LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (Theatrical Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—not a high quality watch—still works because of the fabulous stage settings and the unexpected fighting spirit of the female lead. Some of the dialogue lines can reflect a bit of 'cheesiness' but all together the movie, oddly, works as a fresh, entertaining adventure thriller. The action is over-the-top so that action is the foundation that supplants everything else that usually 'make' a movie Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline The Illuminati search for the key to rejoin two ancient triangles. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Simon West for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Stuart Baird and Jeremy Heath-Smith for making the film possible. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Bryce Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig, Richard Johnson, Chris Barrie, Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Leslie Phillips.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. This could almost be a cult classic. It's worth a one-time watch just for the stage settings.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BEING JAMES BOND: THE DANIEL CRAIG STORY (Apple TV Release World-Wide 2021)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì 

Being James Bond: The Daniel Craig Story—documentary short film—WOW! has terrific interviews, provides excellent behind-the-scenes education, and shows how actors work to provide audiences with outstanding entertainment. This documentary increases appreciation for the industry and the people who work within that industry, various factors that can affect the quality of output, and how dedicated performers and background workers make decisions to keep on schedule despite terrific challenges. Wonderful presentation with outstanding direction shows a candid view of relationship with the press and paparazzi. This film is featured on James Bond 007’s YouTube page and the No Time To Die DVD film. This documentary is more than worth watching. Don’t miss it.   

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

This documentary film is about: Daniel Craig being chosen for the new James Bond character, what he did to prepare for the role, and how he finally left the role after 15 years service. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Baillie Walsh for making the film possible. Thank you to Producer Colin Burrows for making the film possible. Cast includes: Daniel Craig, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a great watch. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

MUNICH (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Munich—intellectual watch—takes full audience engagement to follow its story line. The script has been written with depth and excellent tone. Everything in this film works at an above average level. It is not a formula story nor does it follow a trite, genre format of spy, action, thriller movies. It bases in real life events and has been well portrayed. Know that the movie contains full nudity scenes and mature, adult dialogue. It is wise to read a plotline before engaging this film to follow the story with complete comprehension. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

An Israeli sports team is attacked at the Munich Olympic games. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Steven Spielberg for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Barry Mendel, and Colin Wilson for making the film possible. Cast includes: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciarán Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz, Hanns Zischler, and Geoffrey Rush. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie works outside established legal order and becomes a ‘James Bond’- type story in an effort to accomplish justice. It earns its watch time and monetary investment.

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