DUMBO (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Dumbo—completes the story of the original animated movie of Dumbo—lacks feeling and emotion. It has no soul and cannot make itself relatable on any level. Despite good coloration, the film seems dark with no human component or relatable sweetness that the original film had. The acting runs from fair to bad and even though it contains quite famous actors who are lovable and draw audiences…nothing draws an audience in this movie. 

Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A baby elephant with unusually large ears shows that he can fly. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Tim Burton for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Justin Springer, Ehren Kruger, Katterli Frauenfelder, and Derek Frey. Cast includes: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, and Alan Arkin. 

Buy a Ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. This movie completes and rounds out the story from the original animated story of Dumbo, but it does not improve on the storyline. There is no feeling in this film. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (Theatrical Release USA 1990)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Edward Scissorhands—awesome. amazing concept—shows Actor Johnny Depp in one of his early works and the skill of Director Tim Burton. The movie completely earns its watch for the adult audience.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline 

A man has scissors for hands and makes use of them. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Tim Burton for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Denise Di Novi and Tim Burton for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp), Kim Boggs (Winona Ryder), Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest), Jim (Anthony Michael Hall), Joyce Monroe (Kathy Baker), Bill Boggs (Alan Arkin), The Inventor (Vincent Price), Kevin Boggs (Robert Oliveri), Helen (Conchata Ferrell) Marge (Caroline Aaron), Officer Allen (Dick Anthony Williams), Esmeralda (O-Lan Jones),

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie is very well put together, creative, and a good watch. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

BATMAN RETURNS (Theatrical Release USA 1992)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì

Batman Returns—slightly better than the Batman movie—starts with a bang that creates high expectations and then settles out to a mediocre level. The film casts Danny DeVito as The Penguin and adds Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Pat Hingle to the cast. The costuming and makeup are quite good. The special effects perform at about the same level as the movie’s prequel.  Because the script consistently places Batman precisely at scenes of danger, the movie quickly positions itself within the ‘corny/comedic’ category. Whereas Director Christopher Nolan in Batman Begins elevates Batman's character to a realistic fighter of crime, the director of this film, Tim Burton, uses some of the old Adam West techniques when eradicating ‘bad guys’ except it does the audience the favor of disposing of the zap and bang power words splattered across action scenes to describe what a punch sounds like. This film has Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman with Michael Gough serving as character Alfred Pennyworth.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Batman (Michael Keaton) fights The Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Tim Burton for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Peter Guber, Benjamin Melniker, Jon Peters, and Michael E. Uslan for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton), Oswald Cobblepot (Danny DeVito), Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough), The Mayor (Michael Murphy), Ice Princess (Cristi Conaway), Charles ‘Chip’ Shreck (Andrew Bryniarski), Commissioner James Gordon (Pat Hingle), Organ Grinder (Vincent Schiavelli), and Josh (Steve Witting).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is worth watching Danny DeVito’s outstanding performance as the Penguin, but an overall better watch is The Dark Knight.

Video Critique Available Here

Ben Meyers

BATMAN (Theatrical Release USA 1989)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Batman—‘cool’ in 1989—uses a milder comic book feel than previous Batman stories to depict its storyline, but classifies itself as ‘corny’ with its dialogue and poor special effects when compared to the 2005 production of Batman Begins. Jack Nicholson does not do justice to the Joker as well as Heath Ledger did in The Dark Knight. The film becomes a good study for collegiate studies on Michael Keaton as an actor and films by Tim Burton. Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth performs that character from 1989 to the 1997 Batman and Robin with consistency of portrayal.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Mayor Borg (Lee Wallace) demands a safer Gotham City and Batman (Michael Keaton) assists.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Tim Burton for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton), Joker/Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson), Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl), Commissioner James Gordon (Pat Hingle), Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams), Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough), Carl Grissom (Jack Palance), Alicia Hunt (Jerry Hall), and Bob the Goon (Tracey Walter).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s a dated look at early Batman films.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Theatrical Release USA 2010)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Alice in Wonderland—very well written and creative—is not a remake of the 1951 Alice in Wonderland. This seems to be a sequel to the 1951 movie. Alice is much older here and the film has flashbacks and references to an earlier time. Overall, it is very well done. This movie takes time to understand but by the end of the film viewers will be able to decipher where it was going from the original story.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) follows a white rabbit and falls into a rabbit hole again.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Tim Burton for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Chris Lebenzon and Peter M. Tobyansen for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska), Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), White Queen (Anne Hathaway), Stayne/Knave of Hearts (Crispin Glover), Tweedledee/Tweedledum (Matt Lucas), and White Rabbit (voice of Michael Sheen).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Very creative and imaginative movie built around Alice in Wonderland characters serves well for involving entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers