SCOOBY-DOO MEETS THE BOO BROTHERS (Released to Television USA 1987)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì  Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers—characters Shaggy, Scooby-Doo, and Scrappy-Doo—could have been edited to a 30-minute movie presentation. The writers gave the time necessary to fill the full-length movie requirement by putting the main characters in a haunted mansion and tasking them with finding the jewels...one jewel at a time. One jewel is found and then the next jewel is looked for and this basic formatting is followed until the full-length movie time requirement is fulfilled.  This round-about way of filling time creates a boring story of running from scare-to-scare with obvious repetition.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   Shaggy receives an inheritance from a deceased uncle.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Directors Paul Sommer, Carl Urbano, and Ray Patterson for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, and Kay Wright for making the film possible. Cast includes Don Messick, Casey Kasem, Sorrell Booke, William Calloway, Victoria Carroll, Jerry Houser, Arte Johnson, and Rob Paulson.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  No. One can skip this one and watch some of the better films, like Scoob! or Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DEATH WISH 4: THE CRACKDOWN (Released to Theaters USA 1987)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì . Death Wish 4: The Crackdown—rehash of previous Death Wish films —has reduced the adult content. Charles Bronson performs at his usual level of professionalism. The film is a suitable watch  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  Kersey begins working for a man who wants to crack down on the drug cartels in Los Angeles, California USA.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Lee J. Thompson for directing effort. Thank you Executive Producers Yoram Globus and Menachem Golan for making the film possible. Cast includes Charles Bronson, Kay Lenz, John P. Ryan, Perry Lopez, George Dickerson, Soon-Tek Oh, Dana Barron, Jesse Dabson, and Peter Sherayko. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie has a good storyline and provides value to audiences looking for action/thriller entertainment. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

EMPIRE OF THE SUN (Theatrical Release USA 1987)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

Empire of the Sun—incredibly good watch—shows exceptional acting skill in one of Christian Bale’s early acting works. His supporting cast of John Malkovich and Joe Pantoliano become the perfect choices  to balance the story’s well-written and well-timed script. The haunting musical score works at the unforgettable level and features Christian Bale performing a WOW! musical piece that literally sets the tone for the entire movie. GREAT work for Director Steven Spielberg. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A young boy becomes separated from his parents during wartime and must find a way to survive.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Steven Spielberg for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall for making the film possible. Cast includes: Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, and Nigel Havers.

 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This finely crafted story becomes an outstanding example of the talents of Christian Bale and Steven Spielberg’s abilities to WOW! their audiences. The movie deeply touches the human spirit and involves its audience on a profound emotional level.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ROBOCOP (Theatrical Release USA 1987)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì RoboCop—possible cult classic—has fair acting, story,  presentation, and portrayal. It is an adult watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline Robocop (Peter Weller) discovers the business that created him is corrupt. Within the corruption Robocop finds businessman, Dick Jones (Ronnie Cox), is one key to ending the mystery of how the Robocop came to be.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Paul Verhoeven for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Jon Davison for making the film possible. Cast include: Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Daniel O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, and Miguel Ferrer.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is a low-grade film, but has some likeableness. This film spawned two sequels. Peter Weller does suitable/okay work as Robocop.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE UNTOUCHABLES (Theatrical Release USA 1987)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.3|5.0 Starsìì

The Untouchables—a good gangster movie, not a great gangster movie—is a poor casting choice for Kevin Costner. He seems weak and ineffective in nearly every scene while Sean Connery is not fully right for the script. Connery’s sleek, smooth-talking, no-nonsense James Bond manner creates awkwardness for this storyline. The good casting choices are Robert De Niro as Al Capone where he plays a strong part. Unfortunately, this movie does not begin to pick up pace until the end of the movie when Agent Oscar Wallace (played by Charles Martin Smith) is killed. The big shootout toward the end of the movie is well done and probably the best part of the whole movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Al Capone (Robert De Niro) owns Chicago. Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) is assigned the formidable job of stopping Capone.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Brian de Palma for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Art Linson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), Jim Malone (Sean Connery), Agent Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith), Agent George Stone/Giuseppe Petri (Andy Garcia), Police Chief Mike Dorsett (Richard Bradford), Walter Payne (Jack Kehoe), George (Brad Sullivan), and Frank Nitti (Billy Drago).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s difficult to sit through 119 minutes for a single, good climatic scene.

Video Critique Available Here::

Ben Meyers