APPALOOSA (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

Appaloosa is a good show and worth watching especially for the storyline. The presentation is good; the portrayal is okay. The acting is good. The movie quickly becomes an immersive watch that drives a strong need to finish it. It is not predictable and ends on an unexpected note. Viggo Mortensen plays the western genre very well. Know there is suggestive dialog, some nudity from a distance, but it is not over-the-top and it does not serve as the main, repetitive, scene after scene purpose of the movie. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A smalltown marshal becomes interested in the arrival of a prospective female resident while simultaneously working to clean up the town. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Ed Harris for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Ed Harris, Robert Knott, and Ginger Sledge for making the film possible. Cast includes: Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renee Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall, and Lance Henriksen. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This worth-watching western teams Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris to portray the story. The story makes this movie. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets plays as well as the first film in the series partially due to outstanding casting and partially due to a good storyline. Watch for Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, and Helen Mirren interpreting their roles with strong skill. This movie does not disappoint and earns its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A Civil War secret leads to a treasure trove. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Jon Turteltaub for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Jon Turteltaub for making the film possible. Casting includes: Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Bruce Greenwood, and Helen Mirren. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie serves Nicolas Cage fans and Jon Voight fans well. It’s worth its watch. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TOP GUN: MAVERICK (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì 

Top Gun: Maverick—WOW!—has terrific action, storyline, and dialogue lines. The story has come to its maturity and presents onscreen at a much higher level than the original Top Gun movie. Tom Cruise takes this film to the next level in entertainment value with his terrific supporting cast. It easily becomes one of the better military films marketed and easily establishes itself as a prime candidate for addition to the home video library. It has entertainment value written all over it. 

Film Poster of Google Images 

Storyline 

This war film is about precision air fighters who must remove a set of targets perceived as dangerous to world safety. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Joseph Kosinski for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and David Ellison for making the film possible. Cast includes: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer. 

Buy a Ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie defines great storytelling and improves vastly on the first Top Gun movie. It shows maturity, values courage and loyalty, and the importance of rehearsal and training. Wonderful work for all involved in production. Incredibly well-written piece of entertainment.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GEOSTORM (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Geostorm—good concept—needs some improvement in presentation, but is entertaining, has good weather disaster scenes, and an okay storyline. It relies on the acting talents of Gerard Butler, who makes movies better due to his highly likable onscreen presence. It is worth watching as an easy, afternoon watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This science fiction film is about satellites that were developed to control weather are now being used as weapons.

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Dean Devlin for directing effort. Thank you to Producers David Ellison, Dean Devlin, and Dana Goldberg for making the film possible. Cast includes: Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, Ed Harris, Andy Garcia, Alexandra Maria Lara, and Daniel Wu, and Eugenio Derbez.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. It deserves a one-time watch because once this concept is absorbed it does not need another introduction. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THAT’S WHAT I AM (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

That’s What I Am—Disney high school movie ambience—turns into a great teen flick. It’s worth watching and provides a good platform for the acting talents of Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Alexander Walters, Daniel Yelsky, Mia Rose Frampton, and Amy Madigan.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Twelve-year-old Andy Nichol’s (Chase Ellison) teacher Mr. Simon (Ed Harris) teaches human dignity plus compassion equals world peace. Andy gets a firsthand demonstration how that formula works when he is paired, for completion of a school project, with Big G (Alexander Walters), a boy exiled from the mainstream school crowd since grade school. He watches Big G courageously stand up to school bully Jason Freel (Camille E. Bourgeois III). Then, he observes how Mr. Simon deals with a community that supports a rumor that Mr. Simon is homosexual.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Michael Pavone for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Denise Chamian and Michael Pavone for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Sherri Nichol (Molly Parker), Jim Nichol (Daniel Roebuck), Norman Grunmeyer (Daniel Yelsky), Mary Clear (Mia Rose Frampton), Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan), Dan Rainier (Renwick D. Scott II), and Irene Freel (Vanessa Cloke).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a good, well-written film that makes the strong statement that it takes courage to be compassionate.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers