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Popular Mechanics for Kids: X-treme Sports and Other Action Adventures
By Sarah Wenk,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sports and outdoor adventures mixed with science.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
PMK features four young hosts who travel around the world seeking out adventure. They ride luges down roads, play sports with professional athletes, hunt for poisonous snakes in the desert, and try some pretty outrageous stuff, like kite waterskiing. What makes this more than just a lot of fun riding around is the explanations of the science behind the fun. The physics of the different sports are explained, and there are hands-on projects, ranging from building your own zip line to how to collect water in the desert. There are cartoons, and funny sequences featuring Charlie, the show's least competent host, who happens to be an adult.
Is It Any Good?
Whether you're an armchair athlete or an extreme sports addict, this video will entertain and inform. The show is sensitive to gender issues, letting the girl hosts do plenty of wild stunts, and featuring female professional athletes in a number of sports. The photography and animation are top notch, and the science and fun are seamlessly woven together. This is a well-made show, one that kids and parents will both enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the science behind the sports covered in this program, and can do some research on the science behind other sports.
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 8, 2005
- On DVD or streaming: March 8, 2005
- Studio: Koch Vision
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Science and Nature
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- MPAA explanation: all audiences
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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