OPERATION DUMBO DROP (Released to Theaters USA 1995)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Operation Dumbo Drop—Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, and Dennis Leary—has a likeableness that permeates its core. The movie deserves a watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Vietnamese village is going to celebrate a festival, but the Viet Cong find that the villagers are possibly cooperating with the USA. So the Viet Cong kill the one thing that makes the festival work, their prize elephant. A Green Beret, who works with the village and his replacement, organize a team to replace the elephant.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Simon Wincer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Diane Nabatoff and David Madden for making the film possible. Cast includes Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug, and Corin Nemec. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is an unusual story backed with a great cast. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MONTE WALSH (Television Release USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Monte Walsh—good story that features Tom Selleck—does not have anything in it that other western movies have not already included in a variety of storylines…like the effect barbed wire had on the demise of the cowboy or the rise of machines that would later be used to herd and track animals. The presentation and storyline, however, are quite good and the acting is outstanding. There are some sexual scenes in the movie, but not as graphic as other movies often portray. This movie will satisfy the western movie fan. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This western film is about: the last of the cowboys as corporations begin assuming control of larger ranches, the motor car begins assuming the role of main method of travel, and herding cows on open range is curbed with the establishment of property boundaries defined with barbed wire. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Simon Wincer for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Michael Brandman, and Tom Selleck, Co-Executive Producer Bobby Roberts and Producer Steven J. Brandman, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Tom Selleck, Isabella Rossellini, Keith Carradine, George Eads, Robert Carradine, Barry Corbin, James Gammon, Rex Linn, John Michael-Higgins, William Sanderson, Wallace Shawn, Marshall R. Teague, and Rick Ravenello. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is an afternoon watch and a good one at that. It satisfies the western movie fan. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Ben Meyers

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER (Theatrical Release USA 1982)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Stars ììì

The Man from Snowy River—an Australian western—has its own distinctive flavor. Even though it stars America’s Kirk Douglas, there is no mistaking the different texture of this story compared to other westerns Kirk Douglas has played (i.e., The Way West/Man Without A Star). The script, derived from an 1890s Australian poem, seems disorganized and a little weak as if the writer did not have enough material to make a solid story. Even though the film was quite successful at Australian box offices, it performs as something an American would watch on a ‘ho-hum’ afternoon of Bonanza reruns rather than a film one would go to theater to watch. The Ben Meyers’ reaction to this film is: ‘pretty much bored throughout the movie, checking the wrist watch to see when the 102 requisite minutes will be finished’. Redeeming factors for this film are: 1) outstanding scenery 2) a conclusion that nearly matches the unmistakable American Western movie style and literally pulls the rest of the film together.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Young Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) earns his right to run his deceased father’s Australian station.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director George Miller for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Edgley and Simon Wincer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Henry Craig (Terence Donovan), Harrison/Spur (Kirk Douglas), Mountain Man (Tommy Dysart), Man in Street (Bruce Kerr), Banjo Paterson (David Bradshaw), Jessica Harrison (Sigrid Thornton), Clancy (Jack Thompson), Kane (Tony Bonner), and Mrs. Bailey (June Jago).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It introduces the audience to great Australian scenery and has a workable conclusion.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers