ON THE BASIS OF SEX (Released to Theaters USA 2018)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  On the Basis of Sex—very good watch—focuses on the early law career battles of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film works and succeeds in drawing its audience. It is more than worth watching. Great work for all involved. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline The story of Ruth Bader Ginsberg from college to some of her early cases.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Mimi Leder for directing the film. Thank you to Producer Robert W. Cort for making the film possible. Cast includes Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston, and Kathy Bates. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a very good, informative, and original film. Good watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SCRAT'S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP: PART 2 (Released to the USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Scrat's Continental Crack-Up: Part 2—cute, rest of the story—is shorter than its prequel but keeps to format and expectations. Again, great animation and deeply drawn characterization that typically follows this animated character are strictly adhered to.

Film Poster  Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

Scrat comes to an island and finds a skeleton pointing to something at sea. So, Scrat goes to investigate. 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Steve Martino, Michael Thmeier for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Carlos Saldanha, Chris Wedge for making the film possible. Cast includes Ray Ramano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Wedge, Aziz Anzari, Alain Chabat, Jason Friccione, Nick Frost.  

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Yes. This continuation story of part one, follows the same quality of presentation and provides a shorter, but still enjoyable watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SCRAT'S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP (Released to the United States 2010)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Scrat's Continental Crack-Up—cute short film—has a comical, original story that follows the previous Scrat characterization well. Look for great animation, presentation, and portrayal. This short film has been released on YouTube. 

Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

Scrat's acorn falls to the Earth's iron core and Scrat follows it for retrieval. 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeter for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lori Forte and Chris Wedge for making the film possible. Cast includes Chris Wedge, Simon Pegg, and Jason Fricchione.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This short film has great animation and stays true to the story of Scrat and his search for acorns. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE SERENADE (Released to Theaters USA 1916)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

The Serenade—an earlier, silent Oliver Hardy work—is an interesting film with a disjointed storyline that lacks the comedic value expected from Hardy. This film could be skipped.

Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

A man with a tuba is trying to play with his friends in a street band.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Will Louis for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Louis Burstein for making the film possible. Cast includes Oliver Hardy.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is kind of interesting but is not as funny as intended and the story is disjointed.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

STICK AROUND (Released to Theaters USA 1925)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Stick Around—comical—shows Oliver Hardy in a domineering, commanding role and does not offset him with Stan Laurel but with Bobby Ray instead. This short film has a good presentation and is worth an afternoon watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline A man and his friend are hired to put wallpaper in a Sanitarium.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Ward Hayes for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Billy West for making the film possible. Cast includes Oliver Hardy.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Comical and backed with a good story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BORDERLANDS (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Borderlands—fun, funny, splashed with comedic dialogue, terrific cast—backs itself with a better than usual superhero story. The computer game, Borderlands, provides the direction for this film and, for once, does not fail in its intent to entertain well as many computer game-themed movies do. Jack Black's dialogue lines are well-paced, original, and beautifully timed. Some of the action scenes are a little artificial, but it does not hinder the value of the watch. It's sweet to see Cate Blanchette and Jamie Lee Curtis as part of the cast.   Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A female bounty hunter is hired by a man to find his daughter and bring her back to him, and the wild ride begins.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Eli Roth for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Ari Arad, Avi Arad, Erik Feig for making the film possible. Cast includes  Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, and Jamie Lee Curtis.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Refreshingly provides a nice sprinkling of comedic dialogue throughout the film. Very welcome addition to this superhero-type movie.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

LITTLE WOMEN (Released to Theaters USA 2019)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

Little Women—worth watching—may not be as well portrayed as the 1994 movie version of Little Women, but still tells its story well and relies on a very good cast that includes Meryl Streep. 

Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

The March sisters live their lives through their teen years and flourish into women who get married, start a new life, and stay in sisterly contact.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Greta Gerwig for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Amy Pascal, Denise Di Nova, and Robin Swicord for making the film possible. Cast includes Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Overall, the movie does justice to the Little Women story and presents a suitable/good watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ARCADIAN (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Arcadian—an example of a movie that has everything going for it to be a 4.8 to a 5.0 star, but fails—has a boring script that seems weak and pointless. The acting relies on highly skilled acting by Nicolas Cage. There is an eerie feeling that emanates from the movie so that one may feel the movie is 'weird and unsettling' when it concludes.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline A man and twins sons try to survive in a post apocalyptical world with wolf-like animals that try to take out the remainder of human civilization. The wolf- like animals hunt at night.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Benjamin Brewer for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Michael Nilon, and David Wulf, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier, Braxton Pope, and Nicolas Cage for making the film possible. Cast includes Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, and Maxwell Jenkins.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is good enough for one watch to see what the film is about. But, the script, as written, hampers its ability to go to top billing. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE WAR WITH GRANDPA (Released to Switzerland 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The War with Grandpa—presents as a comedy—has little comedy. This is a war where everyone loses. It has a good cast: Oakes Fegley, Christopher Walken, Cheech Marin and Uma Thurman, but it does show a situation where someone should have stepped in long before the climax reveals itself. There are some original comedic points; but overall, it is not a high quality storyline.   Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline A woman believes her father can't take care himself anymore. So she brings him to her house and makes her son's room into his room; but her son is not happy.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Tim Hill for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Marvin Peart, Rosa Morris Peart, and Phillip Glasser for making the film possible. Cast includes Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley, Laura Marano, Cheech Marin, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Walken.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is well-acted and has good portrayal, but no one 'wins' in this movie. It is meant to be a comedy, but seems to fall flat in storyline.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PREDATORS (Released to Theaters USA 2010)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Predators—this movie 'kind of' works as a part 3 of the Predator series—references part one (with Arnold Schwarzenegger who acted in the Predators movie made in the late 1980s).This film is interesting, not spectacular, but suitable for watching. Be aware that the violence is cringeworthy and the dialogue uses much language. This is not a family share movie and limits its audience to adults due to the violence and language.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images/Wikipedia

Storyline

A Caucasian man is in freefall. He endeavors to deploy his parachute and succeeds shortly before he falls through trees and hits the ground hard. He finds an Hispanic man and soon a Russian all in the same place and state of mind. None of them know why they are there.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Nimrod Antal for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Robert Rodriguez, John Davis, and Elizabeth Avellan for making the film possible. Cast includes Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, and Lawrence Fishburne.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a suitable watch. The acting is a bit weak in certain scenes, but overall the film is watchable.

Video Critique Available Here:  

Ben Meyers

THE QUEEN MARY: GREATEST OCEAN LINER* (Released to Television UK 2016)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì The Queen Mary: Greatest Ocean Liner—informative film—allows a good peek into the history of the Queen Mary. It's a good watch, educational for the family. This was originally a 1-hour long film but they shortened it for Paramount + through Smithsonian channel.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline History of the Queen Mary ship and how it still serves in its old age.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director and Producer Matthew Pinder for directing effort. Thank you to Producers for Ewan Agnus, Jackie MacLean, Mick McAvoy, Dan McCue, Clare Paterson, making the film possible. Cast includes Iain Glen, Everette Hoard, Ian Johnston, Eileen Gourley, Bruce Peter, Robert Tennenbaum, Ludwig Katzentein, Bill Spurrier, Ray Devau, and Larry Schlesinger.      Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Provides good after-viewing discussion. Good story. Also Know as: Mighty Ship at War: Queen Mary Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

HOP TO IT, BELL HOP* (Released to Theaters USA 1919)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Hop to it, Bell Hop—another buddy comedy with Oliver Hardy and Bobby Ray—provides a suitable to okay watch. This short film's conclusion is interesting but seems oddly done. There seems to be two versions and two different names released in two different years for this movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of  Wikipedia

Storyline

Two men work as bell hops and try their best to make customers feel comfortable. 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors and Producers for making the film possible. Cast includes Bobby Ray and Oliver Hardy.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It is a suitable watch.

*Also Known as Hop to It.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD (Released to Theaters USA 2021)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì Those Who Wish Me Dead—Angelina Jolie and Jon Bernthal—hits hard and fast as it combines an out-of-control forest fire with military-skilled assassins as they pursue specifically targeted families.  The script is very realistically portrayed on screen. It is a top-of-the-line thriller/drama that completely earns its watch. Be aware that this film is violent, fast, and efficient in telling the story.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline Female forest fire fighter and a policeman are caught up in political intrigue while trying to save a boy from assassins.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Taylor Sheridan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steven Zaillian, Garrett Basch, Aaron L. Gilbert, Kevin Turen, and Taylor Sheridan. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Nicholas Hoult, Aidan Gillen, Medina Senghore, and Jon Bernthal.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is a really good film and tells an exciting story on screen. This film is a great watch and has outstanding acting. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers