A BEAR NAMED WINNIE (Released to Television Canada 2004)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  A Bear Named Winnie—features Michael Fassbender before Steve Jobs—is not a high quality watch. It's okay, but slow. Read Ben Meyers' critique on the movie, Steve Jobs, the Fassbender version.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Canadian veterinarian, who is fighting  during WW1, finds a Black bear tied to a post at a tanning shop and reluctantly pays the exorbitant price the tanner offers. The veterinarian becomes friends with the bear over the period of WWI.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director John Kent Harrison for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Vaughan and Kim Todd for making the film possible. Cast includes Michael Fassbender, David Suchet, Gil Bellows, Stephen Fry, and Jonathon Young. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It presents itself like a television movie, which it is. Do not expect a great watch from this film. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì 

X-Men: Dark Phoenix—odd storyline and concept—defies reason and raises strong questions about its storyline and outcome. There is a complete absence of order, law, and adherence to goodness in this story. How did this story make it to the big screen? Who is Dark Phoenix? Maybe the better question is: who and what exactly are the X-Men? Superheroes or supervillains? It seems they are more about death than life.  This film lacks a cohesive storyline to the other films that an audience can relate to. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The young Dark Phoenix cannot control her X-Men powers and becomes a challenge to her family, her school, and to her fellow X-Men. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Simon Kinberg for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker, Lauren Shuler Donner, and Tom Hallowell for making the film possible. Cast includes: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Jessica Chastain. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. It is what it is. The movie runs on an exceptionally dark theme that defies reason. It’s a movie that does not leave an audience with a good feeling or feeling good about what they just saw. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

X-Men: Apocalypse supersedes the quality of the previous superhero movie X-Men: Days of Future Past in writing, portrayal, and general cohesiveness of storyline. It’s a treat to see James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and the rest of the cast who play the younger crew of X-Men. They do very well and do not disappoint the story which compares very well with X-Men: First Class as a good sequel. This film is not flat and entertains the superhero movie fan very well. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This apocalyptic disaster film is about: X-Men uniting to fight against an ancient Egyptian god. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank to Director Brian Singer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Hutch Parker, and Lauren Shuler Donner for making the film possible. Cast includes: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sopie Turner, Olivia Munn, and Lucas Till. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie is much better than X-Men: Days of Future Past due to its much-improved presentation and script. X-Men Apocalypse corresponds  well to its prequels.

Video Critique Available Here:

 Ben Meyers

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì 

X-Men: Days of Future Past—meaningless—has all the bells and whistles of a great movie but the bells aren’t ringing. The movie falls flat and the audience feels empty after watching it. It’s below par and has no redeeming factors to encourage recommendation to watch it. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Robots have been sent to kill mutants and all humans who could become mutant. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Bryan Singer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, and Hutch Parker for making the film possible. Cast includes: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Fan Bingbing, Elliot Page, Peter Dinklage, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. This film is a ‘wanna be great’ and fails to be great due to weak writing and portrayal. 

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