BATMAN BEGINS (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

Batman Begins thrives on marvelous special effects and its terrific storyline. The choice of European stars Christian Bale and Michael Caine blow the movie over the top for a 100-percent-quality piece of entertainment. Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes, Ken Watanabe, and Mark Boone Junior supply all that is necessary for Director Christopher Nolan to completely outdo all previous renditions of Batman’s story. As always, there are the ‘I wonder why’ scenes that Batman movies are renowned for: why a drug blown into a receiver’s face affects only that person and no one else; why some main characters are not impacted by a drug that seriously affects all of Gotham City’s inhabitants. Despite this, the film establishes itself as one of the best Batman stories told.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) intends to avenge his parents’ deaths; but enters the crime fighting world on a much larger scale than a single avenging.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Christopher Nolan for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale), Alfred (Michael Caine), Ducard (Liam Neeson), Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy), Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), Earle (Rutger Hauer), Ra’s Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe), Flass (Mark Boone Junior), Thomas Wayne (Linus Roache), and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Christian Bale interprets Batman at levels unknown until the release of this film. This movie takes the ‘hokey-ness’ out of the typical Batman character from Andy Warhol’s Batman and Dracula (1964) to Adam West’s Batman the Movie (1966) to actors Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, Ben Affleck, and George Clooney’s renditions of the Batman persona. It’s a quality story supported with quality acting. The film is suitable for all ages.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (Released to Theaters USA 2015)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì Kingsman: The Secret Service  relies on high-level actors for  its team. The movie is spicy, creative and deserves its sequel. The camerawork is very good. There are some brief nudity and sexual references that could have been completely edited out due to irrelevancy to the story. Watch for some brief appearances of Mark Hamill. The film, overall, is a good watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline A top-level British spy organization solves crime around the world. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director and Producer Matthew Vaughn for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Dave Gibbons, Pierre Lagrange, Stephen Marks, Mark Millar, Claudia Schiffer, for making the film possible. Cast includes Adrian Quinton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Jonno Davies, Jack Davenport, Mark Hamill, Samuel L. Jackson, Taron Egerton, and Michael Caine, Buy a Ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. It's a good, action thriller that works for its time and money. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

TENET (Theatrical Release USA 2020)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì 

Tenet—intellectually appealing, mind-bending, backed with fabulous writing, not for the mindset that the world is covered in beautiful daisies—has great acting, presentation, and infinitely terrific portrayal potential for many media formats. Read a plotline before watching to get the most from this movie. Casting offsets John David Washington and Robert Pattinson and adds the interesting Kenneth Branagh and Elizabeth Debicki to sweeten the touch of its quality. Watch for Michael Caine’s welcome cameo performance. Superb watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A man is recruited by a highly technological secret organization that allows backward time travel. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Christopher Nolan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas  for making the film possible. Cast includes:Juhan UlfsakIvo, Uukkivi, Andrew Howard, John David Washington, Rich Ceraulo, Jonathan Camp, Wes Chatham, Robert Pattinson, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This story requires intense audience involvement and is difficult to follow unless one has done a pre-watching plotline read. Quality drips from this movie. WOW! What a film! Worth more than a single watch. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

INTERSTELLAR (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Interstellar—fabulously written—has an exceptionally creative and interesting storyline. The movie accesses the talents of Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, John Lithgow, Michael Cain, Timothée Chalamet, Matt Damon, Makenzie Foy, Casey Affleck, and Jessica Chastain. Watch for short cameos of David Oyelowo, William Devane, and Ellen Berstyne. Director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, and The Prestige) works magic with a story that, under different direction, would have been lost in the realm of unintelligible. Instead, he worked the very good writing and good cast into a highly watchable movie that provides a welcomed stretch to the imagination. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A little girl encounters a ghost in the family library and finally discovers who it is.

 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Christopher Nolan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan, and Lynda Obst for making the film possible. Cast includes: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Caine, and Matt Damon. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a wonderfully written story and supports itself on great acting. 

Home Video Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers