African Cats: An Eductational AND Entertaining Family Movie

My favorite movies for my kids are those that teach them something.

That's why I'm loving Disneynature's documentary-style movies that are instructive, emotional and entertaining for the whole family.

We missed African Cats at the theater, to my seven-year-old's dismay, so I was more than happy to present her with a review copy of the new DVD release, available now as a Blu-Ray+DVD combo for $24.99.

Called "a real-life Lion King" by Amazon reviews, it's a great companion movie to watch with Disney's recent re-release of The Lion King, which my children are obsessed with right now. (How many times can I hear the phrase 'Hakuna Matata' in one day??!!)

Here's a synopsis from the studio:

AFRICAN CATS takes viewers deep into the breathtaking African savanna to witness the heart-stopping rivalry between two lion prides and the epic journey of one brave cheetah family. Shot over the course of two and a half years using state-of-the-art camera equipment, AFRICAN CATS captures the awe-inspiring beauty of one of the wildest places on Earth as it tells the dramatic and often intimate stories of Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion clan.

My children loved this movie, and so did I. The cinematography is spectacular and the story is captivating.

Of course, the question every parent has about these types of film is whether there is gore and death. On those counts, this film is family-friendly, but since it is true to life in the wild, death is part of the movie. If you have young children who would be negatively impacted by this, keep that in mind. For those who are comfortable with the 'circle of life' analogy, this movie will be a hit.

To add to the experience, you can download printable activities by clicking on this link:

Enjoy!

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this movie. My opinions are my own.