HENRY V (Released to Theaters USA 1989)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Henry V—historical movie—attempts to use the small screen as a theatre stage. The movie requires a stage to cover the theatrics and long dialogue rants. The movie could be watched as an academic work of what not to do. The sets are probably the best part of the film. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A British military king fights to take over France in the early 1400s A.D..  . Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Kenneth Branagh for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Stephen Evans for making the film possible. Cast includes Derek Jacobi, Kenneth Branagh,  Simon Shepherd, James Larkin, Brian Blessed, and James Simmons. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe.  If the audience absolutely loves Shakespeare-theater-style entertainment, then this is the film for them. This movie absolutely needs a plotline read to place events and the reason for those events. Otherwise this movie can be an exceptionally long and drawn out film. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

COMPETITION (Released to DVD USA 2015)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Competition—cute Minions short film—has good presentation and suitable portrayal.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  The Minions are drawing and one rolls his drawing into a ball and chucks it in the trash at the other end of the room. The other minion thinks he can do better and the story is on.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Directors Kyle Balda and Julien Soret for directing effort. Cast includes Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It serves child entertainment needs more than adult needs. This short film writing is not high quality.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

TRICK OR TREAT ( Released to Theaters USA 1952)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Trick or Treat—cute Walt Disney Halloween short film—uses Donald Duck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie to tell its story. The animation still stands today and the story is presented and portrayed well. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  A witch sees that Donald Duck does not give Huey, Dewey, and Louie candy for Halloween. She decides to fix their problem.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Jack Hannah for directing effort. Thank you to  Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes June Foray, Clarence Nash, and the Mellomen.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a well done story and worth a watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SCENT-IMENTAL OVER YOU (Released to Theaters USA 1947)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Scent-Imental Over You—Pepe Le Pew short film—follows the basic formatting built for this cartoon character. The writing, presentation, portrayal, and animation work at the suitable to okay level. It is not a laugh-out-loud cartoon, but it does have its smile moments.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Several dogs, fresh from the beauty parlor, make fun of one who is not beautifully groomed. So, she unknowingly dons a lovely skunk costume coat and the story is on.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Edward Selzer for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc and Bea Benaderet. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This short film is capable of generating a few smiles. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PIGS IS PIGS (Released to Theaters USA 1954)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Pigs is Pigs-—cute short film—artfully uses a type of singing narration to tell its story. This unique story relies on good animation, presentation, and portrayal.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A railway station worker conducts his work strictly by the rules. But, when faced with a shipment of two Guinea Pigs he eventually finds strict rules do not always work. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Jack Kinney for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Bill Thompson,  Rhys Williams, Dallas McKennon, and The Mellomen Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is a suitable story and the animation is good. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ESTHER AND THE KING (Released to Theaters USA 1960)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Esther and the King—exaggerated, stilted acting— is not the best film for a biblical film. It has a long way to go to make it to a high quality watch and mostly to tell the unembellished story. The presentation is slow. The movie is disorganized and difficult to follow.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A woman presents herself in front of the Persian King and is soon made queen in the year 478 BC. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Raoul Walsh for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Raoul Walsh for making the film possible. Cast includes Joan Collins, Richard Egan, and Denis O'Dea.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. It tells a story of Esther but does not follow the Book of Esther. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

CHAOS (Released to Theaters Australia 2005)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Chaos—intriguing plot—has a suitable story and a good presentation. This movie is free on Amazon Prime. Know that the free version misses 5 minutes of story time. This critique is based on the free version.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline African American man, Lorenz (Wesley Snipes), and his crew rob a bank and have a stand off with law enforcement. Lorenz will not negotiate with anyone but Quentin Conners (Jason Statham). Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Tony Giglio for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer David Bergstein and Steven Chasman for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Statham, Ryan Phillippe, Wesley Snipes, Henry Czerny, Justine Waddell, Nicholas Lea, and Jessica Steen. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a suitable afternoon action film and tells a good story overall. It will particularly suit Jason Statham fans. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SUSIE THE LITTLE BLUE COUPE (Released to Theaters USA 1952)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Susie the Little Blue Coupe—cute short film—tells a good story. It still holds its ability to entertain despite its age. It has good flow and uses a good narrator, Sterling Holloway, to make the story work.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  A blue coupe is bought off the show room floor. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Clyde Geronimi for directing effort.  Thank you to Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Freberg, Clark Lagerstrom, and Bob Jackman.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This cute short film has been very well done and serves the whole family well.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BOON (Released to DVD/Internet USA 2022)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Boon—suitable—is an average action drama. Watch for an unusual casting choice, Neil McDonough, who fills his role quite well.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A preacher woman, who lives in the country with her son, reluctantly allows gangsters to work in her yard. A former military gunman is neighbor to the woman and sets things right on his terms.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Dick Presley for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Stephen Endelman, Jason Starne, Ruve McDonough, and Neal McDonough for making the film possible. Cast includes Neal McDonough, Christiane Seidel, Christina Ochoa, Jake Melrose, Demetrius Grosse, John Patrick Jordan, and Gabrielle Carteris. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. If there is nothing else on, it is a suitable action, drama film.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SIBERIAN SNIPER (Released to the Internet Russia 2021)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Siberian Sniper—ordered well—has good to great presentation and portrayal.  The conclusion does not seem to have a definitive ending scene, but there is a ' knowing' that the movie is over.    Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  An Asian-Russian professional sniper is given an assignment to break up a German land hold during WWII.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Dmitry Koltsov for directing effort. Cast includes Aytal Stepanov, Aleksandr Kazantsev,  Gennady Kunikeev, Dmitriy Trofimov and Oganes Grigoryan. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good film overall, and tells an intriguing, well paced story. Remember this movie is in Russian, but it has good English subtitles. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BY SIDNEY LUMET (Released to the Cannes Film Festival Cannes, France 2015)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  By Sidney Lumet—informative documentary—tells about the late Director Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men with Henry Fonda, Serpico with Al Pacino, and Murder on the Orient Express (1974)). This documentary is a suitable watch that seems built more for entertainment industry professionals rather than a general audience.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The life and times of movie director, Sidney Lumet. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Nancy Buirski for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jack Turner, Brett Ratner, James Packer, Bobby Kondrat, and Michael Kantor. Cast includes Sidney Lumet.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This is a suitable documentary overall and works from a well written story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers