ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (Theatrical Release USA 2018)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Ant-Man and the Wasp—not much new here compared to the last film—still manages to earn a watch. This is the second film in the Ant-Man movie series. The acting, presentation, and animation are great. This movie plays with a mid-credit scene that intriguingly leads to the desire to see the third movie in the series: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Watch for Laurence Fishburne who has now acted in both DC and Marvel superhero movies. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This superhero film is about a father and a daughter who attempt to rescue the wife/mother from another realm with help from Ant-Man. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Peyton Reed for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard for making the film possible. Cast includes: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip Harris, David Dastmalchian, Hannah John-Kamen, Abby Ryder Fortson, Randall Park, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Douglas. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This superhero movie is more than worth watching. It’s a great PG-13 crowd watch. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ANT-MAN (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Ant-Man—surprisingly action-packed—works on an old idea, but presents it in a fresh manner. It’s great to see Michael Douglas in the movie. The script writing shows good timing and creativity. The ant animation is interesting and becomes one of the things that enhances enjoyment of the movie. Great movie that more than earns its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A scientist discovers how to shrink matter and develops a suit for that purpose. 

Additional Thanks                                                                                                                  

Thank you to Director Peyton Reed for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Kevin Feige for making the film possible. Cast includes: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Tip "T.I." Harris, Anthony Mackie, Wood Harris, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson, David Dastmalchian, and Michael Douglas. 

Buy a Ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This film starts the ‘all new’ Ant-Man Marvel movie series.

 

Ben Meyers

MY FATHER’S DRAGON (Video on Demand (VOD) Release World-Wide 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì 

My Father’s Dragon 'kind of' works until a boy follows a cat he met moments earlier. After the cat calls up a whale, the story begins to fall apart. While the animation is fine, the story itself ends on a pointless note.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A boy needs to find a way to prosper and do well. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Nora Twomey for making the film possible. Thank you to Producers Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, and Paul Young for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jacob Tremblay, Galen Matarazzo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, and Yara Shahidi. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. The movie squanders its storyline.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

OUR SOULS AT NIGHT (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Our Souls at Night, when critiqued strictly on acting and portrayal, performs at a high level of competence due to the two lead performers’—Robert Redford and Jane Fonda—acting abilities. However, when examining the premise upon which the story unfolds, much discussion can be raised about the value of the storyline itself. While the overall story flows smoothly and ends happily, questions arise over the story’s basic premise and the movie thereby becomes a great 'after movie discussion' film. For example, does the choice of the two main actors promote moral behavior? Does it help to establish clean thinking within the community at large? Do personal image and moral reputation matter? Does a contractual marriage arrangement have value in advanced age groups? Does placing two seasoned persons in close proximity and in a setting conducive to sexual contact, without the benefit of marriage, matter? Is this a viable solution to loneliness in advanced age? Are seasoned citizens beyond responsibility to set moral example to younger generations? Depending upon the audiences’ viewpoints and answers to any one of these questions, the movie will ultimately be rated as a winning piece of entertainment or as a distorted rationalization of adult choices. At the least, the movie plants a seed in the audience mind. One question is: What is the desired fruitage from this planted seed?

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Widow (Jane Fonda) asks widower (Robert Redford) to help combat loneliness by establishing a long-term platonic ‘sleep over’ relationship.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Ritesh Batra for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Pauline Fischer and Ben Ormand for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Holly (Judy Greer), Addie Moore (Jane Fonda), Louis Waters (Robert Redford), Jamie (Iain Armitage), Dorlan (Bruce Dern), Gene (Matthias Schoenaerts), Ruth (Phyllis Somerville), Actress (Leana Lewis), Realtor (Audrey Walters), Café Teenager (Hawley Penfold), and Actor (Michael Love Toliver). 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is an interesting mature adult romance, but not Ben Meyers’ first pick for a love/friendship story.

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