My Friend Flicka—terrific family film—shows gentleness in its
simple story. Roddy McDowell (known for the Planet of the Apes (1968)
playing Cornelius) shows his early acting talent in this movie as he endeavors
to bond with the horse of his choice. This movie is the prequel story that led to the television
series My Friend Flicka and shows how that relationship developed. A
believable, child/adult share movie with no hard-core, violent scenes.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
This movie is about a boy and his horse.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Harold D. Schuster for directing
effort. Thank you to Producer Ralph Dietrich for making the film possible. Cast
includes Roddy McDowell, Preston Foster, and Rita Johnson.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. This movie is a terrific addition to the
home video library. It’s clean, honest, very human, and reminds us of outdoor
life and what it is like to work with real animals in real life situations. The
acting is very realistic and completely works. Great work for all involved in production.
Boss Baby 2: Family Business—creative—delivers better sequel entertainment
than the original BossBaby film delivers despite the fact that
the original movie did not give enough material for a good sequel. There does seem to be a storyline constipation
when Tim and Ted go to the school to scout out the new villain. But this part
of the film is still entertaining and is a good watch. The movie has a good
conclusion. Overall, it is a good family watch.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Tim and Ted Templeton are grown adults and Tim
finds that his infant daughter, Tina, is a Baby Corp baby.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Tom McGrath for directing
effort. Thank you to Producer Jeff Hermann for making the film possible. Cast
includes Alec Baldwin, James Marsden, Amy Sedaris, Ariana Greenblatt, Jeff
Goldblum, Eva Longoria, Jimmy Kimmel,and Lisa Kudrow.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. Comical and worth watching for the whole
family. Good work for all involved.
Wonka, great prequel story, carries the clarification burden and will leave
some audiences with questions about the relevancy and need for some scenes. This
film wants so badly to flower into the wonderfulness of the rose. Timothee Chalamet, a perfect casting choice, has
a singing voice that is great and resonates with a certain quality that captivates
at the beginning and ending of the film. Timothee looks perfect as the younger
version of Gene Wilder in his interpretation of Willy Wonka. The story, itself,
beautifully sets up the 1971 Gene Wilder movie, Willy Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory. It is a good watch and easily generates a second watch
to catch small nuances that may unfold this rose into fuller bloom.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
This is the story of how the Wonka Chocolate
Factory got started.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Paul King for directing effort.
Thank you to Producers David Heyman, Alexandra Derbyshire, and Luke Kelly for
making the film possible. Cast includes Timothee Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan
Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, and Sally Hawkins.
Passenger 57—Wesley Snipes—uses suspense and thrill to drive the movie. This
airplane heist film runs on an old storyline but the portrayal of story keeps
the audience watching.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A security specialist
becomes involved with an international terrorist.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Kevin Hooks for directing
effort. Thank you to Producers Dan Paulson, Lee Rich, and Dylan Sellers for
making the film possible. Cast includes Wesley Snipes, Bruce Payne, and Tom
Sizemore.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. This film works at the suitable level and
suitably serves the action movie fan.
Money Monster—George Clooney and Julia Roberts—stays on target from beginning to
ending with an interesting storyline backed with good portrayal and presentation.
The acting is very good. No fault found with the camera work; it’s some of the
best. The movie is an overall good watch with a satisfying conclusion.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A financial advisor makes a miscall and suffers the results of that
failed judgement call.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Jodie Foster for directing effort. Thank
you to Producers Daniel Dubiecki, Lara Alameddine, George Clooney, and Grant
Heslov for making the film possible. Cast includes George Clooney, Julia
Roberts, Jack O’Connell, Dominic West, Caitriona Balfe, and Giancarlo Esposito.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. Look for exceptionally good camera work,
especially toward the end of the film. The movie flows well and serves its
share of minor tension that keeps an audience in its seat waiting for that next
scene.
I.S.S.—ironic story—as Earth goes into flames, the Russian/American International Space Station crew must decide where their loyalties lie, with home nations that are dysfunctional or with each other, in an attempt to survive. The special effects and stage settings are very good. The story is mind-bogglingly surreal and ridiculous. The storyline has not been thought out well and that destroys the value of this movie, built on the improbable, to entertain and to recommend.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Earth goes into full-blown nuclear war leaving the International Space Station team with the dilemma of how to survive.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon for making the film possible. Cast includes Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin, and Pilou Asbaek.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe. This movie has many boring, slow spots. The script has no realism in thought processes. Power hunger may work in other movies, but not in this one.
NOTE:
This short movie has been presented with a narration of how Robert Benchley tries to pitch a movie to
Disney Studios and depending on the copy of the film it can be presented as a stand-aloneshort
film or as an inclusion with the biopic. This critique is on the stand-alone short film.
Ben
Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì
The Reluctant Dragon—comical, creative, animated short film—has that
softness that marks toons before they became computer generated. It’s a
terrific child/adult share that has good presentation and great portrayal of
story.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Dragons come in all sizes and have different
interactions with people. This movie examines a dragon who does not desire a
negative relationship with humans.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Alfred Werker, Hamilton Luske,
Jack Cutting, Ub Iwerks, and Jack Kinney for directing effort.Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making
the film possible. Cast includes Robert Benchley, Frances Gifford, Nana Bryant,
and Buddy Pepper.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. This animation film surprises on every
level. It reverses the usual dragon image and proceeds on a movie theme that is
unexpectedly entertaining.
Left Behind—thriller—does not work at a high-quality level of entertainment. For the
international audience who is not familiar with the story that there would be a
time when two humans would be working side by side and one would be ‘taken’ and
the other left behind, the film will seem unintelligible. This makes the film
work for a certain group of persons aware of the story behind the story. This
same problem marks movies like The Book of Kells or Tea Pets. If
one is not aware of those country specific concepts then an audience can be left
in the dark and not understand the film. The acting and portrayal are okay/poorly done. The conclusions cannot be drawn as to why some people/children are taken
while others are left. This is not the
best of films. It is based on a New York Times best-selling novel of a similar name.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Humans from all over the world begin to disappear
while others are left behind.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Vic Armstrong for directing
effort. Thank you to Producers Paul LaLonde, Michael Walker, and Ed Clydesdale
for making the film possible. Cast includes Nicolas Cage, Chad Michael Murray,
Cassi Thomson, Nicky Whelan, Jordin Sparks, and Lea Thompson.
The Wild Bunch—rough action film—has been well-written to involve its audience with
its story. Robert Ryan in his role tracks bank robbers for a promise made that
he will not have to go back to prison. Be aware that this story is not only
violent but contains sexual referenes and nudity. The story itself has been
well-written and the acting relies on a professional, well-known cast who fill
the screen with familiar faces. This film works at the adult entertainment level.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Aging outlaws need a successful heist.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Sam Peckinpah for directing effort. Thank
you to Producer Phil Feldman for making the film possible. Cast includes
William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Warren Oates, Jaime Sanchez, Ben
Johnson, Emilio Fernandez, Strother Martin, L.Q. Jones, and Edmond O’Brien.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe. It is what it is…a rough film. But it has
good presentation and portrayal.
Army of One—a bit ‘cheesy’ at times—serves an eyeful of Ellen Hollman as the
woman seeking revenge. She creates a strong sense of realism and does not let
down the ‘tough woman’ on a violent mission role. Justice is served on her terms and
the audience will be ensured that under her direction it will be served. The
movie uses a type of televised formatting rather than the higher quality theatrical
framing, but it maintains its ability to entertain and is a good watch.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A woman and her husband are tortured by a drug
cartel. The woman survives and sets on a mission of revenge.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Stephen Durham for
directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Niko Foster, James Harris
Jr., Terry Parrish, and Ramon Vincent for making the film possible. Cast
includes Ellen Hollman, Matt Passmore, Geraldine Singer, Stephen Dunlevy,
Faromance Flix, Gary Kasper, Cameron Bowen, Kendra Carelli, Jacob Hobbs, and
Niko Foster.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. Know that this film relies on the
traditional quality of a televised piece of entertainment. Be prepared for that
type of formatting. Despite that, the movie has its action and adventure scenes
organized well enough to make it a good watch.
Herbie Goes Bananas—runs out of story—serves a bland watch despite
the acting of Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman. It serves more along the lines
of a Herbie nostalgia watch.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Herbie becomes involved with a young boy who finds
himself in possession of a film strip that mobsters want returned.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Vincent McEveety for directing
effort. Thank you to Producer Ron Miller for making the film possible. Cast
includes Cloris Leachman, Charles Martin Smith, Stephan W. Burns, John Vernon,
Elyssa Devalos, Joaquin Gray III, Harvey Korman, Richard Jaeckel, and Alex
Rocco.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. It works to some extent and does provide
some comedy but shows the series as dying. The script needs higher level writing.
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo teams Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) and Wheely
Applegate (Don Knotts) for Herbie’s driver and mechanic. Don Knotts seems an
odd casting choice for this movie because one wonders what happened to the previous mechanic Tennessee
Steinmetz (Buddy Hackett), but there is the explanation that ‘Wheely’ has been
with Herbie for a long time, and the viewer goes with that limited explanation
and enjoys the film despite the loss of Buddy Hackett. It seems that the
writers have almost run out of ideas for this story but seem to pull one more suitable film. Herbieactually makes it through part four, Herbie Goes Bananas, then
into a combination of the first and the fourth Herbie movies for a 1997
television release for The Wonderful
World of Disney Season 1 Episode 11. This television series features famous
movies and behind the scenes content as well as new films. Then, Lindsey Lohan
and Justin Long make a 2005 6th film in the Herbie movie series, Herbie:
Fully Loaded. These stories have their own charm and make cute watches to
share as a family.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
The decision to race Herbie in Monte Carlo is
fraught with many challenges.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Vincent McEveety for directing
effort. Thank you to Producer Ron Miller for making the film possible. Cast
includes Dean Jones, Don Knotts, and Julie Sommers.
Herbie Rides Again—cute—is not quite as good as the previous film
in this series, but still manages as a clean story for the whole family that
noticeably wears the Walt Disney brand of family entertainment, It relies on
Ken Berry (from Mayberry R.F.D.) to drive its story and has a good
portrayal, presentation, and well-written story. This film belongs in the
family home video library and makes a great family-share movie.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Herbie becomes involved in saving an elderly
woman’s home from a greedy real estate developer.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Robert Stevenson for directing
effort. Thank you to Producer Bill Walsh for making the film possible. Cast
includes Helen Hayes, Ken Berry, Stefanie Powers, John McIntire, Keenan Wynn, Huntz Hall, Ivor Barry, Dan Tobin, Vito Scotti. Raymond Bailey, Liam Dunn, Elaine Devry, Chuck McCann, and Richard X. Slattery,
Harriet—wonderfully written and well-acted—tells the story of female
anti-slave activist Harriet Tubman and how she saves hundreds of slaves and brings
them to freedom. The portrayal of this
movie is incredibly well done. It deserves its place in the home video library
and serves as a good teen/adult share movie that gives excellent opportunity
for discussion after viewing.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Harriet Tubman’s struggle to release slaves in
the southern United States.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Kasi Lemmons for directing
effort. Thank you to Producers Debra Martin Chase, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, and
Gregory Allan Howard for making the film possible. Cast includes Cynthia Erivo,
Leslie Odorn Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monae.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. This is a great watch. Wonderfully written,
good camera work, and tells the story without preaching the story. Great work
for all involved in production.
Miracles from Heaven—feel good Christian-themed movie—inspires, gives
hope, and completely upholds the fact that we are not alone in the Universe and
there is an intelligence higher than us helping us along. WOW! Jennifer Garner
does quite well with her lines. Her facial expressions are outstanding. She
gets very emotional, and rightfully so, but does it realistically. Queen
Latifah is sweet and shows heart-warming generosity to a stranger. Very good
acting in her part. This is a really well written script and tells a great
story about what can happen when something irresolvable happens. Based on a
true story, this movie belongs in the family home video library and is a
re-watch film and a good movie to share and recommend. Fact checking on the History
VS Hollywood website shows the variations in Hollywood’s story and the real
life story. The Hollywood movie runs very close to what really happened and
does not lessen the integrity of the movie.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A beloved young daughter gets an incurable health
condition.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Patricia Riggen for directing
effort. Thank you to Producers DeVon Franklin, T.D. Jakes, and Joe Roth for
making the film possible. Cast includes Jennifer Garner,Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, John Carroll
Lynch, Eugenio Derbez, and Queen Latifah.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. Completely
worth watching. It’s a ‘do not miss’ film that strengthens hope and faith. Good
work for Director Patricia Riggen.
Ferdinand the Bull—cute short film—uses its small storyline to
maximize effect. There is a 2017 computer animated version of the story that
expands on the original content, but the softness of drawn animation is quite
welcome to see in this version of Ferdinand. The
narrator for the film has been well-chosen.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Ferdinand, the bull, loves a peaceful life of
smelling flowers. Humans have quite another purpose for him.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Dick Rickard for directing
effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast
includes Milt Kahl and Narrator Don Wilson.
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