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

ON THE BASIS OF SEX (Released to Theaters USA 2018)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  On the Basis of Sex—very good watch—focuses on the early law career battles of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The film works and succeeds in drawing its audience. It is more than worth watching. Great work for all involved. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline The story of Ruth Bader Ginsberg from college to some of her early cases.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Mimi Leder for directing the film. Thank you to Producer Robert W. Cort for making the film possible. Cast includes Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston, and Kathy Bates. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a very good, informative, and original film. Good watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SCRAT'S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP: PART 2 (Released to the USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Scrat's Continental Crack-Up: Part 2—cute, rest of the story—is shorter than its prequel but keeps to format and expectations. Again, great animation and deeply drawn characterization that typically follows this animated character are strictly adhered to.

Film Poster  Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

Scrat comes to an island and finds a skeleton pointing to something at sea. So, Scrat goes to investigate. 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Steve Martino, Michael Thmeier for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Carlos Saldanha, Chris Wedge for making the film possible. Cast includes Ray Ramano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Wedge, Aziz Anzari, Alain Chabat, Jason Friccione, Nick Frost.  

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Yes. This continuation story of part one, follows the same quality of presentation and provides a shorter, but still enjoyable watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SCRAT'S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP (Released to the United States 2010)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Scrat's Continental Crack-Up—cute short film—has a comical, original story that follows the previous Scrat characterization well. Look for great animation, presentation, and portrayal. This short film has been released on YouTube. 

Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

Scrat's acorn falls to the Earth's iron core and Scrat follows it for retrieval. 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeter for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lori Forte and Chris Wedge for making the film possible. Cast includes Chris Wedge, Simon Pegg, and Jason Fricchione.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This short film has great animation and stays true to the story of Scrat and his search for acorns. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE SERENADE (Released to Theaters USA 1916)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

The Serenade—an earlier, silent Oliver Hardy work—is an interesting film with a disjointed storyline that lacks the comedic value expected from Hardy. This film could be skipped.

Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

A man with a tuba is trying to play with his friends in a street band.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Will Louis for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Louis Burstein for making the film possible. Cast includes Oliver Hardy.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is kind of interesting but is not as funny as intended and the story is disjointed.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

STICK AROUND (Released to Theaters USA 1925)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Stick Around—comical—shows Oliver Hardy in a domineering, commanding role and does not offset him with Stan Laurel but with Bobby Ray instead. This short film has a good presentation and is worth an afternoon watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline A man and his friend are hired to put wallpaper in a Sanitarium.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Ward Hayes for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Billy West for making the film possible. Cast includes Oliver Hardy.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Comical and backed with a good story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BORDERLANDS (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Borderlands—fun, funny, splashed with comedic dialogue, terrific cast—backs itself with a better than usual superhero story. The computer game, Borderlands, provides the direction for this film and, for once, does not fail in its intent to entertain well as many computer game-themed movies do. Jack Black's dialogue lines are well-paced, original, and beautifully timed. Some of the action scenes are a little artificial, but it does not hinder the value of the watch. It's sweet to see Cate Blanchette and Jamie Lee Curtis as part of the cast.   Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A female bounty hunter is hired by a man to find his daughter and bring her back to him, and the wild ride begins.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Eli Roth for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Ari Arad, Avi Arad, Erik Feig for making the film possible. Cast includes  Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, and Jamie Lee Curtis.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Refreshingly provides a nice sprinkling of comedic dialogue throughout the film. Very welcome addition to this superhero-type movie.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers