (G, 86 min)
Who?: the voices of T.J. Miller, Patrick Stewart, Anna Faris.
What?: Animated comedy. Gene, an emoji designed to express indifference, longs to become a ‘normal’ emoji that can be as happy-go-lucky as the most popular pictograms on children’s phone.
Well ... ?: If you’re looking for redeeming features in this dire, zestless affair, you’d better bring along a mighty powerful microscope. Roundly regarded all over the world as one of the worst movies of 2017, its crass combo of stealth advertising and flat gags should be avoided at all costs.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: *
5yo — 8yo: *
9yo — 12yo: *
13yo+: *
Victoria and Abdul (PG, 111 min)
Who?: Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Eddie Izzard, Olivia Williams.
What?: Historical drama. In her twilight years, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Victoria is revitalised by the friendship and advice of an everyday Indian citizen who drifts inside her royal circle by chance.
Well ... ?: There’s not a lot of options about these holidays for high schoolers, sadly. Though this well-made British costume drama looks a bit staid and stuffy on first impressions, it is anything but. Well-read teens with the patience for a little substance will be surprised and richly rewarded.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: *
5yo — 8yo: **1/2
9yo — 12yo: ***1/2
13yo+: ****
Mountain (PG, 73 min)
Who?: Willem Dafoe (narrator) and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
What?: Musical spectacle. An epic odyssey through the Earth’s most awesome landscapes, showing the spellbinding force of high places — and their ongoing power to shape our lives and our dreams.
Well ... ?: This impressive Australian-made production genuinely delivers a unique cinematic experience. This visually stunning portrait of daily life on mountains all over the world is set to a soaring music performance by the ACO. The pictures, however, really say it all here, and youngsters will ‘get it’ just as much as adults.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: **
5yo — 8yo: ***1/2
9yo — 12yo: ****
13yo+: ****1/2
The Wiggles: Nursery Rhymes (G, 70 min)
Who?: Anthony, Emma, Lachy and Simon
What?: Singalong. The Wiggles perform a crack selection of their fave nursery rhymes, encouraging kids in the audience to sing, dance, play and lose themselves in these classically catchy tunes.
Well ... ?: The recent trend of cinemas programming shorter content for preschoolers has been much appreciated by parents. The Wiggles have always placed a winning emphasis on mobilising an audience, and once again, they’ll have the little ones up on their feet and bursting into song in seconds flat.
Which age group?:
under 5yo : *****
5yo — 8yo : **1/2
9yo — 12yo : *
13yo+ : *
Rip Tide (G, 84 min)
Who?: Debby Ryan, Genevieve Hegney, Andrew Creer, Naomi Sequeira
What?: Adventure comedy. An embarrassing video of a teenage model goes viral around the world just as she departs for Australia to holiday with a beloved aunt.
Well ... ?: Veteran Disney Channel starlet Debby Ryan (Jessie, The Suite Life on Deck) is the calling card for this cute, if inconsequential, Australian-made trifle. Zips along quite amiably without ever getting all that involving. Fans of Ryan will be happy with what they see, which is all that really matters with fluffy fare like this.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: **
5yo — 8yo: ***
9yo — 12yo: ***
13yo+: ***
Born in China (G, 79 min)
Who?: John Krasinski (narrator).
What?: Nature documentary. In the wilds of China, we meet a rapidly growing panda cub, a mischievous and moody young golden monkey, and a mother snow leopard battling to protect her offspring.
Well ... ?: Both highly endearing and thoroughly entertaining, this special presentation at ACMI Cinemas in Federation Square spearheads a full season of world class docos from Disney Nature. A special discount three-movie pass for this festival is available at acmi.net.au
Which age group?:
under 5yo: ***1/2
5yo — 8yo: ****
9yo — 12yo: ****
13yo+: ***
Cars 3 (G, 109 min)
Who?: the voices of Owen Wilson, Armie Hammer, Cristela Alonzo
What?: Animated adventure. Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he’s still the best race car in the world.
Well ... ?: The Cars franchise has never really hit the one-size-fits-everyone sweet spot enjoyed by other Pixar animations. Nevertheless, this third instalment is well worth the look, as it gets better once its well-rounded story kicks in.
Which age group?:
under 5yo: ***1/2
5yo — 8yo: ****
9yo — 12yo: ***1/2
13yo+: ***
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