3 DAYS TO KILL (Released to Theaters USA 2014)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Stars ìììì

3 Days to Kill—a quality action flick—melds work and family issues superbly while adding comedic references that take the edge off some of the film’s more intense scenes. Don’t miss this one. It’s received unfair reviews and has been underestimated in nearly every quarter including box office monetary income. The script is solid. The actors very well cast. It allows a refreshingly rational resolution to age-old family challenges. It resolves the way we truly want things to resolve—original family intact and working together to build a future despite severe challenges. The film portrays the message that family comes first, before profession, and it completely works as Ethan Renner (Kevin Costner), on a CIA mission and sick with what sounds like a cold, finishes a mass killing in an apartment room with the assistance of CIA Vivi Delay (Amber Heard) delegated to lead Ethan’s new CIA assignment. Throughout the action a strong second story runs as Ethan endeavors to maintain a relationship with his daughter and estranged wife. CIA action intensifies through the entire movie until the climatic ending that provides a non-disappointing adrenaline rush.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

CIA agent works his profession while dealing with severe family issues.

Additional Thanks

Great work for Director McG. Thank you to Executive Producers Christophe Lambert and Tucker Tooley for making the film possible. Cast include: Kevin Costner, Amber Heard, Hailee Steinfeld, Connie Nielsen, Tómas Lemarquis, Richard Sammel, Marc Andréoni, Bruno Ricci, Jonas Bloquet, and Eriq Ebouaney.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Great work for Director McG.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

NEVER BACK DOWN (Released to Theaters USA 2008)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Never Back Down—suitable—has suitable to good acting, portrayal, and presentation. Watch for Djimon Hounsou, Sean Faris, and Amber Heard.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A single mother with two boys moves to Orlando, Florida to start a new life. The older boy, Jake, receives an offer to go to a party by a pretty girl at the senior high school in Orlando. When he goes, he finds that she has a boyfriend and that friend is a hot shot kickboxer who beats Jake up in a kickboxing match at the party. Jake thinks about the match while healing from his minor injuries. A new friend at school tells him for the second time that he needs to go to his friend's professional kickboxer trainer.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jeff Wadlow for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Craig Baumgarten and David Zelon for making the film possible. Cast includes Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope, and Djimon Hounsou.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. There is some inappropriate material in the movie. But the movie turns into a good film watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM (Released to Theaters USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom—messy—has all the usual superhero/god story challenges. The special effects are probably the best part of the film. But there are scenes where it looks like actors have been cut out and pasted into the scenes. The movie works at the okay, but not great level.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

 Black Manta is back to fight against Atlantis.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director/Producer James Wan for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Pete Chiappetta, Walter Hamada, Andrew Lary, Anthony Tittanegro, Galen Vaisman, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park, Temuera Morrison, Dolph Lundgren, Martin Short, Jani Zhao, Pilou Asbæk, Indya Moore, John Rhys-Davies, and Vincent Regan.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Maybe. If the audience desires to finish the series, then this is the film. But the movie has so much to overcome with script, portrayal, and acting challenges that it seems futile in both monetary and time investment to start it.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ZOMBIELAND (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Zombieland—creative and different—plays out as one of the better movies of 2009. This film creates a surprisingly good acting team of Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg. The single faux pas in the storyline comes toward its conclusion with a manipulated scenario where Wichita and Little Rock make their way to a carnival in California, deliberately start all the lights and carnival machinery while in the middle of a Los Angeles-sized Zombie population. The audience, at this point, asks, ‘Really?’ The scene, 'a little fun' in trade for 'a sure death wish', comes off as a thinly disguised story manipulation to allow Tallahassee and Columbus to save the day and win their girls. That artifice costs film enjoyment. However, Zombieland still creates interest in Director Ruben Fleischer’s (producer and writer of Rob & Big on MTV) creative work and asks for a sequel that involves Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg cast together.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Mad cow disease infects Americans and leaves few survivors. Four survivors, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), find each other and travel together to Los Angeles, a supposedly Zombie-free zone.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Ruben Fleischer for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Ryan Kavanaugh, Rhett Reese, Ezra Swerdlow, and Paul Wernick for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: 406 (Amber Heard), Bill Murray (Bill Murray), and Clown Zombie (Derek Graf).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s quirky and fun.

Video Critique available at:

Ben Meyers