SHREK (Theatrical Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Starsìììì

Shrek—original, creative, witty, fun—thrives on comedy and outstandingly defined characters that rely on the voicing talents of Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. The movie becomes an overnight classic for animated family entertainment that earns every dime spent on its ticket.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Privacy-loving ogre Shrek (voice of Mike Myers) becomes inundated with fairy tale creatures and is promised relief if he will bring a princess to the evil Lord Farquaard (voice of John Lithgow).

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson for directing effort. Thank you to:

Executive Producers Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins, and Steven Spielberg for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Donkey (voice of Eddie Murphy), Princess Fiona (voice of Cameron Diaz), Monsieur Hood (voice of Vincent Cassel), Ogre Hunter (voice of Peter Dennis), Ogre Hunter (voice of Clive Pearse), Captain of Guards (voice of Jim Cummings), Baby Bear (voice of Bobby Block), and Geppetto/Magic Mirror (voice of Chris Miller).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a Bravo! DreamWorks entertainment piece that the family can love time and time again. Excellent work for Directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

PROJECT NIM (Newport Beach Film Festival Newport Beach California USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì

Project Nim—explores differences and similarities between animals and humans while examining closing the barriers for communication between the two. The documentary delivers more than expected. Great work for all involved.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Research project examines the possibility of primates learning to communicate via sign language and the changes that occur when these primates are completely immersed into human culture and environment.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director James Marsh for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers John Battsek, Nick Fraser, Hugo Grumbar, Jamie Laurenson, and Andrew Ruhemann for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Himself (Nim Chimpsky), Herself (Stephanie LaFarge), Himself (Herbert Terrace, Himself (Wer LaFarge), Herself (Jenny Lee), Herself (Laura Ann Petitto), Himself (Bill Tynan), Herself (Joyce Butler), Herself (Renne Falitz), and Himself (Bob Ingersoll).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The documentary is insightful.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (Released to Theaters USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked—okay, suitable watch—has a cliched, stale storyline that borrows significantly from other marooned on an island films. Despite that, it still manages to keep its cute chipmunk charm.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Dave and the chipmunks go on vacation.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Mike Mitchell for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, and Christina Applegate.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It may work well for hard core Alvin and the Chipmunks fans. It runs on a stale, cliched storyline. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

HOSTAGE (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

Hostage—superb police story—presents a Bravo!, WOW! piece of thriller entertainment that relies on the talents of Bruce Willis, Ben Foster, Jonathan Tucker, and Marshall Allman. Watch for Art LaFleur and Rumer Willis in the movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

L.A. hostage negotiator Jeff Talley (Bruce Willis) finds himself deeply involved in a situation calling for far more than hostage negotiation skills.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Florent Emilio Siri for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Hawk Koch, Josef Lautenschlaer, Andreas Thiesmeyer, David J. Wally for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jeff Talley (Bruce Willis), Walter Smith (Kevin Pollak), Tommy Smith (Jimmy Bennett), Jennifer Smith (Michelle Horn), Mars Krupcheck (Ben Foster), Dennis Kelly (Jonathan Tucker), Jane Talley (Serena Scott Thomas), Kevin Kelly (Marshall Allman), Amanda Talley (Rumer Willis), and The Watchman (Kim Coates).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The movie presents maximized thriller/action that involves edge-of-the-seat value entertainment. It’s a best work for Director Florent-Emilio Siri.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (Theatrical Release Italy 1997)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

Life is Beautiful—an Italian film treasure with terrific English subtitles—presents a classic, heart-touching tale. Director Roberto Benigni tops the charts with this Bravo! Encore! work. The movie is not-to-be-missed with a timeless message for viewers of all ages. It’s an excellent addition to the permanent home entertainment library.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Guido Orifice (Roberto Benigni) develops an elaborate game to keep his son, Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini), alive during concentration camp internment.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Roberto Benigni for directing effort. Thank you to Agnès Mentre and John Rogers for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Guido (Roberto Benigni), Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), Glosué (Giorgio Cantarini), Zio (Giustino Durano), Ferrucio (Sergio Bini Bustric), Madre di Dora (Marisa Paredes), Dottor Lessing (Horst Buchholz), Guicciardini (Lidia Alfonsi), Direttrice Didattica (Giuliana Lojodice), and Rodolfo (Amerigo Fontani).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a cherished treasure to be enjoyed across all generations. Thank you to all involved in bringing the story into reality.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE RUNNING MAN (Theatrical Release USA 1987)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

The Running Man has a solid, intriguing, and charismatic storyline with a slight Hunger Games feel. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a bit out of his usual character from his The Terminator, Commando, and True Lies films, plays his character well with a good support cast of Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura, and Richard Dawson. It’s worth viewing when in the mood for a futuristic action film and is most likely a Schwarzenegger film many audiences may have missed.

Film Poster Courtesy of  Wikipedia

Storyline

Criminals are assigned to an arena where professional killers hunt them.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Paul Michael Glaser for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Keith Barish and Rob Cohen for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger), Amber Mendez (Maria Conchita Alonso), William Laughlin (Yaphet Kotto), Fireball (Jim Brown), Captain Freedom (Jesse Ventura), Dynamo (Erland van Lidth), Harold Weiss (Marvin J. McIntyre), Buzzsaw (Gus Rethwisch), Subzero (Professor Toru Tanaka), and Mic (Mick Fleetwood).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s Arnold Schwarzenegger mixing some sci-fi with a lot of action.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE FAMILY MAN (Theatrical Release USA 2000)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

The Family Man fails when it contrasts a single, professional male living an exceptionally sophisticated, high-end lifestyle with that of a family man living a routine, let’s have a barbecue and go bowling lifestyle. The severe contrast between the two lifestyles plagues the movie despite the attempted launch to the old lifestyle toward the end of the movie. It’s difficult to make sense of the ending scenes of the movie because it seems an open invitation to a single, professional female living an exceptionally sophisticated, high-end lifestyle to share a routine, let’s have a barbecue, and go bowling lifestyle. The movie does not follow a Cinderella format and replaces that ‘feel good’ ending with a feeling of uncertain future. Despite this, the film works as a teen/adult film and seems to support family values over money and sophisticated lifestyle, but raises the question of why must one go down the bowling alley with the ball to have a decent marriage with children?

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) gets a view into what his life would have been like if he had made a different decision about marrying his college girlfriend, Kate Reynolds (Téa Leoni).

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Brett Ratner for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Armyan Bernstein, Thomas A. Bliss, and Andrew Z. Davis for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Cash (Don Cheadle), Arnie (Jeremy Piven), Alan Mintz (Saul Rubinek), Peter Lassiter (Josef Sommer), Annie Campbell (Makenzie Vega), Josh Campbell (Jake Milkovich), Josh Campbell (Ryan Milkovich), and Evelyn Thompson (Lisa Thornhill).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. For Nicholas Cage fans, the film works and sports a digestible, simple romance/drama storyline that doesn’t quite classify itself as a chick flick.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers