SNIPER 2 (Released to Television USA 2002)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Sniper 2—feels like a movie designed for television and is a television movie. This explains the general averageness of engaging this film as entertainment. Everything about it, including the special effects, runs at the okay to suitable range. The first film supersedes this film by a long shot in quality of presentation and storyline. Watch the first movie if looking for a great war film. Hopefully, the third film improves on this one.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  The sniper, Sgt. Beckett, is called for a mission to assassinate the leader of a terrorist organization.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Baxley for directing effort. Thank you to Producers  for making the film possible. Cast includes Tom Berenger, Bokeem Woodbine, Dan Butler, Linden Ashby,  Erika Marozsan, and Tamás Puskás .  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This is not a quality watch. It runs in the okay to suitable range.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SWISS MISS (Released to Theaters USA 1938)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Swiss Miss—low grade, average watch—starts well and then begins a downhill slide to nothing. Despite attempts to layer its story by intertwining several stories, it cannot accomplish its general aim. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline Laurel and Hardy are mouse trap sellers and trap mice. So, they head to Switzerland.       Additional Thanks Thank you to Director John G. Blystone for directing effort. Thank you to Producer S. S. Van Keuren for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Della Lind, Walter Woolf King, and Eric Blore. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe.  Hardcore Laurel and Hardy fans will find this film cute with its suitable to okay story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

CONFUSIONS OF A NUTZY SPY (Released to theaters USA 1943)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Confusions of a Nutzy Spy—cute WW II short film—is a toon that tells a WWII story. It's not a great Looney Toon but for history's sake is worth a watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  Porky Pig's unit is called to catch a German spy.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Norman McCabe for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a black and white Porky Pig short film when he is finally assuming his 'look' that will follow his career. The short movie is 'average' entertainment.   Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MY FAVORITE MARTIAN (Released to Theaters USA 1999)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  My Favorite Martian—likable—takes the current 'aliens are among us' frenzy down many notches to the suitable entertainment watch for the whole family. Jeff Daniels and Christopher Lloyd make a great team to interpret the story. Surprises lace the movie and are still fresh today. The movie sets itself up for sequels at the end of the film. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  A reporter comes in contact with an alien. The alien hides in the trunk of the reporter's car and the reporter unknowingly takes him home.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Don Petrie for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Jerry Leider, Robert Shapiro, and Toberoff for making the film possible. Cast includes Jeff Daniels, Christopher Lloyd, Elizabeth Hurley, Daryl Hannah, Wallace Shawn, Christine Ebersole, and Ray Walston. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It's a cute watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BLACKKKLANSMAN (Released to Theaters USA 2018)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  BlacKkKlansman—is a rough story and has a lot of language, but it is more than worth watching. It is a biographical watch that tells a real story of an event that happened in the 1970s. John David Washington and Adam Driver team to relay great entertainment.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline In the 1970s an African American Detective uses his name and a white detective to infiltrate the Klu Klux Klan.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Spike Lee for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Jason Blum, Spike Lee, Raymond Mansfield, Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele, and Shaun Redick for making the film possible. Cast includes John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, and Topher Grace. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This film is a well-written, biographical, informative movie that runs very well. It is a quality watch that works at the exceptional level and at its conclusion the audience should be very aware of the different occupations people are called to. Video Critique Available Here:   Ben Meyers

CABRINI (Relelased to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì  Cabrini—high quality watch— belongs in the home video library. Exceptionally upbuilding for the soul and spirit. It leaves its audience inspired. It starts better than the rest of the film but does not miss a beat throughout its presentation. Wonderful story for the family watch. A high quality production that fills the needs of keeping attention focused on earth and the many, many needs of humanity.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline This movie is about an Italian nun who fights for Italian orphan rights in New York City.     Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Alejandro Monteverde for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Francesca Cabrini, J. Eustace Wolfington, Jonathan Sanger, and Leo Severino for making the film possible. Cast includes Cristiana Dell'Anna, David Morse, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Federico Ielapi, Virginia Bocelli, Rolando Villazon, Giancarlo Giannini,  and John Lithgow.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a WOW! watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

TOM AND JERRY: SANTA'S LITTLE HELPERS (Released to DVD USA 2014)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers—good holiday short film—provides a good reminiscence of these two animated characters. However, be aware that the conclusion has been poorly done. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  It's Christmas time and Tom the Cat works in the mail room and gets a letter from a little girl for Santa. He has to get it to ready to mail before the mailman comes and takes the mail.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Darrell Van Citters for directing effort. Cast includes William Hanna, Rich Danhakl, Nickie Bryar, Mark Hamill, Edie McClurg, Kath Soucie, Rick Zieff, and Frank Welker. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a suitable watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

OLIVER! (Released to Theaters USA 1968)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Oliver!—has a welcome old-fashioned feel due to the choice of color—runs slow like British entertainment often does and in this case it seems a little boring. It is a suitable rendition of the original Charles Dickens' story. Know that it is a musical that is suitable, not as outstanding as some produced in the 1950s and 1960s. It is good writing that highlights the plight of orphans and street children. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline Oliver Twist, an orphanage resident, gets sold to a undertaker.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Carol Reed for directing effort. Thank you to Producer John Woolf for making the film possible. Cast includes Ron Moody, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe, Shani Wallis, Mark Lester, and Jack Wild. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. Be aware that this movie is very long and takes time to watch. There is an intermission in the middle of the film that would easily make it into a 2-evening watch as the second half of the movie has a much different tone than the first half.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

IN PURSUIT OF HONOR (Released to Television USA 1995)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  In the Pursuit of Honor—quality, bittersweet watch— is a very informative film and tells the story of men who showed honor in two instances of great compassion and kindness. WOW! What a concept for an HBO TV movie! The portrayal and presentation are good. There may be some pacing challenges in some parts of the film but that is so minor that it is not significant. It is good to see Rod Steiger cast in the movie. The movie is exceptionally well-written.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A group of USA Cavalry soldiers are ordered to take the remainder of cavalry horses to Mexico and dispose of them. But a group of soldiers decide to evade army orders and make a run for the Canadian border with the majority of them.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Ken Olin doe directing the film. Thank you to Executive Producer Jeffrey M. Hayes for making the film possible. Cast includes Don Johnson, Craig Sheffer, Gabrielle Anwar, Bob Gunton, and Rod Steiger. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good watch and tells a story of doing the honorable thing so that one does not have regrettable memories that will need to be resolved throughout one's lifetime. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

TWISTERS (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Twisters completely improves over the 1996 Twister movie. It does not work on the cult classic level like that film. It is realistic and keeps interest.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A college student and her friends want to figure out how to stop tornados and work on that as a college assignment. They fail and she goes to work behind a weather center desk for several years.  An old friend contacts her and believes new technology can be used to minimize tornado activity. He recruits her and the thrills begin.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Lee Isaac Chung for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley for making the film possible. Cast includes Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, and Sasha Lane.   Buy that ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. Do not pass it over due to the challenges of the first Twister movie. This movie much improves over that movie and works from a realistic formatting that works very well. The movie could almost be re-watchable.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers