THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER (Released to Theaters USA 1999)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The General’s Daughter—not for the faint of heart—presents an odd story about government and military coverup that refuses to establish justice for an individual. Most of this film creates a suitable/good watch but not a great watch.   Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A female Captain is found dead, and the investigation is on.     Additional Thanks Thank you to Simon West for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Mace Neufeld for making the film possible. Cast includes John Travolta,  Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell, Timothy Hutton,  Clarence Williams III, and James Woods. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. If the graphic content was not there, it would have been better, inclusive of the family watch to provide good, after-viewing discussion. The story itself needs to be told. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

LADDER 49 (Theatrical Release USA 2004)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Ladder 49—solid—employs action with suspense and drama to build a good watch movie. Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, and Robert Patrick make a surprisingly good casting team.  Character development is not deep, but the characters still manage to make a significant enough impression that one can keep them separate while following their lives and life activities, This is a good watch and gives a good look at teams who work closely together. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Firemen work courageously to rescue people and contain fire. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Jay Russell for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Casey Silver for making the film possible. Cast includes: Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Morris Chestnut, Robert Patrick, Balthazar Getty, Jay Hernandez, and Jacinda Barrett. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie, a simple, straight-forward story, focuses on the teamwork, camaraderie, discipline, and courage that a fireman’s lifestyle employs. It’s a good family watch with good educational value and provides good, after-viewing discussion material.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

WILD HOGS (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Wild Hogs promises lots of laughs from its bylines and trailers, but ironically fails to deliver the expected product despite a story concept that should have provided non-stop belly laughs. The biggest laugh one takes from this film becomes ‘how in the world did it get produced?’ Part of the challenge is the onscreen charisma existing between Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy. It’s completely lacking. Couple that with a poor script and the movie immediately becomes a low C-grade film.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Four men—a lawyer, computer programmer, dentist, and plumber—find their gentleman’s weekend motorcycle club, The Wildhogs, needs to ‘prove up’ when challenged by another ‘real’ bike club, the Del Fuegos.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Walt Becker for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Amy Sayres and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Doug Madsen (Tim Allen), Woody Stevens (John Travolta), Bobby Davis (Martin Lawrence), Dudley Frank (William H. Macy), Jack (Ray Liotta), Maggie (Marisa Tomei), Red (Kevin Durand), Murdock (M.C. Gainey), Kelly Madsen (Jill Hennessy), and Billy Madsen (Dominic Janes).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. There are better movies about ‘proving up’—such as Drillbit Taylor and Waterboy.

Ben Meyers

BOLT (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Starsìììì

Bolt is one of the best Disney computer animation movies ever made. It would make Walt Disney proud to see that his successors can still make a movie that is inspiring and heart-catching. Everyone—young and old—will enjoy Disney’s Bolt. It’s one of those lovable movies you can take your whole family to see and come away with those Disney good feelings.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Penny (voice of Miley Cyrus) and Bolt (voice of John Travolta) star in a Hollywood superhero show. Penny’s dog, Bolt, believes he truly has the superhero powers that his show character possesses. Then he ends up on the street.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Byron Howard and Chris Williams for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer John Lasseter for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Mittens (voice of Susie Essman), Rhino (voice of Mark Walton), Dr. Calico (voice of Malcolm McDowell), The Director (voice of James Lipton), The Agent (voice of Greg Germann), Veteran Cat (voice of Diedrich Bader), and Blake (voice of Nick Swardson).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Directors Byron Howard and Chris Williams make one of the best animated movies of 2008.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

OLD DOGS (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.0|5.0 Starsìì

Old Dogs is plagued with poor casting choices and awkwardness. It’s not your normal Disney movie. Robin Williams and John Travolta do not cast well together. Travolta is an action/drama/singer/star personality. Williams is a comedian personality. One or the other cast in this movie is a good choice; both of them together are not good choices. Seth Green as a supporting actor is not a good casting meld either. Old Dogs could have been so much better with different crew on board. Old Dogs begins as a good story concept; but, the storyline is not well portrayed. The camp scenes and the scenes where medication pills are mixed and sorted seem awkward. Surprisingly, the movie made profit at the box office.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Seven years after their divorce, Vicki (Kelly Preston) shows up again in Dan’s (Robin Williams) life, tells him her twins are his, and asks him to watch them while she does jail time for being an activist.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Walt Becker for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Garrett Grant for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Charlie (John Travolta), Zach (Conner Rayburn), Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta), Amanda (Lori Loughlin), Craig (Seth Green), Jimmy Lunchbox (Bernie Mac), and Barry (Matt Dillon).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Many of the movie’s scenes seem unnecessary to moving the storyline along. That, combined with poor casting choices, makes this movie a poor pick for an evening’s entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers