THE CONSPIRATOR (Released to Theaters USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.5|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Conspirator—superbly directed by Robert Redford—is an American Civil War flick about the story of the persons who conspired to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Wow! What a winner!

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  

Storyline

Wounded Civil War soldier Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) tries to keep his fellow soldier, Nicholas Baker (Justin Long) alive by shaking him every few moments and telling him a story about two men at the Pearly Gates. Frederick Aiken hears a noise, calls for aid, and men come to help Nicholas Baker first, at Frederick Aiken’s request. The camera goes to black screen and states, ‘Two Years Later’. The film is off and running about the story behind Lincoln’s assassination.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Robert Redford for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Joe Ricketts, Jeremiah Samuels, and Webster Stone for making the film possible. Cast include: James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Justin Long, Danny Huston, James Badge Dale, and Colm Meaney.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s very well done.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì 

X-Men: Dark Phoenix—odd storyline and concept—defies reason and raises strong questions about its storyline and outcome. There is a complete absence of order, law, and adherence to goodness in this story. How did this story make it to the big screen? Who is Dark Phoenix? Maybe the better question is: who and what exactly are the X-Men? Superheroes or supervillains? It seems they are more about death than life.  This film lacks a cohesive storyline to the other films that an audience can relate to. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The young Dark Phoenix cannot control her X-Men powers and becomes a challenge to her family, her school, and to her fellow X-Men. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Simon Kinberg for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker, Lauren Shuler Donner, and Tom Hallowell for making the film possible. Cast includes: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Jessica Chastain. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. It is what it is. The movie runs on an exceptionally dark theme that defies reason. It’s a movie that does not leave an audience with a good feeling or feeling good about what they just saw. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

X-Men: Apocalypse supersedes the quality of the previous superhero movie X-Men: Days of Future Past in writing, portrayal, and general cohesiveness of storyline. It’s a treat to see James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and the rest of the cast who play the younger crew of X-Men. They do very well and do not disappoint the story which compares very well with X-Men: First Class as a good sequel. This film is not flat and entertains the superhero movie fan very well. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This apocalyptic disaster film is about: X-Men uniting to fight against an ancient Egyptian god. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank to Director Brian Singer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Hutch Parker, and Lauren Shuler Donner for making the film possible. Cast includes: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sopie Turner, Olivia Munn, and Lucas Till. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie is much better than X-Men: Days of Future Past due to its much-improved presentation and script. X-Men Apocalypse corresponds  well to its prequels.

Video Critique Available Here:

 Ben Meyers

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì 

X-Men: Days of Future Past—meaningless—has all the bells and whistles of a great movie but the bells aren’t ringing. The movie falls flat and the audience feels empty after watching it. It’s below par and has no redeeming factors to encourage recommendation to watch it. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Robots have been sent to kill mutants and all humans who could become mutant. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Bryan Singer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, and Hutch Parker for making the film possible. Cast includes: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Fan Bingbing, Elliot Page, Peter Dinklage, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. This film is a ‘wanna be great’ and fails to be great due to weak writing and portrayal. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

X-Men: First Class—suitable, but not as outstanding as expected—has an oddly chosen cast. The script varies widely in quality….good in some places, poor in other places. Overall, the movie does not have consistency in delivery. The movie still retains that comic book campy, comical, cheesiness which haunts these type of movies.  

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

In Auschwitz concentration camp, a young boy finds he has the power to bend metal gates. Others find talents they have to teleport, produce cyclones, and shapeshift.

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Matthew Vaughn for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lauren Shuler Donner, Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, and Gregory Goodman for making the film possible. Cast includes: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, January Jones, Oliver Platt, and Kevin Bacon. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie tells a back story of Charles Xavier/Professor X and Eric Lensherr/Magneto, Raven/Mystique, and Hank/Beast among others of the X-Men characters featured in sequels made before this film. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE (Theatrical Release UK and America 2005)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe—magical and intriguing movie for the family audience—is easily worth watching for its storyline and great presentation…simple for children yet complicated enough to serve the adult audience…the voiceovers are well-done…worth an addition to the family home video library. Has a satisfying conclusion. Well-written…the animation for the early 2000s still stands as quality work that involves much talent.  

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Children enter a fantasy world and are given magical weapons to change a world of cold and ice into a paradise of warmth and love. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Andrew Adamson for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mark Johnson and Phillip Steuer for making the film possible. Cast includes: William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, and Liam Neeson. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Good storyline and very good acting by everyone. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers