ROCKY III (Theatrical Release USA 1982)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

Rocky III—great show, realistic fighting scenes—Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Sylvester Stallone, and Carl Weathers round out the cast to make an award-winning boxing movie. Scenes between Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers turn into some of the best in the industry. The film has heart and delivers a rock-solid story. Great work for Director Sylvester Stallone.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) faces a new, younger, stronger contender for his boxing title.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Sylvester Stallone for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Herb Nanas for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Adrian (Talia Shire), Paulie (Burt Young), Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), Duke (Tony Burton), Clubber Lang (Mr. T), Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan), Rocky Jr. (Ian Fried), and Al (Al Silvani).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Rocky III is an improvement over Rocky II and needs to be watched to follow this story to its conclusion. Great fight scenes.

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Ben Meyers

DIE ANOTHER DAY (Theatrical Release USA 2002)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì

Die Another Day refreshes the 007 James Bond series with a new Q (John Cleese) and highly techy gadgetry while keeping Pierce Brosnan for his last and best James Bond role. Daniel Craig will follow in Brosnan’s place with the 2006 release of Casino Royale. There is nothing lacking in this 007 James Bond film. Pierce Brosnan’s suavity shines in every scene and carries the film well. Special kudos to great film direction by Lee Tamahori.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

North Korean soldiers capture James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), torture him, and finally release him in a trade deal with England. Bond looks for the mole who betrayed him.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Lee Tamahori for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Anthony Waye for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), Jinx Johnson (Halle Berry), Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike), Zao (Rick Yune), M (Judi Dench), Q (John Cleese), Damian Falco (Michael Madsen), Colonel Moon (Will Yun Lee), General Moon (Kenneth Tsang), Raoul (Emilio Echevarría), Vlad (Michael Gor), Mr. Kil (Lawrence Makoare), Charles Robinson (Colin Salmon), Miss Moneypenny (Samantha Bond), Snooty Desk Clerk (Ben Wee), Hotel Manager (Ho Yi), Peaceful (Rachel Grant), and Creep (Ian Pirie).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is the best of the Pierce Brosnan’s Bond series to date. It has charisma, visually stimulating action and visibly shows the outstanding team effort to produce this very good spy film.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

FOCUS (Released to Theaters USA 2001)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Focus—highly intriguing—gives away no clues to the events that take place. William H. Macy and Laura Dern act well together. David Paymer is a great addition to the story. The acting, presentation and portrayal are good. This is a rough story, but watchable.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Lawrence Newman is a simple, single, well-employed  man taking care of his mother. His neighborhood becomes antisemitic during WWII. Lawrence does not claim to be Jewish and is not antisemitic.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Neal Slavin for directing efforts. Thank you Robert A. Miller and Michael R. Bloomberg for making the film possible. Cast includes William H. Macy,  Laura Dern, David Paymer, and Meat Loaf. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is a very good film to understand what people have to deal with when becoming the 'out' group. Great writing and tells a good story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SNAKES ON A PLANE (Released to Theaters USA 2006)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Snakes on a Plane—suitable—relies highly on the screen presence of Samuel L. Jackson. Some adult content, nudity, and the variety of snakes striking people precludes its ability to be a family share movie.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  An FBI agent transfers a witness to a crime from Hawaii to Los Angeles to testify. Henchmen load the world's most venomous snakes on the plane to end that flight.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director David R. Ellis for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Stokely Chaffin, Toby Emmerich, Penney Finkelman Cox, Justis Greene, Sandra Rabins, and George Waud for making the film possible. Cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Blanchard, Flex Alexander, Kenan Thompson, Keith Dallas, Lin Shaye, Bruce James, and Sunny Mabrey.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie does provide its moments of horror as snakes are invading compartments loaded with people. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BRADDOCK: MISSING IN ACTION III (Released to Theaters USA 1988)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

 Braddock: Missing in Action III—suitable—brings Chuck Norris to the forefront to tell an action-packed Vietnam story about rescuing children from a Christian orphanage in Vietnam who are in danger of a warlord who is trying to take hold of that part of Vietnam. This story has the potential to be an A-list movie, but it didn’t quite get there. It is a valuable watch as it shows a piece of United States and Vietnamese history in a fictional way as the attempt is made to remove children to a United States environment where they have a chance to thrive. There is some sexual content, but besides that the movie is a suitable watch from its beginning to its end.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Braddock goes to Vietnam to rescue his Vietnamese wife and son. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Aaron Norris for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus for making the film possible. Cast includes Chuck Norris, Aki Aleong, Yehuda Efroni, and Roland Harrah III.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. It is a suitable watch, tells a good story, and finishes the series on a good note.

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

HERBIE GOES BANANAS (Released to Theaters USA 1980)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Herbie Goes Bananas—runs out of story—serves a bland watch despite the acting of Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman. It serves more along the lines of a Herbie nostalgia watch.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Herbie becomes involved with a young boy who finds himself in possession of a film strip that mobsters want returned.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Vincent McEveety for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Ron Miller for making the film possible. Cast includes Cloris Leachman, Charles Martin Smith, Stephan W. Burns, John Vernon, Elyssa Devalos, Joaquin Gray III, Harvey Korman, Richard Jaeckel, and Alex Rocco.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. It works to some extent and does provide some comedy but shows the series as dying. The script needs higher level writing. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

HERBIE GOES TO MONTE CARLO (Released to Theaters USA 1977)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo teams Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) and Wheely Applegate (Don Knotts) for Herbie’s driver and mechanic. Don Knotts seems an odd casting choice for this movie  because one wonders what happened to the previous mechanic Tennessee Steinmetz (Buddy Hackett), but there is the explanation that ‘Wheely’ has been with Herbie for a long time, and the viewer goes with that limited explanation and enjoys the film despite the loss of Buddy Hackett. It seems that the writers have almost run out of ideas for this story but seem to pull one more suitable film. Herbie actually makes it through  part four, Herbie Goes Bananas, then into a combination of the first and the fourth Herbie movies for a 1997 television release for  The Wonderful World of Disney Season 1 Episode 11. This television series features famous movies and behind the scenes content as well as new films. Then, Lindsey Lohan and Justin Long make a 2005 6^th  film in the Herbie movie series, Herbie: Fully Loaded. These stories have their own charm and make cute watches to share as a family.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

 The decision to race Herbie in Monte Carlo is fraught with many challenges.

 Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Vincent McEveety for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Ron Miller for making the film possible. Cast includes Dean Jones, Don Knotts, and Julie Sommers.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Good, simple watch with a little adventure built in. Good work for everyone involved in production. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HARRIET (Released to Theaters USA 2019)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

 Harriet—wonderfully written and well-acted—tells the story of female anti-slave activist Harriet Tubman and how she saves hundreds of slaves and brings them to freedom. The  portrayal of this movie is incredibly well done. It deserves its place in the home video library and serves as a good teen/adult share movie that gives excellent opportunity for discussion after viewing.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

 Storyline

 Harriet Tubman’s struggle to release slaves in the southern United States.

 Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Kasi Lemmons for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Debra Martin Chase, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, and Gregory Allan Howard for making the film possible. Cast includes Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odorn Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monae.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a great watch. Wonderfully written, good camera work, and tells the story without preaching the story. Great work for all involved in production. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

FLIPPER'S NEW ADVENTURE (Released to Theaters USA 1964)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Flipper’s New Adventure—sequel to the 1963 Flipper movie—loses steam and quality after the main character, Sandy (Luke Halpin) runs away from society and tries to live on a deserted island to save his pet dolphin, Flipper, from living the rest of his life in an ocean aquarium. The story loses realism and thoughtful, critical thinking skill from that point onward. The basic concept is too small to fill the length of time necessary to make the full-length movie. The film becomes weak as it tries to justify the longer story. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A young boy tries to keep his pet dolphin out of the control of a professional public oceanaquarium. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Leon Benson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Ivan Tors for making the film possible. Cast includes Luke Halpin, Pamela Franklin, Tom Helmore, and Brian Kelly.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. Kudos to audiences who can watch this film to its conclusion. The writing and the portrayal are the largest challenges in this Flipper film. Chuck Conners (Rifleman television series) does not reprise his role as Sandy’s father in this film. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

FLIPPER (Released to Theaters USA 1963)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

 Flipper can be understood best when the audience understands the time in which it was produced and the thrill children, who came from its decade, may have experienced when allowed to view life along the sea compared to environments they may have been raised in. It’s a suitable watch that relies on Chuck Conners and Luke Halpin to tell its story. Watch for Kathleen Maguire’s performance. There is a sequel film to this movie named Flipper’s New Adventure and a television series as well as a remake of this film with Paul Hogan and Elijah Wood. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A boy becomes attached to a dolphin he rescues, feeds, and heals.    

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director James B. Clark for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Ivan Tors for making the film possible. Cast includes Chuck Connors, Luke Halpin, Joe Higgins, and Kathleen Maguire.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. It’s a broadening experience for children who have never experienced life along the ocean and a good introduction to actor Chuck Conners outside his usual Rifleman television role. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE LOVE BUG (Released to Theaters USA 1968)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Love Bug—the first of Herbie Volkswagen films—introduces the concept of a small car with a mind of its own and a very likable personality. The film hallmarks movies that can be shared by the entire family. The casting department teams Dean Jones and Buddy Hackett who deliver sweet, clean comedy. Actress Michele Lee and the Mary Poppins Actor David Tomlinson fill out the rest of the movie’s main cast. This movie makes a good addition to the family home video library. It has not lost its ability to entertain despite the passage of time. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Image 

Storyline 

A race car driver discovers a car that is sentient. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Robert Stevenson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Bill Walsh for making the film possible. Cast includes Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson, and Buddy Hackett.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a good watch and starts a franchise of Herbie films. This movie is family worthy, has no unwanted surprises, and is a clean entertainment piece. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

BASEBALL BUGS (Theatrical Release USA 1946)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating:4.1|5.0 Starììì ì 

Baseball Bugs—cute—uses the theme of baseball and becomes this small work of art. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Bugs shows how to play baseball. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Friz Freleng for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Edward Selzer for making this film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet, Frank Graham, Tedd Pierce, and The Sportsman Quartet. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  

Yes. Baseball fans and Bugs Bunny fans will particularly love this toon. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE CAT CONCERTO (Theatrical Release USA 1947)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating:4.1|5.0 Stars  ìììì  The Cat Concerto—unexpected stage setting for Tom and Jerry—shows Tom as an accomplished pianist and Jerry as the one determined to distract him. This sits in the better half of Tom and Jerry stories and is a good watch for the child/adult share.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  Jerry Mouse interrupts Tom Cat’s piano concert.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Producer Fred Quimby for making the film possible. Thank you to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for producing the film. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is worth watching. Video Critique Available Here:   Ben Meyers