Kids & Family August Holiday Movies and Documentaries Recommendations
Francis Mwangi Chege
| Kids are on holiday. here are 5 movies and documentaries to have them watch and ideal for the family movie time. | |
The Bible: The Epic Miniseries
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This 10-part miniseries meets the overwhelming challenge of bringing the story of the Bible to film in a way that embraces modern technology and makes the stories seem relevant and fresh to today's audiences. The Bible was truly a project of passion. By focusing on hope and love as the string of continuity throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Burnett, Roma, and the writers and filmmakers have created a powerful series about a historical text that's at once action film, adventure, and even love story. The many stories included in this presentation include those of Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark, the birth of Abraham's son Isaac, Moses's parting of the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Mary's conception of Jesus and his birth, the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spread of Jesus's word through his disciples. Each of the 10 episodes is powerfully rendered--the subject matter is by nature moving, and the costuming, special effects, settings, and filming choices are fitting and realistic. The performances of the entire cast are stirring, but special recognition is deserved by Diogo Morgado for his performance as Jesus, Downey as Mother Mary, Darwin Shaw as Peter, Joe Wredden as Judas, and William Houston as Moses. The best thing about this miniseries is that it functions so well on three very disparate levels: it serves as an affirmation of faith and a bringing to life of a beloved story for the devout, a reminder and re-igniter of faith for those raised in faith who may have strayed from religion, and an overview of the Bible's stories and a catalyst for faith for those who may never have been exposed to the Bible. One hesitates to characterize the series as "highlights of the Bible" because the moniker trivializes the subject (though Downey calls it just that), but indeed the film views like a "highlights of" in the best sense of the phrase: it offers an overview of most of the major, as well as some of the minor events related in the Bible and conveys a strong sense of the emotion, faith, devotion, and even fervor that has driven religious belief for thousands of years. The Bible: The Epic Miniseries is well crafted and powerfully delivered and it absolutely lives up to its professed desire to preserve the true spirit of the Bible. Special features include lots of interview footage with Burnett and Downey on a variety of subjects; featurettes on the Genesis and Creation segments of the series, casting, music, and special effects; and a "Mary, Did You Know" music video composed of visual excerpts from the film set to the 1996 recording by Kenny Rogers and Wynonna. (Ages 13 and older due to graphic violence) --Tami Horiuchi |
Teens Character Building Movies
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It’s so hard as a parent to draw our kids in to meaningful conversations, isn’t it?
Especially if the conversation is about something extremely important, but rather abstract in the minds of our kids, as the topic of building character? Then again who says you have to sweat it out? There’s an easier way to do the job as well without having to do all the heavy lugging. Family movie nights!Get this 8 DVD pack of character building movies (Grace Unplugged / Soul Surfer/ The Blind Side / Pay It Forward / Dead Poet Society / Gifted Hands / Good will Hunting / Where Hope Grows) and discuss the movies thereafterafter with your teens/ PG 13+. More info here |
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
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COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey continues the exploration of the remarkable mysteries of the cosmos and our place within it. Hosted by renowned astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, this thrilling, 13-part adventure will transport you across the universe of space and time, bringing to life never-before-told stories of the heroic quest for knowledge and a deeper understanding of nature. With an updated Cosmic Calendar, dazzling visual effects, and the wondrous Ship of the Imagination, prepare to take an unforgettable journey to new worlds and across the universe for a vision of the cosmos on the grandest - and smallest - scale. |
Nature Documentaries
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Kids absolutely love watching shows about nature and animals, so high-quality documentaries offer parents a great way to entertain and educate their children at the same time. The following documentaries are fun and interesting for the whole family. However, the movies are not aimed solely at children, so very young kids may not be able to sit all the way through them. Still, school-aged children and adults will be awed by the beauty and fascinated by the creatures and stories shown in the real live footage from all over our world. . March of the PenguinsThis breathtakingly beautiful documentary chronicles the heroic and harrowing journey that emperor penguins make amid subfreezing temperatures and violent snowstorms at the South Pole in order to mate. It's a scientific enigma that these flightless aquatic birds leave, at summer's end, the watery element that is most favorable for their survival to travel hundreds of miles to engage in their annual mating ritual on treacherous Antarctic ice floes. With a determination that rivals that of the animals he documents so impressively, biologist and filmmaker Luc Jacquet spent more than a year documenting the emperor penguins' epic struggle not just to reproduce, but also to survive the March Of The Penguins.. Animals are Beautiful PeopleProducer-writer-director Jamie Uys, who brought us the uproarious "The Gods Must Be Crazy," delivers awe-inspiring family entertainment in this unique look at the animal world. Four years of production, one hundred thousand miles of travel and half a million feet of film went into this splendid production. Winged MigrationRolling Stone raved that Winged Migration, the critically acclaimed, awe-inspiring documentary, is A movie miracle! It soars! You feel privileged! Witness as five film crews follow a rich variety ofbird migrations through 40 countries and each of the seven continents. With teams totalling more than 450 people, 17 pilots and 14 cinematographers used planes, gliders, helicopters and balloons to fly alongside, above, below and in front of their subjects. The result is a film of staggering beautythat Entertainment Weekly hailed as Mesmerizing! and the Los Angeles Times applauded as Breathtaking! As lofty as it is exhilarating! Open your eyes to the wonders of the natural world as you flyalong with the world's most gorgeous birds through areas.. MicrocosmosOne of the most successful nature documentaries of all time, Microcosmos (1996) captures the fun and adventure of a spectacular hidden universe revealed in a breathtaking, close-up view unlike anything you ve ever seen! Your family will marvel at a pair of stag beetles dueling like titans. The kids will stare bug-eyed as a magnificent army of worker ants race to stock their larder ... while trying to avoid becoming a feisty pheasant s dinner. And you ll have a front row seat to witness an amazing transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, the remarkable birth of a mosquito, and several other minute miracles of life. With its tiny cast of thousands, Microcosmos leaves no doubt that Mother Nature remains the greatest special effects wizard of all (New York Times).. Antarctica: A Year On IceANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE is a visually stunning journey to the end of the world with the hardy and devoted people who live there year-round. The research stations scattered throughout the continent host a close-knit international population of scientists, technicians and craftsmen. Isolated from the rest of the world, enduring months of unending darkness followed by periods when the sun never sets, Antarctic residents experience firsthand the beauty and brutality of the most severe environment on Earth. Capturing epic battles against hellacious storms, quiet reveries of nature's grandeur, and everyday moments of work and laughter, this unique documentary shows a steadfast community thriving in a land few humans have experienced. Using specially modified cameras and spectacular time-lapse photography, filmmaker Anthony Powell captures the splendor of the region like no film before. ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE gives testament to the planet's natural wonders, humanity's thirst for adventure, and the emotional extremes that accompany a year within the last pristine wilderness on the planet. Happy People: A Year in the TaigaWith Happy People: A Year in the Taiga, Werner Herzog takes viewers on yet another unforgettable journey into remote and extreme natural landscapes. The acclaimed filmmaker presents this visually stunning documentary about the life of indigenous people living in the heart of the Siberian Taiga. Deep in the wilderness, far away from civilization, 300 people inhabit the small village of Bakhtia at the river Yenisei. There are only two ways to reach this outpost: by helicopter or boat. There's no telephone, running water or medical aid, The locals, whose daily routines have barely changed over the last centuries, live according to their own values and cultural traditions. With insightful commentary written and narrated by Herzog, Happy People: A Year in the Taiga follows one of the Siberian trappers through all four seasons of the year to tell the story of a culture virtually untouched by modernity. Born to Be WildAn inspired story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals, this film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them -- saving endangered species one life at a time. Narrated by Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman (March of the Penguins), this heartwarming adventure transports viewers into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Birute Galdikas, and across the rugged Kenyan savannah with celebrated elephant authority Dame Daphne Sheldrick, as they and their team rescue, rehabilitate and return these incredible animals back to the wild. Walking With DinosaursFor the first time in movie history, audiences will truly see and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. WALKING WITH DINOSAURS is the ultimate immersive experience, utilizing state of the art 3D to put audiences in the middle of a thrilling and epic prehistoric world, where an underdog dino triumphs to become a hero for the ages.. |
Planet Earth I
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With an unprecedented production budget of $25 million, and from the makers of Blue Planet: Seas of Life, comes the epic story of life on Earth. Five years in production, over 2,000 days in the field, using 40 cameramen filming across 200 locations, shot entirely in high definition, this is the ultimate portrait of our planet. A stunning television experience that captures rare action, impossible locations and intimate moments with our planet's best-loved, wildest and most elusive creatures. From the highest mountains to the deepest rivers, this blockbuster series takes you on an unforgettable journey through the daily struggle for survival in Earth's most extreme habitats. Planet Earth takes you to places you have never seen before, to experience sights and sounds you may never experience anywhere else. |
Planet Earth II
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In one of the most ambitious landmark series, Planet Earth II allows us to experience the world from the viewpoint of the animals themselves. Traveling through jungles, deserts, mountains, islands, grasslands and cities, this series explores the unique characteristics of Earth's most iconic habitats and the extraordinary ways animals survive within them. New technology has allowed individual stories to be captured in an unparalleled level of detail. For the first time, viewers are immersed in incredible landscapes and share the most dramatic moments in the lives of animals. From spellbinding wildlife spectacle to intimate encounters, Planet Earth II will take you closer than ever before. |
Blue Planet I: Sea of Life
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The Blue Planet: Seas of Life is, as of 2013, the most comprehensive exploration of what many refer to as "the last frontier": the world hidden beneath the water that covers 70 percent of the earth. Produced by Alastair Fothergill, narrated by David Attenborough, and set to music by George Fenton, this compilation took more than five years to film and consists of eight absolutely captivating 50-minute BBC episodes. The compilation begins with striking footage of the blue whale: the largest animal on the planet and one that scientists admit to knowing very little about. The first episode, "The Blue Planet," explores sun and currents, with a look at everything from how a wave works to the way currents distribute nutrients such as plankton. Animals encountered include herring, albatross, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and grey, killer, and humpback whales. The cinematography in this episode is completely breathtaking and was recognized with an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming. "The Deep" descends some 4,000 meters to the bottom of the ocean and the Mariana Trench for a look at some of the strangest creatures in the sea, including jellyfish and squid that glow with bioluminescence, grey sleeper sharks, and the six gill shark, often referred to as a living fossil because it's believed to have been unchanged for 150 million years. "Open Ocean" focuses in on creatures that live far from shore and are rarely captured on film. An immense amount of time, energy, and money was invested in scouring the marine deserts of the open sea to locate animals like Pacific spotted dolphins, striped marlin, manta rays, swordfish, sailfish, and spinner dolphins in their natural habitat, and the footage is striking and powerful. Equally fascinating is the look at undersea volcanoes and the reef fish that find permanent shelter in these constantly erupting areas. "Frozen Seas" explores the Arctic and Antarctic and the resilient creatures like polar bears, beluga whales, penguins, seals, and the vast array of birds that brave the cold to live and reproduce in some of the most inhospitable conditions on earth. Next, it's on to the breathtakingly beautiful "Coral Seas," with their colorful, interdependent creatures. The photography of coral growing and feeding at night is riveting, as is footage of unusual creatures, including the hump head parrotfish, whose jaws are strong enough to chew through the ocean reef; shrimp that live in social groups similar to bees; and serious predators like grouper and lionfish. "Seasonal Seas" explores the effects of the moon's pull on the earth and the tides it creates in places like Nova Scotia, the Washington and California coasts, Southeast Alaska, and Victoria, BC. Kelp, seaweed, clams, orcas, seals, salmon, and sharks all get a turn in the spotlight in this look at the rhythm of the water. Finally, "Coasts" explores the ocean areas that experience the most dynamic change and the adaptive mechanisms of creatures living there. Among them are Galapagos iguanas, hawks, frigate birds, and albatross; Brazilian sea turtles who swim to the North Atlantic to lay their eggs on the beach, and the saltwater crocodiles that threaten them; and a beached humpback whale being scavenged by bears, eagles, and wolves. Interviews with producer Fothergill, cameraman Doug Allan, and researcher Penny Allen highlight the many trials of ocean filming, the importance of planning in an undertaking of this scope, and individual recollections of some of the most memorable moments of this five-year project. Other special features include 80 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage and bonus films Deep Trouble, Dive to Shark Volcano, Amazon Abyss, and the Being There series' "Between the Tides" and "Antarctica." --Tami Horiuchi |
Blue Planet II
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In recent years, our knowledge of what goes on in our Ocean has been transformed. Blue Planet II uses cutting-edge breakthroughs in science and technology to explore new worlds, reveals astonishing creatures and extraordinary new animal behaviours. As we journey through our deep seas, coral reefs, open ocean, green seas and coasts we share these extraordinary new discoveries. But we now know that ocean health is under threat. Never has there been a more crucial time to explore our remotest seas, and to examine what the future will hold for our blue planet. Narrated by David Attenborough Episodes: Episode 1 - One Ocean Episode 2 - The Deep Episode 3 - Coral Reefs Episode 4 - Big Blue Episode 5 - Green Seas Episode 6 - Coasts Episode 7 - Our Blue Planet |
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