FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer—better than the last film—has actors reprising their roles. The movie is watchable, but not recommendable. The animation of the silver surfer on his surfboard is worth mentioning. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A humanoid-type silver surfer appears in earth’s atmosphere. The Fantastic Four Team discovers that planets the surfer has previously visited have all been destroyed. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Tim Story for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Kevin Feige, Stan Lee, and Mark Radcliffe, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Laurence Fishburne, Doug Jones, Beau Garrett, Brian Posehn, Zach Grenier, Dawn Chubai, and Chris Gailus.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. This movie runs on a better storyline than previous series’ films. It has a better storyline and presentation. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

FANTASTIC FOUR (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Fantastic Four, thin story with no depth to the characters contributes to this movie’s cult classic feel. While some ‘cult’ movies like the 1990s Ninja Turtles movies touch on the fun to watch factor and could be added to the home video library, this movie could not generate those frequencies. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Four persons find they develop extraordinary powers and learn how to deal with those powers. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Tim Story for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Avi Arad, Bernd Eichinger, and Ralph Winter for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Hamish Linklater, Kerry Washington, Laurie Holden, David Parker, Kevin McNulty, Maria Menounos Michael Kopsa Andrew Airlie, and Pascale Hutton. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. The superficial treatment of story, challenges its value as a remake to the 1994 film.   

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

AVENGERS: ENDGAME (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Avengers: Endgame—odd conclusion that seems disjointed from its story—runs as ‘not well thought out and complicates itself.’ It’s 2-hour build up leaves the audience flat at the end. The camera work, the animation, and the acting are good to great. It’s a good watch for superhero fans, but not for general audiences. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The Avengers unite to recover the infinity stones so that life in the universe can be restored. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Kevin Feige for making the film possible. Cast includes: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Josh Brolin, and Gwyneth Paltrow. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. If one wants to finish the series, this is it.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (Theatrical Release USA 2018)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

Avengers: Infinity War is complicated because of all the A-list actors and actresses playing several of the Marvel characters in the Marvel Universe within the storyline. The exceptions to inclusion in this film are X-Men and Nick Fury and many more. Stan Lee gets his usual cameo. Watch for it as it is exceptionally easy to miss in this movie. Tom Holland is the British actor who takes on the Spiderman suit as was already established in several movies unrelated to Avengers. This movie is epic, takes viewers on a strongly themed good versus evil storyline, and leaves viewers hanging for the sequel, Avengers: End Game. It's a WOW! movie that earns its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The movie is about acquiring the six stones that allow control of infinity. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors Anthony and Joe Russo for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Kevin Feige for making the film possible. Cast includes: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, and Zoe Saldaňa. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. While the movie complicates itself with a barrage of characters, it is precisely because nearly all the Marvel characters appear in the film and because the storyline is terrific and well executed that make it a WOW! movie. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Avengers: Age of Ultron—this second film is better than the first Avengers movie—has a type of synergy that the first movie could not accomplish. Watch for some new superheroes like Vision and Wanda (from Disney+ television) who are incorporated into this movie’s storyline and, of course, the traditional sneaking in of Stan Lee in a cameo appearance. This film’s Marvel characters overflow like a huge bouquet on a small table and provide a basically good entertainment piece. Good work for all involved. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The strongest and best fighters for earth join forces to rid it of the latest threat to its peace and happiness. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Joss Whedon for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Victoria Alonso, Louis D’Esposito, Jon Favreau, Alan Fine, Jeremy Latcham, Stan Lee, and Patricia Whitcher for making the film possible. Cast members include: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie is a bit better than its prequel, can be enjoyed as a family, and earns its watch.  

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE LOSERS (Theatrical Release USA 2010)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Losers—interesting film—has a fairly good storyline supported with great acting and presentation. Its directing has good execution thanks to Director Sylvain White. There are some sexual scenes, but besides that it presents good entertainment value. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images                                                                                                               

Storyline 

A special ops team goes to Bolivia to take out a drug lord’s operational base. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Sylvain White for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman, and Kerry Foster for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Columbus Short, Oscar Jaenada, and Jason Patric. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie runs as an okay watch, a good film to fill time.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE RED SEA DIVING RESORT (Video Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Red Sea Diving Resort—a film that cannot be ignored—serves tension in full buckets. The acting is superb and makes the audience feel as if watching live reality rather than a film. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline 

A rescue mission occurs for Ethiopian Jews. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Gideon Raff for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Aaron Gilbert, Alexandra Milchan, and Gideon Raff for making the film possible. Characters/cast include: Ari Levinson (Chris Evans), Kabede Bimro (Michael Williams), Rachel Reiter (Haley Bennett), Jacob Wolf (Michiel Huisman), Sammy Navon (Alessandro Nivola), Walton Bowen (Greg Kinnear), Ethan Levin (Ben Kingsley), Max Rose (Alex Hassell), Barack Isaacs (Mark Ivanir), Colonel Abdel Ahmed (Chris Chalk), and Sarah Levinson (Alona Tal). 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. A refugee story that completely engages the audience. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BATTLE FOR TERRA (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 1.1|5.0 Starsì

Battle for Terra graphics are great. But, the movie script and plot are ridiculous with little reason for the situations presented throughout the storyline. The story is trite—aliens take over a planet by attempting to kill all the planet’s inhabitants. But, General Hemmer uses fallacious reasoning to pursue a military strategy that takes the viewer from the movie to focus on the writer—an unusual situation that is a result of poor writing. It’s surprising that actors like Danny Glover and James Garner signed for this movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The planet Terra’s sun is blocked out. Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) goes to investigate and finds that a space ship is abducting the inhabitants of Terra.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Aristomenis Tsirbas for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Jessica Calder, Keith Calder, Ryan Colucci, and Dane Allan Smith for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Terrian Scientist (voice of Chad Allen), Professor Lina (voice of Rosanna Arquette), Terrian 2 (voice of Bill Birch), Technician Quinn (voice of Brooke Bloom), Technician Williams (voice of Tom Connolly), General Hemmer (voice of Brian Cox), Giddy (voice of David Cross), Interrogator Wright (voice of Beverly D’Angelo), Colonel Wheeler (voice of James Devoti), Elder Vorin (voice of Ron Perlman), Terrian 1 (voice of Timi Prulhiere), Roven (voice of Dennis Quaid), Lieutenant Evans (voice of Michael Scovotti), Kima (voice of Zoe Bleu), Elder Barum (voice of Danny Trejo), Jim Stanton (voice of Luke Wilson), and Stewart Stanton (voice of Chris Evans).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Battle for Terra is a painful waste of time.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers