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

FROST/NIXON (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì 

Frost/Nixon—fabulous, tense watch—balances itself with excellent dialogue and a cast that works seamlessly together to tell the story. Watch for Kevin Bacon’s outstanding performance. Pitting Michael Sheen against Frank Langella completely works. This movie is more than worth its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

David Frost gets an interview with President Nixon after his resignation from the presidency.

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Ron Howard for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Brian Grazer. Ron Howard, Tim Bevan, and Eric Feliner for making the film possible. Cast includes: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt, and Sam Rockwell.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a wonderful, taut watch and worth watching. 

Ben Meyers

DIGGING TO CHINA (Theatrical Release USA 1998)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Digging to China—simple story—can be a depressing watch due to long-term life choices of a mother and her daughter that impact the youngest girl’s ability to deal with reality. Evan Rachel Wood shows youthful acting talent as she interprets the running away from her life role. Kevin Bacon has some difficulty holding a continuous physical enactment of his role with complete consistency and continuity.  The movie cannot begin to compete with movies like Rain Man, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest or Awakenings. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A young girl attempts to help a man who suffers from birth trauma. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Timothy Hutton for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Marilyn Vance, Alan Mruvka, J. Todd Harris, John Davis, David Friendly, Stephen Nemeth, Ernst Stroh, Ladd Vance, and Cathy Goodman for making the film possible. Cast includes: Kevin Bacon, Mary Stuart Masterson, Cathy Moriarty, and Evan Rachel Wood. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie earns a watch.

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers