The movie is a well told story of childhood decision-making (kids don't always make the right choices, even if choosing to do something for the right reasons) set into a sometimes stunningly beautiful tour of South Africa. Directed by Carrol Ballard (who directed one of the most photographically beautiful film made in color, The Black Stallion), with excellent use of many familiar archetypes. My 8 year old boy was fully engaged and loved it. (note on my scoring: I indicate "educational" because with a good post-viewing discussion, there is much to learn).

Great coming of age story with the elements of life that concern children rather than adolescents (animals, parents, adult friends as opposed to opposite sex attraction or peer pressure). Beautifully filmed. Scary parts (death of father, danger from lions, near death of a friend) are not graphic, but also are not glossed over.

We watched this for family movie night with our 5.5 year old son and 2 year old daughter- everyone enjoyed it (and it's not always easy to find one that's enjoyable for kids and tolerable for parents). Everything about it was great and engaging- my kids didn't find any of the scenes with the animal predators scary but I think the father's death be difficult for more sensitive kids and might merit some discussion with your child but otherwise I highly recommend the film.

This movie was great. It takes place in South Africa, where a boy lives out in the savannah with a cheetah which he and his dad picked up on the road. After the dad dies, the boy and his mother must move for more financial opportunities in the city, while still taking the cheetah, which by now has become mature. It one day escapes and police are called, and the boy finds the cheetah. Knowing that the cheetah will most certainly get put in the zoo, he decides to go out into the wild where he found the cheetah originally. I don't want to reveal the rest of the story as it will surely wreck it for people who want to see it, but the ending is something not to miss.