BEE MOVIE (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

Bee Movie—great animated comedy—places itself in the highly imaginative category. There are a few “Why was that said?” moments that take away from the overall story; but the film is comical and entertaining. It’s a good family watch.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Barry B. Benson (voice of Jerry Seinfeld) grows up, goes to college, and tours Honex Industries for a working position. But, when he finds that he can never change his position once he chooses it, Barry B. Benson looks a little deeper for a more challenging position. He finds that the soldier bees go outside the hive to bring in pollen for the processing of new jars of honey and talks to his friend, Adam Flayman (voice of Matthew Broderick), about joining the soldier bees. Adam warns Barry B. Benson that he does not seem to be ideally suited for soldier life, but Barry goes outside with the soldier bees to examine their work. He becomes lost and meets a human woman, Vanessa Bloome (voice of Reneé Zellweger). Bee law states that bees are not to talk to humans. Barry breaks the rule and not only talks with Vanessa; but develops a close relationship with her. On a trip to a grocery store, Barry discovers that bees work hard to supply humans with honey. He decides this is unfair and pursues a lawsuit to dissolve this seemingly unfair situation.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Steve Hickner and Simon J. Smith. Thank you to Producers Jerry Seinfeld and Christina Steinberg for their efforts in making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Layton T. Montgomery (voice of John Goodman), Ken (voice of Patrick Warburton), Mooseblood (voice of Chris Rock), Janet Benson (voice of Kathy Bates), Martin Benson (voice of Barry Levinson), Bee Larry King (voice of Larry King), Ray Liotta (voice of Ray Liotta), Sting (voice of Sting), Judge Bumbleton (Oprah Winfrey), Buzzwell (Larry Miller), and Trudy (voice of Megan Mullally).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The concept is enjoyable, the conclusion innovative and well thought out.

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Ben Meyers

AMADEUS (Director’s Cut Release United States 2002)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Stars ìììì

Amadeus loosely bases itself on the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart while simultaneously becoming the crowning jewel of morality plays. Intricate writing superbly examines the differences between ability and genius, duplicity and innocence, creative constraint and freedom of expression, jealousy and guilelessness.  The Director’s Cut is ‘R’ rated and contains some nudity.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The story is told through the eyes of Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), a contemporary to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). It begins with Salieri loudly pleading penitence for killing Mozart. The next scenes show Salieri’s servants breaking into his room where they find him on the floor with his throat cut. He survives and spends the rest of his life in an insane asylum. The story shoots ahead to scenes where Father Vogler (Richard Frank) comes to see an elderly man in the asylum. The elderly man is Salieri. Salieri tells his story as it involves Mozart.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director Milos Forman. Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Hausman, Saul Zaentz, and Bertil Ohlsson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Constanze Mozart (Elizabeth Berridge), Leopold Mozart (Roy Dotrice), Emanuel Schikaneder, (Simon Callow), Katerina Cavelieri (Christine Ebersole), Emperor Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones), Count Orsini-Rosenberg (Charles Kay), Michael Schlumberg (Kenneth McMillan featured in the 2002 Directors Cut), Parody Commendatore (Kenny Baker), Papagena (Lisbeth Bartlett), and Frau Weber (Barbara Bryne).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a ‘must see film’. It’s a compelling masterpiece of intricate story telling.

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Ben Meyers

TEARS OF THE SUN (Theatrical Release USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Stars ìììì

Tears of the Sun—based on a real life Canadian-Columbian rescue event—turns into a superb, worth a second watch movie. Strong violence and some partial nudity.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

After a Nigerian rebel uprising, United States Navy Seal Lieutenant A. K. Waters (Bruce Willis) receives command to lead his team into the Nigerian jungle to rescue and evacuate Dr. Lena Fiore Kendricks (Monica Bellucci) and her colleagues, Mission Priest (Pierrino Mascarino), Sister Grace (Fionnula Flanagan), and Sister Siobhan (Cornelia Hayes O’Herlihy), from the hospital/mission where they serve.  When the Navy Seal team arrives, Dr. Kendrick requests that her patients be included in the rescue attempt. Patients, able to walk, accompany the Navy Seal team and Dr. Kendricks on the 7 ½ mile trek to the helicopter evacuation point. When they arrive for evacuation, Lieutenant Waters follows through with his original order to primarily evacuate Dr. Kendricks and leaves all patients on ground. The evacuation flight path includes a view of the now destroyed mission/hospital compound where all remaining personnel, who voluntarily remained to care for the patients who could not travel, have been ruthlessly murdered by rebel troops. Ignoring his primary directive, Lieutenant Waters returns to the evacuation point, loads as many of the abandoned patients, who had initially traveled into the jungle, into the helicopter as he can, and asks his team to lead the rest of the patients through the jungle to a safe area. Rebel troops pursue as the Navy Seal team endeavors to find a safe point where they can be evacuated.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director Antoine Fuqua. Thank you to Executive Producer Joe Roth for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: James ‘Red’ Atkins (Cole Hauser), Ellis ‘Zee’Pettigrew (Eamonn Walker), Kelly Lake (Johnny Messner), Michael ‘Slo’ Slowenski (Nick Chinlund), Demetrius ‘Silk’ Owens (Charles Ingram), Danny ‘Doc’ Kelley (Paul Francis), Jason ‘Flea’ Mabry (Chad Smith), and Colonel Idris Sadick (Malick Bowens).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Definitely. A special ops movie with Bruce Willis that is superb. Period.

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Ben Meyers

SPY KIDS 3-D: GAME OVER (Theatrical Release USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Stars ììì

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over—fairly good—but the conclusion of the story seems to ruin the rest of the movie due to the script lines. This film, due to the computer gaming theme, works for children; but for the adult, there’s not much there to keep one in the entertainment seat.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara) is sent into a computer game created by his Grandfather’s (Ricardo Montalban) arch nemesis, Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone). His purpose is to rescue his sister, Carmen Cortez (Alexa PenaVega), from the game and to shut down the game in twelve short hours. As usual, Spy Kids rely on team effort to successfully outmaneuver the enemy and win their games.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director and Producer Robert Rodriguez. Thank you to Executive Producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Gregorio Cortez (Antonio Banderas), Ingrid Cortez (Carla Gugino), Grandmother (Holland Taylor), Donnagon Giggles (Mike Judge), Cesca Giggles (Salma Hayek), Gary Giggles (Matt O’Leary), Gerti Giggles (Emily Osment), and Arnold (Ryan Pinkston).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. For kids, it’s a cool flick; but the conclusion needs re-writing.

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Ben Meyers

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Stars ìììì

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—really good take on the remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory—presents a more expansive view of Willy Wonka’s life and why he became a chocolatier; but, once again the remake is not as good as the original. Johnny Depp seems nervous, not quite at home in his Willy Wonka character; but, as always, rises to the occasion and still manages to pull off a good rendition of the Willy Wonka personality. The rest of the cast could not compare with the original casting for this film. There’s a certain indefinable ‘heart’, call it innocence if you will, that permeates the original production that has been lost in the remake.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Charlie, an impoverished child, with a large propensity for humility, receives a Willy Wonka bar that contains a coveted Golden Ticket which allows the bearer of the ticket access to a personal tour of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The real competition, as Charlie eventually finds out, has nothing to do with winning the Golden Ticket, but a great deal to do with personal ethics, morality, and codes of conduct that uniquely put humans in places for prospering and doing well.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Tim Burton. Thank you to Executive Producers Bruce Berman, Graham Burke, Michael Siegel, Patrick McCormick, and Liccy Dahl for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore), Grandpa Joe (David Kelly), Mrs. Bucket (Helena Bonham Carter), Mr. Bucket (Noah Taylor), Mrs. Beauregarde (Missi Pyle), Mr. Salt (James Fox), Oompa Loompa (Deep Roy), Dr. Wonka (Christopher Lee), Mr. Teavee (Adam Godley), Mrs. Gloop (Franziska Troegner), and Violet Beauregarde (AnnaSophia Robb).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The original is better than the remake; but either movie makes a great child/adult share with much opportunity for discussion about the meaning of the movie after the watch.

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Ben Meyers

BLACK HAWK DOWN (Los Angeles California Limited Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.9|5.0 Stars ìììì

Black Hawk Down—superb Ranger and Delta Force war flick—emphasizes just how good special effects can support a film. With some of the best special effects that the movie business has to offer, Ridley Scott outshines competition with a film that not only contains lots of action but adds just the right amount of heart and emotional appeal.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

After Somalia enters civil war and United Nations personnel are attacked, United States Ranger, Delta, and SOAR forces are deployed to take out the country’s new president. In the process two Black Hawk helicopters, Super Six-One and Super Six-Four, are shot down by terrorists. With ground forces unable to reach the crash sites, the battle around the two Black Hawks becomes a bitter struggle between life and death.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director Ridley Scott. Thank you to Executive Producers Branko Lustig, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, and Simon West for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Eversmann (Josh Hartnett), Grimes (Ewan McGregor), McKnight (Tom Sizemore), Hoot (Eric Bana), Sanderson (William Fichtner), Nelson (Ewen Bremner), Garrison (Sam Shepard), Kurth (Gabriel Casseus), Wex (Kim Coates), Schmid (Hugh Dancy), Durant (Ron Eldard), Beales (Ioan Gruffudd), Yurek (Tom Guiry), and Smith (Charlie Hofheimer).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Beyond words. One of the best, if not the best, war movie productions. It’s an ‘I can feel it movie.’

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Ben Meyers

JAWS: THE REVENGE (Theatrical Release USA 1987)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Stars ììì

Jaws: The Revenge—the 4^th sequel to Jaws—is indeed slightly better than Jaws: 3-D; but it is not enough of an improvement to raise or lower the Ben Meyers’ star rating. Some scenes seem poorly timed with excessive energy poured into the drama (such as the grieving Mother scene). We kind of got it already. Dennis Quaid did not reprise his role as Michael Brody and neither did John Putch reprise his role as Sean Brody in this final film of the series.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Sean Brody (Mitchell Anderson), the youngest son of Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) from Jaws and Jaws 2, takes care of his mother, Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary), from Jaws, Jaws 2, and Jaws: The Revenge while working as a policeman. At Christmas, he sails out to separate a log from a buoy and dies from a Great White shark attack. Ellen becomes convinced that the shark is on a revenge killing crusade to eliminate her family. After Sean’s funeral, Ellen travels with her oldest son, Michael Brody (Lance Guest) and his wife, Carla (Karen Young), to the Bahamas to live with them. The Bahamas should be a safe place for her family as the waters are too warm to support shark life. But, several days later a Great White shows up in the Bahamian waters. Ellen and her new friend, Hoagie (Michael Caine), become embroiled in a bitter shark battle that lasts through the rest of the film until the last Jaws shark is vanquished.

Additional Thanks

Good Work for Director and Producer Joseph Sargent. Thank you to Associate Producer Frank Baur for his help in making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Carla Brody (Karen Young), Hoagie (Michael Caine), Thea (Judith Barsi), Louisa (Lynn Whitfield), Jake (Mario Van Peebles), Young Sean Brody (archival footage of Jay Mello), Clarence (Cedric Scott), William (Charles Bowleg), Mr. Witherspoon (Melvin Van Peebles), Tiffany (Mary Smith), Polly (Edna Billotto), Mrs. Taft (Fritzi Jane Courney), and Mayor (Cyprian R. Dube).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The first Jaws movie is the best of the four. If one desires to complete the series to date, this currently as of 2019, is the last movie of the series. But, for time and money, this one can be passed due to its mediocrity. The original energy for the series seems to have long since passed...however, there is always that unexpected surprise built into another sequel or prequel that could surpass everything made to date. This film lacks the Spielberg touch.

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Ben Meyers

THE SHORT GAME (South by Southwest Film Festival Austin Texas USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Short Game—a classic golf documentary—has inspiration, heart, and ambition  all rolled into one as it tells the tale of young children professionally schooled in the art of golf.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Young male and female golfers, 7 to 8 years of age, train for the 2012 U. S. Kids Golf World Championship.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director Josh Greenbaum. Thank you to Executive Producers John Battsek, Jessica Biel, and David Frankel for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Amari Avery (Herself), Jed Dy (Himself), Allan Kournikova (Himself), Zamokuhle Nxasana (Himself), Alexa Pano (Herself), Sky Sudberry (Herself), Augustin Valery (Himself), Yang Kuang (Himself), Jack Nicklaus (Himself), Gary Player (Himself), Annika Sorenstam (Herself), Chi Chi Rodriguez (Himself), and Don Law (Himself).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Definitely. Surprisingly ambitious young golfers show extreme positivism as they shoot for the winning cup. They won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.

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Ben Meyers

GENERATION IRON (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Stars ìììì

Generation Iron—a body building documentary—does not have the grit or enjoyment factor that other physical training documentaries such as Pumping Iron include. This film is too much about the lives of body builders rather than about body building. It tends to show body building as not at all fun, but a competitive bullying sport that focuses on devising ways to beat the opponent rather than establishing camaraderie within the sport. Unlike the classic Arnold Schwarzenegger Pumping Iron documentary that shows hard work and dedication to body building while balancing that work with a genuine love of the game, this film seems to focus on virtual egoism where real fun is lost to competition.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The film shows how several bodybuilders live, how they survive, what they do to pay the bills, and how they come together to compete for the 2012 Mr. Olympia Championship.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director and Writer Vlad Yudin. Thank you to Executive Producers Robin Chang, Jerome Gary, David J. Pecker, Eric Welder, and Jim Manion for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Himself), Mickey Rourke (Narrator voice), Michael Jai White (Himself), Lou Ferrigno (himself), Busta Rhymes (Himself), Ian Mercer (Himself), Kai Greene (Himself), Valery McCaffrey (Herself), Phil Heath (Himself),and Dennis Wolf (Himself).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It does what a documentary is meant to do—provide information.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS (Theatrical Release USA 1989)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Stars ììì

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, despite its box office success, and good/suitable story, does not spark as much interest, as other films within this genre set (like Harry and the Hendersons or The Princess Bride).

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ron Thompson (Jared Rushton) accidentally knocks a baseball through a window of inventor and neighbor Wayne Szalinski’s (Rick Moranis) house. The baseball hits Mr. Szalinski’s shrinking machine. The machine functions. Ron Thompson’s older brother, Little Russ Thompson (Thomas Wilson Brown), insists that Ron retrieve the baseball. He hauls his little brother to the Szalinski home where Amy Szalinski (Amy O’Neill), the oldest daughter, and her little brother, Nick Szalinski (Robert Oliveri), answer the door. All four children walk upstairs to retrieve the baseball, encounter the machine, and are shrunk to a fraction of their size. The rest of the story involves their perils and tribulations as they attempt rescue and restoration.

Additional Thanks

Good Work for Director Joe Johnston. Thank you to Executive Producer Thomas G. Smith for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Big Russ Thompson (Matt Frewer), Diane Szalinski (Marcia Strassman), Mae Thompson (Kristine Sutherland), Tommy Purvis (Carl Steven), Don Forrester (Mark L. Taylor), and Gloria Forrester (Kimmy Robertson).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is a simple story and has its entertaining moments, but has a weak portrayal.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ARE WE THERE YET? (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Stars ìììì

Are We There Yet?—good film—uses the talents of Ice Cube, Philip Bolden, Aleisha Allen, and Nia Long to tell the story. Great script, well portrayed and comical.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Nick Persons (Ice Cube), who works at a collectible sports store in Portland, Oregon, finds the woman of his dreams—Suzanne Kingston (Nia Long); but, Suzanne has two children and Nick Persons doesn’t like children. He almost decides to forego Suzanne when he sees her two children in the distance: Lindsey Kingston (Aleisha Allen) and Kevin Kingston (Philip Bolden). But, with some encouragement from his best friend and fellow worker, Marty (Jay Mohr), and his imaginary friend, baseball player bobble head Satchel Paige (voice of Tracy Morgan), Nick takes the leap and begins courting Suzanne Kingston. Eventually circumstances lead Nick into volunteering to take the two children on a road trip from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, Canada.  The trip turns into a comical adventure as the three get to know each other through a series of serious misadventures.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Brian Levant. Thank you to Executive Producers Derek Dauchy and Todd Garner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Frank Kingston (Sean Millington ), Al (M.C. Gainey), Carl (Henry Simmons), Car Dealer (Ray Galletti), Nick’s Pal on the street (Viv Leacock), Shoplifter (Casey Dubois), Shoplifter (J.B. McEown), Basketball Player (Kenyan Lewis), Basketball Player (Daniel Cudmore), Basketball Player (Adrian Holmes), and Lady Airport Cop (Nancy Robertson).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a child and adult share movie and worth the ticket as it provides genuine chuckle power throughout the film.

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Ben Meyers

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT (Theatrical Release USA 1998)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Prince of Egypt—the Biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt—is an animated musical that takes the viewer on a journey that covers the Moses story from his saving by a royal queen to his leading the Israelite people to the base of Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. The script is phenomenal. The film is inspirational. The portrayal of story is superb.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Moses’ (voice of Val Kilmer) mother, Yocheved (voice of Ofra Haza), secretly evades Egyptian soldiers sent to kill Hebrew babies and sets her baby into the Nile River where he is found by Egyptian Queen Tuya (voice of Helen Mirren) and adopted as her own son. The Queen names the baby Moses. Moses is raised in the royal houses along with his older step-brother, the eventual King of Egypt Pharaoh Rameses (voice of Ralph Fiennes).

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Directors Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells. Thank you to Executive Producer Jeffrey Katzenberg for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Tzipporah (voice of Michelle Pfeiffer), Miriam (voice of Sandra Bullock), Aaron (voice of Jeff Goldblum), Jethro (voice of Danny Glover), Seti (voice of Patrick Stewart), Hotep (voice of Steve Martin), Huy (voice of Martin Short), Rameses’ Son (voice of Bobby Motown), and Young Miriam (voice of Eden Riegel).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The best Bible story ever told. Good rendition of Moses’ story. Worth your money.

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Ben Meyers

HEAVYWEIGHTS (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

Heavyweights—not particularly heavy in content—turns into a ‘just for fun’ film, an afternoon, fill-in-some-time watch.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Overweight Gerry Garner’s (Aaron Schwartz) parents sign him up for a weight reducing summer camp. Gerry Garner—not in the least interested—arrives in camp, makes friends, and begins to settle in for a great summer. However, his great summer is rudely interrupted when the camp goes bankrupt and the owners sell to Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller), a hard rolling, goal oriented, military-styled manager who takes the camp to a whole new level of efficiency. Tony Perkis’ punitive, marshaling style moves the camp kids to revolt and the show is on with a ‘who’s really going to run this camp’ theme.

Additional Thanks

Really Good Work for Director Steven Brill. Thank you to Executive Producers Judd Apatow and Sarah Bowman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Nicholas (David Goldman), Sam (Joseph Wayne Miller), Cody (Cody Burger), Kenny (Allen Covert), Roger Johnson (Tim Blake Nelson), Mrs. Maury Garner (Nancy Ringham), Camp MVP Pitcher (Bobby Fain), Pat Finley (Tom McGowan), Josh Burnbalm (Shaun Weiss), and Lars (Tom Hodges).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s a ‘kill some time’ watch with no ‘take away’ perks other than seeing Ben Stiller’s artistic side working full throttle while he works to enhance his role as an athletic instructor.

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Ben Meyers

U-571 (Theatrical Release USA 2000)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.7|5.0 Stars ìì

U-571—a disappointing, entirely fictional submarine film—offends the British NavaI forces with its presumption that Americans enabled Britain’s acquisition of the Enigma coding machine and documents. The casting department fails to establish a good, charismatic team that is so necessary to pull a movie from mediocre to great.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The German submarine boat U-571 is known to carry a coding device and books for sending coded German military messages during World War II. American submarine S-33 is ordered to capture German U-571 and retrieve both the coding device and the code books. The German submarine U-571 is disabled by the Americans and part of the crew of the American submarine S-33 board the German submarine U-571. After they have boarded the U-571, their own submarine is scuttled by a second German submarine which is in the area. The Americans are stranded aboard the German U-571. They submerge and engage the second submarine in battle. During the battle the German U-571 sustains damage, but the Americans are able to repair the submarine to the point of enabling travel. As they make their way back to England, a German destroyer intercepts them. Battle engages. The submarine submerges. The German destroyer drops depth charges. The U- 571 surfaces and enables sufficiently to fire a last torpedo to destroy the German destroyer. The Americans flee the U-571 in a lifeboat with the coding machine and coding books secure.

Additional Thanks

Fair Work for Director Jonathan Mostow. Thank you to Executive Producer Hal Lieberman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lieutenant Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey), Lieutenant Commander Mike Dahlgren (Bill Paxton), CPO Henry Klough (Harvey Keitel), Lieutenant Pete Emmett (Jon Bon Jovi), Major Matthew Coonan (David Keith), Captain Lieutenant Gunther Wassner (Thomas Kretschmann), Lieutenant Hirsch, (Jake Weber), Seaman Bill Wentz (Jack Noseworthy), Seaman Ted ‘Trigger’ Fitzgerald (Tom Guiry), and Seaman Ronald ‘Rabbit’ Parker’ (Will Estes).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

                                               

No. The Hunt for Red October or The Spy Who Loved Me present significant entertainment that far surpasses the entertainment value of U-571.

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Ben Meyers

THE FINEST HOURS (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.2|5.0 Stars ììì

The Finest Hours—boring, slow—requires stronger acting in nearly every character. The secondary love story weaving under the primary drama doesn’t have the ‘pop’ necessary to support the drama.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Bernard ‘Bernie’ Webber (Chris Pine), who works for the United States Coast Guard, wants to marry Miriam Webber (Holliday Grainger), but first he has to get affirmation from his commanding officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana). Before he can consolidate his plans, he is called to duty to rescue the men on the SS Pendleton, a ship that has sheared in half during a terrifically deadly winter ocean storm.

Additional Thanks

Good Work for Director Craig Gillespie. Thank you to Executive Producer Douglas C. Merrifield for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck), Richard Livesey (Ben Foster), and Wallace Quirey (John Ortiz).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. There are stronger love stories out there and definitely stronger action stories. The primary value in watching this movie is to create awareness of the difficulty of ocean rescue efforts and as an educational watch. Excellent discussion after movie to help children understand the United States Coast Guard, another entity we have put into place to preserve human life and that shows our value of human life.

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Ben Meyers

HELLO DOLLY! (Theatrical Release USA 1969)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Stars ìììì

Hello Dolly!—great classic—worth a watch to see Barbara Streisand as Dolly, a matchmaker, singing and sending her vibrancy throughout every scene as she woos the stiff and difficult Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau)  into matrimony. It’s smart, witty in dialogue and story. The music is more than terrific. The film provides a great entertainment piece. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline

Horace Vandergelder hires a matchmaker to help him find a woman who can manage all the tasks unique to his home and to his position as owner of a hay, feed, and hardware store. Unknown to him, the matchmaker, Dolly Levi, has set her own sights on the goal of being his new wife.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Gene Kelly. Thank you to Executive Producer Ernest Lehman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Irene Molloy (Marianne McAndrews), Cornelius Hackl (Michael Crawford), Barnaby Tucker (Danny Lockin), Minnie Fay (E. J. Peaker), Ermengarde (Joyce Ames), and Ambrose Kemper (Tommy Tune).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The movie is a fun romp through Yonkers while employing the talents of Matthau and Streisand at their best.

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Ben Meyers