ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (Theatrical Release USA 1991)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.1|5.0 Starsììì

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves—another resurrection of Hollywood’s love for the continual remaking of ancient legend—rates as a good film for action, a poor film for acting, and a sub-par film for casting. Kevin Costner looks good for the part of Robin Hood, but plays a lame rendition of the hero partially due to the casting mistake of pitting his less aggressive personality against the personalities of Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, and Alan Rickman.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) escapes from a Jerusalem prison with friend Peter Dubois (Liam Halligan) and the Arabian Azeem (Morgan Freeman). In the escape Peter Dubois is mortally wounded and requires a promise from Robin to protect Marian Dubois (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), his sister. When Robin returns with Azeem to England, he finds the Sherriff of Nottingham has destroyed Robin’s home properties, hung Robin’s father, and has plotted to steal the English crown from King Richard (Sean Connery). What can a person do under these circumstances? Robin joins forces with Little John (Nick Brimble) and methodically begins to undermine Sheriff Nottingham’s power base while keeping contact with Marian Dubois.

Additional Thanks

Good Work for Director Kevin Reynolds. Thank you to Executive Producers Gary Barber, David Nicksay, and James G. Robinson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Will Scarlett (Christian Slater), Mortianna (Geraldine McEwan), Lord Locksley (Brian Blessed), Guy of Gisborne (Michael Wincott), Fanny (Soo Drouet), Wulf (Daniel Newman), Bull (Daniel Peacock), Duncan (Walter Sparrow), Bishop of Hereford (Harold Innocent), Much the Miller’s Son (Jack Wild), and Kenneth of Cowfall (Michael Goldie).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The script’s lame lines detract from its watch-ability.

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Ben Meyers

JUDGE DREDD (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.8|5.0 Starsìì

Judge Dredd works on a straight forward, well-displayed action story line. While Sylvester Stallone has the perfect ‘look’ for Judge Dredd, he plays his character as Sylvester Stallone and it doesn’t work in this film like it has worked in previous films. Rob Schneider makes a fun and interesting offset to Stallone as the character, Fergie; but, the amateurish directing takes a deep and cutting toll on this futuristic movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

In the year 2080 humans live in mega cities policed by ‘judges’ who not only arrest offenders but also serve as judge, jury, and executioners. Judge Joseph Dredd comes under false accusation for murder and needs to clear his name.

Additional Thanks

Fair Work for Director Danny Cannon. Thank you to Executive Producers Edward R. Pressman and Andrew G. Vajna for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Rico (Armand Assante), Judge Griffin (Jürgen Prochnow), Judge Fargo (Max von Sydow), Judge Hershey (Diane Lane), McGruder (Joanna Miles), Ilsa (Joan Chen), Olmeyer (Balthazar Getty), and Miller (Maurice Roëves).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It ‘kind of’ works like a cult classic. The movie has its own interesting appeal, fair to good action scenes; but it doesn’t deliver like we expect a Stallone film to deliver.

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Ben Meyers

SUPERMAN (Theatrical Release USA 1978)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Superman—an origin story—starts its small flirtation with ‘this may be an interesting movie’ in its opening scenes. By the time this farm boy is ready to leave the farm, the cheesiness is irretractable. After the romance scenes with the bad-spelling Lois Lane, any hope that Christopher Reeve 'shoulda’, coulda', woulda'’ played romance better than superhero movies flies out the window.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline

Superman finds himself and his true purpose on planet Earth.

Additional Thanks

 Thank you to Director Richard Donner. Thank you to Executive Producer Ilya Salkind for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jor-El (Marlon Brando), Otis (Ned Beatty), Perry White (Jackie Cooper), Pa Kent (Glenn Ford), 1st Elder (Trevor Howard), Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), Non (Jack O’Halloran), Eve Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine), Vond-Ah (Maria Schell), General Zod (Terence Stamp), and Ma Kent (Phyllis Thaxter).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Christopher Reeve provides the glamour, but good looks alone don't make good movies. Better films in the superhero genre are: Director Christopher Nolan’s Batman series and Director James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

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Ben Meyers

V FOR VENDETTA (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

V for Vendetta—a wannabe action drama—seems to desire to rub elbows with movies like Batman, Hellboy, Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy; but falls short because of content and scripting. The metaphors, such as character Guy Fawkes, devout British Catholic from 1606 C.E. placed in the year 2020 C.E. and costumed in a black/white theatre mask, are difficult to interpret. Questions relevant to the storyline are ambiguously hinted at without necessary links to answers, such as the difficulty understanding why ‘V’ is allegedly burned. The main character’s real name or real character is never revealed other than a ridiculous insinuation at the end of the film that ‘V’ is every man. That statement inevitably places the film into the category of a piece of art that haughtily claims every man’s enjoyment while actually appealing solely as a piece of art created for the haute couture clientele. The question of why this particular story is relevant or worth telling seems unclear. Is the story entertaining? No. It misses its purpose. It’s a message movie without a clear message.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The United States is trying to recover from its second civil war. Europe is in the middle of battling the deadly St. Mary’s Virus while Britain’s new ruler, High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt), in Hitler-like, grand plan fashion, assassinates immigrants, political opponents, homosexuals, and atheists. V (Hugo Weaving), badly burned in a hospital fire, puts on a Guy Fawkes mask, calls himself V (for Vendetta), starts blowing up land marks, kills people he believes to be responsible for his condition, enlists the help of British TV network representative, Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman), and this fractured story is on.

Additional Thanks

Really Good Work for Director James McTeigue. Thank you to Executive Producer Ben Waisbren for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Finch (Stephen Rea), Deitrich (Stephen Fry), Creedy (Tim Pigott-Smith), Dominic (Rupert Graves), Lewis Prothero (Roger Allam), Dascomb (Ben Miles), Delia Surridge (Sinéad Cusack), Valerie (Natasha Wrightman), Lilliman (John Standing), and Etheridge (Eddie Marsan).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. If your mind is such that it becomes fixated on a white theatre mask and not much else, this dark action drama may be for you. There are much better films based on DC comics such as Director Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins or The Dark Knight.

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Ben Meyers

SNOW DAY (Theatrical Release USA 2000)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.9|5.0 Starsìì

Snow Day—Chevy Chase, Mark Webber, Jean Smart, Zena Gray and Chris Elliot—turns into a light high school romance that just doesn’t have the power to make us care about it. Comedic elements seem familiar, trite. The basic idea is good, but fails to deliver on screen.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Syracruse, New York schools close down due to snowfall and school children range the street looking for fun.  Hal Brandston’s (Mark Webber) love life is a little complicated and the free snow day could be better if the snow was left in the streets rather than plowed away.

Additional Thanks

Fair Work for Director Chris Koch. Thank you to Executive Producer Raymond Wagner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Snowplowman (Chris Elliot), Randy Brandston (Conner Matheus), Natalie Brandston (Zena Grey), Laura Brandston (Jean Smart), Lane Leonard (Schuyler Fisk), Claire Bonner (Emmanuelle Chriqui), Mr. Zellweger (Iggy Pop), Tina (Pam Grier), Chad Symmonz (John Schneider), Tom Brandston (Chevy Chase), Wayne Alworth (Josh Peck), Chet Felker (Jade Yorker), Principal Weaver (Damian Young), and Bill Korn (J. Adam Brown).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Like a loosely packed snowball lacks force, this movie lacks impact.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

PAULIE (Theatrical Release USA 1998)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

Paulie—so lovable that it’s worth every bit of the Ben Meyers’ 4.2 Star rating. It deserves every accolade it gets. The concept of a talking parrot is freshly done, such a great idea, and is complimented by Tony Shalhoub skills as an actor. The script is great. It is absolutely a film that works for your family, both children and adults, 10 years of age and up.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Misha Vilyenkov (Tony Shalhoub), a Russian immigrant, is hired by scientists as a janitor and is shown around the basement of a building by Virgil (Bill Cobbs), another janitor. Misha sees a parrot called a Blue-Crowned Conure in the corner of the basement and asks Virgil about it. Virgil tells him to not mess with him and finishes giving the tour of the basement. Later that day, Misha is polishing a hallway and makes it down to the basement and finds that the parrot can talk and sing some songs. But, this is not any ordinary talking parrot that hears words and repeats words. It can actually talk like a human. Misha tells one of the scientists about the parrot. But, the bird fails to perform in front of the scientist. When Misha is alone again with the parrot, he asks the parrot why it did not talk and the bird tells him why. The film is based on the parrot’s story, why it is in the basement of a science building, and how Misha helps right a serious wrong.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director John Roberts. Thank you to Executive Producer Ginny Nugent for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Ivy (Gena Rowlands), Ignacio (Cheech Marin), Dr. Reingold (Bruce Davison), Adult Marie Alweather (Trini Alvarado), Benny (Jay Mohr), Artie (Buddy Hackett), Marie Alweather (Hallie Kate Eisenberg), Warren Alweather (Matt Craven), Ruby and Lupe (voice of Tia Texada), and Lila Alweather (Laura Harrington).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a ‘best’ family movie with a lovable storyline. Refreshing.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE PARENT TRAP (Theatrical Release USA 1961)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Starsìììì

The Parent Trap—lovable and innocent film. They just don’t make these the same anymore. The innocence is there. Great acting accompanied with superb portrayal of storyline makes this film just plain enjoyable for the whole family. Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara work well together; the chemistry is terrific. Hayley Mills plays the double script for both twin sisters. She performs so well that you think it’s two different girls acting two different parts. The rest of the cast are a compliment to the main actors.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Susan Evers (Hayley Mills) meets Sharon McKendrick (Hayley Mills), at summer camp. They soon find, after they are forced to room together by the camp host, that they not only look alike but are indeed sisters. They work a plan to put their Mother, Maggie McKendrick (Maureen O’Hara), and Father, Mitch Evers (Brian Keith), together again. Part of the plan is switching places so that each girl can experience the parent that they missed during their childhood years.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director David Swift. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Charles McKendrick (Charles Ruggles), Verbena (Una Merkel), Reverend Doctor Mosby (Leo G. Carroll), Vicky Robinson (Joanna Barnes), Louise McKendrick, (Cathleen Nesbitt), Miss Inch (Ruth McDevitt), Hecky (Crahan Denton), Edna Robinson (Linda Watkins), and Miss Grunecker (Nancy Kulp).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Definitely. The film is a superb portrayal of Hayley Mills and a real treat for the whole family. Brian Keith is a great contrast to Maureen O’Hara.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers