THE BOAT (Released to Theaters USA 1921)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The Boat—Buster Keaton short movie—performs at a 'bit' higher level that his One Week film, but still lacks the feel of really good comedy. It works on the good to suitable level and serves as a good academic study of this comedian's work.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A man builds a boat and takes his wife and two boys on an ocean boat trip. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Directors Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Joseph M. Schenck for making the film possible. Cast includes Buster Keaton and Sybil Seely. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is an all around better film than One Week. The best film for Buster Keaton so far is: The General. It has more well-placed comedy that stands on better portrayal and presentation.  Video Critique Available:

Ben Meyers

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (Released to Television USA 1969)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Frosty the Snowman—very young children's watch—becomes so simple that it loses all audience range. Everything in this work is a suitable to okay short film.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A group of young grade school children finds that an inept magician's hat brings a freshly made snowman to life. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass for making the film possible. Voice Cast includes  Jimmy Durante, Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon, Paul Frees, and June Foray. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. A better film for the child/adult Christmas share is How the Grinch Stole Christmas,  Ron Howard's live action film. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS (Released to Theaters USA 2007)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Alvin and the Chipmunks—origin story—has Jason Lee as the 'parent' of the three chipmunks.  The movie works as a suitable to okay watch for the entire family. The story is well written. The movie's animation still works very well 17 years after the initial theater release.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The movie tells the origin story of Alvin and the Chipmunks as a sensational singing group.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Tim Hill for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Janice Karman and  Ross Bagdasarian for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Lee,  David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jesse McCartney.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is an origin story, so one has to see it to understand what happens at their beginning; It's clean and makes a suitable family share movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ONE WEEK (Released to Theaters USA 1920)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  One Week—interesting, but oddly portrayed—misses its comical 'sweet spot'. It does not serve as well as the comedy of Charlie Chaplin or Harold Lloyd films due to an underlying seriousness in storyline which 'swamps' the comedic elements. This short film serves as a good study into Buster Keaton’s work. Everything in the film serves at the suitable to okay level.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A man decides to marry and builds a pre-built home for his new wife.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Directors Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Joseph M. Schenck for making the film possible. Cast includes Buster Keaton, Sybil Seely, and Joe Roberts. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a good study into Buster Keaton’s work but Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd are better comedians for the silent film era. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MRS. LAMBERT REMEMBERS LOVE (Released to Television USA 1991)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love—originally aired on CBS (1991), plays like a Hallmark movie—has human heart and a bittersweet  conclusion.  Watch for terrific acting by the laconic Walter Matthau, the lovely Ellen Burstyn, and Ryan Todd. It’s a low-key afternoon watch that serves families well. With Walter Matthau's son, Charles Matthau, directing the film there is an energy present that draws its audience into caring about the outcome of its main characters.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A grandmother, who is a little forgetful, finds that social services may take her grandson away. She takes her grandson and goes in search of distant and close relatives who will take care of her young grandson.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Charles Matthau for directing and producing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Robert Halmi Sr. and Producers Alan Jacobs and Charles Matthau for making the film possible. Cast includes Ellen Burstyn, Ryan Todd, Walter Matthau, William Schallert, Kathleen Garrett, Sherry Hursey, Richard Zobel, Jeanne Reynolds, Tom McGraw, Victoria Richardson, and  Dustin Werner.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a simple, good story with a bittersweet conclusion. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER (Released to Theaters USA 1999)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The General’s Daughter—not for the faint of heart—presents an odd story about government and military coverup that refuses to establish justice for an individual. Most of this film creates a suitable/good watch but not a great watch.   Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A female Captain is found dead, and the investigation is on.     Additional Thanks Thank you to Simon West for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Mace Neufeld for making the film possible. Cast includes John Travolta,  Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell, Timothy Hutton,  Clarence Williams III, and James Woods. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. If the graphic content was not there, it would have been better, inclusive of the family watch to provide good, after-viewing discussion. The story itself needs to be told. Video Critique Available Here:

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SINGULARITY (Released to DVD Canada 2017)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì  Singularity—bland—suffers from a small story based on an old storyline. It's slowly presented to the point where one asks, 'Do I care?' Interest quickly evaporates to nil due to the redundant tropes the movie relies upon. The movie is low-budget ($100,000) and brought in $86,822. It runs as a suitable to weak entertainment piece. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  An artificial intelligence inventor goes crazy and wants artificial intelligence to rule the world. He takes out the world human population. He pairs a human cyborg with a human who seeks a place of refuge named Aurora.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Robert Kouba for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Philipp Borchhardt, Bruce Wayne Gillies, Spencer Hopping, Nervan Javan, Alissa Phillips, Andreas Reuter, for making the film possible. Cast includes Julian Schaffner, John Cusack, Carmen Argenziano, Eileen Grubba, Jeanne Michѐle Wacker, Pavlo Bubryak, Paul American, David Chrisman, and Hrncir Kuba.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  No. There is not much going on in this movie.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PRINCESS MONOKOKE (Released to Theaters Japan 1997)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Princess Mononoke—likable—shows exceptional creativity, one-of-a-kind cinematography, and eye-candy animation. This Hayao Miyazaki-directed film has a complicated story that involves the older child and adult audience. Be aware that gore and violence have been introduced into the story unlike most of Miyazaki's work but not at the unbearable level. This animated film is very well done.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A teenage prince acquires a demonic virus from a demonic boar that he killed. The spiritual leader casts lots and finds the prince will die without the proper antidote. He ex-communicates the prince from his village and the young prince journeys to find the antidote.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Hayao Miyazaki for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Toshio Suzuki for making the film possible. Voice cast includes Yoji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yuko Tanaka, Karou Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura, Tsunehiko Kamijo, Akihiro Miwa, Mitsuko Mori, and Hisaya Morishige.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Good watch and storyline... one of the better Japanese anime.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE CARIBOO TRAIL (Released to Theaters USA 1950)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Cariboo Trail—Randolph Scott and George 'Gabby' Hayes—provides a good, easy-on-the-mind afternoon watch for western fans' entire family.  The faster frames per second for the horse chases are almost comical because it is interesting to see what Producers wanted in their movies in the early days of Hollywood, This film has the typical good versus evil in a black and white 'no excuses' format with evil's defeat at the end of story. Comic relief is provided by George 'Gabby' Hayes and his burro as the burro has a penchant for independently disappearing and reappearing throughout the film. The future looks bright for everyone as the movie concludes. It's a simple Americana story about new starts, hard work, overcoming challenges, and a lot of providence thrown in along the way.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Two men and a cook travel to Canada to start a cattle ranch and look for gold.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Edwin Marin for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Nat Holt for making the film possible. Cast includes Randolph Scott, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Bill Williams, Karin Booth, Victor Jory, Douglas Kennedy, Jim Davis, Dale Robertson, Mary Stuart, James Griffith and Lee Tung Foo.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This film is a good afternoon watch and tells a good to suitable story.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

GREEN LANTERN (Released to Theaters USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Green Lantern—Ryan Reynolds—emphasizes the importance of the ring a Green Lantern wears and also the fact that Green Lanterns do not singularly act or just act with power on earth. This movie is a suitable watch with suitable portrayal and presentation. The makeup is really great and the special effects are good.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Green Lantern alien gets injured by a dark force before crash landing on earth. Near death, he orders his ring to find the best candidate to succeed him. The ring chooses a hotshot Air Force pilot.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Martin Campbell for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Donald De Line, Greg Berlanti, and Geoff Johns for making the film possible. Cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Saarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, and Tim Robbins. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Overall, this is a suitable watch, tells a good story, and has suitable acting.   Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DANCES WITH WOLVES (Released to Theaters USA 1990)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Dances With Wolves—gemstone quality—has WOW! writing that is respectful of native nations and works deeply into how friends are made when there has been no trust established for hundreds of years between cultures. The movie is a treat. There is adult content, but besides that this film is a terrific film directed by Director Kevin Costner. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  A Union soldier wants assignment in Native American territory and receives assignment at one of the least fortified military installations located deep into that territory.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Kevin Costner for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jim Wilson and Kevin Costner for making the film possible. Cast includes  Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, and Rodney Grant.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Wonderful story. Great watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE TREE OF LIFE (Released to Theaters USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  The Tree of Life—odd and difficult to follow—needs a good, thorough plotline read (see Wikipedia) and some research into the original intent to produce. It's completely intellectual, relies heavily on metaphors and similes, has really good cinematography, and quickly polarizes audiences into 'loved it', 'hated it' opinions.  It's difficult to find its overarching principle.  It definitely invites after viewing discussion. Director Terrence Malick understands something in this artistic production that will completely "blow right over the heads' of most audiences. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images   Storyline   Its the story of life in metaphors and similes as experienced through the O'Brien family.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Terrence Malick for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Donald Rosenfeld for making the film possible. Cast includes Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Tye Sheridan, Fiona Shaw, Jessica Fuselier, Nicholas Gonda, and Will Wallace.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is highly intellectualized, artistic production that may 'blow right over the heads' of most audiences.  Nothing lacking in portrayal, presentation, and acting.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers