PADDINGTON IN PERU (Released to Theaters UK 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  Paddington in Peru—family friendly—makes a great sequel to the first two Paddington Bear movies. The movie is full of good will and lovability. It is sweet from beginning to end. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline Paddington gets a letter from the Reverend Mother that he needs to check on his "aunt." He takes a trip to visit his Aunt Lucy. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Dougal Wilson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Rosie Alison for making the film possible. Cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, and Ben Whishaw.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. The movie runs on good values and has love written into every line. It is a good addition to the family home video library. WOW! Bravo! A quality, family watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

NO TIME TO DIE (Theatrical Release USA 2021)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

No Time to Die—interesting presentation—significantly reduces action, violence, and sex scenes from previous Bond 007 movies. This movie runs on an ‘it is what it is’ storyline. It will take time to get used to a new format, but in its own way can be an improvement over the old format. There are some interesting twists in this story almost as if it is testing the possibility that there could be a female Bond or a Bond replacement all together. The movie ends oddly. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline

This spy film is about a weapon that involves nanobots and the attempts to control who has it and who can use it. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Cary Joji Fukunaga for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for making the film possible. Cast includes: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, and Ralph Fiennes. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Be prepared for a ‘not the usual’ James Bond 007 film. Everything is ‘toned down’. It introduces a marital-type relationship and a child into that relationship. It’s worth watching, but much different than expectations for a 007 movie.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SPECTRE (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Spectre—Daniel Craig as 007—solidly delivers a good piece of entertainment. There is a little sterileness in some of the action scenes such as the car chase scene between Daniel Craig and Dave Bautista. It almost seems as if that scene was artificially lengthened to make the film meet time requirements. There seems to be some plot holes in the movie where the dots are not fully connected. But the entertainment value maintains. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

James Bond fights the evilness of Spectre. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Sam Mendes for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for making the film possible. Cast includes: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, and Ralph Fiennes. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie does not run on the usual 007 high-octane mix of sex, glamour, and violence. While the grittiness has been lowered slightly, the movie still delivers. James Bond fans will not be disappointed. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers