MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-FALLOUT (Theatrical Release USA 2018)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Mission: Impossible-Fallout—basic, good story—is about as good as the last Mission Impossible movie. Casting relies on Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, Rebecca Ferguson, and Sean Harris to present this espionage movie. There are some suggestive themes, but overall, it serves the espionage audience with its light approach to its subject and storyline.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

Ethan Hunt and his crew lose 3 plutonium cores to a terrorist group. Now they have to get them back. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Christopher McQuarrie for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tom Cruise, J. J. Abrams, Christopher McQuarrie, and Jake Myers for making the film possible. Cast includes: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Michelle Monaghan, and Alec Baldwin. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Mission Impossible fans will not be disappointed. It is a good, simple espionage entertainment piece that features Tom Cruise. It’s worth a watch.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

  

IMMORTALS (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Immortals takes a complicated, larger-than-life story and makes it digestible. While old god stories are often difficult to put on the big screen, Director Tarsem Singh does a good job of bring the gods to earth and making them relatable to this realm. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This action film is about a search for the Epirus bow so that power may be released to free imprisoned Titans. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Tarsem Singh for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Ryan Kavanaugh for making the film possible. Cast includes: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans, Isabel Lucas, Kellan Lutz, Freida Pinto, and Mickey Rourke. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This adult watch is both interesting and completely watchable. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

JUSTICE LEAGUE (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Justice League is a better entertainment piece than Man of Steel and Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. It’s a treat to see the team form between Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Flash and to see them performing as live action heroes rather than the animated format. This piece serves as a good action movie watch and works especially well for DC Comic fans. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Batman and Wonder Woman team with Cyborg, Aquaman, and Flash to stop evil in its tracks. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Zack Snyder for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg, and Geoff Johns for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie surpasses the quality of the previous two films and earns its watch. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice rates in the same quality range as the first movie, Man of Steel. It easily sets the stage for the sequel Justice League. Jesse Eisenberg seems an odd pick for the role of Lex Luthor. The menacing aspect for Luthor seems to be difficult for him to pull out of his basic personality; but special effects, animation, and presentation override this small consideration. The story itself does not have the quality of other DC movies like Dark Knight but superhero fans will not be disappointed in this watch. Watch for Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Batman engages battle with Superman while the real enemy Luthor pursues his own evil agenda. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Zack Snyder for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, and Gal Gadot. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie is a suitable choice for entertainment and meets superhero movie fans’ needs well. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

MAN OF STEEL (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

Man of Steel—huge improvement over the original 1978 film Superman with Christopher Reeve—accesses the acting talents of Henry Cavill for the role of Superman and Russell Crowe for the role of Jor-El. Both choices are outstanding. The presentation, writing, special effects are on par. The acting works from the good to very good. Superman fans should be well-pleased with this production’s enhancements. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline.

Superman once again fills his role as fighter for the good of Earth’s inhabitants. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Zack Snyder for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, and Deborah Snyder for making the film possible. Cast includes: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni, and Russell Crowe. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Be aware the film especially appeals to Superman fans. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

ENOLA HOLMES (Netflix Release World -Wide 2020)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Enola Holmes—based on the Nancy Springer young adult novels—expands on a character originally created by author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of the Sherlock Holmes stories. The movie uses a technique where the main character breaks the wall between the audience and the actors onscreen and turns toward the audience and talks directly to them. This becomes a little unnerving at first and creates a disruption that may cause difficulty in following the story. The main character, Enola, is the youngest sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes, two brothers who obviously get along quite well even though they have different personalities and places in society. Doctor John Watson does not feature in this film. The movie is put together well and the acting and portrayal are quite good. However, the movie may require a second viewing to catch all the small, unexpected, and obscure nuances that plague this movie. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline 

A mother raises her daughter in a way quite out of the norm and the daughter learns why when her mother disappears. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Harry Bradbeer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Ali Mendes, Millie Bobby Brown, and Paige Brown for making the film possible. Characters/cast: Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown), Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin), Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter), Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), Linthorn (Burn Gorman), Lestrade (Adeel Akhtar), Edith (Susie Wokoma), Lady Tewkesbury (Hattie Morahan), Sir Whimbrel Tewkesbury (David Bamber), The Dowager (Frances de la Tour), Mrs. Lane (Claire Rushbrook), Miss Harrison (Fiona Shaw), and Miss Gregory (Ellie Haddington). 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. A good watch that expands on the Sherlock Holmes family. Expect a sequel in 2022. The movie could easily become a favorite once the formatting is understood and expected. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

The Cold Light of Day shows Bruce Willis without the charisma he showed in Die Hard and other action flicks. Henry Cavill, not a good casting choice here, has a difficult time juggling ‘ordinary kid’ with sophistication, almost as if he can’t make up his mind who he is. The script has a decent theme, but the portrayal of that script doesn’t work at any level. The best and strongest portrayal of character award goes to Sigourney Weaver. The film on a whole is a disappointment.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Will (Henry Cavill) goes to Spain for a family visit and runs into more than he bargained.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Mabrouk El Mechri for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Mark Canton, Jesus Amancio Jaquez Hernandez,  Matthew Perniciaro, Scott Wiper, and Steven Zaillian for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lucia (Veronica Echegui), Martin (Bruce Willis), Carrack (Sigourney Weaver), Gorman (Joseph Mawle), Laurie (Caroline Goodall), Josh (Rafi Gavron), Dara (Emma Hamilton), Esmael (Michael Budd), Zahir (Roschdy Zem), Maximo (Óscar Jaenada), Dixon (Joe Dixon), and Meckler (Jim Piddock).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Maybe. The film has action, but no cool. It’s not the usual quality expected in a movie with Bruce Willis.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers