FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER (Released to Theaters USA 1991)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Flight of the Intruder—really good film—is easy-to-miss partly because of its blasé title, partly due to scheduling its release at the same time as Operation Desert Storm, and releasing it in January, one of the worst months to release a film. The acting team of Danny Glover and Brad Johnson are good. Willem DaFoe is a very good addition to the film. Watch for the cameo of David Schwimmer.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Navy ship makes multiple rounds with airplanes to destroy key spots ordered by high command during the Vietnam War. One airplane goes rogue.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director John Milius for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Mace Neufeld for making the film possible. Cast includes Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe, Brad Johnson, Rosanna Marquett, and Tom Sizemore.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It's a cohesive film that works from a solid foundation.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SHOOTER (Released to Theaters USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Shooter—Mark Wahlberg—is a good, low-grade watch that employs enough action to generate enough excitement to continue watching to its conclusion. It works in the good to suitable range and will satisfy Mark Wahlberg fans. The movie employs an eclectic array of some of our best actors.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   An Ethiopian covert mission is abandoned by the CIA. One agent survives and retires. He is later approached for protection of the President. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Antoine Fuqua for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorenzo Bonaventura and Ric Kidney for making the movie possible. Cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Elias Koleas, Rhona Mitra, and Ned Beatty. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Even though it is not in the 3.9+ star range, it is still worth watching. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

OPERATION DUMBO DROP (Released to Theaters USA 1995)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Operation Dumbo Drop—Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, and Dennis Leary—has a likeableness that permeates its core. The movie deserves a watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Vietnamese village is going to celebrate a festival, but the Viet Cong find that the villagers are possibly cooperating with the USA. So the Viet Cong kill the one thing that makes the festival work, their prize elephant. A Green Beret, who works with the village and his replacement, organize a team to replace the elephant.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Simon Wincer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Diane Nabatoff and David Madden for making the film possible. Cast includes Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug, and Corin Nemec. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is an unusual story backed with a great cast. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DREAMGIRLS (Released to Theaters USA 2006)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Dreamgirls—good musical—swings like a fictional story of the legendary Supremes. Listen for terrific music (some of which is original work released for this film), watch very good stage dancing, and view some great costuming. It's difficult to keep some characters in place and understand how they are moving the film forward due to scenes that run very fast. It's a good, inside view of how musical careers peak and trough. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline   A pop women's singing group takes on a new manager, who takes their career to the top.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Bill Condon for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Patricia Whitcher, Producer  Lawrence Mark, Co-Producer Jonathan King, and Associate Producer Leeann Stonebreaker for making the film possible. Cast includes Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Keith D. Robinson, Sharon Leal, Hinton Battle, and Mariah Iman Wilson.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Some of our best musicians sing and dance their way through this movie. For music lovers, this film is a very good choice. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (Released to Theaters USA 1994)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Angels in the Outfield—Danny Glover and Ben Johnson—has a few chuckles locked into the storyline. The movie works as a suitable to okay watch. Watch for Christopher Lloyd and Brenda Fricker. The film also provides opportunity to see Joseph Gordon Levitt in some of his early work.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline   Roger Bowman, a foster home child, desires a family of his own. He prays for a ball team to win in hopes that he can have that family.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director William Dear for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Gary Stutman for making the film possible. Cast includes Danny Glover, Brenda Fricker, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Ben Johnson, Jay O. Sanders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milton Davis Jr., Taylor Negron, and Neal McDonough, Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This movie is an easy watch that does not require a great deal of emotional involvement to enjoy. It works on a cute, minorly predictable storyline.    Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Jumanji: The Next Level—sequel to the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle movie—is the third film in a series dedicated to the game of Jumanji. This movie allows the characters from the second Jumanji movie to reprise their roles. The movie gathers its entertainment value from a terrific cast, great acting, and its sweet ability to intermix comedy with action. The movie is a great choice to add to the Jumanji series in the home entertainment library. The film begs for its sequel. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Four friends re-enter the Jumanji game for the second time. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Jake Kasdan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers  Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Matt Tolmach, and Jake Kasdan for making the film possible.  Cast includes: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Danny Glover, and Danny DeVito. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The film provides an unusually good mixture of both comedy and adventure. The script is creative, fresh, and allows Dwayne Johnson another opportunity to show his diverse ability to play a variety of characters well. The movie makes a terrific addition to the home video library. 

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

SAW (Theatrical Release USA 2004)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Saw—intense, edge of your seat psychological thriller—sets itself up for a sequel from the get-go. The film’s conclusion twists in such a radical manner that the viewer is left stunned while thinking, “What just happened?” The film serves the mature adult audience.

Film Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

The jigsaw serial killer likes to play blood-chilling games that mostly leave players maimed and quite dead.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director James Wan for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Peter Block, Jason Constantine, and Stacey Testro for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Adam Faulkner-Stanheight (Leigh Whannell), Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes), Detective David Tapp (Danny Glover), Detective Steven Sing (Ken Leung),  Kerry (Dina Meyer), Paul (Mike Butters), Mark (Paul Gutrecht), Zep Hindle (Michael Emerson), Brett (Benito Martinez), Amanda (Shawnee Smith), and Diana Gordon (Makenzie Vega).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film serves the genre and plays its story well. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

2012 (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

2012 has spectacular views of  a large American coastal city disappearing into the ocean. The special effects drive this story.  The story itself increases in quality as the movie progresses and becomes quite good in the last hour of the film due to the increased value placed on human life and the dialogue that supports integrity and morality. The script increases audience hope toward the final stages of the movie for survival and that makes this film a good action flick for apocalyptic film fans.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

American geologists and astrophysicists believe catastrophic changes in the earth will completely destroy the earth. World leaders secretly begin constructing arks that will ensure humanity’s survival.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Roland Emmerich and his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich, and Michael Wimer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), Kate Curtis (Amanda Peet), Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Laura Wilson (Thandwie Newton), Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt), Gordon Silberman (Tom McCarthy), Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson), and President Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes.  Definitely not in the same caliber as Independence Day, but a good watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ALPHA AND OMEGA (Theatrical Release USA 2010)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 1.7|5.0 Starsì

Alpha and Omega lacks sufficient character development for Humphrey (voiced by Justin Long), Kate (voiced by Hayden Panettiere), Winston (voiced by Danny Glover), and Tony (voiced by Dennis Hopper) to establish credible and believable personalities that appeal to the heart. Even the very good singing at the end of the film can not pull this film out of the dumpster. Directors Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck fail to see the challenges built into this animated feature before it hit theatrical release.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Eastern wolf packs compete with Western wolf packs for food and territory.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Anthony Bell, Noah Fogelson, A.K. Madhayan, and Michael Paseornek for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Humphrey (voice of Justin Long), Kate (voice of Hayden Panettiere), Tony (voice of Dennis Hopper), Winston (voice of Danny Glover), Marcel (voice of Larry Miller), Paddy/Mooch (voice of Eric Price), Eve (voice of Vicki Lewis), Lilly (voice of Christina Ricci), and Garth (voice of Chris Carmack).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. The movie, unfortunately, fails in presentation. The Nut Job becomes the better choice for both time and money investment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ANTZ (Theatrical Release USA 1998)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Antz does not play down its storyline to children. While some language moves it into the adult world, this animated movie performs for everyone. Antz, inspiring, funny, heartfelt, and just plain fun, starts well and holds its good start throughout the movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Z (voice of Woody Allen), a worker ant, falls in love with Bala (voice of Sharon Stone), a princess ant. He joins the army in hopes of seeing her again.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins, and Carl Rosendahl for making the film possible. Additional character/cast include: Chip (voice of Dan Aykroyd), Queen (voice of Anne Bancroft), Muffy (voice of Jane Curtin), Barbatus (voice of Danny Glover), General Mandible (voice of Gene Hackman), Azteca (voice of Jennifer Lopez), Grebs (voice of John Mahoney), and Psychologist (voice of Paul Mazursky).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Antz is a great pick for an engaging evening’s entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers