ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—much better than Star Wars VII though IX—has heart, a better written storyline, and better structuring than the last three Star Wars productions. It has the feel of the original George Lucas films although it does not, unfortunately, quite capture the George Lucas spirit. Disney deserves a thank you and congratulations for finally making the Star Wars story their own without putting the Disney stamp on it. The acting is great to good. This film is more than worth watching and gives the series that much needed breath of fresh air to continue the Star Wars saga.  The film is a great watch and can be watched as a stand-alone movie. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A scientist is forced to complete the Death Star. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Gareth Edwards for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur, and Simon Emanuel for making the film possible. Casting includes: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This small addendum to the Star Wars series is both welcome and highly entertaining. The movie more than earns audience time and monetary expenditure. It stays true to the Star Wars story and incorporates a stronger human element into its plotline that is much higher than Stars Wars VII through IX. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CAPTAIN MARVEL (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Captain Marvel manages to make a splash in entertainment value even though the story, the presentation, and acting are a bit less than the entertainment value. There is something about this movie that makes its call for a re-watch because it manages to entertain even without the factors that usually determine rewatchable-ness. The movie is just enjoyable from the ‘get-go’. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images   

Storyline 

A Starforce member has recurring nightmares about a person and is led to the place where she interacted in real life with this person. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Kevin Feige for making the film possible. Cast includes: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Bening, Jude Law, and Clark Gregg. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie is very well done and more than worth watching. It’s great to see Samuel L. Jackson’s facial features digitalized to make him look younger. Don’t leave before watching the credits roll as there is a bit of entertainment tucked there that is entertaining.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

READY PLAYER ONE (Theatrical Release USA 2018)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Ready Player One complicates itself with a continual presentation of characters from many movies and games that serve in the capacity of 'extras' in this movie’s presentation.  That single production decision diverts attention away from the storyline because as the story progresses one suddenly sees Beetlejuice or Iron Giant in a crowd. This creates an unwelcome distraction that causes loss of focus. The story progresses forward while the audience is forced to refocus and play 'catch up'.  While there is an overwhelming amount of ‘eye candy’ in the form of technological advancements, there is also a boring repetitiveness in presentation of the same technology such as the clear box-shaped screens that are constantly accessed by the characters. It’s almost as if the 'imagination well' for story telling has run dry and has chosen to rely on improbability to substitute for the well-written story. Depth of story is lacking and the human aspect that makes one care and become emotionally attached to the characters does not appear in this film. That aspect has disappeared and is replaced by a cold, almost calculated, indifference. As always, this Spielberg film retains Spielberg's unique mark, but not as strongly as in his earlier films. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A game offers a high stakes’ prize for successful accomplishment. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Steven Spielberg for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg, and Dan Farah for making the film possible. Cast includes: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Lots of technical eye candy keeps eyes busy, but artificially-introduced backgrounds tend to de-involve audiences to the point of distraction. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

 

DARKEST HOUR (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì 

Darkest Hour—well-written presentation—accesses the talents of Gary Oldman as Prime Minister Winston Churchill.  The movie builds to a satisfying climax and broadly expands on the decision leading to England’s involvement in World War II. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline 

Churchill leads England to war. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Joe Wright for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tim Bevan, Lisa Bruce, Eric Feliner, Anthony McCarten, and Douglas Urbanski for directing effort. Characters/cast include: Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman), Clementine Churchill (Kristin Thomas), King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn), Elizabeth Layton (Lily James), Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup), Viscount Halifax (Stephen Dillane), Sir John Simon (Nicholas Jones), Anthony Eden (Samuel West), Clement Attlee (David Schofield), General Ismay (Richard Lumsden), General Ironside (Malcolm Storry), Arthur Greenwood (Hilton McRae), Sir Samuel Hoare (Benjamin Whitrow), John Evans (Joe Armstrong), Air Chief Marshal Dowding (Adrian Rawlins), Admiral Ramsay (David Bamber), Admiral Dudley Pound), Cabinet Secretary Bridges (Demetri Goritsas), Paul Reynaud (Olivier Broche), and Kingsley Wood (Brian Pettifer). 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. If one desires to see a great film about England’s Prime Minister Churchill, this is the movie. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers