Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. Vincenzo Muia 03.01.16 / 7pm

   When my guest and I were escorted to our seats at The Arlington for opening night, little did we know we were seated near Jeff Bridges and MacKenzie Foy. Nevertheless, my guest and I really took a wonderful, magical reading from the film as it resonates on many levels. The film blended beautiful use of modern CGI and stop animation. There was beautiful use of cinematography, particularly the use of vibrant color to illustrate life and vitality as well as the lack of vibrancy to illustrate the mundane, scheduled world that most adults are trapped in. I really enjoyed the use of the low angle shots which illustrated The Aviator’s unusual residence as a massive piece of architecture. The film had a sense of sweet undertone and universal messages. During a private Q & A with Director Mark Osbourne, he showed our group his sales pitch for the movie, which consisted of an antique suitcase which opened up into a illuminated backdrop of the Little Prince as well as the prototype Fox puppet. As an added bonus, a secret compartment in the suitcase which house the collective scrapbook in the film which The Little Girl presents to the ailing Aviator during his hospital stay, the actual book that the CGI book was based on. We also had the privilege to look through another secret prop of the sales pitch, a pair of antiqued binoculars which display a 3-D image of the little prince. It was a wonderful selection of a film for the 2016 SBIFF and I recommend this film for anyone who is or was young.
2. Samantha Novak-Federmeyer 03.01.16 / 11pm

   I haven’t seen this movie but I liked how you incorporated many pictures into your review. The writing you use in your review flows and creates a great impression of the film, as well as captures the reader’s attention. Do you think that the color changes were effective in what the producer of the movie was trying to accomplish? I wish there was a short storyline introduced in the beginning of the review however. I do like your closing statement, because it is something I can think about after reading this review, and it is true, we will never get rid of some small child-like behavior that makes us, us.
3. Georgina Ornelas 03.10.16 / 1pm

   I personally am a big fan of animated movies, anytime a Disney/Pixar or DreamWorks film comes out I am there on opening day to watch it. However, when a more independent animated film comes out I judge it more from what the critics say about it. Just like what people say you can’t judge a book by its cover or in this case the animated film. Now, after reading your review on this film I must say it gave me an entirely different opinion on it. The film’s title says The Little Prince and I thought the story would revolve around a little boy, instead it was about a little girl. Either way your review made me want to watch it for myself, because it gave me something to look forward to, which is the visuals to tell the story and the story itself.
4. Claire Bolton 03.11.16 / 12pm

   The Little Prince is one of my favorite books of all time. I had not heard of this adaptation until I came across this review. The ways in which color and lighting are employed to establish and reinforce the mood of each scene, as well as the thematic parallels between the source material and this film, are compelling me to seek the film out. Making the protagonist of the original story into the narrator in this adaptation was a bold move, but one that I applaud as it reinforces the cross-generational and timeless importance of The Little Prince’s messages. I’m glad to see the importance of imagination was captured in this adaptation, particularly in scenes involving the pilot when the new protagonist’s imagination is allowed to flourish. A good review for what looks to be a good film; I am looking forward to the opportunity to see this film myself.
5. daisymendez 03.11.16 / 6pm

   The book for this film was published long before I was born and long before my mother was. This entry itself brings great nostalgia as I can remember both my mother and brother speaking to me about it when I was a little girl. The book stays on our book shelf and the one of very few memories of picturing the scenes as a young girl still stays in my mind. I have not personally read the book but from reading this entry, I now understand why it was intrinsically valuable to so many. This review allowed me to visualize the scenes described and recollect past childhood thoughts. I look forward to reading the book and watching the film.
6. Giulia Iberti 03.11.16 / 11pm

   The Little Prince was my favorite book growing up, and when I studied French in high school, it was my goal to read that book in French so I ended up becoming really familiar with the story. I had no idea that it was made into a film until I saw this, and now I am going to make sure I see it. It’s interesting that the main character is a girl, from the book I remember or at least I assumed it was a boy. I am curious to see what other changes they made from the original story, and to see the use of color as a depiction of the two worlds in which you describe.
7. qinmeng pan 03.15.16 / 5pm

   I have heard this story when I was young, but I never read the book or watch the movie of it. When I want to read this book I though I’m passed my most free time, and when the movie “The little Prince” was coming out I already haven’t seen any animated film for many years. After I read your review, I can see the mise-en-scene in this movie be used very smooth. I like the way you describe the color of the movie and the last paragraph summary. “The movie is for those who once were a child” by Mark; when I was reading this meaning, what I can feel is woeful and incentive. I think this kind of movie is suited to watch by any kind of people in any age, I will find a sunny day to watch it.
8. Rebeca Cabrera 03.19.16 / 4pm

   Although I have not seen this film, It sounds like a film I would really enjoy. Your review was great, and I really appreciate the images you shared with us. I am now curious and would like to watch this film, I’m sure my inner child would come out and if/when I do I know I will need a box of tissues ;)
9. connorstanley2 03.24.16 / 1pm

   Like many of the other commentators, I am very fond of this book and have read through it many times as a young child. I think this review is we ll done because it got me exited to actually see the movie. Usually, I won’t see a movie that comes out after a book I really like because they usually don’t compare. But after reading your review it seems as if the film will match the movie in quality and will be worth watching. Great review.
10. RyanPowell 04.11.16 / 4pm

    This is definitely the best review of a movie that I have read on this website. Firstly not ever seeing this film it was great to know from the start that it was made by the same person that made Kung Fu Panda. A great movie on its own. But in the end when the author talks about how this movie is for those who still show their childhood. A film for all ages and for the older to keep in touch and reminisce on that childhood. A movie that must be watched and a great review to say the least. The Little Prince will be playing in my living room this evening.
11. Changyuan Yu 06.17.16 / 4pm

    The Little Prince is a famous novel, but I have never read it. I clicked into the review because of the director Mark Osborne. I have watched Kung Fu Panda and Monsters vs. Aliens before, and they are both directed by Mark Osborne. Although I have not watched The Little Prince yet, I believe it has a good quality. You did a great job on describing the plot of The Little Prince, and you emphasize the effect of color and light in the film. The Little Prince has an interesting plot. After I read your review, I decide to watch The Little Prince recently. In a word, I really like your review.
12. Esther Cisneros 07.13.16 / 8pm

    I believe this review was mislabeled as “The Little Prince” instead of “The Little Girl.” I was confused as the review followed a plot line that wasn’t familiar to the story I know, however a quick google search clarified that you meant ‘girl’ not ‘prince’! Nevertheless, I enjoyed your review. Never having seen the film before, I was especially drawn to your description of the use of dull and vibrant colors in the portrayal of themes and moods throughout the film. Animated films I feel have more creative freedom to draw and paint the scene and the story to make their audience feel and think, jobs that are usually up to the actors. You’ve definitely piqued the interest of my inner child and made me curious to see the film.
13. Esther Cisneros 07.13.16 / 8pm

    Woops. Although my google search brought up images of the film, it seems it is in fact the story of Le Petit Prince brought to life! My apologies! Great review regardless ;)
14. Theresa M. Lane 09.24.17 / 8pm

    I hardly realised the colour changes throughout the film, so thank you for bringing that to light! I agree with your thesis that this film is aimed towards those who remember their childlike behaviours. In that way, it’s a reflection of the original French book Le Petit Prince (“The Little Prince” in English) that’s the movie’s namesake. In addition, the French stylings of Camille (a very popular French singer) added to the film by showing some respect to the Le Petit Prince’s background as an infamous book for the French-speaking population. However, I thought the movie would have been more interesting if they added in more French elements from the original book as opposed to changing the plot and hiring a mostly American cast.
15. Bryan Gillison 11.09.17 / 11am

    I really loved the stop animation portions of this film. These portions stayed truer to the look, feel and spirit of the book I had grown so fond of as a child. I found the surrounding story the film added was a bit too off course, and at times very scary.
16. Jessica Rodriguez 10.18.18 / 1pm

    The animated adaptation, “The Little Prince,” directed by Mark Osborn, is on of my favorite animated films. My favorite aspect of this film was the contrast of color and “medium” used at different points within the two timelines. The movie takes place in two worlds, the adult “real” world where The Little Girl, The Mother and The Aviator live, and the “fictional” world in which The Prince, The Rose, and the others characters that inhabit different asteroids. After reading Justin Richard’s review of the film, I was really intrigued by his analyzation of the color used in the different two different worlds, and how the colors are used to further express the emotions of the characters. Prior to reading the review, I had made note of the contrast of color, but I had not taking into account the different lighting in each scene. Such as the low-key lighting used in the beginning of the film or in serous business like interactions between The Girl and The Mother, verses the bright natural lighting used in scenes of The Aviator and The Girl. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the review, and it did help me to look at the film in a different light (pun intended).
17. Ana Sharon Martinez Rios 10.20.18 / 10am

    This review by Justin Richard about The Little Prince is very detailed about the mise en scene within the film. Specifically about the way explain the difference between color and the meaning, but also they mention lighting which again emphasizes meaning, They also explain the relationship that both lighting and color have in connection to the character development within the story. It’s amazing to think that this film and so many other were made possible because of technologies made in the 19th century like Thaumatrope, Zoetropes, and Flipbooks, something we’ve all tried. Technology within the film world has come so far and it allows filmmakers to make these beautiful animated films.

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