PEARL HARBOR (Released to Theaters USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Pearl Harbor—a tribute to the 60^th anniversary of the World War II Pearl Harbor Attack—received nine Golden Raspberry nominations; however, it was nominated for the Academy Award’s Best Visual Effects and won the MTV Award for its action sequences. While the movie received deplorably negative reviews, it made money at box office. The strength of this film lies in its superb visual effects and action sequences and succeeds as a Ben Meyers recommended watch based on those two factors.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The film opens in Tennessee 1923 with a crop duster working the fields. The camera focuses on a barn where two boys, Rafe McCawley (Jesse James) and Danny Walker (Reily McClendon), are playing inside a plane. They accidently power the plane and it takes off with a series of risings and landings until it finally stalls in the middle of a field. When Danny Walker’s father finds what the boys have done, he is not happy and tries to take it out on Danny Walker, but Rafe defends his best friend. These childhood scenes move to World War II where both boys (as men) are enlisted United States Army Air Force pilots and the story is off and running.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Baja, Bruce Hendricks, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Barry Waldman, and Randall Wallace for making the film possible. Cast include: Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale, Ewen Bremner, and Alec Baldwin.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s true to the action that viewers have come to expect from Michael Bay films (Transformers, Armageddon). It doesn’t disappoint.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TRANSFORMERS ONE (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì Transformers One—good story—shows Optimus Prime and Megatron as young adults. The movie includes Bee. The animation is good. No fault found in presentation or portrayal. Good work for all involved in production.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Orion Pax and D-16 meet in the mines and become best friends and the story is on.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Josh Cooley for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Don Murphy, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian,  and Aaron Dem for making the film possible. Cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson,  -Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a surprisingly good watch. It tells the origin story of the autobots. It's original and completely involves its audience. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Transformers: The Last Knight has the highest rating of any Transformers movie to this date on Ben Meyers International Movie Critics. WOW! This Transformers movie hit all the bells and whistles with terrific special effects, acting, and presentation. Mark Wahlberg is the perfect casting choice for this movie series. The story is more complicated, but not so complicated to become unintelligible. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline

In King Arthur’s time, the wizard Merlin is given a staff to help King Arthur win a deadly battle. Later, Merlin hides the staff. In current times, the war between earth and the transformers continues and a need to find and use the staff arises. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorom DeSanto, Don Murphy, and Ian Bryce for making the film possible. Cast includes: Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel, Laura Haddock, Santiago Cabrera, Isabela Mersed, Jarrod Carmichael, Stanley Tucci, Liam Garrigan, Martin McCreadie, Rob Witcomb, Marcus Fraser, John Hollingworth, and Daniel Adegboyega.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The special effects are at the WOW! level and are presented very well. This movie is more than worth watching. Great work for all involved. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Transformers: Age of Extinction serves up its own brand of ‘cool’. While it is not as good as the first three films in the series with Shia LeBeouf, Mark Wahlberg has a tough variation in his interpretation of the main character that works very well. The film is a little long and could use a bit of editing to cut run time, but it tells its story well. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline 

This science fiction film is about: a time when humans believe Transformers, no matter which side they are on, are dangerous and need to be eliminated.

 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Ian Bryce for making the film possible. Cast includes: Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The film serves the Transformers’ movie fan well. It is a good teen/adult share movie. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (Theatrical Release USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Transformers: Dark of the Moon—improved special effects—effectually reprises roles with the same actors/actresses present in  previous films in the series. Shia LeBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley work well together in this film. There are some suggestive elements, but besides that, it is a good general audience watch with likability that grows as the story progresses. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline 

Another intervention is attempted to end the war between the Decepticons and the Autobots. 

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, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Kevin Dunn, Julia White, John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This third movie in the Transformers series turns into a very good watch.  The next film in the series is: Transformers: Age of Extinction. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen—Part 2 of the Transformers movie series—lacks impactful action. The WOW! factor disappears even with the concluding wrap-up in Egypt. Know that the film has sexual references and some sex scenes. but overall is a still a great watch for storyline.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This action film is about: Earth’s inhabitants form a treaty to unitedly eliminate all Decepticons from earth. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Ian Bryce for making the film possible. Cast includes: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Joshn Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and John Turturro.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Shia LeBeouf shows well in this film and the movie does not let Transformer movie fans down.

 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

THE ISLAND (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Island—interesting concept—serves up healthy portions of seasoned actors to tell its story. Scarlett Johansson shows diversity of acting skill when one compares this performance to her later role as Black Widow in Marvel films. Watch for Brian Stepanek from Suite Life of Zack and Cody in this movie. The storyline has enough depth to provide an interesting piece of entertainment. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A human cloning operation is uncovered. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Michael Bay for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Michael Bay, Ian Bryce, and Walter Parkes for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Steve Buscemi. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie is suitable and worth an afternoon watch to see how the story will play out. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers