THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES (Released to Theaters USA 2005)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Game of Their Lives—beginning of the professional American soccer team —has both suitable presentation and portrayal. Watch for Gerard Butler in one of his earlier works and John Rhys-Davies in one of his mid career works. Watch and listen for some very good dialogue and suitable/good acting.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The newly formed American Soccer team plays against the long established British team.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director David Anspaugh for directing effort.  Thank you to Producers Howard  Baldwin, Karen Baldwin, Ginger Perkins, Peter Newman for making the film possible. Cast includes Peter Newman, Gerard Butler, Wes Bentley, Jay Rodan, Galvin Rossdale, Patrick Stewart, TerryKinney, and John Rhys-Davies. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a suitable watch. Video Critique Available Ben Meyers

CODA (Released to the International Film Festival of India, Goa India 2019)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì  CODA—original—chooses Patrick Stewart as the lead performer. All else is commentary. This is a quality watch that performs at the high art level. Sophisticated, gracious story gently tells its tale of how performers are kept on stage to meet audience expectations. Camerawork is exquisite; stage settings are eye-candy. Watch for a terrific performance by Katie Holmes. The movie quietly tells its story.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A seasoned pianist suffers a high level of performance anxiety.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Claude Lalonde for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Nicolas Comeau and Nicola Hayman for making the film possible. Cast includes Patrick Stewart, Katie Holmes, Giancarlo Esposito, Christoph Gaugler, Don Anderson, Victor Andres Turgeon-Trelles, Abdul Ayoola, Sasha Bissonnette, Letitia Brookes, and Violette Chauveau. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a deeply written, clean, and wonderful watch. This film is not to be missed. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BAMBI II (Released to Theaters USA 2006)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Bambi II—64-minute animated film—tries to provide the rest of Bambi's story and does a good to okay job. It does not have the power of the first film, has environmental tropes, and serves as a highly superficial watch. The film ends as if the writers ran out of story or project funding and had nowhere to go. So, they rolled in the credits and said, 'we're done.' The animation is really good. The presentation and portrayal are good. Watch for Thumper and other forest friends reincluded in this story.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline   Bambi's father takes him in and tries to raise him while waiting for Owl to find a mother for Bambi. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Brian Pimental for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jim Ballantine, Associate Producer Dave Okey, and Unit Producer Debbie Cramb for making the film possible. Cast includes Patrick Stewart, Alexander Gould, Keith Ferguson, Brendon Baerg, Nicky Jones, Andrea Bowen, Anthony Ghannam, Makeena Cowgill, Emma Rose Lima, Ariel Winter, and Brian Pimental. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie has a superficial storyline but good animation. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

CHARLIE’S ANGELS (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Charlie’s Angels—not the best of the Charlie’s Angels movies—does not flow like a usual spy film. But, the story is tighter and well-written. It earns its watch. Watch for a good performance by Patrick Stewart. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This action film is about the angels becoming involved with the work of an international embezzler, life-threatening computer software, murder, and espionage in an effort to keep the world safe. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Elizabeth Banks for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Doug Belgrad, Elizabeth Cantillon, Max Handelman, and Elizabeth Banks for making the film possible. Cast includes: Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, Elizabeth Banks, Djimon Hounsou, Sam Claflin, Noah Centineo, and Patrick Stewart. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s fun to compare the differences between the Charlie’s Angels storylines chosen from the movies produced in 2000, 2003, and 2019. The 2019 film is much tighter in presentation and not as ‘campy’ as earlier movies. It is not as 'fun' as earlier movies. On the other hand, it has a well-written story and easily becomes a satisfying watch. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

LOGAN (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Logan appears to be the final film for Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in the X-Men franchise. This movie contains a great deal of graphic violence, but not to the ‘close the eyes and turn the head away’ level. The acting and presentation are good. The roles assigned to both Jackman and Stewart seem better placed and more realistic than previous X-Men movies. This movie presents a new young actress to the series, Dafne Keen, who acts an exceptionally vicious role. It will be interesting to follow her career path. Very good creative artistry for everyone involved in producing this story. The movie deserves its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Despite aging and a decrease in powers, remaining X-Men continue to be hunted and must find ways to fight. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director James Mangold for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Hutch Parker, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner for making the film possible. Casting includes: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, and Dafne Keen. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. WOW! Good concept and great to watch. This movie is not child friendly due to its exceptionally vicious violence.

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

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

X-Men: The Last Stand—good concept, story quality fluctuates throughout the movie—reprises most of the actors and actresses for this final film in the series. The quality of entertainment is on par with the first two movies. The next movie about X-Men begins with prequel stories to the series and starts with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This superhero film is about a time when mutants are offered an inoculation to cure mutantism. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Brett Ratner for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, and Ave Arad for making the film possible. Cast includes: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romin, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Patrick Stewart, and Vinnie Jones.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a good/suitable watch and is comparable in entertainment quality to the first two X-Men movies. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers 

X2: X-MEN UNITED (Theatrical Release USA 2003)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

X2: X-Men United—elaborates on the X-Men story—reprises the roles of Hugh Jackman, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen. It adds Brian Cox and Alan Cumming. The  presentation needs more crafting but the movie is an enjoyable watch and quite entertaining…a good afternoon watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This superhero film is about a machine that is developed to wipe out all Earth’s mutants. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Bryan Singer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter for making the film possible. Cast includes: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davison, and Anna Paquin. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie is not as good as the first movie in the series, but it still earns a recommendation as watchable and entertaining.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

DETONATOR (Theatrical Release USA 1993)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

Detonator—poor script—needs improvement due to the script writing. However, the movie is a perfect example of the director and actors making the best of a script that is not high quality. They show true craftsmanship as they work with what has been given and make it shine the best they can. Pierce Brosnan, Patrick Stewart. Alexandra Paul, Ted Levine, and Christopher Lee produce a solid 3.8|5.0 Star film that stands a little above most 3.8 rated films. Know that the film still makes a fair watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The movie is about international witness protection. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director David Jackson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Peter Snell for making the film possible. Cast includes: Pierce Brosnan, Patrick Stewart, Christopher Lee, Ted Levine, and Alexandra Paul. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a good show and worth watching as a quick afternoon watch. 

* Also known as Death Train

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers 

DUNE (Theatrical Release USA 1984)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Dune—intriguing, high fantasy, science fiction movie—has exceptionally high quality actors. Be prepared for an exceptionally well-written story. The desert scenes completely work. This is a classic that deserves its place in the home video library. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A power struggle results in a war that takes much courage to enter and to attempt to win. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director David Lynch for directing effort. Thank you to Raffaella De Laurentiis for making the film possible. Cast includes: Francesca Annis, Leonardo Cimino, Brad Dourif, Jose Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Freddie Jones, Richard Jordan, Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Silvana Mangano, Everett McGill, Kenneth McMillan, Jack Nance, Sian Phillips, Jurgen Prochnow, Paul Smith, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow, Alicia Witt, and Sean Young. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Intriguing, inspirational, well-made entertainment piece. This is a keeper and earns its watch.                     

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers