EIGHT BELOW (Released to Theaters USA 2006)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Eight Below—American rewrite of the 1983 Japanese movie, Antarctica—becomes a suitable watch as it educates about research stations located in Antarctica, the importance of dog teams, ice breaking ships, research grant money sourcing, transporting long distances in dangerous environments, wildlife native to that continent, and the resourcefulness of life that needs to survive. Paul Walker's character seems generic. He has not been assigned the more involved, distinctive role as in the Fast and Furious or Hours films. The movie is a suitable watch that does not require a great emotional or mental involvement.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  Antarctic researcher looks for a rare rock thought to be present in that continent. An imminent storm requires immediate evacuation with no opportunity to rescue the dog team. The research guide attempts repeatedly to raise funding for the dog rescue.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director and Executive Producer Frank Marshall, for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Christine Iso, Masaru Kakutani, Roy Lee, Todd Lieberman, and Producers Patrick Crowley, and David Hoberman, for making the film possible. Cast includes Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, Wendy Crewson, Gerard Plunkett, August Schellenberg, Jason Biggs, D.J., Timba, Koda, Jasmin, Apache, Buck, and Noble.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie is not fancy. It's a 'no frills' telling of an event and the outcome of immediate decisions executed without forethought. This film may have had more impact if it had not flown under the Disney Studio network label and instead installed itself under the, now defunct, Touchstone Pictures studio banner.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

FREE WILLY 3: THE RESCUE (Released to Theaters USA 1997)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Free Willy 3: The Rescue—better written than the last film. Although the acting is suitable and the presentation is good, the story itself needs a reality check toward the latter part of the film.  The movie is not great, but serves as an okay, easy-on-the-mind afternoon watch.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

 Jesse and Randolph work to save Willy and Willy's relatives from an illegal whaling boat.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Sam Pillsbury for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Richard Donner, Arnon Milchan, Lauren Shuler Donner, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jason James Richter, August Schellenberg, Annie Corley, Vincent Berry, Patrick Kilpatrick, Tasha Simms, Peter LaCroix, Steven E. Miller, Ian Tracey, Matthew Walker, Roger Cross, Rick Bergess, Roman Danylo, and Michael Dobson.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Maybe. The movie can easily be followed and is a suitable/okay watch.

Ben Meyers

FREE WILLY 2: THE ADVENTURE HOME (Released to Theaters USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home is a suitable watch with a predictable conclusion. The acting is okay to suitable. The presentation is good. But the film seems almost thrown together toward the middle and the conclusion as if writers are unsure about what would work and what would not work. The movie works best for the teen audience.  

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Jesse tries to save Willy and Willy's sister from an oil spill.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Dwight H. Little for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Richard Donner, Arnon Milchan and Jim Van Wyck for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jason James Richter, Francis Capra, Mary Kate Schellhardt, August Schellenberg, Michael Madsen, Jayne Atkinson, Mykelti Williamson, Elisabeth Peña, Jon Tenney, Paul Tuerpe, M. Emmet Walsh, John Considine, Steve Kahan, and Neal Matarazzo,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is an easy-on-the-mind afternoon watch that works at the 'okay' level.

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