DEATH WISH 5: THE FACE OF DEATH (Released to Theaters 1994)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Death Wish 5: The Face of Death—collage of action scenes from previous Death Wish movies—makes the audience feel like they are watching a 'cash grab' film. This movie is the last in the series. Everything works at the suitable  level. Know there is nudity and inappropriate scenes that render the movie unsuitable for a family share movie. The violence is on par with previous movies in the series.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  High fashion, romance, and mobsters entangle in a story that leads to the need for Paul Kersey to take law into his own hands.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Allan A. Goldstein for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Damien Lee for making the film possible. Cast includes Charles Bronson, Lesley-Anne Down, Michael Parks, Saul Rubinek, and Ken Welsh.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a cliched collage of action movie scenes. But, for Death Wish fans, it should work at a suitable/okay level. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyer

BABY’S DAY OUT (Theatrical Release USA 1994)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

Baby’s Day Out—funny with a few heartfelt scenes and a basic, good storyline—turns into a good film. Story-wise, the presentation is suitable, and the film is cute. The acting is usual for slapstick comedy. The film is a suitable watch. Watch for a terrific, soft introduction and a very nice tie in with that introduction at the conclusion of the movie. Terrific adherence to classic story-telling techniques. The stage settings for the house and nursery are outstanding—eye candy for dreamers.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Mischievous and wealthy Baby Bink (Adam Robert Worton) is kidnapped and leads his abductors on a wild chase.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Patrick Read Johnson for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer William Ryan for making the film possible. Cast include: Joe Mantegna, Lara Flynn Boyle, Joe Pantoliano, Brian Haley, Cynthia Nixon, Fred Dalton Thompson, John Neville, and Matthew Glave.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s an afternoon flick to watch when nothing else is available, has some reminiscence (parallelism) to the first Home Alone movie except with a substitution of a very cute baby in the place of an older child.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

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

ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (Released to Theaters USA 1994)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Angels in the Outfield—Danny Glover and Ben Johnson—has a few chuckles locked into the storyline. The movie works as a suitable to okay watch. Watch for Christopher Lloyd and Brenda Fricker. The film also provides opportunity to see Joseph Gordon Levitt in some of his early work.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline   Roger Bowman, a foster home child, desires a family of his own. He prays for a ball team to win in hopes that he can have that family.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director William Dear for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Gary Stutman for making the film possible. Cast includes Danny Glover, Brenda Fricker, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Ben Johnson, Jay O. Sanders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milton Davis Jr., Taylor Negron, and Neal McDonough, Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This movie is an easy watch that does not require a great deal of emotional involvement to enjoy. It works on a cute, minorly predictable storyline.    Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ALADDIN 2: THE RETURN OF JAFAR (Released to VHS USA 1994)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Aladdin 2: The Return of Jafar—lost the first Aladdin movie's vibrancy—has a weaker script and portrayal. The movie presentation and its animation  work at the suitable to good level. The casting voices are well-chosen. This film serves the child's audience more than the adult audience.  

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

 Aladdin is in the palace now. Jafar does not want to be a genie anymore and wants to be back in the palace.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Toby Shelton, Tad Stone, Alan Zaslove for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Tad Stone, Alan Zaslove, Assistant Producer Jessica Koplos, Associate Producer Maia Matisse, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jason Alexander, Johnathan Freeman, Jeff Bennett, Gilbert Gottfried, Val Bettin, Brad Kane, Liz Callaway,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Maybe. It is interesting but it seems that the writers were at loss to make something work because of the success of the first film  and were not sure how to continue the story. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

IRON WILL (Theatrical Release USA 1994)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Iron Will—all around good watch—almost becomes a classic movie story. It is interesting to see the different racers’ well-defined personalities, the organized system that backs them, as well as how a third page newspaper story can be raised to front page news that inspires readers to track. It’s wonderful to see a good story not ruined by a bad presentation. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A young man enters a sled dog race in hopes of winning enough money to free the family property from repossession. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Charles Haid for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Patrick Palmer and Robert Schwartz for making the film possible. Cast includes: Mackenzie Astin, Kevin Spacey, David Ogden Stiers, August Schellenberg, Brian Cox, George Gerdes, John Terry, Penelope Windust, Jeffery Alan Chandler, Michael Laskin, James Cada, Rex Linn, Allan R.J. Joseph, Alvin William 'Dutch' Lunak. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This watch is a good family share movie. It sends a good message about finishing what one starts and deserves its place in the family home video library. It serves at a little higher plane of entertainment than White Fang. It has good presentation, good storyline, and educates about dog races…especially the cooperation needed between animals and humans when work needs to be done. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

STREET FIGHTER (Theatrical Release USA 1994)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Street Fighter—almost works on the level of a cult classic—has some comical dialogue, runs on a rather sloppy story, but becomes its own uniquely enjoyable watch. Jean Claude Van Damme may not be the best actor for this story but it is interesting to see how he forms his character. The movie is fun and earns a light afternoon easy-on-the-mind watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This action film is about a drug lord capturing relief workers and demanding a ransom and the team who takes care of the situation. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Steven E. de Souza for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Edward Pressman and Kenzo Tsujimoto for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Ming-Na Wen, Damian Chapa, Kylie Minogue, and Wes Studi. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie is a fun watch despite its poor structure. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE SANTA CLAUSE (Theatrical Release USA 1994)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

The Santa Clause—a good, clean holiday flick for the preteen and adult audience—weighs in at the lovable and imaginative level. Tim Allen has the perfect charisma for the part of Santa Claus. Watch for Judge Reinhold as character Dr. Neil Miller and the late Peter Boyle as Mr. Whittle.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Santa Claus slips from Scott Calvin’s (Tim Allen) roof and disappears into the front yard’s snow-covered lawn. When Scott dons Santa’s red coat, he begins metamorphosing into Santa’s successor.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director John Pasquin for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Richard Baker, Rick Messina, and James Miller for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Santa Claus (Tim Allen), Dr. Neil Miller (Judge Reinhold), Laura Calvin Miller (Wendy Crewson), Charlie Calvin (Eric Lloyd), Bernard the Elf (David Krumholtz), Detective Nunzio (Larry Brandenburg), Miss Daniels (Mary Gross), Judy the Elf (Paige Tamada), Mr. Whittle (Peter Boyle), Susan Perry (Judith Scott), Judy the Waitress (Jayne Eastwood), and Sarah the Little Girl (Melissa King).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Refreshing holiday entertainment piece has great stage sets for each scene. The cast has been well-chosen for a quite pleasing film.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers