DROP ZONE (Released to Theaters USA 1994)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Drop Zone—run-of-the-mill—uses sky diving to drive the movie's story. The film seems to be promoting the sport of sky diving rather than purposing to entertain. It's a suitable to okay watch. Nothing new or particularly inspiring about this movie.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline United States marshals are transporting a criminally convicted  computer hacker to another prison. The plane is hijacked by terrorists who take the computer hacker to use in high level computer theft crimes. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director John Badham for directing effort. Thank you to Producers D. J. Caruso, Wallis Nicita, and Lauren Lloyd for making the film possible. Casting includes Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey, Yancy Butler, and Michael Jeter. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The sky diving is a treat to see, but the film is not a high quality production. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BONHOEFFER (Released to Theaters USA 2003)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  Bonhoeffer—documentary about Dietrich Bonhoeffer—uses archival footage to support its story. WOW! What an informative and involving film. The presentation and the portrayal are really good. It details the real story of Bonhoeffer and what he did to help Christians and Jews alike during the German reformist dictator Adolf Hitler’s regime.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A biographical 'take' on the life and times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Todd Komarnicki for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Emmanuel Kampouris, Camille Kampouris, Ralph Winter, Mark O'Sullivan, Chloe Kassis-Crowe, John Bennett Scanlon, Todd Komarnicki for making the film possible. Cast includes Jonas Dassler, August Diehl, David Jonsson, Flula Borg,  Moritz Bleibtreu, Nadine Heidenreich, Patrick Mölleken, and Clarke Peters. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is an informative, original, and involving movie. It is a great documentary and gets into a deeper understanding of what Germany was like during the Hitler administration. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ENEMY LINES (Released to DVD USA 2020)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Enemy Lines—not high quality—lacks good character development, high par acting, and runs within the okay range rather than the outstanding range.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A team of Allied soldiers attempt to take a scientist out of Germany during WWII.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Anders Banke for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tom George, Nadzeya Huselnikava, Aleksandr Kushaev, and Andy Thompson for making the film possible. Cast includes Ed Westwick, John Hannah, Tom Wisdom, Corey Johnson, Gary Grant, Daniel Jillings, Scott Haining, and Pawet Delag. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The story is interesting to some extent. But the movie lacks quality and memorability.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SCAREDY CAT (Released to Theaters USA 1948)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì Scaredy Cat—Sylvester and Porky Pig short, animated film—is a good watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  Porky Pig and Sylvester the Cat find an old house to spend the night but Sylvester finds there is more there than a comfortable night's sleep.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Edward Selzer for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Chuckles are easily generated in this short film.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ROOKIE REVUE (Released to Theaters USA 1941)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Rookie Revue—is a cute, comical animated, short film—works at the suitable to okay level.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A comical overview of how soldiers do their day jobs in the military.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Friz Freleng for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Billy Bletcher, Reid Kilpatrick, Mel Blanc, Robert C. Bruce, and Jackson C. Wheeler.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is not a high quality short film but is worth a watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

HOME AT LAST (Released World-Wide 1988)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Home at Last—short film (less than an hour)—is a suitable to okay watch built somewhat like the innocent Michael Landon Little House on the Prairie television series. The film illustrates the early acting talent of Adrien Brody and uses drama rather than high-paced action scenes to drive its story. It is simply written and runs slower than many modern films due to its earth/human rural setting.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline In the 1800s a group of New York street orphans are assigned transport to a Swedish-American town to be integrated into families who are willing to take them into their homes. A Swedish farmer, Nils Anderson, takes pity on the last orphan not chosen by anyone, a 12-year-old boy, named Billy, and brings him home to his wife and young son.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director David Devries for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Chris Brigham for making the film possible. Cast includes Adrien Brody, Joel Savani, Tom Wees, Rod McCullough, William Duff-Griffin, Lanny Flaherty, Kenneth Freese, and Ray Stevens.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The story is innocent, clean, and honest. The writing needs some polishing but it is solid and well-paced. The movie ends unfinished for the complete outcome but that is okay as the way the orphan's life turns out will be determined by the life choices he makes daily. It is clearly stated that his new home will support him again and again and again until he is mature enough to make his adult choices. Video Critique Available Here. Ben Meyers

ESCORT WEST (Released to Theaters USA 1959)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Escort West—very simple story—seems built like Saturday morning fare from the late 1950s and 1960s. It's straightforward and makes good western fare for children.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Former Civil War Confederate soldier and his daughter are heading west and find a village destroyed by Native Americans. The only survivors are an injured African American man and two Caucasian sisters. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Francis D. Lyon for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Robert E. Morrison and Nate H. Edwards for making the film possible. Cast includes Victor Mature, Faith Domergue, and Elaine Stewart.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie is one of Victor Mature's mid-career works. If one is a hard-core Victor Mature fan or just loves westerns, this film might entertain. But, outside of that audience, the movie is a 'dud'. The story is simple and does not have the quality of westerns like True Grit. This movie runs like a Saturday morning offering for children during the 1950s and 1960s. Very clean and child friendly for a share movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SNAG (Released to Theaters USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Snag—mixes flavorings from the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Australia—leads a new 'brand' of gangster movie that surprises and intrigues. One key point of interest is the female lead who dominates criminal activity. This movie raises interesting questions about borders that traditionally define certain genres that this movie does not just expand but smashes through in a remarkable way.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A man falls in love with a girl from a gangster family and finds himself involved in a fight for their lives.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Ben Milliken for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Alastair Burlingham for making the film possible. Cast includes Ben Milliken, Sofia Castro, Johnny Beauchamp, Ana Ortiz, Jeanette Aguilar Harris, CJ. Perry Barnyashev, and Jaime Camil. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This movie could be called a cult classic but somehow goes beyond that definition. It's like a new movement in its infancy stage. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

EDIE (Released to Japan 2017)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Edie—British film—tells its story very well. It is sentimental but tough with a strong message to finish what you start.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  An elderly British woman decides to take a trip to a mountain her father had asked her to climb with him years ago. She decides in her old age to climb that mountain to clear a past regret.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Simon Hunter for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mark Stothert, Tim Dennison, and Edward Little for making the film possible. Cast includes Sheila Hancock, Kevin Guthrie, Paul Brannigan, Amy Manson, and Wendy Morgan.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. 'Feel good' movie runs slowly but is well worth watching. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

LIBERTY (Released to Theaters USA 1929)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

Liberty—Laurel and Hardy short film—lacks comedic appeal. It may be used by academia as a study of antics that were used and continue to be used in a variety of Hollywood short and long movie productions.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. The high-above-street-level comedic effects have been repeatably used in animated cartoons and other theatrical features. In this comedy, too much film time is devoted to escaping the predicament and moving on to either the conclusion or added storyline. The story lacks real comedy due to this misuse of film time. This is one of Laurel and Hardy's less desirable watches.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

Storyline

Laurel and Hardy make a prison break and flee to the big city for refuge.  

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Hal Roach, Stan Laurel, and Oliver Hardy.

THE PROUD FAMILY MOVIE (Released to Disney Channel USA 2005)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  The Proud Family Movie has good animation and the voices are well chosen. However, the script, as written, is flat and lacks originality. It is what it is.  Film Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  The Proud family is offered a vacation and the adventure is on.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Bruce W. Smith for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Bruce Smith, Willard Carroll, Thomas L. White, and Ralph Farquhar for making the film possible. Casting includes Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, Jo Marie Payton, Tara Strong, Orlando Brown, Soleil Moon Frye, Jeff Bennett, Alisa Reyes, Omarion, LisaRaye McCoy, and Arsenio Hall.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  No. Sadly, this animated movie works as a low-grade film with not much to show for itself.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers