MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials—part 2 of the Maze Runner movie series—does not perform at the same level as the first film in the series. It complicates itself in storyline and presentation as it does not provide a strong enough link to the first movie. Read a plotline before you go even if you watched the first Maze Runner movie. The movie does have its thrills and some of the background scenery is quite good. There is a third film in this series: The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. These movies are unusual in that these young actors present a maturity that will appeal to both the teen and adult audience. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The days of experimentation on children are not over as a group of survivors from Maze Runner experiments discover. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Wes Ball for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Lee Stollman, and Joe Hartwick Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scordelario, Thomas Brodle-Sangster, Giancario Esposito, Aidan Gillen, Ki Hong Lee, Barry Pepper, Lill Taylor, and Patricia Clarkston. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Know that the story is complicated and if an audience does not follow the series, it would be best to read a plotline before going to this movie as a standalone watch. This is one of the rare teen-actor movies that performs as a good watch for adults. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

 

MONSTER TRUCKS (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Monster Trucks will remind audiences of one of those 'first choice’ movies one watches when young. While this film may not be a first choice for an adult audience, it serves as ‘cool’ for the younger audience. Barry Pepper seems perfectly cast for his part. Lucas Till gives a strong performance while Danny Glover is always on top of his game.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Tripp (Lucas Till) spends most of his time in a junkyard building his own monster truck from the scraps of other vehicles. When Tripp discovers a creature hiding in the junkyard, a bond develops that leads to an oil company working in North Dakota.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Chris Wedge for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Cale Boyter for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Meredith (Jane Levy), Jim Dowd (Thomas Lennon), Sheriff Rick (Barry Pepper), Reece Tenneson (Rob Lowe), Mr. Weathers (Danny Glover), Cindy (Amy Ryan), Burke (Holt McCallany), Wade Coley (Frank Whaley), Junior Scientist (Aliyah O’Brien), Technician (Daniel Bacon), and Roughneck (Faustino Di Bauda).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a fun movie for the 10-year old and up.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì Flags of Our Fathers—odd presentation—lacks cohesion with its 'all- over-the-place' story, little to no character development, and suitable but not great acting. Despite the hard-to-follow story, expect good fight scenes and highly graphic portrayal of war wounds.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Three men receive praise for raising a USA flag during World War II as a symbol of a great victory.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Clint Eastwood for his directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Lorenz for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: John Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford), Ira Hayes (Adam Beach), Keyes Beech (John Benjamin Hickey), Bud Gerber (John Slattery), Mike Strank (Barry Pepper), Ralph Ignatowski (Jamie Bell), Hank Hansen (Paul Walker), and Colonel Chandler Johnson (Robert Patrick).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is an okay watch but hard to follow with a 'messy' storyline. This Clint Eastwood film has a counterpart made by Clint Eastwood called Letters from Iwo Jima about the Japanese side of the story that is a much better made film than this film.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers