AMREEKA (Released to Sundance Film Festival Park City, Utah USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì

Amreeka—a very well-told tale of the difficulties of re-establishing oneself in a new country—establishes itself as an award-winning story on the difficulties of emigration and assimilation into new cultures. This completely deserves both time and money investment and becomes an excellent addition to the home video library.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline

A divorced, single parent Palestinian Christian woman who lived in Bethlehem and worked in West Bank Palestine. Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour), has been abandoned by her husband for another woman, wins an American Green Card through the lottery, and makes the decision to relocate her teen-age son, Fadi Farah (Melkar Muallem), to the USA. Muna is unable to get the same level of employment she enjoyed on the West Bank and settles for a position working in the fast food industry while living with her sister and brother-in-law. Tensions mount for this middle eastern family living in an American neighborhood after 9/11 and the story is off and running.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director and Writer Cherien Dabis. Thank you to Executive Producers Cherien Dabis, Alicia Sams, and Greg Keever for making the film possible. Music Composer is Kareem Roustom. Casting includes: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Habbas, Alia Shawkat, Yussuf Abu-Warda, Joseph Ziegler, and Miriam Smith.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie promotes understanding of the difficulties of relocating to a foreign country. It serves as an ideal older child/adult share film for the rich, after viewing discussion it provides. It may be good to have a short review of the plotline before viewing, review geography, and discuss what a green card is before viewing the film.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ASTRO BOY (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

Astro Boy, surprisingly, is better than the first episodes of the 1980 Astro Boy television series with its little different twist than the television stories had. Nicolas Cage does a great job voicing Dr. Tenma while Freddie Highmore easily earns his place as an outstanding choice to voice Astro Boy. This film needs improvement in presentation and storyline.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Toby (voice of Freddie Highmore) is accidentally disintegrated by energy spheres and is reconstructed by his father, Dr. Tenma (voice of Nicolas Cage), into a robotic body.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director David Bowers for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Francis Kao, Cecil Kramer, Ken Tsumura, and Paul Wang for making the film possible. Cast include: Freddie Highmore, voice of Ryann Stiles, Eugene Levy, voice of Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, David Alan Grier, and Alan Tudyk.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is an okay watch but not great. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MAO’S LAST DANCER (Released to the Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.5|5.0 Stars ìììì

Mao’s Last Dancer—barely broke even in box office—but is a remarkable ‘don’t miss it’ show. It’s based on the book, Mao’s Last Dancer, the true story of Li Cunxin, a Chinese ballet dancer trained in both Chinese and classical Russian Ballet, who China allowed to study under the United States Houston Ballet Company. The film examines Li Cunxin’s rigorous Chinese childhood training program, his success, and the impact study within the United States had on his personal life.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Li Cunxin (Chi Cao) is removed from his family and village as a young child for professional dance training with Madam Mao’s Dance Academy in China. His success receives notice from the Houston Ballet Company’s dance instructor, Ben Stevenson (Bruce Greenwood), who invites him to train with the United States team.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Bruce Beresford for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Troy Lum for making the film possible. Great musical scoring by Christopher Gordon. Thank you to script writer Jan Sardi for script writing efforts. Cast include: Bruce Greenwood, Penne Hackforth-Jones, Christopher Kirby, Suzie Steen, Madeleine Eastoe, Aden Young, Wen Bin Huang, Shu Guang Liang, and Ye Wang.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a terrific film that automatically generates excellent opportunity for family conversation through the wide range of history, politics, culture, and creative dance endeavor. It’s an outstanding choice for the child/adult share film.

Video Critique Available Here:

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.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

PAUL BLART: MALL COP (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.5|5.0 Stars ìììì

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is one of America’s best clean, comedic movies of the year. With a simple script that reminds us that goodness, honesty, heart, and courage in any occupation can lead to the happiest of endings, Kevin James, the exceptionally likable lead actor in The King of Queens television series, shows us in an all-around-fun way that success comes to those who believe that high performance is not dictated by the status of the job, but by the integrity that exists inside of a person.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Mall Security Guard Paul Blart (Kevin James) finds that courage and quick thinking can save even the worst of mall days.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Steve Carr for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Jeff Sussman for making the film possible. Cast include: Keir O’Donnell, Jayma Mays, Raini Rodriguez, Shirley Knight, Stephen Rannazzisi, Peter Gerety, Bobby Cannavale, and Adam Ferrara.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Director Steve Carr (from Daddy Day Care (2003) and Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)) shows remarkable skill in capturing the comedic essence of the story through timing and outstanding camera direction.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL (Released to Theaters USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel—improves on its prequel—has better writing, story, and acting than the first movie. It adds interest by including female chipmunks which adds appeal to the basic story. This is an enjoyable watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  Dave Seville gets injured and while in the hospital tells the chipmunks that he wants them to go to school and the story is on.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Betty Thomas for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, and Christina Applegate.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a suitable family watch that serves all age groups' needs. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

FAITH LIKE POTATOES (Released to DVD World-Wide 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

Faith Like Potatoes—likeable and relatable—is a good Christian film that tells its story with strength and credibility. It has a few slow spots but the story quickly overcomes that very small challenge. The movie plays on the human heart. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

 A Scottish man and his family start a new life in Zambia, Africa. 

Additional Thanks

 Thank you to Director Regardt van den Bergh for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Scotty Gelt for making the film possible. Cast includes: Frank Rautenbach, Jeanne Neilson, Hamilton Dlamini, Candice D'Arcy, Sean Cameron Michael, Regardt van den Bergh, Anton Treurnich, Morné Theunissen, Rochelle Buchan, Casper Badenhorst, Matthew Dylan Roberts, Christopher Bartels, Jessica Odendaal, and Jacquie Minnaar,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Yes. It is a low-budget film but runs on likableness and relatability with strong emphasis on the human condition. The Christian audience will enjoy this film.

Film Critique Available Here:

 

 Ben Meyers

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen—Part 2 of the Transformers movie series—lacks impactful action. The WOW! factor disappears even with the concluding wrap-up in Egypt. Know that the film has sexual references and some sex scenes. but overall is a still a great watch for storyline.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This action film is about: Earth’s inhabitants form a treaty to unitedly eliminate all Decepticons from earth. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Ian Bryce for making the film possible. Cast includes: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Joshn Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and John Turturro.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Shia LeBeouf shows well in this film and the movie does not let Transformer movie fans down.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HEAVENLY APPEALS (YouTube Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Heavenly Appeals—animated short film—needs to be watched all the way through to appreciate the full impact of its story. The artistry, animation, and story show remarkable talent. The presentation flows due to good timing of scenes and the conclusion is so unexpected that it cannot fail to garner the audience smile. This animation piece comes from the Ringling College of Arts and Design. A good story; good work for all involved.  

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A man finally has his time to appear before the heavenly appeal court for his chance to move to freedom and a better life. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to the Ringling College of Art and Design for training such outstanding animation students. Thank you to YouTube for distributing the product. Thank you to Director David Lisbee for directing efforts. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Watch this short film to its conclusion for its completely unexpected and much appreciated ending. Great concept story that easily could be expanded. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

X-Men Origins: Wolverine—good action, well-written story—will particularly suit X-Men and Wolverine fans. The movie can be watched as a stand-alone movie about the relationship between Wolverine and his older brother, Victor Creed. The movie sports good acting and presentation. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This superhero film is about two half-brothers who live through centuries of time. Then, the brothers are recruited by William Stryker to form a team of mutants to search for the source of a special mineral. Wolverine eventually leaves the team for the sake of humanity to pursue a more respectable job.

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Gavin Hood for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Hugh Jackman, and John Palermo for making the film possible. Cast includes: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, and Ryan Reynolds.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie serves as a good film for fans of X-Men movies and/or the X-Men Comic series. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers 

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs relies on a return of character voices from the last film (Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Queen Letifah (as the mammoth Ellie introduced in the last movie in the series)) and adds new characters such as Buck, Ruby, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The movie deserves addition to the family home video collection along with the previous films in this series for its dialogue lines, comedic value, animation, international appeal, and the wide-range audience it serves. This film classes itself as high quality entertainment that completely serves the needs of child/adult share entertainment. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Times change during the Ice Age and the original team evacuating encounter new animals such as Tyrannosaurus Rex. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Carlos Saldanha Michael Thurmeier for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lon Forte and John C. Donkin for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Queen Letifah. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The script is solid from beginning to ending. The movie earns re-watchable status and rates as a high-quality piece of entertainment. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

ALIENS IN THE ATTIC (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

Aliens in the Attic—a little scary, a little comedy—marks itself with just the right mix to appeal to the wider audience for entertainment value. The movie wisely chooses cast built on a family’s wide span of generational ages who are each involved in the interests appropriate to their ages and then throws them into situations quite inappropriate to those ages. This enables comedy to break the horror of the quite terrifying aliens living in the attic and makes this a movie worth watching for the whole family. The presentation is intriguing, and the acting is fair/good. The writing is solid, Disney-style story-telling that relies on honest, clean delivery that is fresh and quite welcome. The animation of the aliens is still great 13 years later with no lack of creativity in mixing the animated world with the human world. Watch for Ashley Tisdale’s very good performance as the teen in the middle of young love. 

Storyline 

Aliens endeavor to retrieve something that belongs to them while a family tries to vacation in a leased vacation home. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director John Schultz for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Barry Josephson for making the film possible. Cast includes: Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler, Kevin Nealon, Robert Hoffman, Doris Roberts, Tim Meadows, and Ashley Tisdale. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a very good choice for a holiday family share movie that provides good humor and a satisfying conclusion.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TERMINATOR SALVATION (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

Terminator Salvation needs improvement in strength of presentation, believability, and camera work. It's good to see Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Common, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Helena Bonham Carter in the movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

After the nuclear holocaust, the survivors form a resistance to the terminators and Skynet.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director McG for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeanne Allgood, Kathy Chasen-Hay, Chrystal Dowd, Sean Cushing, Peter D. Graves, Mario Kassar, Janet Lewin, Dan Lin, Emma McGuinness, Joel B. Michaels, MIchael Pardee, Jon Silk Stefan Sonnenfeld, and Andrew G. Vajna for making the film possible. Additional Cast include: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter, Anton Yelchin, Jadagrace, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Common.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Terminator has been presented in installments. This is the fourth installment of the series. For those who are following the series, this is the next in the series. Hopefully, the next film, Terminator Genisys, can restore the former glory of the series.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TRAIL OF THE PANDA * (Release to Theaters USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

Trail of the Panda—suitable to okay—works slowly and drags at times through its hour and a half of showtime. However, the story bases itself on a real set of events and even allows the treat at its conclusion about what happens to the boy when he reaches adulthood. The movie shows some outstanding scenery of panda bear environments and gives a view into how this boy began to heal from his parents' death.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

A guide and a Research Scout try to find a panda cub for the researcher to purchase, but are foiled due to inclement weather. The guide's young adoptee finds a small, injured cub, nurses it to health and in that nurturing finds his own path to recovery.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Zhong Yu for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Christopher J. Brough and Ye Tian for making the film possible. Cast includes Daichi Harashima, Li Feng, Zhong Yu, Chang Liu, Xin Yu Sun, Ke Jian Qi, Qi Zhang, and Matthew Yang King.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. A simple, clean, and suitable afternoon watch that easily serves the whole family not only for entertainment but education. 

* Also known as Touch of the Panda or Xiong mao hui jia lu

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

PANDORUM (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì

Pandorum—not relevant—seems loosely written and slightly jarring from scene to scene at times, due to poorly executed transitioning. This movie gets complicated and hard to follow at times also. It relies on the 'big reveal' at the end to carry the whole story.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Sixty thousand humans are sent to Planet Tanis. They are sleep-induced for the journey, but some awaken unscheduled and due to the influence of Pandorum, a deep space challenge that disturbs mental processing capabilities, develop curious survival methods including cannibalism and violence against those of their own species.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Christian Alvart for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Payton (Dennis Quaid), Bower (Ben Foster), Gallo (Cam Gigandet), Nadia (Antje Traue), Manh (Cung Le), Leland (Eddie Rouse), Shepard (Norman Reedus), Hunter Leader (André Hennicke), and Evalon (Friederike Kempter).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. It could be skipped for better sci-fi films like  2001: A Space Odyssey or Europa Report. Pandorum has a weak story and an okay portrayal.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers