LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (Theatrical Release USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—not a high quality watch—still works because of the fabulous stage settings and the unexpected fighting spirit of the female lead. Some of the dialogue lines can reflect a bit of 'cheesiness' but all together the movie, oddly, works as a fresh, entertaining adventure thriller. The action is over-the-top so that action is the foundation that supplants everything else that usually 'make' a movie Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline The Illuminati search for the key to rejoin two ancient triangles. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Simon West for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Stuart Baird and Jeremy Heath-Smith for making the film possible. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Bryce Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig, Richard Johnson, Chris Barrie, Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Leslie Phillips.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. This could almost be a cult classic. It's worth a one-time watch just for the stage settings.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MERCY (Released to the Internet USA 2023)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Mercy—Jon Voight—has poorly computer generated explosive special effects. Nothing new here. Everything works at the okay to suitable level. This film has some nudity.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  An Irish gangster goes to see his son in hospital.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Tony Dean Smith for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jason Bourque, Scott Karol, Steven Paul, and Producer Charles Cooper for making the film possible. Cast includes Leah Gibson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jon Voight, Sabastian Roberts, Anthony Konechny, Patrick Roccas, Shannon Cooney, Mike Dopud, Marc-Anthony Massiah, Mark Masterton, and Christopher Russell.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is what it is. Everything is okay to suitable.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE PAINTER (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The Painter—works like a television movie—has lower end presentation, needs realism in its fight scenes, and becomes one of those afternoon-fill-in-time movies. Watch for Jon Voight, Charlie Weber, Rryla McIntosh, Madison Bailey, and Marie Averopoulos. Film Poster Google Images Storyline  A CIA agent is found off the grid by a daughter he thought died at birth and his world turns upside down when the CIA turns against him for information about dirty business among its operatives.     Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Kimani Ray Smith for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Charles Cooper, Wayne Marc Godfrey, Scott Karol, for making the film possible. Cast includes Charlie Weber, Jon Voight, Madison Bailey, Max Montesi, Marie Averopoulos, and Rryla McIntosh. Buy a ticket Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is a suitable/okay film that tells a suitable to okay story.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers 

NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets plays as well as the first film in the series partially due to outstanding casting and partially due to a good storyline. Watch for Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, and Helen Mirren interpreting their roles with strong skill. This movie does not disappoint and earns its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A Civil War secret leads to a treasure trove. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Jon Turteltaub for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Jon Turteltaub for making the film possible. Casting includes: Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Bruce Greenwood, and Helen Mirren. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie serves Nicolas Cage fans and Jon Voight fans well. It’s worth its watch. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TRANSFORMERS (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Transformers starts well and becomes one of those rare movies that improves as it goes along. The action sequences are the best part of the film. The animation of the transformers is still phenomenal by today’s standards. Look for a well written story and good presentation more than worth watching.  This movie is the first film of a 5-set movie series and has a spinoff film, Bumblebee. In addition, expect a June 2023 and a July 2024 movie addition to the Transformer movie series. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Two different Transformer civilizations with entirely different agendas battle it out on Earth. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, and Ian Bryce for making the film possible. Cast includes: Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox, Rachael Taylor, John Turturo, and Jon Voight. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a terrific film with great special effects that works as a very good movie. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (Theatrical Release USA 1996)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Mission: Impossible—simple, cookie cutter story starring Tom Cruise—generates 6 films from 1996 to 2018 and schedules 2 more films for 2022 and 2023. Not much happens in these movies, but they continue to capture the same mystique of the original television series and with their generally all-star casts accomplish the task of entertaining the audience well.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Ethan takes on a mission impossible. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Brian De Palma for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner for directing effort. Characters/cast include: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), Claire Phelps (Emmanuelle Beart), Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), Max (Vanessa Redgrave), Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny), Franz Krieger (Jean Reno), and Sarah Davies (Kristin Thomas). 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is very well done and is a good start for watching a series that becomes one of the longest running movie series along with Star Wars, Sharknado, and Indiana Jones, to name a few. The film works overall. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers