AMISTAD (Relelased to Theaters USA 1997)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.5|5.0 Stars ìììì

Amistad, based loosely on the true story of a slave mutiny aboard the 1839 slave ship, Amistad, takes us into the courtroom as 50 captured African slaves fight for their freedom and right to return to Africa. The incident involves the United States Supreme Court as well as President Martin Van Buren (Nigel Hawthorne). It’s a true-to-form Stephen Spielberg classic about greed, power, and evil being thwarted by the few just individuals who fight for right. The tale is told through the eyes of Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), the leader of the African ship revolt.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Great work for Director Steven Spielberg. Thank you to Executive Producers Laurie McDonald and Walter Parkes for making the film possible. Cast include: Djimon Hounsou, Morgan Freeman, Stellen Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins, David Paymer, Pete Postlethwaite, and Razaaq Adoti.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This watch works well for Steven Spielberg fans. 

Video Available Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER-THE CRADLE OF LIFE (Theatrical Release USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life—notable special effects—works at nearly the same level of the first film with a bit more 'corny'. Angelina Jolie reprises her role and teams with Gerard Butler. The fight scenes are more amateurish than the last movie. Overall, it's a fair to middling piece of entertainment.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline Lara Croft’s (Angelina Jolie) assignment is to find Pandora’s Box before bioterrorists find it.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Jan De Bont for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Jeremy Heath-Smith for making the film possible. Cast include Gerard Butler, Jonathan Reiss, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Barrie, Noah Taylor, Djimon Hounsou, Til Schweiger, Simon Yam, and Terence Yin.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. This film, a bit amateurish, does have a good story. It's watchable and will suit Angelina Jolie fans. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

NEVER BACK DOWN (Released to Theaters USA 2008)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Never Back Down—suitable—has suitable to good acting, portrayal, and presentation. Watch for Djimon Hounsou, Sean Faris, and Amber Heard.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A single mother with two boys moves to Orlando, Florida to start a new life. The older boy, Jake, receives an offer to go to a party by a pretty girl at the senior high school in Orlando. When he goes, he finds that she has a boyfriend and that friend is a hot shot kickboxer who beats Jake up in a kickboxing match at the party. Jake thinks about the match while healing from his minor injuries. A new friend at school tells him for the second time that he needs to go to his friend's professional kickboxer trainer.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jeff Wadlow for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Craig Baumgarten and David Zelon for making the film possible. Cast includes Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope, and Djimon Hounsou.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. There is some inappropriate material in the movie. But the movie turns into a good film watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  A Quiet Place: Day One—good watch—does not have the same quality of the first two films but this prequel still is a very good watch. Look for a good performance by both Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn. The writing and pacing of the movie are well done and manage to thrill in all the right places.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline  A young woman finds herself in a world of aliens who terminate humans who make any kind of sound.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Michael Sarnoski for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Vicki Dee Rock and Allyson Seeger, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Eliane Umuhire, Takunda Khumalo, Alfie Todd, Avy-Berry Worrall, and Ronnie Le Drew. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This film provides steady, well-timed thrills that satisfy. Watch for Djimon Hounsou, with his cameo appearances, who reprises his role from part two of this story.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CAPTAIN MARVEL (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Captain Marvel manages to make a splash in entertainment value even though the story, the presentation, and acting are a bit less than the entertainment value. There is something about this movie that makes its call for a re-watch because it manages to entertain even without the factors that usually determine rewatchable-ness. The movie is just enjoyable from the ‘get-go’. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images   

Storyline 

A Starforce member has recurring nightmares about a person and is led to the place where she interacted in real life with this person. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Kevin Feige for making the film possible. Cast includes: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Bening, Jude Law, and Clark Gregg. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie is very well done and more than worth watching. It’s great to see Samuel L. Jackson’s facial features digitalized to make him look younger. Don’t leave before watching the credits roll as there is a bit of entertainment tucked there that is entertaining.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE ISLAND (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Island—interesting concept—serves up healthy portions of seasoned actors to tell its story. Scarlett Johansson shows diversity of acting skill when one compares this performance to her later role as Black Widow in Marvel films. Watch for Brian Stepanek from Suite Life of Zack and Cody in this movie. The storyline has enough depth to provide an interesting piece of entertainment. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A human cloning operation is uncovered. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Michael Bay, Ian Bryce, and Walter Parkes for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Steve Buscemi. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie is suitable and worth an afternoon watch to see how the story will play out. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

The Legend of Tarzan—fun and almost exciting at times—did well in its casting of Alexander Skarsgȁrd for the part of Tarzan. It is good to see Samuel L. Jackson as part of this cast. Surprisingly, in a much overly done story, this remake turns into a fairly good watch that adds more depth to the original films about Tarzan. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

An embellishment on the original Tarzan stories. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to David Yates for directing effort. Thank you to Jerry Weintraub, David Barron, Alan Riche, and Tony Ludwig for making the film possible. Cast includes: Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou, Jim Broadbent, and Christoph Waltz. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Fun and watchable. Good work for all involved. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

SPECIAL FORCES (Theatrical Release France 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

Special Forces—a great, worth watching French action film that goes on the Ben Meyers’ favorites list.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Kovax (Djimon Hounsou) and Lucas (Denis Menochet) ride in a helicopter over the ocean on a misson where they will raid a terrorist’s country house to rescue hostages, one of which is French journalist Elsa Casanova (Diane Kruger).

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Stéphane Rybojad for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Benoit Ponsaille for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Tic-Tac (Benoît Magimel), Elias (Raphael Personnaz), Jacques Beauregard (Dedier Flamend), Victor (Alain Figlarz), Marius (Alain Alivon), Amen (Mehdi Nebbou), and Ahmed Zaief (Raz Degan).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Terrific movie.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers