Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom Movie Review

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Monkey-Kingdom-PosterJust like Chimpanzee and Bears, Disneynature is back with another beautiful film!! Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom is in theaters TODAY – April 17th! Go see MONKEY KINGDOM opening week (April 17-23) and Disneynature will make a donation to Conservation International in your honor to help protect monkeys and other endangered species in their natural habitats!! Disneynature Monkey KingdomThe movie takes place in Sri Lanka, set among ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia. And, oh my is the scenery just absolutely breathtaking. This monkey family lives at Castle Rock, which is just a fabulous monkey home! Here’s the official details:

Life is an adventure for Maya, the clever and resourceful blonde-bobbed monkey in “MonkeyKingdom, “Disneynature’s new feature film set among ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia. Maya’s world is forever changed when she welcomes her son, Kip, into her complicated extended family. Like all families, Maya’s has more than its share of colorful personalities—and she’s determined to give her son a leg up in the world. When their longtime home at Castle Rock is taken over by powerful neighboring monkeys, Maya’s whole family retreats, and she uses her street smarts and ingenuity to uncover untapped resources amidst strange new creatures and unsettling surroundings. Ultimately, they will all have to work together to reclaim Castle Rock, where Maya can hopefully realize her dreams for her son’s future. Featuring a rich variety of characters, including a mischievous mongoose, simple-minded langur monkeys,predatory leopards and monitor lizards, “Monkey Kingdom” is narrated by Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), directed by Mark Linfield (“Chimpanzee,” “Earth”) and co-directed by Alastair Fothergill (“Chimpanzee,” “Bears”). With music from award-winning composer Harry Gregson-Williams (“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and theWardrobe,” “Shrek” movies), Disneynature’s eighth True Life Adventure—the follow-up to 2014’s “Bears”—swings into theaters April 17, 2015.

I had the pleasure of seeing the movie at Walt Disney Studios just before our trip to the LA Zoo! And, it’s a GREAT family film! Everyone will love the gorgeous scenery and there is also a GREAT soundtrack. The music is really well done! And, everyone will leave the theater learning something new. The family dynamics and social structure of the monkeys was absolutely fascinating!! I had NO idea they had a social hierarchy like they do. And, poor Maya (the heroine of this movie) is very low on that social hierarchy when we meet her. Really, such an amazing story! Maya & Kip Monkey KingdomNow for the question I always get… Is it appropriate for kids?!

The answer is absolutely YES! This is an excellent family film!!! With a running time of only about 90 minutes, it’s even perfect for young little movie goers. We plan on taking our boys (2, 5, 8) and I think they’re all going to love it! Kip and the other babies in the movie are so cute and mischievous! So kids should really enjoy those parts!

There are two scenes in which monkeys do die, but nothing graphic is shown. It’s very much a “this is part of nature and life” type of situations. There are also a couple of intense scenes (where another group of gnarly monkeys attack), so kids might be a little scared during this part. But, again, it’s nothing graphic. Also, there are a few monkeys in the family that are not very nice – wicked stepsisters if you will. So, their behavior might serve as a good discussion for how we treat others! 😉 But, kids (and adults) will LOVE the hilarious scenes where monkeys go searching for food in places they definitely shouldn’t be. The kids will no doubt be cracking up!

As a former biology teacher though, I absolutely LOVE these nature films. Not only is the visual imagery stunning (like, I totally want to go see Sri Lanka now), but there is so much to learn from these movies. It’s such a great way to expose kids to all the amazing things in nature! Disneynature #MonkeyKingdomSo, plan to take the whole family to go see Monkey Kingdom this week! Afterward, you can head to the Disney Store (or order online) to pick up a plush Maya (pictured above) or Kip! Disney Store will also donate $1 to Conservation International for every Disneynature Maya and Kip plush purchased between 3/13/2015 and 5/14/2015! So between your movie ticket & plush purchase, you’re having some fun and helping the real monkeys in the wild!

Are you planning to see Monkey Kingdom?

Disclosure: Disney hosted me in LA in order to attend the film screenings and to participate in group interviews & media events. As always, all opinions, experiences, and love of Disney are entirely my own!

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I’m Sara, a mom to three adorable boys living in the Arizona desert. As a former teacher, I love sharing my passions with others. So, have a look around for creative inspiration about cooking, creating, celebrating, traveling with kids, and more everyday mom endeavors!

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4 Responses

  1. YES, I am planning on seeing Monkey Kingdom. And looking up Bears and Chimpanzees, too. I will probably purchase them when the go up for sale.

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