PRANCER (Theatrical Release USA 1989)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì

Prancer is sweet, but weak without much thought put into its storyline. While Sam Elliott superbly casts as the western hero, he is a little too rough as supporting character for Rebecca Harrell Tickell  in this movie. There is one scene in the film where Sam Elliott, while reading a newspaper, becomes distracted by outdoor sounds that works well; but he does not convey enough emotion to carry the majority of the scenes for this particular story well.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Young Jessica Riggs (Rebecca Harrell Tickell) nurses a reindeer back to health. She believes she is caring for Prancer, a Santa Claus sleigh reindeer.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director John D. Hancock for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Raffaella De Laurentiis for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: John Riggs (Sam Elliott), Mrs. McFarland (Cloris Leachman), Aunt Sarah (Rutanya Alda), Orel Benton (Abe Vigoda), Mr. Stewart/Santa (Michael Constantine), Steve Riggs (John Duda), Carol Wetherby (Ariana Richards), Herb Drier (Mark Rolston), and Billy Quinn (Johnny Galecki).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Better Christmas watches are: A Christmas Story, Polar Express, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

The Forbidden Kingdom—good Chinese culture fantasy film—involves the Monkey King myth. For full enjoyment of this movie, do a little research on the significance of the Monkey King in Chinese lore before you invest time and money in this entertainment. The special effects behind the action scenes lack realism and need a reboot; but, the overall story flows smoothly partially due to the choice of Jackie Chan and Michael Angarano as backup to Jet Li, who acts the part of the Monkey King. Michael Angarano shows good onscreen charisma in this film.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Teenager Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano) finds a magical staff that involves him in an adventure far beyond what he would have expected.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Rob Minkoff for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Raffaella De Laurentiis, Ryan Kavanaugh, Michael Paseornek, Lynwood Spinks, Zhongjun Wang, and Woo-Ping Yuen for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: The Monkey King/The Silent Monk (Jet Li), Lu Yan/Old Hop (Jackie Chan), Southie Girl (Juana Collignon), Lupo (Morgan Benoit), Southie (Jack Posobiec), Young Southie (Thomas McDonell), Old Woman (Zhi Ma Gui), Farmer (Shen Shou He), and Young Village Man (Bin Jiang).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It stands as an interesting dip into Chinese fantasy.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE WILD THORNBERRY'S MOVIE (Theatrical Release USA 2002)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

The Wild Thornberry's Movie sets Eliza Thornberry on a personal African adventure. Lots of charismatic appeal in this animated story that relies on a solidly good script and terrific voice casting. It’s a fun watch for the whole family.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Eliza Thornberry (voice of Lacey Chabert) attempts to rescue a baby Cheetah cub from poachers.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Directors Cathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrath for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Eryk Casemiro, Albie Hecht, Han-young Kang, Julia Pistorand Hal Waite making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Darwin (voice of Tom Kane), Phaedra (voice of Cree Summer), Nigel Thornberry/Colonel Radcliff Thornberry (voice of Tim Curry), Cordelia Thornberry (Lynn Redgrave), Marianne Thornberry (voice of Jodi Carlisle), Debbie Thornberry (voice of Danielle Harris), Donnie Thornberry (voice of Flea), Cheetah Cubs (voice of Crystal Scales), and Tally (voice of Kimberly Brooks).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s typical Thornberry fun for the whole family.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE BROTHERS GRIMM (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì

The Brothers Grimm has so much potential not realized that it hurts to watch it meander into mediocrity after its fairly good introductory scenes. The movie relies on a good special effects department to carry the story, but needs more than special effects to carry it. Several scenes, not related to the actual story, made it past editing and actually confuse rather than contribute to the strength of the script.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Con-Artists Wilhelm Grimm (Matt Damon) and Jacob Grimm (Heath Ledger) are assigned a supernatural task that will require more than con-artistry to resolve.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Terry Gilliam for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jonathan Gordon, Chris McGurk, Andrew Rona, John D. Schofield, Bob Weinstein, and Harvey Weinstein for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Young Will (Petr Ratimec), Mother Grimm (Barbora Lukesová), Sister Grimm (Anna Rust), Young Jacob (Jeremy Robson), Gendarme (Radim Kalvoda), Gendarme (Martin Hofmann), German War Veteran (Josef Pepa Nos), and Stable Boy (Harry Gilliam).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. There are better movies relating to childhood fairy tales like Mirror, Mirror  that serve a higher entertainment value.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SPEED RACER (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

Speed Racer—great animation with live action—immediately catches the viewer off guard with dazzling colors quite out of the norm for movies. The story is concise, almost short, with very little scripting. There is no backstory to make sense of what is happening. Watch for John Goodman in the film. For full appreciation of the movie, read a plotline before you go. The film is one of those movies released before its time and will gather its value in future years.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Speed (Emile Hirsch) receives a series of opportunities to reveal the valuable qualities of integrity, honesty, loyalty to family, courage, and diligence to task when all chips are down.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Bruce Berman, Michael Lambert, and David Lane Seltzer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Young Speed Racer (Nicholas Elia), MomSpeed (Susan Sarandon), Speed’s Teacher (Melissa Holroyd), Young Trixie (Ariel Winter), Rex Racer (Scott Porter), Everyman Announcer (Giancarlo Ganziano), Local Announcer (Peter Fernandez), and Harold Ledermann Announcer (Harvey Friedman).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The film has substance, but despite the added benefit of wonderful cinematography, the movie just doesn’t POP like it should. It’s an interesting dive into speed racing, small companies versus large companies, and interaction between family members trying to keep small, family-owned businesses alive and well in well-funded, highly competitive markets. Watch for Paulie Litt as Spritle Racer. He has great future in creative acting if he chooses.

Video Critique Available :

Ben Meyers

K-19: THE WIDOW MAKER (Theatricial Release USA 2002)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

K-19: The Widow Maker condenses the historical events that plagued the K-19, a Russian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, and eventually led to the deaths of 22 crew members who were exposed to severe radiation poisoning. The film will serve its audience at a higher level if a small amount of research is done on the race between America and Russia to develop this submarine, why it was considered valuable, how we currently detect nuclear submarine presence, and why this particular submarine was plagued with so many challenges both during testing and in its maiden voyage. The movie teams Harrison Ford with Liam Neeson to move its plot along. The real value in this movie lies in its educational appeal and needs more backstory to fully appreciate this story’s 138-minute glimpse into late 1950 through 1960 arms race history between the United States and Russia.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The K-19, a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, experiences serious challenges with its coolant systems.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Kathryn Bigelow for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Moritz Borman, Guy East, Harrison Ford, Dieter Nobbe, Nigel Sinclair, and Volker Schauz for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Alexei Vostrikov (Harrison Ford), Dmitri (Sam Spruell), Kuryshev (Peter Stebbings), Pavel (Christian Camargo), Lapinsh (Roman Podhora), Vasily (Sam Redford), Demichev (Steve Nicolson), Captain Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson), Suslov (Ravil Isyanov), Partonov (Tim Woodward), and Kornilov (Lex Shrapnel). 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The film’s presentation is not outstanding, but it is a painless way to absorb a bit of 1961 Russian history through the movie format.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers