THE PARENT TRAP (Released to Theaters USA 1998)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Parent Trap—good remake of the Hayley Mills' classic—uses the talents of Dennis Quaid, Natashia Richardson, and Lindsey Lohan to tell the bulk of its story. While the original Hayley Mill's movie is beyond question, the best of the two, this film is 'nothing to sneeze at'. It has a feisty, competitive beginning and shows high intelligence as the girls, after switching places, quickly improvise when in tight spots. The time spent learning each others roles in very different houses does seem a little far-fetched. In reality, it seems the switch would be discovered long before being revealed...but the busy schedules of each house can forgive some of that. The movie is a good remake and worth watching if merely because the story is so good. It's an easy addition to the home video library along with the Hayley Mills' classic.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Two girls are sent to the same summer camp and discover that they not only look exactly alike, but have the same birthdate. They talk and find that their parents were divorced when the girls were infants and had split the twins between them.

 Additional Thanks

Thank you to Nancy Meyers for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Charles Shyer, Co-Producer Bruce A. Block, for making the film possible. Characters/cast include: Lindsey Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natashia Richardson, Elaine Hendrix, Lisa Ann Walter, Simon Kunz, Polly Holiday, Maggie Wheeler, Ronnie Stevens, Joanna Barnes, and Hallie Meyers-Shyer, 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a good watch and tells a good story.  This film has good portrayal and presentation. It's Lindsey Lohan at her best. Good work for all who made the remake story possible.

Video Critique Available Here:

 Ben Meyers

ON A WING AND A PRAYER (Theatrical Release USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

On a Wing and a Prayer, while not great, has likeableness that underlies its story despite its average presentation. Dennis Quaid performs his role well and the rest of the cast plays excellently as supporting cast. Know this runs on a typical theme of bad events cause person to lose faith in God. Person finds himself in dire situation, prays, survives, and regains trust in God. This film serves as a suitable afternoon watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A  private plane pilot dies inflight and it is up to a pharmacist to land the plane safely at the nearest airport. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Sean McNamara for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Roma Downey Autumn Bailey-Ford, and Karl Horstmann for making the film possible. Cast includes: Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham, Tonglan Qui, Abigail Rhyne, Jessi Case, Brett Rice, Rocky Myers, Selena Anduze, E. Roger Mitchell, Joe Knezevich, Brandan Quinn, Roger Anthony, Raina Grey, and Trayce Malachi. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a suitable, mind-healthy, afternoon watch. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE ROOKIE (Theatrical Release USA 2002)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

The Rookie—not a high quality story—becomes more than a worthy watch because of its ability to give that ‘feel-good’ emotion all during the movie and allows an audience to keep that feeling long after watching. Dennis Quaid engages the audience so that one cares about his story and wishes for the success of the character he plays. Good writing makes the film. Baseball fans will enjoy this watch but know that even wider audiences will also enjoy it. Good work for all involved in making the movie. It’s a straight-forward story. It earns its place in the family home video library. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A pitcher/coach gets a second chance to play in major league baseball. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director John Lee Hancock for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray, and Mark Johnson for making the film possible. Cast includes: Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez, Brian Cox, and Angus T. Jones. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Terrific feel-good sports story with a good script. The movie suits a wide range audience.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HORSEMEN (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

Horsemen—gore, blood, and disturbing imagery—mark this film as a fair-to-middling horror film based on the concept of tracking and bringing to justice a deranged serial killer. While this movie is not in the class of Silence of the Lambs, it provides a solid format that tests Dennis Quaid’s ability to act within the horror genre. This is not one of his best performances.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Forensic Dentist Aiden Breslin (Dennis Quaid) investigates a murder that is soon followed by a series of murders with common links. He believes he sees a connection to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and attempts to solve the case based on commonalities in that theme.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Jonas Åkerlund for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Joseph Drake, Ted Field, Nathan Kahane, and Joe Rosenburg for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Kristin (Ziyi Zhang), Alex Breslin (Lou Taylor Pucci), Stingray (Clifton Collins, Jr.), Tuck (Barry Shabaka Henley), Corey (Patrick Fugit), Taylor (Eric Balfour), Father Whiteleather (Paul Dooley), Thug (Thomas Mitchell), Sean Breslin (Liam James), Police Chief Krupa (Chelcie Ross), Bob (Manfred Maretzki), Navratil (Arne MacPherson), Terrence (David Dastmalchian), David Spitz (Peter Stormare), and Control Room Guy (Darren Felbel).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?                 

Maybe. The movie redundantly returns to a single shocking imagery which minimizes its ability to work well within its horror genre.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

PANDORUM (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì

Pandorum—not relevant—seems loosely written and slightly jarring from scene to scene at times, due to poorly executed transitioning. This movie gets complicated and hard to follow at times also. It relies on the 'big reveal' at the end to carry the whole story.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Sixty thousand humans are sent to Planet Tanis. They are sleep-induced for the journey, but some awaken unscheduled and due to the influence of Pandorum, a deep space challenge that disturbs mental processing capabilities, develop curious survival methods including cannibalism and violence against those of their own species.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Christian Alvart for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Payton (Dennis Quaid), Bower (Ben Foster), Gallo (Cam Gigandet), Nadia (Antje Traue), Manh (Cung Le), Leland (Eddie Rouse), Shepard (Norman Reedus), Hunter Leader (André Hennicke), and Evalon (Friederike Kempter).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. It could be skipped for better sci-fi films like  2001: A Space Odyssey or Europa Report. Pandorum has a weak story and an okay portrayal.

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