THE ILLUSIONIST (Released to Theaters USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  The Illusionist—very interesting story—has been ordered well and delivers a good mystery. Look for Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti as casting mates. Their acting and storyline made this film work. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline  A boy, who is learning magic, meets a girl and falls in love. Their marriage is forbidden because she comes from royalty and he comes from low status.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Neil Burger for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Michael London, Cathy Schulman, and Bob Yari for making the film possible. Cast includes Edward Norton, Paul Giamati, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, and Eddie Marsan.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

THE WISHGRANTER (Released to the Internet UK 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  The Wishgranter—cute and original short, animated film—tells a wonderful story about a bored wish granter who suddenly has no boredom due to the need to fix two wishes going horribly wrong. Very good, sentimental, short film. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A man and a woman toss coins into a wishing fountain, not seeing each other from across the fountain. The bored wish granter for that fountain, presses the button for their wishes to materialize but his button fails and he is no longer bored as he works diligently, against time, to make two wishes come true. Additional Thanks Thank you to CGI, YouTube, The Ringling College of Art and Design, Kal Athannassoy, John McDonald, and Echo Wu  for making the film possible. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good, animated, 'feel good' short film that is backed by a sweet, sentimental story. The movie is solid from its foundation to its conclusion. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

GOD'S NOT DEAD 2 (Released to Theaters USA 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  God's Not Dead 2 has a predictable beginning and does not increase interest until the court scene, which is 'kind of' a worthy watch. Overall, the movie does not provide a high level of entertainment.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A high school student asks about the similarity of Gandhi, MLK Jr. and Jesus' teachings on peace. The teacher answers and then quotes a Bible verse about peace to relate to the teachings of these three men. After class, the teacher is accused of crossing the line between church and state. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Harold Cronk for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Elizabeth Hatcher-Travis, Brittany Lefebvre, Michael Scott, David A. R. White, Russell Wolfe, Matt Shapira, and Nathan Wenban for making the film possible. Cast includes Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, David A. R. White, Ernie Hudson, Hayley Orrantia, Robin Givens, Fred Dalton Thompson, Maria Canals-Barrera, Sadie Robertson, Pat Boone, and Ray Wise.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The best part of the film is the court hearing. The acting and writing are not up to par.   Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (Theatrical Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—not a high quality watch—still works because of the fabulous stage settings and the unexpected fighting spirit of the female lead. Some of the dialogue lines can reflect a bit of 'cheesiness' but all together the movie, oddly, works as a fresh, entertaining adventure thriller. The action is over-the-top so that action is the foundation that supplants everything else that usually 'make' a movie Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline The Illuminati search for the key to rejoin two ancient triangles. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Simon West for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Stuart Baird and Jeremy Heath-Smith for making the film possible. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Bryce Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig, Richard Johnson, Chris Barrie, Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Leslie Phillips.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. This could almost be a cult classic. It's worth a one-time watch just for the stage settings.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HARDBALL (Reased to Theaters USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Hardball—language and a rough, harsh theme—educates about life in the projects, gang fighting, and the hardships of achieving and keeping dreams alive.  It's above the level of most movies that attempt to tell this story. Keanu Reeves more than carries his weight in this film. This is a mid-career movie performance for Keanu Reeves. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  A young man takes a coaching job working with a group of children who live in the projects.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Brian Robbins for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Herbert W. Gains, Kevin McCormick, Erwin Stoff. Cast includes: Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, John Hawkes, Bryan Hearne, Julian Griffith, Michael B. Jordan, Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a very good watch that addresses an important subject. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

DROP ZONE (Released to Theaters USA 1994)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Drop Zone—run-of-the-mill—uses sky diving to drive the movie's story. The film seems to be promoting the sport of sky diving rather than purposing to entertain. It's a suitable to okay watch. Nothing new or particularly inspiring about this movie.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline United States marshals are transporting a criminally convicted  computer hacker to another prison. The plane is hijacked by terrorists who take the computer hacker to use in high level computer theft crimes. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director John Badham for directing effort. Thank you to Producers D. J. Caruso, Wallis Nicita, and Lauren Lloyd for making the film possible. Casting includes Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey, Yancy Butler, and Michael Jeter. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The sky diving is a treat to see, but the film is not a high quality production. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BONHOEFFER (Released to Theaters USA 2003)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  Bonhoeffer—documentary about Dietrich Bonhoeffer—uses archival footage to support its story. WOW! What an informative and involving film. The presentation and the portrayal are really good. It details the real story of Bonhoeffer and what he did to help Christians and Jews alike during the German reformist dictator Adolf Hitler’s regime.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A biographical 'take' on the life and times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Todd Komarnicki for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Emmanuel Kampouris, Camille Kampouris, Ralph Winter, Mark O'Sullivan, Chloe Kassis-Crowe, John Bennett Scanlon, Todd Komarnicki for making the film possible. Cast includes Jonas Dassler, August Diehl, David Jonsson, Flula Borg,  Moritz Bleibtreu, Nadine Heidenreich, Patrick Mölleken, and Clarke Peters. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is an informative, original, and involving movie. It is a great documentary and gets into a deeper understanding of what Germany was like during the Hitler administration. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ENEMY LINES (Released to DVD USA 2020)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Enemy Lines—not high quality—lacks good character development, high par acting, and runs within the okay range rather than the outstanding range.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A team of Allied soldiers attempt to take a scientist out of Germany during WWII.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Anders Banke for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tom George, Nadzeya Huselnikava, Aleksandr Kushaev, and Andy Thompson for making the film possible. Cast includes Ed Westwick, John Hannah, Tom Wisdom, Corey Johnson, Gary Grant, Daniel Jillings, Scott Haining, and Pawet Delag. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The story is interesting to some extent. But the movie lacks quality and memorability.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SCAREDY CAT (Released to Theaters USA 1948)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì Scaredy Cat—Sylvester and Porky Pig short, animated film—is a good watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  Porky Pig and Sylvester the Cat find an old house to spend the night but Sylvester finds there is more there than a comfortable night's sleep.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Edward Selzer for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Chuckles are easily generated in this short film.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ROOKIE REVUE (Released to Theaters USA 1941)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Rookie Revue—is a cute, comical animated, short film—works at the suitable to okay level.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A comical overview of how soldiers do their day jobs in the military.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Friz Freleng for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Billy Bletcher, Reid Kilpatrick, Mel Blanc, Robert C. Bruce, and Jackson C. Wheeler.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is not a high quality short film but is worth a watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

HOME AT LAST (Released World-Wide 1988)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Home at Last—short film (less than an hour)—is a suitable to okay watch built somewhat like the innocent Michael Landon Little House on the Prairie television series. The film illustrates the early acting talent of Adrien Brody and uses drama rather than high-paced action scenes to drive its story. It is simply written and runs slower than many modern films due to its earth/human rural setting.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline In the 1800s a group of New York street orphans are assigned transport to a Swedish-American town to be integrated into families who are willing to take them into their homes. A Swedish farmer, Nils Anderson, takes pity on the last orphan not chosen by anyone, a 12-year-old boy, named Billy, and brings him home to his wife and young son.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director David Devries for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Chris Brigham for making the film possible. Cast includes Adrien Brody, Joel Savani, Tom Wees, Rod McCullough, William Duff-Griffin, Lanny Flaherty, Kenneth Freese, and Ray Stevens.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The story is innocent, clean, and honest. The writing needs some polishing but it is solid and well-paced. The movie ends unfinished for the complete outcome but that is okay as the way the orphan's life turns out will be determined by the life choices he makes daily. It is clearly stated that his new home will support him again and again and again until he is mature enough to make his adult choices. Video Critique Available Here. Ben Meyers

ESCORT WEST (Released to Theaters USA 1959)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Escort West—very simple story—seems built like Saturday morning fare from the late 1950s and 1960s. It's straightforward and makes good western fare for children.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Former Civil War Confederate soldier and his daughter are heading west and find a village destroyed by Native Americans. The only survivors are an injured African American man and two Caucasian sisters. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Francis D. Lyon for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Robert E. Morrison and Nate H. Edwards for making the film possible. Cast includes Victor Mature, Faith Domergue, and Elaine Stewart.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie is one of Victor Mature's mid-career works. If one is a hard-core Victor Mature fan or just loves westerns, this film might entertain. But, outside of that audience, the movie is a 'dud'. The story is simple and does not have the quality of westerns like True Grit. This movie runs like a Saturday morning offering for children during the 1950s and 1960s. Very clean and child friendly for a share movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers