PARKLAND (Released to the Venice Film Festival, Venice Italy 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Parkland, a refreshing 93-minute exploration of the JFK assassination, approaches its subject matter from a completely different perspective while skillfully interweaving actual broadcast radio recordings and archival footage throughout the film’s approach to its storyline. The film is based on the book “Four Days In November” written by Vincent Bugliosi. It’s a worthy addition to films dedicated to this subject. Watch for a superb performance by Zac Efron as Dr. Charles “Jim” Carrico.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The John F. Kennedy assassination is re-examined through the eyes of ordinary persons impacted by the event—medical personnel, FBI agents, and the Oswald family.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Peter Landesman for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Tobin Armbrust, Guy East, Brian Falk, Joe Ricketts, and Ginger Sledge for making the film possible. Cast include: Paul Giamatti, Marcia Gay-Harden, Ron Livingston, Billy Bob Thornton, Jeremy Strong, Jacki Weaver, Kat Steffens, and James Badge Dale.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film is a 50^th Anniversary memoriam to the JFK assassination event. It’s a good watch.

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Ben Meyers

THE ADVENTURES OF MILO AND OTIS (Cannes International Film Festival, Cannes France 1986)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Adventures of Milo and Otis—a 1986 British-narrated Japanese film—tells a cute and well-narrated story about a kitten named Milo and his puppy friend named Otis. The movie uses staging techniques so professionally and with such artistry that the live animal performance scenes are believable and entertaining throughout its 77 minutes. The moral of the tale becomes ‘there is always a way home if you really want to go home.’ The film contains good wildlife scenery and performs as a good, clean pick for young children.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director and Writer Masanori Hata. Thank you to Executive Producers Hisashi Hieda and Haruo Shikanai for making the film possible. Music Composer is Michael Boddicker. Excellent narration by Dudley Moore.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This film works in every way.  

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Ben Meyers

STAR TREK (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì   Star Trek—okay to suitable watch—hides story flaws behind special effects. The special effects, animation, makeup, and choice of cast are outstanding. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are great picks for youthful look-alikes of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. The movie notably lacks the 'magic' of the first series. But, this movie will suit for 'trekkies' and 'trekkers'.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline James Kirk (Chris Pine) attends Starfleet Academy and meets Doctor McCoy and Captain Pike. During training the cadets are mobilized to answer a distress signal coming from Vulcan. They board the Enterprise and the story is on.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director J.J. Abrams for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Bryan Burk, Jeffrey Chernov, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci for making the film possible. Cast include: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, and John Cho.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a suitable watch and story with very good special effects, animation, make-up, and casting.

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Ben Meyers

SECRETARIAT (Released to Theaters USA 2010)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Secretariat, suitable film, does have its inspirational scenes. Actress Diane Lane performs at the suitable level and works from a script that very nicely details the story of the racing farm that creates the award winning horse, Secretariat. The rest of the cast follows the lead of the well-written script. The story portrayal and presentation are suitable to okay. John Malkovich plays the role of Secretariat's trainer and adds the flavor to balance the story. Watch for Dylan Baker and James Cromwell's performance. This film's content and welcome introduction into a behind the scenes look at racing farms, how negotiations are made and maintained, and the knowledge required to enhance potential are wonderfully enlightening. This movie is based on a true story.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) needs a winning streak to save the family farm and finds that luck in a foal she raises.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Randall Wallace for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Bill Johnson and Mike Rich, Cast include: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Miss Ham Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis, Otto Thorwarth, Fred Dalton Thompson, James Cromwell, and Scott Glenn.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It is a suitable to okay movie that has a good story to tell.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CASTLE IN THE SKY (Theatrical Release Japan 1986)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

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Castle in the Sky is a very creative film, tells a great story that is almost re-watchable,  and works the 'shrouded in mystery' theme quite well. The film works at a highly imaginative level. It is a wonderful watch overall.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The young girl, Sheeta’s (voice of Anna Paquin) airship is under attack by Dola (voice of Cloris Leachman). Sheeta crawls out a ship window, tries to scale a beam, trips, and falls. But, a necklace around her neck gently floats her to a town where Pazu (voice of James Van Der Beek) lives. Sheeta learns that the necklace is made of a stone that keeps cities afloat in the upper atmosphere. Through a series of adventures, Sheeta arrives in Laputa, one of these floating sky cities.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Hayao Miyazaki for directing efforts. Thank you to Planners Hideo Ogata, and Tatsumi, Thank you to Executive Producer Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Producer Isao Takahata,  Animation Producer Tôru Hara, for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Richard Dysart, Jim Cummings, John Hosetter,Michael McShane, Mandy Patinkin, Andy Dick, Corey Burton, Tress McNeille,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie's meaning develops throughout its watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GOLDENEYE (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

GoldenEye—probably one of the best Bond movies to date—casts Pierce Brosnan into a WOW movie that captures the 007 Bond persona perfectly. What a film! Bravo! It really works on every level. Judi Dench is one of the best M characterizations yet. Director Martin Campbell outdid himself. Director Roger Spottiswoode will have a difficult directing act to follow as he receives his assignment for the next Bond film: Tomorrow Never Dies.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Bond’s new assignment becomes: keeping Britain’s financial institutions intact from attack.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Martin Campbell for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Tom Pevsner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen), Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker), M (Judi Dench), Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane), Dimitri Mishkin (Tchéky Karyo), Colonel Ourumov (Gottfried John), Boris Grishenko (Alan Cumming), Q (Desmond Llewelyn), and Moneypenny (Samantha Bond).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. One of the best James Bond films to date. Wow! Can Martin Campbell (Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro) direct!

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Ben Meyers

CHICKEN WITH PLUMS * (Released to Theaters France 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Stars ìììì

Chicken With Plums—has imagination, heart. It's just a wonderful story, a French film written by an Iranian author who writes with perfect universal appeal. The acting is superb. The story plays out well. It’s one of 2012’s better 4-star films.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Violinist Nasser Ali Khan (Mathieu Amalric) loses his desire to play violin and decides to go to bed to die. The process takes exactly 8 days. In those days he reviews the future of his children, why he married his wife, the power of prayer, the angel of death, a long-lost love, and how he became a wonderful violinist.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeremy Burdek and Nadia Khamlichi for making the film possible. Cast include: Edouard Baer, Maria de Medeiros, Golshifteh Farahani, Éric Caravaca, Chiara Mastroianni, Mathis Bour, Enna Balland, Didier Flamand, Serge Avedikian, Rona Hartner, and Jamel Debbouze.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a piece of allegorical art that relies on its own uniquely rhythmic poetry.

* Also known as: Poulet aux Prunes

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Ben Meyers

KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL* (Released to Theaters USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Stars ìììì

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl—a simple children’s classic to be cherished for years to come—captures innocence in its story about America’s Great Depression. This is a perfect movie for children and adults desiring to capture life as we wish it could be.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The story begins with a typewriter stamping letters onto a page. The camera then shows the inside of Kit Kittredge’s (Abigail Breslin) tree house. While the credits are rolling, the camera, on occasion, flips to the typewriter as it types out the date, May 2, 1934. Kit Kittredge’s voiceover says that the Great Depression is everywhere, but not in her world. That quickly changes as her father loses his business and her mother takes in a wide assortment of boarders. All Kit focuses on, however, is her desire to be a newspaper reporter and she finds her opportunity in the town’s hobo jungles.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Patricia Rozema for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Julia Roberts and Marisa Yeres for making the film possible. Cast include: Abigail Breslin, Julia Ormond, Chris O’Donnell, Jane Krakowski, Wallace Shawn, Max Thieriot, Willow Smith, Glenne Headly, and Zach Mills.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a clean, fun-filled, positive film that perfectly captures our imaginative reminiscences of the 1930 Depression years without the depression.

* Also known as Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery

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Ben Meyers

THE MASTER OF DISGUISE (Theatrical Release USA 2002)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

The Master of Disguise—smart, witty, fresh—performs as one of the better comedies released for a while. There are some risqué scenes, but overall Dana Carvey (as Pistachio Disguisey) gives us a royal treat in comedic and creative diversity that is unbeatable. While the film did not receive positive reviews, the creativity makes this film shine. Even though this has been given a low numerical rating by Ben Meyers International, it still deserves praise for the work performed by directors, producers, actors, and actresses. It provides a very good showcase for Dana Carvey’s talents. It’s re-watchable purely to ensure no piece of the very smartly written dialogue is missed.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Secret Agent Fabbrizio Disguisey (James Brolin) does not want to pass on the family occupation to his children, moves to America, opens a restaurant, and raises his family. But, it’s not as easy as he thinks to break family tradition.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Perry Andelin Blake for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jack Giarraputo and Adam Sandler for making the film possible. Cast include: Dana Carvey, James Brolin, Jennifer Esposito, Harold Gould, Brent Spiner, Edie McClurg, and Austin Wolff.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Even though it is 3.6 Stars and maybe not as good as higher quality comedies, it’s a very smartly written comedy generously packed with terrific one-liners.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

DISNEY NATURE: GHOST OF THE MOUNTAINS (Theatrical Release China 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

Disney Nature: Ghost of the Mountains is an excellent Disney Nature documentary that covers activities of the Chinese Snow Leopard. It’s award winning in filming and interviews. It’s an hour and eighteen minutes of pure viewing pleasure that comes with a family friendly ‘G’ rating.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline 

Disney filming crews travel China’s high mountains to film the elusive Snow Leopard.

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Ben Wallis for his directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Brian Leith for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Antoine Fuqua

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 

Yes. It is thorough and accomplishes its assigned task with style and class

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

A MIGHTY HEART (Released to Theaters USA 2007)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  A Mighty Heart—disorganized and bluntly presented—has a suitable to okay presentation. It has a good story and once started, audiences will want to finish it.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline A pregnant journalist sees her journalist husband off where he expects to get a scoop on the war on terror in Pakistan.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Michael Winterbottom for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Andrew Eaton for making the film possible. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Irrfan Khan, Archie Panjabi, and Will Patton.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It has a lot to fix to increase flow. But the story is interesting to some extent and tells its story suitably well. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SPANGLISH (Theatrical Release USA 2004)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Stars ìììì

Spanglish—probably one of the best, well-written scripts of 2004—explores familial relationships in a state of flux. It makes no apologies for its complications and effortlessly introduces the audience to better choices when family situations begin to go sour. It’s a forgiving movie as told through the eyes of Hispanic housemaid Flor's (Paz Vega) daughter, Christina (Victoria Luna/Shelbie Bruce). This film becomes an excellent study in choices and how to take a higher road.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Hispanic housemaid Flor (Paz Vega) finds herself in the predicament of mutual attraction between herself and her employer.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director James L. Brooks. Thank you to Executive Producers Joan Bradshaw and Christy Haubegger for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: John Clasky (Adam Sandler), Deborah Clasky (Téa Leoni), Evelyn (Cloris Leachman), Bernice (Sarah Steele), and Georgie (Ian Hyland).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Excellent adult watch for choosing higher moral paths when the heart pulls another way.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

VALKYRIE (Released to Theaters USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.5|5.0 Starsìììì

Valkyrie—one of the best directed World War II films—sits among Ben Meyers International Movie Critics favorite films of 2008. The storyline revolves around the Hitler assassination attempt by Germany’s highest ranking military leaders. Great acting and portrayal.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) attempts to assassinate Hitler (David Bamber).

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Bryan Singer for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Ken Kamins, Chris Lee, John Ottman, Dwight C. Schar, Mark Shapiro, and Daniel M. Snyder; Music Composer John Ottman; and Script Writers Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander for making possible an outstanding film. Cast include: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard and David Bamber.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. A wonderful presentation for Tom Cruise fans.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

RACE FOR YOUR LIFE CHARLIE BROWN (Released to Theaters 1977)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Race for Your Life Charlie Brown—light and innocent—tells a wonderful story. The animation still relies on that simple Charlie Brown style. It's a classic animated film that everyone will fall in love with. The voice casting is wonderfully chosen. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Charlie Brown and the gang go to summer camp.     Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Bill Melendez for directing effort.  Thank you to Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson for making the film possible. Cast includes Duncan Watson, Stuart Brotman, Gail Davis, Liam Martin, Melanie Kohn, Jimmy Ahrens, Kirk Jue, Jordan Warren, Tom Muller, Greg Felton, and Bill Melendez.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is a great film and tells a great story. It is the classic film for everyone young and old. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

101 DALMATIANS (Released to Theatrical USA 1996)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

101 Dalmatians is a little short in time length, but makes up for that in its Wow! factor. This movie is a great, live-action remake of the animated movie of the same name. The terrific acting of Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil makes this movie work beyond expectations. She creates an unforgettable character. Her henchmen, acted by Mark Williams and Hugh Laurie, are perfectly rendered. Watch for some of the best costuming of any film from 2009. Kudos to the Rosemary Burrows and Anthony Powell costuming department.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close) desires the spotted fur from Dalmatian puppies to make clothing.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Stephen Herek for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Edward S. Feldman and Bill Ryan for making the film possible. Cast include: Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, Joan Plowright, Hugh Laurie, Mark Williams, John Shrapnel, and Alonzo Tim McInnerny.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The script by John Hughes is well-written and makes a good, solid foundation for Director Stephen Herek to perform the magic that makes this film one that can be watched over and over by the child and adult. It’s a good home library addition.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers