INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS (Released to Theaters USA 1958)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

Inn of the Sixth Happiness—a true story that you can’t miss to love. It stands as one of the cleanest, morally friendly films on the Hollywood movie shelf, the epitome of heart, goodness, and well-being. Ingrid Bergman superlatively plays Gladys Aylward, a female missionary serving China before World War II. It’s a classic from the word go and stands as a lasting testimony to the goodness of the human spirit.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Gladys Aylward (Ingrid Bergman) feels she has a mission in life, follows her instincts, goes to China, and valiantly saves 100 Chinese orphans’ lives.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Mark Robson, and to Executive Producer Buddy Adler for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Captain Lin Nan (Curd Jurgens), The Mandarin of Yang Chen (Robert Donat), Hok-A (Michael David), Jeannie Lawson (Athene Seyler), Sir Francis Jamison (Ronald Squire), Dr. Robinson (Moultrie Kelsall), Mr. Murfin (Richard Wattis), Yang (Peter Chong), Sui-Lan (Tsai Chin), and Secretary at China Inland Mission (Edith Sharpe).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The movie is an award-winning game changer about the value of humans in the cosmos and their ability to do very much good.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CRACKED QUACK (Released to Theaters USA 1952)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Cracked Quack—animated short film—accesses the characters of Porky Pig and Daffy Duck. Exceptional creativity backed with a good story make this cartoon stand a little above the rest.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Daffy Duck runs into the roof of a house during a blizzard and finds there is another duck in the house and wants to meet him.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director I. Freleng for directing effort. Thank you to Warner Brothers for making the film possible.  Cast includes Mel Blanc.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is both funny and creative.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (Released to Theaters United States 2019)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Maleficent: Mistress of Evil—much improved over the first Maleficent movie—wisely surrounds Angelina Jolie with enough background story distraction that her overpowering onscreen presence becomes balanced and provides a good movie watch. The story has a broader range, depth, and a sweet development of fantasy characters that provide welcome, bright, colorful movement from beginning to conclusion. The war scene is suitably done. The moral of the story is very good. The work effort for this sequel film shows and invites another sequel which, hopefully, will materialize.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   Aurora and the prince of the local kingdom have decided to marry, but the queen of that kingdom has her own agenda running.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Joachim Rønning for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeff Kirchenbaum, Matt Smith, Michale Vieira, and Linda Woolverton, for making the film possible. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Harris Dickinson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sam Riley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ed Skrein, Robert Lindsay, David Gyasi, and Leslie Manville, Buy a ticket? Yes, No, Maybe? Yes. This sequel film has great animation effects and a much improved story over the last Maleficent movie.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ANGELS IN THE ENDZONE (Released to ABC USA 1997)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Angels in the Endzone—rehash of the first Angels movie—lacks the vibrancy and originality of the story built on baseball rather than football. Look for Christopher Lloyd as the Head Angel...he's good in this film. The rest of the cast seem uninvolved as if they are going through the motions without real involvement with the story.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline   A young boy prays for the high school football team to win so that his older brother will play football again.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Gary Nadeau for directing effort. Thank you to  Executive Producer Roger Birnbaum for making the film possible. Cast includes Paul Dooley, Matthew Lawrence, David Gallagher, Jack Coleman, Lynda Boyd, and Christopher Lloyd. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is not a high-quality film, but is the second film in the series. It gets a little boring at times. And the characters are uninteresting at times. Hopefully, the third film will help this series end well. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers