FLASH POINT (Released to Theaters Hong Kong 2007)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Flash Point—very violent—manages to highlight the skills of Donnie Yen well. For a martial arts fan, this movie serves those needs.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A Hong Kong detective goes uncover to infiltrate a gang.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Wilson Yip for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Liu Li-juan, Shan Dong-bing, Nansun Shi, Donnie Yen, and Zhang Zhao for making the film possible. Cast includes Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Collin Chou, Lui Leung-wai, Fan Bingbing, and Xing Yu.    Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a very violent film; but, besides that, it is a suitable to good watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—much better than Star Wars VII though IX—has heart, a better written storyline, and better structuring than the last three Star Wars productions. It has the feel of the original George Lucas films although it does not, unfortunately, quite capture the George Lucas spirit. Disney deserves a thank you and congratulations for finally making the Star Wars story their own without putting the Disney stamp on it. The acting is great to good. This film is more than worth watching and gives the series that much needed breath of fresh air to continue the Star Wars saga.  The film is a great watch and can be watched as a stand-alone movie. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A scientist is forced to complete the Death Star. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Gareth Edwards for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur, and Simon Emanuel for making the film possible. Casting includes: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This small addendum to the Star Wars series is both welcome and highly entertaining. The movie more than earns audience time and monetary expenditure. It stays true to the Star Wars story and incorporates a stronger human element into its plotline that is much higher than Stars Wars VII through IX. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

IP MAN 4: THE FINALE (Theatrical Release Singapore 2019)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Ip Man 4: The Finale—the fourth and final installment of the Ip Man series—reprises Donnie Yen for the fourth time as the actor for IP Man. This series has been a treat from its beginning to its end. WOW! All four films deserve a place in the home video library collection. Yen, an excellent Chinese actor, wows audiences from the beginning of the series and never fails to deliver excellent entertainment backed with realistic fight scenes. This 'must see' movie has a charming storyline that passes international borders well. It holds its value over time. Watch for Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan as Bruce Lee. The movie is relatable—a great watch.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline 

IP Man travels to the United States. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Wilson Yip for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Edmond Wong and Raymond Pak-Ming Wong for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: IP Man (Donnie Yen), Barton Geddes (Scott Adkins), Bruce Lee (Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan), Hartman Wu (Vanness Wu), Ming (Jim Liu), Bob (Kent Cheng), Wan Zong Hua (Yue Wu), Leung Kan (Ka-nin Ngo), and Mr. Wight (Adrian Wheeler).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a film for every action fan and will not disappoint. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

IP MAN 3 (Theatrical Release China 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Stars ìììì

Ip Man 3 more than compliments the first IP Man films and scores a higher Ben Meyers’ rating than the prequel movies because of its increased intensity and terrific acting. The first 20 minutes are a little slow and some of the martial arts’ scenes not quite as ‘real;’ but as a rebel newcomer enters the story and 'messes' with an umbrella maker, the film picks up pace and holds its own through the ending credits. The fight between Ip Man (Donnie Yen) and Frank (Mike Tyson) are a terrific, not-to-be-missed, tribute to the fighting skills of Tyson, legendary American boxing champion from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ip Man 3 tells the story of the adult Bruce Lee’s request to become Ip Man’s student to learn Wing Chun fighting. It also interweaves Ip’s family life story involving the loss of his wife, Wing Sing, and how the family settles into living in Hong Kong.

Additional Thanks

Great Work For Director Wilson Yip. Thank you to Executive Producer Edmond Wong for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Cheung Wing-sing (Lynn Hung), Cheung Tin-chi (Jin Zang), Ma King-sang (Patrick Tam), Miss Wong (Karena Ng), Chui Lek (Kai-Chung Cheung), Fatso (Kent Cheng), Master Tin (Ka-Yan Leung), and Bruce Lee (Kwok-Kwan Chan).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Donnie Yen lends the entire IP man series a certain 'on screen' charisma that is not to be missed.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

IP MAN 2: LEGEND OF THE GRANDMASTER (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster—another classic directed by Wilson Yip that’s worth your time and money to watch. This film goes into the Ben Meyer’s International favorite collection of foreign films. It doesn’t deserve its ‘R’ rating. Superb rendition of Ip Man by Donnie Yen.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ip Man’s (Donnie Yen) story continues as his family escapes to Hong Kong and he establishes a school to teach martial arts.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Wilson Yip for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers and Producers Jun Gao, Zheng Qiang-Hui, Zong Shu-Jie, Bak-Ming Wong for making the film possible. Script Writers Edmond Wong, Chan Tai-Li, and Choi Hiu-Yan wrote a great script. Grand work for the Musical Composer Kenji Kawai. Additional characters/cast include: Wong Shun-Leung (Xiaoming Huang), Master Hung Chun-Nam (Sammo Kam-Bo Hung), Cheung Wing-Sing (Lynn Hung), Fatso (Kent Cheng), Mr. Miller/Twister (Darren Shahlavi), Cheng Wai-Kei (Yu-Hang To), Superintendent Wallace (Charles Mayer), and Leung Kan (Ka-nin Ngo).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It is excellent entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

IP MAN (Theatrical Release Hong Kong, China 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Ip Man—a superb Chinese martial arts classic—belongs in the permanent home library collection. It defines what films should be and performs as one of the best foreign films of the year. It’s one of those films that remind us of why we go to the movies. The R-rating seems unnecessary. Remarkable professional work by Donnie Yen who plays IP man, who trained Bruce Lee as well as many other notable martial arts masters.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ip man’s (Donnie Yen) family life is rudely interrupted by the 1937 Japanese invasion of China.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Wilson Yip and for Screen Play Writers Edmond Wong and Chan Tai-Li. Thank you to Executive Producers Kwok Lam Sin, Bak-Ming Wong, and Baoquan Zhang for making the film possible. Thank you to Musician Kenji Kawai for an outstanding score. Additional characters/cast include: Ip Man (Donnie Yen), Quan (Simon Yam), Cheung (Lynn Hung), Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), Li (Ka Tung Lam), Jin (Siu-Wong Fan), Lin (Xing Yu), Yuan (You-Nam Wong), and Wei (Yu-Hang To).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. No fault found in this film. It is good entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers