TRANSFORMERS ONE (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì Transformers One—good story—shows Optimus Prime and Megatron as young adults. The movie includes Bee. The animation is good. No fault found in presentation or portrayal. Good work for all involved in production.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Orion Pax and D-16 meet in the mines and become best friends and the story is on.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Josh Cooley for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Don Murphy, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian,  and Aaron Dem for making the film possible. Cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson,  -Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a surprisingly good watch. It tells the origin story of the autobots. It's original and completely involves its audience. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL (Released to Theaters USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel—improves on its prequel—has better writing, story, and acting than the first movie. It adds interest by including female chipmunks which adds appeal to the basic story. This is an enjoyable watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  Dave Seville gets injured and while in the hospital tells the chipmunks that he wants them to go to school and the story is on.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Betty Thomas for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, and Christina Applegate.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a suitable family watch that serves all age groups' needs. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (Released to Theaters USA 1990)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Gremlins 2: the New Batch—suitable, afternoon watch—has a little horror mixed with a little comedy. Be entertained by outstandingly slimy monsters with mouths full of quite sharp teeth. Watch for cameo appearances of movie critic Leonard Maltin and wrestler Hulk Hogan. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Things get out of hand when a janitor accidentally gets gizmo wet.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Joe Dante for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Michael Finnell for making the film possible. Cast includes Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert J. Prosky,  Robert Picardo, and Christopher Lee.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This movie works at the suitable to okay level with a general cult movie styling. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE GREEN BOOK: GUIDE TO FREEDOM (Released to Television USA 2019)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  The Green Book: Guide to Freedom—documentary—provides education and information about a time gone by. The movie uses terrific interviews to tell its story and has wonderful stage settings for added effect. IMDb lists this movie as 60 minutes in length which would be a full length film. Paramount Plus shows it as a Smithsonian Channel film coming in at 51 minutes which would be a short film. Be prepared for a good piece of Americana history. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline The history of the Green Book as a guide and how it was used by  African Americans to travel cross country and know where they could safely stop for lodging, food, and refreshment along the way.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Yoruba Richen for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jonathan Drake, Linda Goldman, and Steve Maher for making the film possible. Cast includes Yoruba Richen, Marquette Folley, Karen Allen Baxter, Jennifer Ivey, Henrie Monteith Treadwell, Murray Bishoff, Jack George, and Jamon Jordan.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Good, informative film that tells how a small book helped African American motorists navigate when traveling through the USA. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

USHPIZIN (Released to the Jerusalem Film Festival Jerusalem, Israel 2004)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Ushpizin—good, comedy/drama film—tells a terrific story about how the worst circumstances can turn out perfectly. The film presents in Hebrew with great English subtitles; plan a little more watch time for reading the dialogue. Ushpizin is the Aramaic word for 'guests'. This movie is really well done.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  An orthodox Jewish man is broke and needs money for the Sukkot holiday.     Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Gidi Dar for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Gidi Dar and Rafi Bukai for making the film possible. Cast includes Shuli Rand, Michal Bat-Sheva Rand, Shaul Mizrachi, and Ilan Galani.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good movie. Read the Wikipedia plotline and perhaps research the Sukkot holiday before watching to enhance understanding and appreciation as the film is deeply entrenched in Hebrew tradition and does not pass international entertainment borders well. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TURTLE POWER: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (Release to the Internet Canada 2014)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—documentary—gives a good, inside view of how to build a successful business and the attitude necessary to overcome the inevitable challenges along the way. Sometimes it seems darkly themed as if missing a certain magic to the inside story, but it is interesting and definitely shows how to build an original business to appeal to pop culture. It's an interesting watch and gives a nice overview of how the Ninja Turtles changed over the years.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A documentary that tells how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originated as an entertainment piece. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Randall Lobb for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Randall Lobb for making the film possible. Cast includes Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman.    Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This movie has a good story. Good work for all involved in production. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 (Released to Theaters USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2—while not as much of a splash as the first film, it is a good watch for fans of this movie series—sends a good recommendation for the 2023 release of the third movie in the series. There are a few suggestive dialogue scenes in the movie, but presented in a realistic 'female talk' before the wedding. This film is, overall, a great watch, creative and fun. Good work for all involved in production.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Kostas "Gus" Portokalos finds that his marriage certificate is not valid. When he tells his wife and shows the certificate, she laughs and then the fun begins as she requires a 'real' marriage the second time around.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Kirk Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Gary Goetzman,  Tom Hanks,  and Rita Wilson for making the film possible. Cast includes Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, and Michael Constantine. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Fans of the first film will like this movie just as well. It's fresh, creative, and fun to watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DIRTY WORK (Released to Theaters USA 1933)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì Dirty Work—good short film—allows a small peek into 1930s comedy via Laurel and Hardy's cute and sweet story of the chimney sweep's life. The  presentation and portrayal are good. The acting is really good. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline  Chimney sweepers hire to sweep the chimney of a Professor.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Lloyd French for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Hal Roach for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Lucien Littlefield, and Sam Adams. Should you buy this ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This film has a wonderful storyline. It's great to see Oliver Hardy and Stanley Laurel in another of their usual well-timed comedy skits. This short film is funny and creative. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Bad Boys: Ride or Die—suitable, not as good as the last two films in the series—is the fourth movie in the Bad Boys lineup.  While the acting is good to suitable, this movie lacks the vibrancy of previous movies almost as if Martin Lawrence and Will Smith are just going through the motions with little attention to detail. But this film, none the less, tells a good enough story that it is worth watching. Be aware that the comedy runs along the lines of previous Bad Boy movies and may not be suitable for the family watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are at it again. This time they have to prove that their former police captain was not involved in a drug cartel.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Directors Adil and Bilall for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Smith, Chad Oman, and Doug Belgrad for making the film possible.  Cast includes Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nunez, Jacob Scipio.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is not great, but it works. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

KANDAHAR (Released to Theaters USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Kandahar—really good war movie—has a terrific story that keeps the audience in suspense from beginning to end. More than worth watching, partially due to excellent casting choices and pairing of cast.  Watch for excellent stage settings that spare no realism for this movie. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline CIA agent Tom Harris's cover blows and he has to make it to a extraction point for a USA rescue.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Rick Roman Waugh for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Brandon Boyea, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Christian Mercuri, Scott LaStaiti, and Ali Jaafar for making the film possible. Cast includes Gerard Butler, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, Bahador Foladi, Nina Toussaint-White, Vassilis Koukalani, Mark Arnold, Corey Johnson, Ravi Aujia, Ray Haraatian, Tom Rhys Harries, and Travis Fimmel. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. Works as a quality war movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE SIMPLE LIFE OF NOAH DEARBORN (Released to Television USA 1999)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn—common theme, unique story—has a peaceful, settling aura throughout. The portrayal has a sense of goodness. It's a suitable to okay movie that relies on the formidable acting skill of Sidney Portier. The movie peaks interest and earns its watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A carpenter is offered a large monetary sum for his farm. When he says no, various means are used to force the sale. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Gregg Champion for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Trimark Pictures and CBS for making the film possible. Cast includes Sidney Poitier, Mary-Louise Parker, Dianne Wiest, and George Newbern. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This film has goodness written into it. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers