IN THE NAME OF THE KING: A DUNGEON SIEGE TALE (Released to Theaters Canada 2007)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale—odd casting mix—redundantly shows one sword fighting scene after another rather than building a solid and interesting basic story that is novel and unique. This results in a slow movie. The acting is suitable to okay. The costuming department overly performs and produces soldiers who are supposed to look frightening and just can't quite get there. Movie Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A farmer and the friend who raised him fight an evil warlock and Krug. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Uwe Boll for directing cffort. Thank you to Executive Producers Stephen Hedyes, Wolfgang Herold, and Chet Holmes for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani, Kristanna Loken, Matthew Lillard, Brian White, Ray Liotta, and Burt Reynolds. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. 'Diehard' Statham fans will see many high action scenes, but this film is redundant and slow.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MONSTER HUNTER (Released to Theaters China 2020)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Monster Hunter—Milla Jovovich—needs better camerawork. The script is shallow and nothing is new or particularly creative. It works at the suitable to okay range and audiences may feel they lost their money on this one. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline   A female military officer, while on patrol with her crew, is sent to another world.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director and Producer Paul W.S. Anderson for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Howard Chen, Edward Cheng, Hiro Matsuoka for making the film possible. Cast includes Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman, Tip T.I. Harris, Diego Boneta, Meagan Good, Josh Helman, Jin Au-Yeung, Hirona Yamazaki, and Jannik Schümann.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The movie may gain cult status and over time develop a solid fan base.  Milla Jovovich plays a strong role in the film and Tony Jaa has been well-chosen for his role.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO (Video on Demand Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio achieves a level of interpretation that varies strongly from the 1940 Disney animation of this story.  Guillermo del Toro produces a stop motion animation movie that has deep heart and over time could well attain a certain type of classic status. The animation is superb and presents beautifully on screen.  It’s a great story to add to Netflix’s collection. This film is worthy of its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A movie based on the story of Pinocchio. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Guillermo del Toro, Lisa Henson, Gary, Ungar, Alex Bulkley, and Corey Campodonico for making the movie possible. Cast includes: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman, Ron Perlman, John Turturro, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, and Tilda Swinton. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a wonderful watch for any audience 10-years old and up. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

 

FLUKE (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì

Fluke—a ‘feel good’ story, worth watching—has an original, creative concept with great voicing by Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew Modine. Although some of the actors/actresses seem to be prompted a great deal to get through their assigned dialogue and scenes, the movie presents a thoughtful presentation of reincarnation and life cycles. Watch for Ron Perlman and Bill Cobbs.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Fluke (voice of Matthew Modine), a dog who remembers who he was before being reincarnated, makes the long journey home to find his family.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Carlo Carlei for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Tom Coleman and Jon Turtle for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include:Rumbo (voice of Samuel L. Jackson), Thomas P. Johnson (voice of Matthew Modine), Carol Johnson (voice of Nancy Travis), Jeff Newman (voice of Eric Stoltz), Brian Johnson (Max Pomeranc), Sylvester (Ron Perlman), Boss (Jon Polito), and Bert (Bill Cobbs).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Except for one suggested ‘sleepover’ scene, the movie is decent, clean, and serves as a good family watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

POTTERSVILLE (Video Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Pottersville—serves up a mediocre, shallow, trite, and poorly written story with a single redeeming factor—the performance of Michael Shannon. Shannon's acting effort rigorously pulls the rest of this film's cast through the movie, not as strongly as Angelina Jolie pulled her supporting cast through her movie, Maleficent, or Jim Carrey's tendency to become the only actor in his Ace Ventura films. But the 'pull' becomes obvious. It’s hard to believe that this story made it to the ‘release to audience viewing’ stage.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Maynard Greiger (Michael Shannon) accidentally sets off a national Sasquatch hunt in his hometown of Pottersville.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Seth Henrikson for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Patricia Hearst, Daniel Meyer, Christian Chadd Taylor, and Byron Wetzel  for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Parker (Judy Greer), Sheriff Jack (Ron Perlman), Connie Greiger (Christina Hendricks), Brock Masterson (Thomas Lennon), Bart (Ian McShane), Norm (Michael Torpey), Tony (Debargo Sanyal), Ilene (Greta Lee), Stacy Gutierrez (Elena Hurst), and Tammy Henderson (Blake Perlman).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s not a quality watch even for those audiences who love Sasquatch films. The 1987 movie, Harry and the Hendersons, serves at a higher entertainment level within this storyline's genre. This movie serves the Teen/Adult audience.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BATTLE FOR TERRA (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 1.1|5.0 Starsì

Battle for Terra graphics are great. But, the movie script and plot are ridiculous with little reason for the situations presented throughout the storyline. The story is trite—aliens take over a planet by attempting to kill all the planet’s inhabitants. But, General Hemmer uses fallacious reasoning to pursue a military strategy that takes the viewer from the movie to focus on the writer—an unusual situation that is a result of poor writing. It’s surprising that actors like Danny Glover and James Garner signed for this movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The planet Terra’s sun is blocked out. Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) goes to investigate and finds that a space ship is abducting the inhabitants of Terra.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Aristomenis Tsirbas for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Jessica Calder, Keith Calder, Ryan Colucci, and Dane Allan Smith for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Terrian Scientist (voice of Chad Allen), Professor Lina (voice of Rosanna Arquette), Terrian 2 (voice of Bill Birch), Technician Quinn (voice of Brooke Bloom), Technician Williams (voice of Tom Connolly), General Hemmer (voice of Brian Cox), Giddy (voice of David Cross), Interrogator Wright (voice of Beverly D’Angelo), Colonel Wheeler (voice of James Devoti), Elder Vorin (voice of Ron Perlman), Terrian 1 (voice of Timi Prulhiere), Roven (voice of Dennis Quaid), Lieutenant Evans (voice of Michael Scovotti), Kima (voice of Zoe Bleu), Elder Barum (voice of Danny Trejo), Jim Stanton (voice of Luke Wilson), and Stewart Stanton (voice of Chris Evans).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Battle for Terra is a painful waste of time.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers