ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (Released to Theaters USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked—okay, suitable watch—has a cliched, stale storyline that borrows significantly from other marooned on an island films. Despite that, it still manages to keep its cute chipmunk charm.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Dave and the chipmunks go on vacation.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Mike Mitchell for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, and Christina Applegate.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It may work well for hard core Alvin and the Chipmunks fans. It runs on a stale, cliched storyline. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL (Released to Theaters USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel—improves on its prequel—has better writing, story, and acting than the first movie. It adds interest by including female chipmunks which adds appeal to the basic story. This is an enjoyable watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  Dave Seville gets injured and while in the hospital tells the chipmunks that he wants them to go to school and the story is on.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Betty Thomas for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr. for making the film possible. Cast includes Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, and Christina Applegate.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a suitable family watch that serves all age groups' needs. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS (Released to Theaters USA 2007)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Alvin and the Chipmunks—origin story—has Jason Lee as the 'parent' of the three chipmunks.  The movie works as a suitable to okay watch for the entire family. The story is well written. The movie's animation still works very well 17 years after the initial theater release.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The movie tells the origin story of Alvin and the Chipmunks as a sensational singing group.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Tim Hill for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Janice Karman and  Ross Bagdasarian for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Lee,  David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jesse McCartney.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is an origin story, so one has to see it to understand what happens at their beginning; It's clean and makes a suitable family share movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

KUNG FU PANDA 2 (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

Kung Fu Panda 2—a story one has heard so many times before—tells it again via the Kung Fu Panda. The movie has its emotional moments, works on about the same level as the first movie, and establishes the Kung Fu Panda stories as a series. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Po (voice of Jack Black) discovers his Panda origins through a series of flashbacks, his teacher Shifu (voice of Dustin Hoffman), and a Court Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh). Po is urged to find his inner peace through embracing his past. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson for the directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Melissa Cobb for making the film possible. Voice cast include: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogan, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Victor Garber, Mike Bell,

Additional Thanks

Good work for Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson. Thank you to Producer Melissa Cobb for making the film possible. Voice cast include: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogan, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Victor Garber, and Mike Bell.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The movie follows a message about being peaceful and has a link to the movies that follow.

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