VENGEANCE: A LOVE STORY (Video Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Vengeance: A Love Story—like Dirty Harry with heart—fills itself with some very realistic acting by Anna Hutchinson and Talitha Eliana Bateman. While Nicolas Cage seems a little weak for his role as an avenger, that weakness works as he matter-of-factly takes care of a deadly situation. Graphic sex scenes move this film to a mature audience. The overall film? Worth watching. Watch for Deborah Kara Unger from The Way.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

A young mother (Anna Hutchinson), brutally raped in front of her daughter (Talitha Eliana Bateman), finds no justice until the intervention of the detective (Nicolas Cage) who covers her case.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Johnny Martin for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Harold Becker, Patricia Eberle, Michael Nilon, and Richard Rionda Del Castro for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: John (Nicolas Cage), Teena (Anna Hutchison), Bethie (Talitha Eliana Bateman), Agnes (Deborah Kara Unger), Jay Kirkpatrick (Don Johnson), Marvin (Joshua Mikel), Lloyd (Rocco Nugent), Jimmy (Joe Ochterbeck), Fritz (Carter Burch), Irma (Charlene Tilton), and Walt (Dikran Tulaine).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. One man takes care of justice one criminal at a time.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

NATIONAL TREASURE (Theatrical Release USA 2004)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

National Treasure is, as Ed Sullivan says, ‘a really big show’ to which can be added, ‘and honestly  earns its dollars for entertainment value.’ The innovative script allows Nicolas Cage one of the best performances of his movie career. The supporting cast, composed of Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, and Christopher Plummer, create the perfect charisma that make a film believable. Director Jon Turteltaub times the movement through each clue in this story well. The film has a satisfying conclusion that supports morality and good ethical standards.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Benjamin Franklin Gates’ (Nicolas Cage) grandfather tells him a story about a fabulous treasure hidden in America and he sets off to follow a series of clues to find it.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Jon Turteltaub for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Oren Aviv, Chad Oman, Charles Segars, Christina Steinberg, Mike Stenson, and Barry H. Waldman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast includes: Dr. Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), Ian Howe (Sean Bean), Patrick Gates (Jon Voight), Sadusky (Harvey Keitel), John Adams Gates (Christopher Plummer), Shaw (David Dayan Fisher), Powell (Stewart Finlay-McLennan), and Shippen (Oleg Taktarov).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The film moves along nicely, seems fresh and new with its simple plot of following one series of clues after another while staying just ahead of the ‘bad guys’.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ASTRO BOY (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

Astro Boy, surprisingly, is better than the first episodes of the 1980 Astro Boy television series with its little different twist than the television stories had. Nicolas Cage does a great job voicing Dr. Tenma while Freddie Highmore easily earns his place as an outstanding choice to voice Astro Boy. This film needs improvement in presentation and storyline.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Toby (voice of Freddie Highmore) is accidentally disintegrated by energy spheres and is reconstructed by his father, Dr. Tenma (voice of Nicolas Cage), into a robotic body.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director David Bowers for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Francis Kao, Cecil Kramer, Ken Tsumura, and Paul Wang for making the film possible. Cast include: Freddie Highmore, voice of Ryann Stiles, Eugene Levy, voice of Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, David Alan Grier, and Alan Tudyk.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is an okay watch but not great. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ARCADIAN (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Arcadian—an example of a movie that has everything going for it to be a 4.8 to a 5.0 star, but fails—has a boring script that seems weak and pointless. The acting relies on highly skilled acting by Nicolas Cage. There is an eerie feeling that emanates from the movie so that one may feel the movie is 'weird and unsettling' when it concludes.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline A man and twins sons try to survive in a post apocalyptical world with wolf-like animals that try to take out the remainder of human civilization. The wolf- like animals hunt at night.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Benjamin Brewer for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Michael Nilon, and David Wulf, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier, Braxton Pope, and Nicolas Cage for making the film possible. Cast includes Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, and Maxwell Jenkins.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is good enough for one watch to see what the film is about. But, the script, as written, hampers its ability to go to top billing. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE OLD WAY (Released to Video On Demand USA 2022)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

The Old Way—surprising story with an unexpected conclusion—becomes one of those ‘don’t judge the movie from its poster’ films. It serves the needs of the western genre audience quite well, has a fresh storyline despite adherence to the traditional revenge story of the western. Nicolas Cage does his part well. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A gunman changes his life, when he gets married and begins managing a general goods store, but his past finds him for one last shootout 20 years later. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Brett Donowho for directing effort. Thank you to Producers R. Bryan Wright, Micah Haley, Sasha Yelaun, Robert Paschall Jr., Brett Donowho, Colin Floom, and Fred Roos for making the film possible. Cast includes:  Nicolas Cage, Ryan Kiera Armstrong,  Clint Howard, Katelyn Le Bauer, Noah Le Gros, Abraham Benrubi, Nick Searcy, Dean Armstrong, Phillip Aguirre, Everett Blunck, Brett Donowho, Shilo Fernandez, Corby Griesenbeck, and Boyd Kestner. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie has good presentation and serves western movie expectations at the fair to good level. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets plays as well as the first film in the series partially due to outstanding casting and partially due to a good storyline. Watch for Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, and Helen Mirren interpreting their roles with strong skill. This movie does not disappoint and earns its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A Civil War secret leads to a treasure trove. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Jon Turteltaub for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Jon Turteltaub for making the film possible. Casting includes: Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Bruce Greenwood, and Helen Mirren. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie serves Nicolas Cage fans and Jon Voight fans well. It’s worth its watch. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

AMOS & ANDREW (Theatrical Release USA 1993)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Amos & Andrew—good, campy, action comedy—has a unique flavor that adds to its watchability. It’s a tongue-in-cheek, sweet, light look at a series of social issues that still exist today albeit in a slightly different framework. The film is both entertaining and a welcome relief to the real scenario. WOW! It’s a nice return to times when stereotypes could still be examined within a comedic setting. The movie provides a series of unexpected turns that delightfully surprise and eventually lead to a completely unexpected conclusion. Watch the solid performances by Nicolas Cage and Samuel L. Jackson and the very good support casting of Dabney Coleman and Michael Lerner. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A police chief makes a mistake and tries to right the mistake by letting a prisoner out of jail with the promise he won’t have to go back to jail if he helps the chief. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director E. Max Frye for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Gary Goetzman for making the film possible. Cast includes: Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Lerner, Margaret Colin, Brad Dourif, and Dabney Coleman. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie has great scripting and presentation. It is more than worth its watch.

Video Critique Available Here: 

 

Ben Meyers