GIANT (Theatrical Release USA 1956)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

Giant—fabulous—shows great writing skill, great acting skill, great presentation and has the human element in place. It’s terrific to see a marriage blend and allowance made for individuality and difference of opinion. It’s wonderful to see the human evolve and develop as the events of life shape lives. Great work for all involved in making this interpretation of life. Whether rich or poor, this movie touches the common elements that we all share while on life’s journey. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Eastern girl meets Texas boy and they build a life while learning to integrate two very different lifestyles in Texas. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director George Stevens for directing effort. Thank you to Producers George Stevens and Henry Ginsberg for making the film possible. Cast includes: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Sal Mineo, Dennis Hopper, Elsa Cardenas, and Earl Holliman. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This classic belongs in the home video collection. One of a kind story that touches every single human chord and plays it with depth and tone. Terrific, terrific watch.

 Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

THE RESCUERS (Theatrical Release USA 1977)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Rescuers—still great after 45 years—has great animation, great voicing, great storyline, superb presentation, and can be re-watched again and again. It’s clean, honest, innocent, and does not play bad jokes on its audience. Terrific writing shows kindness and care for others which in turn deploys into a nicely done message that good deeds have good outcomes. This is classic Disney; Disney and his teams would be proud of this production. BRAVO! This treasure of a film can be appreciated for many years to come. Watch for the teddy bear that looks a lot like Winnie the Pooh. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Two agents are deployed to find a missing orphan in need of help. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, and Art Stevens for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Wolfgang Reitherman for making the film possible. Cast includes: Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Joe Flynn, and Geraldine Page. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This film deserves to be a ‘buy to own’ and can easily be watched again. WOW! It’s the work of master craftsmen. 

Video Critique Available Here: 



Ben Meyers

MIB INTERNATIONAL (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

MIB: International begins with good intrigue but cannot hold that throughout the movie. Chris Hemsworth seems uncomfortable with his lines. And, Liam Neeson seems just as unsuited to his assigned dialogue. The presentation does not equal the last three MIB movies mostly due to its weakly written script. And, the thought that this series may have run its course and entered its death stages comes to mind. Hopefully, the errors can be corrected and the movie freshens itself again. Emma Thompson absolutely works in this movie. It is intriguing to watch Tessa Thompson as her own personality projects and dominates her assigned character rather than integrating the character into her own. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

MIB Agency believes there is a mole in the agency. Agent H and Agent M need to discover who the mole is in MIB. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director F. Gary Gray for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald for making the film possible. Cast includes: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiana, Rafe Spall, Laurent Bourgeois, Larry Bourgeois, Emma Thompson, and Liam Neeson. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. This film is not as high quality as previous MIB films, but if one wants to see the latest film in the MIB franchise, this is it. It’s premise is good. But it has a long road to travel to keep pace with previously made MIB stories.

Video Critique Available Here:

 


Ben Meyers

DUDLEY DO-RIGHT (Theatrical Release USA 1999)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì 


Dudley Do-Right—okay film—starts well and then begins to fizzle. Brendan Fraser has the looks for the character, does not have the personality for it. This same challenge is doubly enhanced with the casting of Sarah Jessica Parker as Nell. The singing is below average. The movie is ‘kinda’ cute and fun, but doesn’t get there as a movie despite its happy conclusion. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  

Storyline 

Dudley Do-Right discovers Snidely has ‘planted’ gold around a town to start a gold rush with the plan to enrich himself. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Hugh Wilson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer John Davis, Joseph Singer, and J. Todd Harris for making the film possible. Cast includes: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfred Molina, Eric Idle, Robert Prosky, and Alex Rocco. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. This is what it is. An audience will either like it or not. The acting is not believable and the character personalities have not been deeply plumbed.

Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

 

THAT DARN CAT! (Theatrical Release USA 1965)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

That Darn Cat!—perfect example of an age of innocence that has been bypassed—presents such a welcome, honest and clean presentation, that it makes one wonder, ‘What happened?’ The world, as it reflects entertainment, has gone through a major change in personality and outlook on life. One wonders if there is a way to make it back to this kind of entertainment…it feels clean and good…like one feels after a good, long bath and watches the dirty water swirl down the drain. Besides that, the film is just a good watch and has plenty of value left as an entertainment piece. It’s an all-around good, family film that features Halley Mills and Dean Jones. It reminds one of the early days when Walt Disney was still alive and directing his business. This film needs to be watched to remind us of where we used to be in thought and choice of entertainment. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A cat searching for a good salmon snack incidentally follows a robber to his hideout where a kidnapped woman is held hostage. She slips her watch on the cat’s neck with the partial letters of HELP scratched on the back and turns him loose so he can go back to his owner. The cat's owner intuits that the watch belongs to the missing woman and goes to the FBI for help. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Robert Stevenson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney, Bill Walsh, and Ron Miller for making the film possible. Cast includes: Hayley Mills, Dean Jones, Dorothy Provine, Roddy McDowall, Frank Gorshin, and Neville Brand. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. WOW! The movie more than earns its watch. It’s wonderful to see the cleanliness of mind and the innocence of thought as presented in this story. It’s nice to see date nights that do not automatically turn into one night stands. 

Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—the best of the Marvel films—is the second movie of the Black Panther movie series. This film plays more like a non-Marvel superhero movie, meaning there is a certain aura that most superhero films cannot seem to break through, but this movie does it. Superhero movies have a minor goofiness, cheesiness, comic book presentation that causes a loss of quality. This movie critic usually overlooks this quality and critiques around that, but Black Panther: Wakanda Forever does not have this aura or element at all. This film also does a terrific commemoration for the late Chadwick Boseman built right into the script that shows feeling and real sadness for his passing. The movie, itself, has more realistic fight scenes  than past Marvel films. WOW! What an improvement! It stands head and shoulders above other Marvel films. Thank you to everyone who had the courage to break the mold and enter a new era for the superhero movie presentation. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Conflict, with Wakanda from a country stationed under water, results in war over a natural resource. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Ryan Coogler for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Kevin Feige and Nate Moore for making the film possible. Cast includes: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, Tenoch Huerte Mejia, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. 


Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
 

Yes. This film is more than worth watching due to its great visuals, acting, and presentation. 

Video Critique Available Here:



 

Ben Meyers

THE GREEN BERETS (Theatrical Release USA 1968)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Green Berets is a John Wayne family production and they’ve done a terrific job of putting together a movie with a great storyline, very good presentation, and good/great acting.This film, one of John Wayne’s better movies, may have a somber conclusion but it tells an important Vietnam war story. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The Green Berets endeavor to survive an assignment in Vietnam with regular raids on their base hindering their ability to survive. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors John Wayne and Ray Kellogg for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Michael Wayne for making the film possible. Cast includes: John Wayne, David Janssen, Jim Hutton, Aldo Ray, Raymond St. Jacques, Bruce Cabot, Patrick Wayne, Luke Askew, and George Takei. 


Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
 

Yes. This movie is more than worthy and tells a great Vietnam War story. The acting is good to great and the presentation is very good.

Video Critique Available Here:

 


Ben Meyers


GODZILLA (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

Godzilla seems like a reboot of the 1998, Matthew Broderick and Jean Reno, version of the Godzilla story. It is the second Godzilla film produced in the United States. This film replaces the original cast with Brian Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elisabeth Olsen, Sally Hawkins, and David Strathairn. The movie works at the okay to suitable level and has suitable special effects that show Godzilla fighting a new antagonist, the MUTO (Massive Unidenified Terrestrial Organism). This movie is better in some ways and not so good in other ways from the 1998 Godzilla film and has terrific animation of the monsters. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Godzilla fights MUTO—a massive, unidentified, terrestrial organism. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Gareth Edwards for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent, and Brian Rogers for making the film possible. Cast includes: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. This movie is the first film in the new Godzilla film series. The film does not inspire a watch for the sequel; however, one may be curious to see if there is an improvement in the storyline for the next movie. The fourth film in this new series may be in the works for a 2024 release.

 Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

GAME NIGHT (Theatrical Release USA 2018)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì 

Game Night—unique—keeps its audience guessing about its purpose. It’s difficult to see the connections between a couple who should be having children, their obsession with games, why an actual role-playing game is ordered (at the first of the movie, it seems the older brother ordered it and at the end of the movie it appears that the neighbor ordered it) and when it is role playing and when the action is real. The blur between real events and the reality game that has been ordered, during most of the movie works at the obscurity level. The movie leaves many loose ends when it concludes. If you you are going to buy a ticket, read a plotline before buying that ticket to enhance enjoyment of the movie. Know that there is considerable sexual, adult dialogue in this movie that makes it an entertainment piece for adults. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A husband, wife, and friends enter a very realistic real life role-playing game. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein for directing effort. Thank you to Producers John Davis, John Fox, Jason Bateman, and James Garamente for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Michael C. Hall, and Kyle Chandler. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe?                                                                       

 No. The film’s script seems to have been ‘hurried’ during the writing process and fails to tie up loose ends. Read a plotline before going.

 Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers 

TRON (Theatrical Release USA 1982)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Tron—outstanding in its time, archaic now—uses outdated computer animation with live action actors and a small storyline to produce the film. It’s rather like watching an old pong game with its backward, forward movement of a small ball of light except it is far more sophisticated than that but still relies on repetitive computer action over and over throughout its storyline. Watching it now makes one wonder why it was made…was it just to show off new technology? It is what it is...an academic study of the history of computer animation technique as used in the entertainment industry. This movie makes one appreciate the significant contributions entertainment has made toward sophisticated computer work. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A game inventor needs to prove he invented a game. While trying to hack into a computer for that information, he accidentally gets sucked into the computer. and the adventure is on. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Steven Lisberger for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Donald Kushner for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan, and Barnard Hughes. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. The movie becomes a great academic study, but for average audiences the film has dated itself over the last 40 years.

 Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World—interesting, not the best in the series—seems to definitively show that this series has finished its run. The story died with the second film and short films, and it is surprising to see another full length film produced and released. The movie does have great voicing, but this alone does not make a terrific movie watch.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A hunter wants to kill all the dragons. Hiccup has to travel to the edge of the world to save the dragons. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Dean DeBlois for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Bonnie Arnold and Brad Lewis for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, F. Murray Abraham, Cate Blanchett, and Craig Ferguson. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. It is what it is and falls short of the original How to Train Your Dragon release. This movie is weak in presentation although children may appreciate it. Adults will most likely prefer higher quality animated movies to share with their children.

 Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

FIRST BLOOD (Theatrical Release USA 1982)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

First Blood—terrific Sylvester Stallone film—shows Stallone at his best as he depicts a warrior endeavoring to manage in a society that does not value or respect warrior skills. Stallone has a strong supporting cast that includes David Caruso, Richard Crenna, and Brian Dennehy (Teasle). The movie is an involving watch that provides terrific after watching discussion material. This is a ‘do not miss’ movie for an adult audience. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A military veteran gets into trouble with a small town sheriff. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Ted Kotcheff for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Buzz Feitshans for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, and Brian Dennehy. 


Buy a Ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie runs on a provocative theme that provides good discussion material afterwards about veterans, their place in society, how they are valued, and the difficulty of re-adjusting to normal life after serving in wartime situations. The movie more than serves the Sylvester Stallone fanbase with complete entertainment value. 

Video Critique Available Here: 




Ben Meyers

BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Bourne Ultimatum is the third film in a series of five films with the fifth film, Jason Bourne, producing in 2016. This series of movies is surprisingly consistent in both quality and presentation. The writing is outstanding, the dialogue is intriguing, and the acting above average. Bourne Ultimatum earns its recommendation as a movie ‘more than worth watching.’ Matt Damon, as character Jason Bourne, does not overplay his role and delivers a sensible, believable, well-thought-out presentation of the main character’s challenges to survive in a world where so many facts are missing. Complicated, multi-faceted, and interesting, this movie requires audience involvement and active mental engagement. The movie is both gripping and intellectually driven. It provides good entertainment value for both time and money investment. Kudos to Director Paul Greengrass for keeping the story on target.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

Jason Bourne continues to unravel clues to his past. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Paul Greengrass for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley, and Paul Sandberg for making the film possible. Cast includes: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, and Joan Allen. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. It’s unusual to find a series piece that holds interest and produces consistent entertainment fare. This movie, as were the first two Bourne films, more than worth watching and easily becomes a ‘must see’ movie.

 Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Jumanji: The Next Level—sequel to the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle movie—is the third film in a series dedicated to the game of Jumanji. This movie allows the characters from the second Jumanji movie to reprise their roles. The movie gathers its entertainment value from a terrific cast, great acting, and its sweet ability to intermix comedy with action. The movie is a great choice to add to the Jumanji series in the home entertainment library. The film begs for its sequel. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Four friends re-enter the Jumanji game for the second time. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Jake Kasdan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers  Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Matt Tolmach, and Jake Kasdan for making the film possible.  Cast includes: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Danny Glover, and Danny DeVito. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The film provides an unusually good mixture of both comedy and adventure. The script is creative, fresh, and allows Dwayne Johnson another opportunity to show his diverse ability to play a variety of characters well. The movie makes a terrific addition to the home video library. 

Video Critique Available Here: 



Ben Meyers 

NORTH TO ALASKA (Theatrical Release USA 1960)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì 

North to Alaska runs on a shallow storyline and bad to okay acting. It sticks to a limited set of stage settings and gives no relief with any outstanding cinematic views of Alaska or the Seattle coastlands. The small exploration into the logging community in Seattle are the most interesting scenes in this movie. The film tries to be a comedy but doesn’t quite get there. Both John Wayne and Stewart Granger do not compliment each other well in this film and the addition of Fabian does not help.   

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Friends strike it rich in the Alaskan wilderness. One friend travels to Seattle to get a wife for the other friend. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Henry Hathaway for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Henry Hathaway, John Lee Martin, and Charles Feldman for making the film possible. Cast includes: John Wayne, Stewart Granger, Capucine, Ernie Kovacs, and Fabian. 


Buy a ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. This film is predictable and is one of John Wayne’s lesser performances. Better John Wayne westerns include: The Shootist or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. 

Video Critique Available Here: 



Ben Meyers

TOP GUN: MAVERICK (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì 

Top Gun: Maverick—WOW!—has terrific action, storyline, and dialogue lines. The story has come to its maturity and presents onscreen at a much higher level than the original Top Gun movie. Tom Cruise takes this film to the next level in entertainment value with his terrific supporting cast. It easily becomes one of the better military films marketed and easily establishes itself as a prime candidate for addition to the home video library. It has entertainment value written all over it. 

Film Poster of Google Images 

Storyline 

This war film is about precision air fighters who must remove a set of targets perceived as dangerous to world safety. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Joseph Kosinski for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and David Ellison for making the film possible. Cast includes: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer. 


Buy a Ticket
? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie defines great storytelling and improves vastly on the first Top Gun movie. It shows maturity, values courage and loyalty, and the importance of rehearsal and training. Wonderful work for all involved in production. Incredibly well-written piece of entertainment.

 Video Critique Available Here:



Ben Meyers

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