AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

Avatar: The Way of Water becomes an ode to visually stimulating special effects while forgetting storyline and emotional appeal are as integral a part of producing the satisfying entertainment experience as visual stimulation. Avatar: The Way of Water becomes Avatar rerun, except it changes its stage setting to underwater and adds green to the coloration of a tribe with different life ways. Once one has seen Avatar, the second showing seems superficial. The animation? Off the charts. The presentation, acting, and portrayal are good. If the audience is as interested in technological improvement as much as a Hollywood insider, then this movie may work.  Know that editing cuts were not well done and the film becomes an overwhelmingly long watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This science fiction film is about: Earth dying and sending Recombinants to conquer Pandora. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director James Cameron for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Richard Baneham, and David Valdes, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, and Edie Falco. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The movie works well as an immersive artistic presentation, but the story works superficially and takes a 3.2 hour time investment to complete. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

AVATAR (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Avatar, the imaginative culture and the world this culture inhabits, is vibrant with color. The movie touches the emotions at repeatedly high levels throughout the film. The acting and voicing are very good. At times, one forgets that one is watching a ‘motion capture’ movie. The writing is solid and blurs the lines that separate reality from fiction. Enjoy Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, and the rest of the cast in this audience-captivating movie.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A man is assigned to serve on a planet inhabited by native flora and fauna highly deadly to human survival. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director James Cameron for directing effort. Thank you to Producers James Cameron and Jon Landau for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie has spectacular special effects that use color well. It works on an epic scale. While the basic storyline could use improvement, there is no denying the outstanding use of color, the originality of the movie’s special effects, and the creativity of the culture and its environment. It earns its watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

The Cold Light of Day shows Bruce Willis without the charisma he showed in Die Hard and other action flicks. Henry Cavill, not a good casting choice here, has a difficult time juggling ‘ordinary kid’ with sophistication, almost as if he can’t make up his mind who he is. The script has a decent theme, but the portrayal of that script doesn’t work at any level. The best and strongest portrayal of character award goes to Sigourney Weaver. The film on a whole is a disappointment.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Will (Henry Cavill) goes to Spain for a family visit and runs into more than he bargained.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Mabrouk El Mechri for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Mark Canton, Jesus Amancio Jaquez Hernandez,  Matthew Perniciaro, Scott Wiper, and Steven Zaillian for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lucia (Veronica Echegui), Martin (Bruce Willis), Carrack (Sigourney Weaver), Gorman (Joseph Mawle), Laurie (Caroline Goodall), Josh (Rafi Gavron), Dara (Emma Hamilton), Esmael (Michael Budd), Zahir (Roschdy Zem), Maximo (Óscar Jaenada), Dixon (Joe Dixon), and Meckler (Jim Piddock).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Maybe. The film has action, but no cool. It’s not the usual quality expected in a movie with Bruce Willis.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers