CONTAGION (Released to Theaters USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Contagion—disorganized—relies on the usual formatting style of this movie's genre. The 1995 film, Outbreak  is a better story than this one. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline A United States business woman gets sick after a trip to Hong Kong. Her sickness becomes a pandemic in the United States and medical personnel need to solve it.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Steven Soderbergh for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, and Gregory Jacobs for making the film possible. Cast includes Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, and Sanaa Lathan.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? . Yes. This is a good watch overall and has a believable portrayal; however, the 1995 movie Outbreak comes from the same genre and has higher entertainment value than this film. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ASSASSIN’S CREED (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

Assassin’s Creed—good/fair story, interesting concept—bases its story on a popular video game of the same name. The acting in the movie is good/fair.  The presentation is fair. The conclusion seems a bit obscure. Read a plotline before going to enhance enjoyment of this movie. The movie raises questions about the value of free will in humans and allows good discussion material after watching. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Knight’s Templar guard the secret of the apple that contains DNA code that can eliminate free choice so that peace can reign in the world. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Justin Kurzel for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jean-Julien Baronnet, Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley, Conor McCaughan, Amon Milchan, and Gerard Guillemot for making the film possible. Cast includes: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Rampling, and Michael Williams. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. This film is not clear in its conclusion. Read a plotline before going for better enjoyment. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

APRIL AND THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD * (Hamptons International Film Festival East Hamptons Long Island New York USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì

April and the Extraordinary World is WOW entertainment. It’s extraordinary and one of the most imaginative films of the year. BRAVO to Gkids! The storyline is outstanding. The voices are perfectly cast with favorites like Paul Giamatti, Susan Sarandon, J.K. Simmons, Angela Gulappo, Tony Hale, and Tony Robinow. The script is superb and the portrayal of that script is some the best out there.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

In the 1870s French Scientist and Researcher Gustav Franklin under the direction of Napoleon III has been assigned the project of making the invulnerable soldier. He succeeds in making animals talk. In anger, Napoleon III destroys the laboratory and kills Gustav Franklin. After that incident, important scientists disappear and technological advances that would have normally occurred on earth do not occur. Military defense becomes a top priority and the descendants of Gustave Franklin are searched out to develop military technology. Avril (voice of Marion Cotillard) develops something outstandingly new.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Marc Brousset for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Darwin (voice Philippe Katerine), Paul (voice of Olivier Gourmet), Julius (voice of Marc-André Grondin), Pizoni (voice of Bouli Lanners), Chiméne (voice of Anne Coesens), Annette (voice of Macha Grenon), Rodrigue (voice of Benoît Brière), April (voice of Angela Galuppo), Darwin (voice of Tony Hale), Pops (voice of Tony Robinow), Paul (voice of Mark Camacho), Julius (voice of Tod Fennell), Pizoni (voice of Paul Giamatti), and Chimène (voice of Susan Sarandon).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Definitely. It’s a classic film for teens and adults to enjoy and is worth every entertainment dollar.

*Also known as Avril et le Monde truque

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers