SCENT-IMENTAL OVER YOU (Released to Theaters USA 1947)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Scent-Imental Over You—Pepe Le Pew short film—follows the basic formatting built for this cartoon character. The writing, presentation, portrayal, and animation work at the suitable to okay level. It is not a laugh-out-loud cartoon, but it does have its smile moments.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Several dogs, fresh from the beauty parlor, make fun of one who is not beautifully groomed. So, she unknowingly dons a lovely skunk costume coat and the story is on.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Edward Selzer for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc and Bea Benaderet. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This short film is capable of generating a few smiles. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PIGS IS PIGS (Released to Theaters USA 1954)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Pigs is Pigs-—cute short film—artfully uses a type of singing narration to tell its story. This unique story relies on good animation, presentation, and portrayal.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A railway station worker conducts his work strictly by the rules. But, when faced with a shipment of two Guinea Pigs he eventually finds strict rules do not always work. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Jack Kinney for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Bill Thompson,  Rhys Williams, Dallas McKennon, and The Mellomen Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is a suitable story and the animation is good. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ESTHER AND THE KING (Released to Theaters USA 1960)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Esther and the King—exaggerated, stilted acting— is not the best film for a biblical film. It has a long way to go to make it to a high quality watch and mostly to tell the unembellished story. The presentation is slow. The movie is disorganized and difficult to follow.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A woman presents herself in front of the Persian King and is soon made queen in the year 478 BC. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Raoul Walsh for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Raoul Walsh for making the film possible. Cast includes Joan Collins, Richard Egan, and Denis O'Dea.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. It tells a story of Esther but does not follow the Book of Esther. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

CHAOS (Released to Theaters Australia 2005)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Chaos—intriguing plot—has a suitable story and a good presentation. This movie is free on Amazon Prime. Know that the free version misses 5 minutes of story time. This critique is based on the free version.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline African American man, Lorenz (Wesley Snipes), and his crew rob a bank and have a stand off with law enforcement. Lorenz will not negotiate with anyone but Quentin Conners (Jason Statham). Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Tony Giglio for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer David Bergstein and Steven Chasman for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Statham, Ryan Phillippe, Wesley Snipes, Henry Czerny, Justine Waddell, Nicholas Lea, and Jessica Steen. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a suitable afternoon action film and tells a good story overall. It will particularly suit Jason Statham fans. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SUSIE THE LITTLE BLUE COUPE (Released to Theaters USA 1952)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Susie the Little Blue Coupe—cute short film—tells a good story. It still holds its ability to entertain despite its age. It has good flow and uses a good narrator, Sterling Holloway, to make the story work.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  A blue coupe is bought off the show room floor. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Clyde Geronimi for directing effort.  Thank you to Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Freberg, Clark Lagerstrom, and Bob Jackman.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This cute short film has been very well done and serves the whole family well.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BOON (Released to DVD/Internet USA 2022)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Boon—suitable—is an average action drama. Watch for an unusual casting choice, Neil McDonough, who fills his role quite well.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A preacher woman, who lives in the country with her son, reluctantly allows gangsters to work in her yard. A former military gunman is neighbor to the woman and sets things right on his terms.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Dick Presley for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Stephen Endelman, Jason Starne, Ruve McDonough, and Neal McDonough for making the film possible. Cast includes Neal McDonough, Christiane Seidel, Christina Ochoa, Jake Melrose, Demetrius Grosse, John Patrick Jordan, and Gabrielle Carteris. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. If there is nothing else on, it is a suitable action, drama film.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SIBERIAN SNIPER (Released to the Internet Russia 2021)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Siberian Sniper—ordered well—has good to great presentation and portrayal.  The conclusion does not seem to have a definitive ending scene, but there is a ' knowing' that the movie is over.    Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  An Asian-Russian professional sniper is given an assignment to break up a German land hold during WWII.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Dmitry Koltsov for directing effort. Cast includes Aytal Stepanov, Aleksandr Kazantsev,  Gennady Kunikeev, Dmitriy Trofimov and Oganes Grigoryan. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good film overall, and tells an intriguing, well paced story. Remember this movie is in Russian, but it has good English subtitles. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BY SIDNEY LUMET (Released to the Cannes Film Festival Cannes, France 2015)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  By Sidney Lumet—informative documentary—tells about the late Director Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men with Henry Fonda, Serpico with Al Pacino, and Murder on the Orient Express (1974)). This documentary is a suitable watch that seems built more for entertainment industry professionals rather than a general audience.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The life and times of movie director, Sidney Lumet. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Nancy Buirski for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jack Turner, Brett Ratner, James Packer, Bobby Kondrat, and Michael Kantor. Cast includes Sidney Lumet.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This is a suitable documentary overall and works from a well written story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

JACKBOOTS ON WHITEHALL (Relelased to Theaters UK 2010)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Jackboots on Whitehall—British animated puppet spoof on World War II events—shows creativity, allows audience chuckles, and entertains. It has an all-star voice cast, good presentation and portrayal. This is an adult-only film. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  An alternative outcome of WWII events.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to the McHenry Brothers for directing the film. Thank you to Producers Patrick Scoffin, Karl Richards, and Frank Mannion for making the film possible. Cast includes Ewan McGregor, Rosamund Pike, Alan Cumming,  Timothy Spall, Tom Wilkinson, Sanjeeve Bhaskar, Richard E. Grant, Pam Ferris, Richard O'Brien, Richard Griffiths, Hugh Fraser, and Dominic West.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. Interesting watch that runs British slow but entertains on the intellectual level. Know this movie has been designed for a sophisticated, mature adult audience. The movie lost $6 million dollars in theatres and did not earn high recommendation by the majority of movie critics. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MODERN TIMES (Released to Theaters USA 1936)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Modern Times—good watch—has a solid, well-written story with an outstanding conclusion. This is one of Charlie Chaplin's mid-career films.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A man works at an industrial factory in the 1900s, meets a girl, and desires to make a life for both of them.  Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Charlie Chaplin for directing effort. Cast includes Charles Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is a simple, lovable, worthy watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

LILIES OF THE FIELD (Released to Theaters USA 1963)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  Lilies of the Field—simple, poignant—shows in black and white and backs itself with a well-written story. It accesses the talents of Sidney Poitier who adds quality and sophistication to the film.    Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Homer Smith unknowingly stops at a convent in the Arizona desert for water for his car and reluctantly gets caught in an obligation to help the nuns build a chapel.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Ralph Nelson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Ralph Nelson for making the film possible. Cast includes Lilia Skala and Sidney Poitier.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a great watch for Sidney Poitier fans. Lovable story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers