LOST SHEEP (Released to the International Christian Film Festival USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì Lost Sheep—fresh, meaningful—uses stop motion paper figurines to tell a wonderful and compassionate story. This choice of animation lends to the short film's creativity. Don't pass this one over...it's completely worth its time and money investment. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A three-legged black sheep realizes he is different and seeks separation from his flock. The shepherd values the black sheep and takes a dangerous trip to find it.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Lukas Rooney for directing effort.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a must see for fans of fresh, good feeling stories. This story has expansion written all over it.  WOW! What a WONDERFUL short film! Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BOAT BUILDERS (Released to Theaters USA 1938)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Boat Builders—cute short film—creates its story around Mickey Mouse, Goofy the Dog, and Donald Duck. The movie relies on good camera work, its voice cast, and its colorized animation.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline  Mickey, Donald, and Goofy receive a mail order ship (boat) with all the necessary equipment to put it together.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Ben Sharpsteen for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Pinto Colvig, Walt Disney, Clarence Nash, and Marcellite Garner.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This short film shows comedy and works as a fun, good watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ANGELS IN THE ENDZONE (Released to ABC USA 1997)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Angels in the Endzone—rehash of the first Angels movie—lacks the vibrancy and originality of the story built on baseball rather than football. Look for Christopher Lloyd as the Head Angel...he's good in this film. The rest of the cast seem uninvolved as if they are going through the motions without real involvement with the story.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline   A young boy prays for the high school football team to win so that his older brother will play football again.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Gary Nadeau for directing effort. Thank you to  Executive Producer Roger Birnbaum for making the film possible. Cast includes Paul Dooley, Matthew Lawrence, David Gallagher, Jack Coleman, Lynda Boyd, and Christopher Lloyd. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is not a high-quality film, but is the second film in the series. It gets a little boring at times. And the characters are uninteresting at times. Hopefully, the third film will help this series end well. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

FELIX FINDS OUT (Released to Theaters USA 1924)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Felix Finds Out—creative—performs as a comical, short, animated film. It runs on a simple format with suitable camera work. It's a good study of early animation efforts.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A boy gets a homework assignment about what makes the Moon shine and Felix the Cat wants to help. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Otto Messmer for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Pat Sullivan Cartoons for making the film possible.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. Despite its age, it still has entertainment value. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER (Released to Theaters USA 1987)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  The Brave Little Toaster—not the typical or usual story—relies on household items to tell its tale. The voice actors are good; drawn animation is very good. There are some physics challenges with appliances getting water wet, but this an imaginative world and we overlook those improbabilities for the entertainment factor.  After all, these appliances, talk, move, and have emotion. This film has a small but weird sense of creepiness to some parts of the film. The movie is based on a classic story written for children. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline  A Toaster, a Vacuum Cleaner, a Heated Blanket, an old fashioned Radio, and a Lamp all go on a adventure to find their young Master.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jerry Rees for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Willard Carroll and Peter Locke for making the film possible. Cast includes Jon Lovitz, Timothy Stack, Phil Hartman, Deanna Oliver, Randy Bennett, Jonathan Benair, Mindy Sterling, and Timothy Day.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. Some audiences may like this film. But Ben Meyers International Movie Critics are not fans. This movie can become boring at times. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DEATH WISH 4: THE CRACKDOWN (Released to Theaters USA 1987)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì . Death Wish 4: The Crackdown—rehash of previous Death Wish films —has reduced the adult content. Charles Bronson performs at his usual level of professionalism. The film is a suitable watch  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  Kersey begins working for a man who wants to crack down on the drug cartels in Los Angeles, California USA.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Lee J. Thompson for directing effort. Thank you Executive Producers Yoram Globus and Menachem Golan for making the film possible. Cast includes Charles Bronson, Kay Lenz, John P. Ryan, Perry Lopez, George Dickerson, Soon-Tek Oh, Dana Barron, Jesse Dabson, and Peter Sherayko. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie has a good storyline and provides value to audiences looking for action/thriller entertainment. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE FORBIDDEN ZONE (Released to the Internet USA 2021)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Forbidden Zone— short post-apocalyptic film—uses great stop motion animation to illustrate its story. This short film has good camera work. It is a suitable story.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A man in an post-apocalyptic world decides to unlock and open the iron door that has kept him safe and finds a world re-establishing itself.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Zach Tolchinsky for directing effort.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. The movie has great stop motion animation and gives an interesting watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE ACCOUNTANT (Released to Theaters USA 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì The Accountant is a film that has multiple plot holes. If the viewer doesn't think too deeply about the storyline, especially about the relationship between the two brothers and John Lithgow's character, and watches it superficially, then it is a fun watch. Read a Wikipedia plotline before watching to keep the brothers' roles defined and how they develop from childhood to working adults and become involved in criminal activity. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia   Storyline   A super smart autistic boy, grows into adulthood with assassin skills and becomes an analyst for a big corporate company.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director and Executive Producer Gavin O'Connor for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Marty P. Ewing, Steven Mnuchin, Jamie Patricof, Producers Lynette Howell Taylor and Mark Williams for making the film possible. Cast includes Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J. K. Simmons,  Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor, and John Lithgow. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. Superficially, it is a suitable and fun watch overall. Read a plotline before going to enhance enjoyment of the movie. Video Critique Available Here:  Ben Meyers

SOFT RAIN (Released to The Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival Dublin Ireland 2021)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Soft Rain—sweet stop motion animated short film—has a good story, camera work, presentation, and portrayal.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A depressed man meets an upbeat, positive woman who shows him a world that could be his.   Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Sacha Goedegebure for directing effort.    Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This short film tells a sweet story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BOOM (Released to Filmets, Badalona Film Festival Badalona, Spain 2022)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Boom—comical short computer animated film—shows the talents of a team who can make an audience laugh. Be prepared to chuckle while watching this short movie. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Sea birds find that a volcano is erupting so they all head to the sea except two birds who try to save their eggs. And, the comedy is on.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Directors Gabriel Augerai, Romain Augier, and Charles Di Cicco for directing effort.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is a cute, comical computer animated short film that works with comedy well. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PLUTO'S DREAM HOUSE (Released to Theaters USA 1940)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Pluto's Dream House—cute, likeable short film—tells a sweet story. Good animation accompanied with its presentation make this a good choice for quick entertainment. Good work for all involved.  Film Poster Courtesy IMDb Storyline Mickey Mouse wants to build Pluto a dog house and Pluto wants to help.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Clyde Geronimi for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Elvia Allman, W.F. Banes, Walt Disney, Lee Miller, and Billy Mitchell.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a good film that tells a sweet story.

Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PRINCESS OF THIEVES (Released to ABC USA 2001)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Princess of Thieves—enhances the original Robin Hood story—provides a suitable piece of entertainment. The movie is not high quality but does show one of  Keira Knightley's (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl) earlier work efforts. The camera work is good/suitable and the movie works at a simple level. Not a WOW! presentation, but okay.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline   Robin Hood's daughter, despite her fathers wishes, involves herself in the battle for King Richard the Lion Heart's son to become king.   Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Peter Hewitt for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jon Cowan, Susan Landau, Antony Root, Robert L. Rovner, and Michael Taylor for making the film possible. Cast includes Hannah Cresswell, David Barrass, Malcolm McDowell, Keira Knightley, Stuart Wilson, Crispin Letts, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Jonathan Hyde, Stephen Moyer, and Gaye Brown. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a simple afternoon watch with a suitable to okay story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers