THE OUTLAWS IS COMING (Released to Theaters USA 1965)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Outlaws is Coming—magic forever gone—will not win comedy awards due to the lost spirit of slapstick that the original Three Stooges embodied. But, besides that, it is a suitable and 'kind of' fun' story.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Preventing buffalo extinction, political intrigue, and arming the natives mark this movie's main themes. . Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Norman Maurer for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Norman Maurer for making the film possible. Cast includes Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe DeRita, Adam West, Nancy Kovack, Mort Mills, and Don Lamond.    Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe.  This is not one of the Three Stooges stronger flicks, The chuckles are here and there, but randomly. This film has suitable portrayal, acting, and storyline. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

HARD TIME (Released to Television USA 1998)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Stars ììì  Hard Time—simple, solid story—makes a surprisingly fun watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  An innocent detective, Logan McQueen, is be tried for the alleged killing of a criminal who was unarmed. While the police and the lawyers are working on the trial, McQueen goes to the streets to find the real killer and some missing money from a stolen suitcase. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Burt Reynolds for directing effort. Cast includes Burt Reynolds, Charles Durning, and Robert Loggia.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It's simple, but effective and has a surprise twist at its conclusion.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

A CHUMP AT OXFORD (Released to Theaters USA 1939)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  A Chump at Oxford—not funny—does not have a quality portrayal for its storyline.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel are tired of working as street sweepers, decide to go  college, and the story is on.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Alfred J. Goulding for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Hal Roach and Hal Roach Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Wilfred Lucas, Forrester Harvey, Peter Cushing, and Charlie Hall.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This film fills-in-some-time. It is what it is: not bad but not good either. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

IN HARM'S WAY (Released to Theaters USA 1965)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  In Harm's Way—good film—tells several stories at once. By using that technique, it increases watching interest. It's good to see Kirk Douglas play with John Wayne again (The War Wagon). Watch for Stanley Holloway (My Fair Lady). It relies on an all star cast with some cameo appearances.  The film has suggestive themes.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The US Navy is hit by the Japanese during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Captain Rockwell Torrey (John Wayne) leads warfare against more attacks.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Otto Preminger for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Otto Preminger for making the film possible. Cast includes Tom Tryon, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Paula Prentiss, Brandon deWilde, Jill Haworth, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Overall, this is a long  watch that can be broken into two evenings; it earns its watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

REDEMPTION DAY (Released to Theaters USA 2021)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Redemption Day—title makes an audience think this is going to be great—performs as a cliched rerun/collage of other films better written and portrayed. Audiences may feel 'put off,' when they see Gary Dourdan (famed actor of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: TV Series) acting in this film. At first one thinks, well, this might work and then finds it does not work as quality acting. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Soldier's wife is kidnapped and held for ransom. The soldier and a friend risk their lives to save her.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Hicham Hajji for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Hicham Hajji and David Zilberberg for making the film possible. Cast includes Gary Dourdan, Serinda Swan, Andy Garcia, Brice Bexter, Ernie Hudson, Martin Donovan, Robert Knepper, and Samy Naceri.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It seems like it might work and then does not. Weak, okay watch.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

KICKBOXER 2: THE ROAD BACK (Released to Theaters USA 1991)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Kickboxer 2—sequel to the Jean Claude van Damme film Kickboxer—offers nothing spectacular and follows the format of an 80s cult classic even though it was made in the 90s. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline The brother of Kurt Sloan is brought in to defeat his brother's nemesis.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Albert Pyun for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Tom Karnowski for making the film possible. Cast includes Sasha Mitchell, Peter Boyle, Dennis Chan, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, John Diehl, and Michel Qissi.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It serves as a fill-in-time movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers.

LITTLE BIG SOLDIER (Released to Theaters Hong Kong 2010)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Little Big Soldier has been produced in Mandarin Chinese but has great subtitles. It's a great Jackie Chan movie with a surprisingly good storyline. It easily passes all international borders as a really good film and earns its place in the home video library. Watch for some terrific background scenery.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Before a unified China, a soldier captures a general and keeps him for ransom  The time is in the 200s BC.

 Additional Thanks

 Thank you to Director Deng Sheng for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Jackie Chan for making the film possible. Cast includes Jackie Chan, Leehom Wang, Steve Yoo, and Lin Peng.

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  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a cute and very likeable Jackie Chan film. Good Teen/Adult share movie. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BLOCK-HEADS (Released to Theaters USA 1938)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Block-Heads—57-minute short film—serves up a little better entertainment fare than many Laurel and Hardy comedies. This movie is funny, original, and well written.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A man continues to patrol an assigned area long after the war is over. When he returns to America, an old friend extends hospitality to him. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director John G. Blystone for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Hal Roach and Hal Roach Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Patricia Ellis,  Minna Gombell, Billy Gilbert, and James Finlayson.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good film, tells a good story, and is very well written. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES (Released to Theaters USA 2018)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Teen Titans Go! To the Movies—weak and disorganized—is a pointless work of nothingness. Watch for a comical cameo of the Marvel creator, Stan Lee, in this DC presentation.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The Teen Titans try to get their own movie and, in the process, save the world from Slade/Deathstroke.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Peter Rida Michail and Aaron Horvath for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Aaron Horvath, Jelenic, Peggy Regan, Peter Rida Michail, and Will Arnett for making the film possible. Cast includes Greg Cipes, Scott Menville, Khary Payton, Tara Strong, Hynden Walch, Will Arnett, and Kristen Bell. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a okay film to some extent but is not the best of films overall.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

CORNER OFFICE (Released to the Tribeca Film Festival New York City, New York USA 2022)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì Corner Office—suspenseful—has an exceptional script that keeps its audience guessing to the very last scene and even then leaves its audience with deep questions about what was really happening. Don't miss this movie. The casting department flawlessly chose actors perfectly suited for this story.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline An office worker sees a room no one else sees.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Joachim Back for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Luke Rivett, Dylan Collingwood, Robert Mitchell, Matt Clarke, David Milchard, Oliver Ridge, and Andrew Harvey for making the film possible. Cast includes Jon Hamm, Danny Pudi, Sarah Gadon, and  Christopher Heyerdahl. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a poignant film that one will not soon forget. It would be the perfect movie to pull from a home video library to share with guests as it provokes discussion about the power of the mind.   Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers Ben Meyers

THE HOUSE OF THE LOST ON THE CAPE (Released to Japan 2021)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  The House of the Lost on the Cape—animated Japanese film—orients itself strongly around Japanese culture. It can be difficult to follow and a tension around the old woman's intent does not resolve itself until the conclusion. The film has a strong start, but that initial strength falters toward middle and latter parts of the film. Throughout the film, the audience may feel disorientated about the uncertainty of life and the movie encourages that by keeping the story engulfed in mystery. The movie has great animation.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Children with completely broken lives are invited into the home of an elderly woman to live.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Shinya Kawatsura for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Noriko Iwasaki, Taku Matsuo, and Yoshinori Takeeda for making the film possible. Cast includes Mana Ashida, Kwano Sari, Shinobu Otake ,Mikio Date, Takeshi Tomizawa, and Shohei Uno. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?   Yes. This is  a very well made film and tells a good story. Know this movie is based on the outcome of the 2011 Japanese Tsunami which left many orphan children and parents who could not gather their lives together after the event. It is complicated as it introduces many 'helping spirits' that work to establish peace between heaven and earth and to heal the broken after catastrophic events. The movie will establish itself at its conclusion (one understands what the story is about after the film is over). The voice actors are well chosen. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers