DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (Theatrical Release Britain 1971)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Stars ìììì

Diamonds Are Forever, while not on par with Goldfinger, still shows well as it follows the usual James Bond (Sean Connery) plotline—action, violence, and sex. Comedy relief comes in the form of matter-of-fact henchmen, Mr. Wint (Bruce Glover) and Mr. Kidd (Putter Smith), who deliver trite lines such as, “If God wanted man to fly, he would had given them wings,” with laughable, poker-faced sobriety.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Arch villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Grey) decides a satellite can be used to blow up military bases. James Bond’s protocol becomes: take out Blofeld, save the world, restore peace.

Additional Thanks

Great work for Director Guy Hamilton. Thank you to Producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for making the film possible. Great music by Composer John Barry. Additional characters/cast include: Tiffany Case (Jill St. John), Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood), Willard Whyte (Jimmy Dean), Saxby (Bruce Cabot), Leiter (Norman Burton), Dr. Metz (Joseph Fürst), ‘M’ (Bernard Lee), ‘Q’ (Desmond Llewelyn), Shady Tree (Leonard Barr), and Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. A good film for James Bond fans.

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Ben Meyers

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift replaces Actor Paul Walker with Actor Lucas Black, moves the action to Tokyo, and uses the talents of Director Justin Lin to introduce audiences to ‘drifting,’ a type of racing popular in Japan. The storyline revolves around rebellious American teen-ager, Sean Boswell (Lucas Black), whose Mother sends him to Tokyo to live with his dad, U.S. Navy officer, Major Boswell (Brian Goodman), to keep him from trouble with United States law officials. The ‘family’ working to get their son on a better course in life isn’t quite what one would expect from a Fast and Furious movie; but, the racing is pretty good and the scenes revolving around Tokyo culture make a unique story worth watching. The movie is not the best in the series. The story needs a boost in reality and the story seems more serious at times than the other films. That serious tone as well as deeper involvement with mafia hampers the quality of this film.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Executive Producers Ryan Kavanaugh, Lynwood Spinks, and Clayton Townsend for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: High School Security Guard (Damien Marzette), American Math Teacher (Trula M. Marcus), Morimoto (Leonardo Nam), Han (Sung Kang), Clay (Zachery Ty Bryan), Neela (Nathalie Kelley), Drift King (Brian Tee), Twinkie (Shad Moss also known as the musical rapper Bow Wow), Ms. Boswell (Lynda Boyd), and Cindy (Nikki Griffin).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie, the third release in the Fast and the Furious franchise, is an interesting watch. But the plotline needs work to make it in character with the previous films.

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Ben Meyers

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (Theatrical Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Stars ìììì

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—the best supernatural film ever made—teams location, special effects, pure imagination, and outstanding cast to create a classic that finally bypasses Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s 1939 film release of The Wizard of Oz. Adventurous, powerful, surprising, and new, the film’s youthful cast Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are supported by some of the best seasoned actors in the business—Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane. While the movie closely follows the J.K. Rowling novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the visual effect and the impetus that Director Chris Columbus effortlessly thrusts into each and every scene make it enthrallingly absorbing.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Harry Potter continues his education toward mastery of the magical arts.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Duncan Henderson, and Mark Radcliffe for making the film possible. Characters/cast include: Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Tom-Bartender in Leaky Cauldron (Derek Deadman), Uncle Vernon Dursley (Richard Griffiths), Professor Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris), Professor Quirinus Quirrell (Ian Hart), Aunt Petunia Dursley (Fiona Shaw), Diagon Alley Boy (Ben Borowiecki), Professor Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith), Molly Weasley (Julie Walters), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), Goblin Bank Teller/Professor Flitwick (Warwick Davis), Cousin Dudley Dursley (Harry Melling), and Griphook the Goblin (Verne Troyer).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. WOW! This works for all ages. A great watch! 

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Ben Meyers

THE TERMINATOR (Theatrical Release USA 1984)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Terminator—another top-of-the-line Arnold Schwarzenegger action film—delivers the message that if you rid yourself of things that are harmful to you, you will have a better life. All humor aside, the story is the quintessence of superlative and matchless tension laced with special effects.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is sent from the future to protect Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton), a woman destined to produce a child who will lead people against a self-aware defense network bent on destroying the human race. At the same time Kyle Reese is sent back, the defense network has sent back a cyborg terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to exterminate Sarah Conner before she gives birth to this child. 

Additional Thanks

Best work for Writer and Director James Cameron. Thank you to Executive Producers John Daly and Derek Gibson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lieutenant Ed Traxler (Paul Winfield), Detective Hal Vukovich (Lance Henricksen), Matt Buchanan (Rick Rossovich), Ginger Ventura (Bess Motta), and Dr Peter Silberman (Earl Boen).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Above average action entertainment with a terrific futuristic storyline.

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Ben Meyers

JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Stars ìììì

Johnny English Reborn plays hilarious. Rowan Atkinson's comedic performance supports itself on Gillian Anderson (known for her award winning performance in The X-Files) as his new boss and Daniel Kaluuya as his new junior agent, Colin Tucker.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline 

Johnny English’s assignment: Stop the assassination of the Chinese Premier. 

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Oliver Parker. Thank you to Executive Producers Liza Chasin, William Davies, and Deborah Hayward for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Agent 1 (Eric Carte), Agent 2 (Roger Barclay), and Ting Wang (Togo Igawa).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie works for Johnny English movie fans. 

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Ben Meyers

CURIOUS GEORGE (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Stars ìììì

Curious George—lovable, with superb traditional animation—gently reminds us that circuitous paths can often lead to happy endings.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline

Ted, the man with the yellow hat (voice of Will Ferrell), loses his post at the Bloomsberry Museum because there are not enough interesting exhibits to create floor traffic. The junior Bloomsberry (voice of David Cross) wants to replace the museum with a parking lot, but the elder Bloomsbury (voice of Dick Van Dyke) wants to preserve it. Ted finds a picture of a stone monkey that has never been found and encourages the elder Bloomsbury to find the African artifact and rejuvenate interest in the museum. The elder Bloomsbury grabs at the idea and enthusiastically propels a reluctant Ted to take the trip to Africa. 

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director Matthew O’Callaghan. Thank you to Executive Producers David Bernardi, Bonne Radford, Ken Tsumura, and James Whitaker for making the film possible. Additional characters/voice cast include: George (voice of Frank Welker), Kid (voice of Shane Baumel), Kid (voice of Timyra-Joi Beatty), Clovis (voice of Eugene Levy), and Maggie (voice of Drew Barrymore).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. High quality effort deserves the family watch.

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Ben Meyers

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Stars ììì

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian continues the Night at the Museum’s story with Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) now a wealthy entrepreneur. The addition of Darth Vader (Thomas Morley), Abraham Lincoln Monument (voice of Hank Azaria), Oscar the Grouch (voice of Caroll Spinney), and Albert Einstein bobbleheads (voice of Eugene Levy) as well as the introduction of antagonist Pharoah Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) add zest to the story; but, it’s a rather ho-hum sequel which children will enjoy while leaving adults twiddling their thumbs and waiting to go home.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Larry Daley's museum adventures become a little more complicated. 

Additional Thanks

Really good work for Director Shawn Levy. Thank you to Executive Producers Thomas M. Hammel, Josh McLaglen, and Mark Radcliffe for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Nicky (Jake Cherry), Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), The Thinker (voice of Hank Azaria), Jedidiah Smith (Owen Wilson), Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek), Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest), Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat), Octavius (Steve Coogan), and Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes.  Overall, a good watch that needs presentation improvement to keep adult interest.

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Ben Meyers

POSEIDON (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Stars ììì

Poseidon—ocean disaster film—seems determined to capitalize on some of the faults in the original film, The Poseidon Adventure, while adding a few faults of its own. The love drama scenes are heavily loaded as are the scenes with women overreacting to the point of 'enough already!' Acting is under par throughout the movie. The scene where Robert Ramsey (Kurt Russell) and his daughter’s boyfriend Christian (Mike Vogel) are working out the details of who will take the death plunge seem almost comedic. The moral of this story is that: if you can make it out of a sinking ship, you need to rescue as many people as you can, unless you operate on a different ethics level as when Architect Richard Nelson (Richard Dreyfuss) sacrifices pleading man, Waiter Marco Valentin (Freddy Rodriguez). Of course, in the non-thinking moment when more panic presents itself than rational thinking, anything may be possible and that is definitely one of the scriptwriter’s many options for resolving tough situations.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

A ship begins to sink and people desperately endeavor to survive.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Wolfgang Petersen for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Sheila Allen, Jon Jashni, Ben Waisbren, and Kevin Burns for making the movie possible. Additional characters/cast include: Dylan Johns (Josh Lucas), Maggie James (Jacinda Barrett), Jennifer Ramsey (Emmy Rossum), Elena Morales (Mia Maestro), and Lucky Larry (Kevin Dillon).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. While the computer graphics are terrific, between two story choices, see the original film, The Poseidon Adventure, for greater entertainment satisfaction coupled with realistic human cooperation for survival.

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Ben Meyers

PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France 2002)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Stars ìììì

Punch-Drunk Love—unique love story—flavors itself with sweet, innocent scenes that invoke small smiles and gentle chuckles. There are scenes with graphic sexual dialog; but, for the most part, the film flows smoothly and provides satisfying entertainment.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Bachelor Barry Egan needs to marry, but lacks the courage. A series of unrelated events dovetail to introduce the love of his life and to enable him to find his courage. 

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Paul Thomas Anderson. Thank you to Producers Paul Thomas Anderson, Daniel Lupi, and JoAnne Sellar for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: Lance (Luis Guzmán), Kathleen (Julie Hermelin), Customer #1 (David Schrempf), Customer #2 (Seann Conway), Rico (Rico Bueno), Rhonda (Hazel Mailloux), Steve (Larry Ring), Richard (Kerry Gelbard), and Dean Trumbell (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film delivers well-timed dialogue and serves as a wonderful watch.

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Ben Meyers

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS (Theatrical Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Fast and the Furious—an adrenaline pulsing, fast, engine pounding film—introduces itself in such a manner that we forgive its raunchiness, its nudity, and sexual references much in the same way that we forgive a James Bond classic for its lack of morality. The camera angles and dare devil stunts coupled with fast, pumped cars places it in the top-of-its-class for racing films. The story begins with LA Policeman Brian O’Conner’s (Paul Walker) recruitment to take down Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel), a street racer and professional thief. Brian O’Conner infiltrates the gang; falls for Dom Toretto’s sister, Mia Torreto (Jordana Brewster); challenges Dom Toretto’s Modified 1993 Mazda RX-7 for a race against Brian O’Conner’s modified 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX; and the show is on as the two men warily assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director Rob Cohen. Thank you to Executive Producers Doug Claybourne and John Pogue for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Johnny Tran (Rick Yune), Jesse (Chad Lindberg), Vince (Matt Schulz), and Hector (Noel Gugliemi).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Good movie for racing fans. This is part 1 of the Fast and Furious movie series and is worth watching. 

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Ben Meyers

GOOSEBUMPS (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

Goosebumps delivers some laugh-out-loud scenes coupled with a little R. L Stine ‘scary’. If just a little scary is what the family is looking for, then this movie fills the request. The moral of the story is: Don’t go into the next door neighbor’s house without a formal invitation and definitely do NOT mess with his library books.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Really Good Work for Director Rob Letterman. Thank you to Executive Producers Bill Bannerman, Greg Basser, Bruce Berman, Tania Landau, and Ben Waisbren for making the film possible. The film relies on the ample talents of Jack Black as R. L. Stine, Slappy, and the voice of Invisible Boy; Dylan Minnette as Zach; Odeya Rush as Hannah; Amy Ryan as Zach’s Mother Gale; Ryan Lee as Zach’s school buddy Champ; Jillian Bell as Lorraine; Halston Sage as Taylor; and Steven Kruger as Davids.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a good story. Jack Black as R.L. Stine seems an odd casting choice but plays his character well.

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Ben Meyers

JOHNNY ENGLISH (Theatrical Release UK 2003)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Stars ììì

Johnny English—an abundant helping to the talents of comedian Rowan Atkinson who played the secondary character role of Small-Fawcett in the 1983 James Bond film, Never Say Never Again—creates a ‘James Bond-type’ character that is quite amusing and entertaining. In Johnny English, Atkinson, of course, becomes the top agent on the case and the film becomes a light parody that, with its PG rating, makes fairly clean family entertainment. A few ‘ass’ words and some bathroom humor move it into the parental guidance suggested rating. It’s classic ‘Bean’, all the way, and will not disappoint Bean fans.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Really Good Work for Director Peter Howitt. Thank you to Producers Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Mark Huffam for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: Agent One (Greg Wise), Bough, English’s Sidekick (Ben Miller), Countess Alexandra/Exotic Woman (Tasha de Vasconcelos), Carlos Vendetta (Douglas McFerran) Dieter Klein (Steve Nicolson), Official at Funeral (Terence Harvey), Prime Minister (Kevin McNally), and Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Rowan Atkinson is a spy, or is he? This film works for the 10 + audience.

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Ben Meyers

MALEFICENT (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

Ben Meyer’s rating: 3.6|5.0 Stars ììì Maleficent—creative—tells the background story of the evil fairy from Sleeping Beauty. This movie flows well and serves suitable to okay entertainment. Kudos to the costuming department. Angelina Jolie's costuming alone  makes the movie. It seems Disney Studios' 'magic' is lost in this film as this movie goes outside the boundaries that the studio usually uses to portray evil characters. Disney movies traditionally soften evilness to accommodate the entire family's watch. Angelina, in this movie, may be terrifying to younger audiences.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline The wicked fairy of Sleeping Beauty raises the child who becomes Sleeping Beauty and watches the baby grow to the age of pricking the finger on the spinning wheel. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Robert Stromberg for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Sarah Bradshaw, Don Hahn, Angelina Jolie, Palak Patel, Matt Smith, Charuhas Sonar, Michael Viera, making the film possible. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley, Brenton Twaites, Kenneth Cranham, Sarah Flind, and Hannah New.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is an okay to suitable watch.

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Ben Meyers

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Stars ììì

Night at the Museum, an excellent family movie, relies on a terrific, imaginative, entertaining storyline; above the call-of-duty computer graphics; and an impeccable, all-star cast.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The American Museum of Natural History has a secret—the exhibits come to dynamic life at night and return to static normal at sunrise. Newly hired security guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) gets the surprise of his life as he is chased by Tyrannosaurus Rex, attacked by Attila the Hun, and introduced to Roman General Octavius, Pharoah Ahkmenrah, Sacajawea, and Teddy Roosevelt.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Shawn Levy for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Thomas M. Hammel, Mark Radcliffe, and Ira Shuman for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: Rebecca (Carla Gugino), Nick Daley (Jake Cherry), Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais), Reginald (Bill Cobbs), Gus (Mickey Rooney), Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Akhmenrah (Rami Malek), Cecil (Dick Van Dyke), Octavius (Steve Coogan), Erica Daley (Kim Raver), and Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This film serves a family audience and easily entertains the child/adult audience.

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Ben Meyers

OPEN SEASON (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Stars ììì

Open Season, not original and not great, has its comedic elements based in the interaction between a domesticated bear named Boog (voice of Martin Lawrence) and a woodland deer named Elliot (voice of Ashton Kutcher).  This movie is a Sony Pictures and Columbia Pictures computer animated production that performs worldwide on an average box office intake. Its lack of an outstanding script and animation leads to a trite and uninspired conclusion when Boog finally decides where his true home lies. This average film works as a light afternoon watch for the teen/adult.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

 Boog, a domesticated bear, meets an undomesticated deer, Elliot, who convinces Boog to come with him and be in the wild.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Roger Allers and Jill Colton for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers John B. Carls and Steve Moore for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: Shaw (voice of Gary Sinise), McSquizzy (voice of Billy Connolly), Beth (Deborah Messing), Bobbie (voice of Georgia Engel), Reilly (Jon Favreau), and Giselle (voice of Jane Krakowski).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes.  The movie's basic concept may work in the suitable range for the older audience.

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Ben Meyers

THE HELP (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Help, based on the 2009 novel by Kathryn Stockett, depicts relationships between Black American maids in White American households in 1960 Mississippi. Brilliantly executed, the film adeptly intertwines the lives of three Black American maids and their communities with the socialite white women they serve and their communities. A more than worth watching movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Best Work Effort for Director Tate Taylor. Thank you to Executive Producers Mohamed Mubarak Al-Mazrouei, Mark Radcliffe, Nate Berkus, Jeff Skoll, Jennifer Blum, Tate Taylor, John Norris, and L. Dean Jones, Jr. for making this film possible. Character/cast include: Skeeter (Emma Stone), Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard), Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain), Elizabeth Leefolt (Ahna O’Reilly), Charlotte Phelan (Allison Janney), Jolene French (Anna Camp), Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer), Mae Mobley (Eleanor and Emma Henry), and Stuart Whitworth (Chris Lowell).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. An educational film. Very well acted and portrayed with a great script.

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Ben Meyers