KUNG FU PANDA 4 (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì Kung Fu Panda 4—fourth film in this DreamWorks' series—tries to keep the quality of the third film in place, but this movie lacks the spirit of the third series' film. While it is much more fun than DreamWorks 2023 release of Ruby Gillman, the Teenage Kracken, it still borders on the edge of its final acid test. Voice actors reprise their roles and the animation maintains its quality. Overall, the movie earns its money and time for viewing.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   Po fights a shape shifting, villainous chameleon who wants all power. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director and Executive Producer Mike Mitchell and Co-Director Stephanie Stine for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Rebecca Huntley for making the film possible. Cast includes Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Ian McShane, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, and Seth Rogen. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Overall, this is a good child/adult share movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

HELLBOY (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Hellboy is a better watch than the last two Hellboy films. The writing is stronger and David Harbour is the perfect casting choice for this movie. This film presents a grittier-looking Hellboy, but it also moves deeply into occult themes that can be slightly disturbing. The movie acts more like a sequel than a reboot and seems to ask for its sequel. The next film in production, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, looks like it changed the casting of the main character to Jack Kersey. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

An evil blood queen is destined to be active again and Hellboy becomes involved with a host of supernatural beings that surround this event. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Neil Marshall for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Mike Richardson, Philip Westgren, Carl Hampe, Matt O’Toole, Les Weldon, and Yariv Lerner. Cast includes: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim, and Thomas Haden Church. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The occult theme is noticeably on a different level and seems almost realistic. David Harbour plays a great Hellboy. The story itself is well written. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

POTTERSVILLE (Video Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Pottersville—serves up a mediocre, shallow, trite, and poorly written story with a single redeeming factor—the performance of Michael Shannon. Shannon's acting effort rigorously pulls the rest of this film's cast through the movie, not as strongly as Angelina Jolie pulled her supporting cast through her movie, Maleficent, or Jim Carrey's tendency to become the only actor in his Ace Ventura films. But the 'pull' becomes obvious. It’s hard to believe that this story made it to the ‘release to audience viewing’ stage.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Maynard Greiger (Michael Shannon) accidentally sets off a national Sasquatch hunt in his hometown of Pottersville.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Seth Henrikson for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Patricia Hearst, Daniel Meyer, Christian Chadd Taylor, and Byron Wetzel  for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Parker (Judy Greer), Sheriff Jack (Ron Perlman), Connie Greiger (Christina Hendricks), Brock Masterson (Thomas Lennon), Bart (Ian McShane), Norm (Michael Torpey), Tony (Debargo Sanyal), Ilene (Greta Lee), Stacy Gutierrez (Elena Hurst), and Tammy Henderson (Blake Perlman).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s not a quality watch even for those audiences who love Sasquatch films. The 1987 movie, Harry and the Hendersons, serves at a higher entertainment level within this storyline's genre. This movie serves the Teen/Adult audience.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CORALINE (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

Coraline—uniquely refreshing creativity—enables Director Henry Selick to pull off an attention-grabbing storyline that keeps viewer attention from beginning to end. Coraline does not present itself as a message movie, but the viewer is left with a clear understanding of the importance of real family, neighbors, and friends. Henry Selick comfortably moves through emotions of loneliness, despair, and losing all hope in the face of extreme evilness. This is a great movie for action-drama fans of all ages.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

When Coraline Jones (voice of Dakota Fanning) moves into her new home, she finds a door that opens into an entirely different world where an ‘Other Father’ and ‘Other Mother’ live.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Henry Selick for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Michael Zoumas for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Mel Jones/Other Mother/Beldam (voice of Teri Hatcher), Miss April Spink/Other Spink (voice of Jennifer Saunders), Miss Miriam Forcible/other Forcibles (Dawn French), The Cat (voice of Keith David), Charlie Jones/Other Father (voice of John Hodgman), Wyborne Lovat (Robert Bailey, Jr.), and Mr. Sergei Alexander Bobinsky/Other Bobinsky (voice of Ian McShane).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Absolutely buy the ticket. The movie serves within the realm of terrific creativity that stretches the mind and still manages to deliver a great message.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers