INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (Theatrical Release USA 1989)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Starsìììì

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade—may be the best of the series—spices it up a bit with the addition of Sean Connery’s performance as Indiana Jones’ father. The relationship and dynamics between the two are unforgettable. Great performance for both actors. Once again, the audience gets the treat of non-stop adventure, journeying to unknown regions and, believe it or not, pushes its envelope beyond even that. Thank you to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for providing an adventure that audiences will not soon forget and love to view time and time again. Best work by all involved. This movie is the third installment in a four-set saga. It takes 19 years to release the next story in the series: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and his father, Dr. Jones (Sean Connery) search for the Holy Grail.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Steven Spielberg for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers George Lucas and Frank Marshall for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott), Elsa (Alison Doody), Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), Walter Donovan (Julian Glover), Young Indy (River Phoenix), Vogel (Michael Byrne), and Kazim (Kevork Malikyan).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s worth every dime and every minute of your time to see this movie. The special effects are spectacular. Sean Connery works with Harrison Ford like a dream.

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (Theatrical Release USA 1984)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Starsìììì

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom falls into that elite ‘multiple-rewatch-is-absolutely-gonna-happen’ classification that only a few films achieve. The movie captivates its audience with superlative background sets, terrific actors, outstanding script, tense action sequences laced with comedic episodes to break tension, and balances everything with that unique aura that dominates the Indiana Jones series. Watch for the cameo appearance of Dan Aykroyd.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) finds himself involved in an adventure to rescue children, retrieve Sankara stones, and defeat members of the Thuggee cult.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Steven Spielberg for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers George Lucas and Frank Marshall for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw), Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan), Mola Ram (Amrish Puri), Chattar Lal (Roshan Seth), Captain Blumburtt (Philip Stone), Lao Che (Roy Chiao), Wu Han (David Yip), Kao Kan (Ric Young), Chen (Chua Kah Joo), Maitre d’ (Rex Ngui), Chief Henchman (Philip Tan), and Weber (Dan Aykroyd).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film works as a classic study in non-stop action placed in outrageously exotic settings while being completely entertaining.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

EIGHT BELOW (Released to Theaters USA 2006)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Eight Below—American rewrite of the 1983 Japanese movie, Antarctica—becomes a suitable watch as it educates about research stations located in Antarctica, the importance of dog teams, ice breaking ships, research grant money sourcing, transporting long distances in dangerous environments, wildlife native to that continent, and the resourcefulness of life that needs to survive. Paul Walker's character seems generic. He has not been assigned the more involved, distinctive role as in the Fast and Furious or Hours films. The movie is a suitable watch that does not require a great emotional or mental involvement.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  Antarctic researcher looks for a rare rock thought to be present in that continent. An imminent storm requires immediate evacuation with no opportunity to rescue the dog team. The research guide attempts repeatedly to raise funding for the dog rescue.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director and Executive Producer Frank Marshall, for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Christine Iso, Masaru Kakutani, Roy Lee, Todd Lieberman, and Producers Patrick Crowley, and David Hoberman, for making the film possible. Cast includes Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, Wendy Crewson, Gerard Plunkett, August Schellenberg, Jason Biggs, D.J., Timba, Koda, Jasmin, Apache, Buck, and Noble.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie is not fancy. It's a 'no frills' telling of an event and the outcome of immediate decisions executed without forethought. This film may have had more impact if it had not flown under the Disney Studio network label and instead installed itself under the, now defunct, Touchstone Pictures studio banner.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

CONGO (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.5|5.0 Starsìì

Congo is a bona fide C-grade movie that works on flaws. The storyline is simple, completely uncomplicated and very predictable. Ernie Hudson is too confident for his part as Captain Munro Kelly. Tim Curry is awkward as character Herkermer Homolka (i.e., when he starts to insist that he wants to find diamonds). Joe Don Baker as character R. B. Travis, while interacting with Laura Linney as character Dr. Karen Ross, completely botches the proper reaction to the massacre of part of their team by unknown gorillas. The introduction of a talking gorilla is awkward.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

When a testing team does not return from the jungle, Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney) activates their remote camera, finds the camp ravaged, and loses camera contact after something knocks over the camera.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Frank Marshall for directing efforts Thank you to Executive Producers  for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Dr. Peter Elliot (Dylan Walsh), Captain Munro Kelly (Ernie Hudson), Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry), Richard (Grant Heslov), R.B. Travis (Joe Don Baker), Amy (Lola Noh), Moira (Mary Ellen Trainor), and Amy the Gorilla (Misty Rosas).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Interesting concept, not fully developed.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers