ELMER'S PET RABBIT (Released to Theaters USA 1941)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Elmer’s Pet Rabbit—Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny short film—presents comedy typically associated with these characters but presents a new story, not associated with them. The animation, while dated, is actually quite good. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline  Elmer Fudd buys a pet rabbit but the pet rabbit is not content to stay in a fenced off area in Elmer's back yard and tries to become more integrated with the household.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc and Arthur Bryan.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This film is very well put together and worth watching. It is good to see Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny in this short movie playing non-traditional roles. Video Critique  Available Here: Ben Meyers

OLIVER TWIST Released to Theaters USA 2005)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Oliver Twist— remake of the 1968 Oliver!—is a part of many  remakes of the Charles Dickens' 1838 novel, Oliver Twist. The years of remakes include 1909 through 1948, 1968, 1982, 1997, and 2003.  There is also a modernized film after Oliver Twist (2005) named Twist (2021). This 2005 movie, Oliver Twist, is about the same quality as the 1968 Oliver!, but it is not as likeable or believable as the 1968 Oliver!  However, this movie, Oliver Twist (2005) is not a musical like Oliver! (1968). So, if an audience does not care for  musicals this remake may be a preferable watch.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Oliver Twist gets sent to another home away from the orphanage because he wants more food.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Roman Polanski for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Roman Polanski, Robert  Benmussa, and Alain Sarde for making the film possible. Cast includes Barney Clark, Ben Kingsley, Jamie Foreman, Leanne Rowe, Mark Strong, and Edward Hardwicke.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. Oliver Twist (2005) is an okay/suitable film  in story and acting.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

AIR FORCE (Released to Theaters USA 1943)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Air Force—worth watching—begins as a high quality watch then about 20 to 25 minutes into the film slightly falters with some scenes operating at the soap opera level that seem quite out of sequence with the story itself. There are some poignant scenes as the plane flies over several islands. Overall, the movie is well written and constructed. Some acting seems like the actors know their lines a little too well and that reduces the natural ability to portray their roles realistically. The character development is little to none. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline Several United States Air Corps men fly over islands just as the Japanese are attacking Pearl Harbor during World War II.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Howard Hawks for direction effort. Thank you to Producers Hal B. Wallis and Jack Warner for making the film possible. Cast includes John Garfield, John Ridgely, Gig Young, Arthur Kennedy, and Harry Carey.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Good story, interesting presentation that relies on black and white film footage. The actors show strong maturity. The movie is worth watching. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

NEVER BACK DOWN (Released to Theaters USA 2008)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Never Back Down—suitable—has suitable to good acting, portrayal, and presentation. Watch for Djimon Hounsou, Sean Faris, and Amber Heard.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A single mother with two boys moves to Orlando, Florida to start a new life. The older boy, Jake, receives an offer to go to a party by a pretty girl at the senior high school in Orlando. When he goes, he finds that she has a boyfriend and that friend is a hot shot kickboxer who beats Jake up in a kickboxing match at the party. Jake thinks about the match while healing from his minor injuries. A new friend at school tells him for the second time that he needs to go to his friend's professional kickboxer trainer.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jeff Wadlow for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Craig Baumgarten and David Zelon for making the film possible. Cast includes Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope, and Djimon Hounsou.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. There is some inappropriate material in the movie. But the movie turns into a good film watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BEAR STORY (Released to the BFI London Film Festival UK 2014)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  Bear Story—flows with sentimentality and heart—won 14 awards and an Academy award. It is based on a true story about the director's grandfather. The film originates from Chile and can be best described as amazing.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  A bear is building a box with animatronics inside and the next day goes to a sidewalk in the city with his box and rings a bell to attract customers and the story is on.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Gabriel Osorio Vargas for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Pato Escala Pierart for making the film possible.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes and YES. This is a WONDERFUL short film. Great work for all involved. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SHOOTER (Released to Theaters USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Shooter—Mark Wahlberg—is a good, low-grade watch that employs enough action to generate enough excitement to continue watching to its conclusion. It works in the good to suitable range and will satisfy Mark Wahlberg fans. The movie employs an eclectic array of some of our best actors.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   An Ethiopian covert mission is abandoned by the CIA. One agent survives and retires. He is later approached for protection of the President. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Antoine Fuqua for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorenzo Bonaventura and Ric Kidney for making the movie possible. Cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Elias Koleas, Rhona Mitra, and Ned Beatty. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Even though it is not in the 3.9+ star range, it is still worth watching. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE INFILTRATOR (Released to Theaters USA 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  The Infiltrator— above par performance by Bryan Cranston—has been crafted for the adult audience with such precision, such tight development that it stands far above average in masterful story telling. Watch for John Leguizamo's very good performance.  There is one car crash scene that is incredibly realistic. Be aware that this movie has been crafted for the adult audience. There is some nudity as well as violence. It earns its time and money investment. Not 'sloppy'.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  The Columbian drug cartels are infiltrated by a Customs Agent.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Brad Furman for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Paul Brennan, Miriam Segal, Brad Furman, Don Sikorski for making the film possible. Cast includes Bryan Cranston, Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Yul Vazquez, and Andy Ryan.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Be aware that this is a taut movie, a stressful watch, due to the danger that has been very well drawn until the conclusion. It's not a relaxing watch and takes energy to watch with strong character development that makes the audience care about who wins. It's an adult only watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE IRON CLAW (Released to Theaters USA 2023)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  The Iron Claw—tremendous performance by Zac Efron—relies on a great cast to tell a great sports story. Even though the movie shows the tougher side of professional wrestling, it's a unique story that needs to be told. There is some sexual content that is easy to skip. This movie does not follow the Von Erich story exactly (for instance showing five sons instead of six) but it still shows the dominance of the father and the willingness of the sons to follow in his footsteps.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Fritz Von Erich, who is a professional wrestler, retires and  trains his 5 sons to be professional wrestlers.     Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Sean Durkin for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tesssa Ross, Juliette Howell, Sean Durkin,  Angs Lamont, and Derrin Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, and Lily James. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This a great film overall and tells a great story. great acting...realistic. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE WILD ROBOT (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì The Wild Robot—unique and colorful—flows with heart and sentiment. This movie is great for family share entertainment night. It has good portrayal and presentation. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A shipping crate with a new robot inside washes up on a seashore. Forest animals  accidentally activate the robot after the crate breaks open.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Chris Sanders for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Jeff Hermann for making the film possible. Cast includes Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. The film could be interpreted as an environmental film but if that was the intent, know that it is not preachy and has a sweet story to tell. The multiple animal interactions increase the interest factor. It is a good child/adult share. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

WALKY TALKY HAWKY (Released to Theaters USA 1946)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Walky Talky Hawky—animated short film—is creatively written and provides an exceptional piece of comedy. The story has personable characters that have been well-developed. It is a great addition to the family home video library and can be re-watched multiple times. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  A father Chicken Hawk tells his young son that he is a Chicken Hawk and Chicken Hawks love to eat chickens. So the son tries to get a chicken and gets into shenanigans between Foghorn Leghorn and Barnyard Dawg.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Robert McKimson for directing effort. Thank you to Warner Brothers for producing the film. Cast includes Mel Blanc.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is original and tells a great story. WOW! What a short film! This is the golden age of cartoon making that made memorable toons. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers