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

THE BATMAN (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Batman accesses the talents of Robert Pattinson for interpreting Batman. The cast is well-chosen. Very good acting. It is interesting to see Colin Farrell playing Penguin. The makeup department has made him unrecognizable as Colin Farrell. The presentation is enticing and well done. The story is well-written. Paul Dano plays an interesting  Riddler with a slightly more sinister crazy than Heath Ledger  played in the Dark Knight. There will most likely be a sequel and hopefully Robert Pattison will return as the Batman. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The Batman resists the Penguin and the Riddler. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Matt Reeves for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Dylan Clark and Matt Reeves for making the film possible. Cast includes: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a well-written story and Robert Pattison plays a good Batman. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE LOST CITY OF Z (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

The Lost City of Z—based on the true story of jungle explorer Percy Fawcett—becomes worth watching for its interesting dip into little known history of this archaeologist and jungle explorer. There are some good scenes portraying action during World War I, Robert Pattinson looks good made up with a beard; but the film seems disconnected between its story and its actors.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) searches for the lost city of Z in the jungles of Brazil.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director James Gray for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Felipe Aljure, Marc Butan, Lew Horwitz, Mark Huffam, Michael Ilitch Jr., Julie B. May, Glenn Murray, and Brad Pitt for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Henry Costin (Robert Pattinson), Nina Fawcett (Sienna Miller), Jack Fawcett (Tom Holland), Arthur Manley (Edward Ashley), James Murray (Angus Macfadyen), Sir George Goldie (Ian McDiarmid), and Sir John Scott Keltie (Clive Francis).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Overall, the film lacks realism, but serves to establish the persona and basic skills of explorers.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TWILIGHT (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì

Twilight—craftily made—completely wins due to the casting choice of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. That onscreen duo combine to form a uniquely electrifying effect that surpasses Clark Gable and Elizabeth Taylor in Gone With The Wind and Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen.  This romance completely defies the ordinary and runs to prove its originality. It’s a BRAVO for Director Catherine Hardwicke’s directorial debut.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) finds Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) electrifying.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Catherine Hardwicke for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Marty Bowen, Michele Imperato, Guy Oseary, and Karen Rosenfelt for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Renée (Sarah Clarke), Phil (Matt Bushell), Charlie Swan (Billy Burke), Billy Black (Gil Birmingham), Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), Tyler (Gregory Tyree Boyce), Eric (Justin Chon), Mike Newton (Michael Welch), Jessica (Anna Kendrick), Angela (Christian Serratos), Rosalie (Nikki Reed), Emmet Cullen (Kellan Lutz), Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene), and Jasper (Jackson Rathbone).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It compliments and enhances author Stephanie Meyers’ novel in ways that films can rarely accomplish.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix—another great in the Harry Potter series—is difficult to follow on an adult level and would seem even more difficult for the unsophisticated, younger child. The film creates very adult situations based on political intrigue and introduces a wider range of settings that increase the complication of its storyline. The film does not seem as well scripted, almost as if it is an interlude to the films to follow. Adults, be prepared for the necessity to explain the nuances of this film and inevitable question/answer sessions.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

In a summer at home, away from Hogwarts, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his cousin, Dudley (Harry Melling), are attacked by Dementors. In an effort to save Dudley and himself, Harry illegally uses magic to quell the Dementors’ force and Hogwarts expels him based on ‘Follow the rules, no matter the circumstance’. Political powers, outside Hogwarts, deny Voldemort has returned and seek to quell anything that supports information to the contrary. Hogwarts, therefore, comes under political control with the establishment of a political regime headed by Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton).  As the political regime increases untenable rules and regulations, students secretly rally to practice ways to defeat Voldemort and protect Hogwarts. In this episode, Harry learns that his path is completely defined—he must extirpate Voldemort in order for goodness to reign.

Additional Thanks

Great Work for Director David Yates. Thank you to Executive Producer Lionel Wigram for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Piers (Jason Boyd), Malcolm (Richard Macklin), Mrs. Arabella Figg (Kathryn Hunter), TV Weatherman (Miles Jupp), Aunt Petunia Dursley (Fiona Shaw), Uncle Vernon Dursley (Richard Griffiths), Malfalda Hopkirk (voice of Jessica Hynes), James Potter (Adrian Rawlins), Lily Potter (Geraldine Somerville), Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), and Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane)

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. After all, we must complete the Harry Potter series; but, if the adult shares this film with the younger child, the movie may need pausing, for explanation, due to the political intrigue interwoven into its basic story line.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers