THE TREE OF LIFE (Released to Theaters USA 2011)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  The Tree of Life—odd and difficult to follow—needs a good, thorough plotline read (see Wikipedia) and some research into the original intent to produce. It's completely intellectual, relies heavily on metaphors and similes, has really good cinematography, and quickly polarizes audiences into 'loved it', 'hated it' opinions.  It's difficult to find its overarching principle.  It definitely invites after viewing discussion. Director Terrence Malick understands something in this artistic production that will completely "blow right over the heads' of most audiences. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images   Storyline   Its the story of life in metaphors and similes as experienced through the O'Brien family.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Terrence Malick for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Donald Rosenfeld for making the film possible. Cast includes Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Tye Sheridan, Fiona Shaw, Jessica Fuselier, Nicholas Gonda, and Will Wallace.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It is highly intellectualized, artistic production that may 'blow right over the heads' of most audiences.  Nothing lacking in portrayal, presentation, and acting.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers 

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (Theatrical Release USA 2019)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì 

X-Men: Dark Phoenix—odd storyline and concept—defies reason and raises strong questions about its storyline and outcome. There is a complete absence of order, law, and adherence to goodness in this story. How did this story make it to the big screen? Who is Dark Phoenix? Maybe the better question is: who and what exactly are the X-Men? Superheroes or supervillains? It seems they are more about death than life.  This film lacks a cohesive storyline to the other films that an audience can relate to. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The young Dark Phoenix cannot control her X-Men powers and becomes a challenge to her family, her school, and to her fellow X-Men. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Simon Kinberg for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker, Lauren Shuler Donner, and Tom Hallowell for making the film possible. Cast includes: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Jessica Chastain. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. It is what it is. The movie runs on an exceptionally dark theme that defies reason. It’s a movie that does not leave an audience with a good feeling or feeling good about what they just saw. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

X-Men: Apocalypse supersedes the quality of the previous superhero movie X-Men: Days of Future Past in writing, portrayal, and general cohesiveness of storyline. It’s a treat to see James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and the rest of the cast who play the younger crew of X-Men. They do very well and do not disappoint the story which compares very well with X-Men: First Class as a good sequel. This film is not flat and entertains the superhero movie fan very well. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This apocalyptic disaster film is about: X-Men uniting to fight against an ancient Egyptian god. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank to Director Brian Singer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Hutch Parker, and Lauren Shuler Donner for making the film possible. Cast includes: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sopie Turner, Olivia Munn, and Lucas Till. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie is much better than X-Men: Days of Future Past due to its much-improved presentation and script. X-Men Apocalypse corresponds  well to its prequels.

Video Critique Available Here:

 Ben Meyers

READY PLAYER ONE (Theatrical Release USA 2018)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Ready Player One complicates itself with a continual presentation of characters from many movies and games that serve in the capacity of 'extras' in this movie’s presentation.  That single production decision diverts attention away from the storyline because as the story progresses one suddenly sees Beetlejuice or Iron Giant in a crowd. This creates an unwelcome distraction that causes loss of focus. The story progresses forward while the audience is forced to refocus and play 'catch up'.  While there is an overwhelming amount of ‘eye candy’ in the form of technological advancements, there is also a boring repetitiveness in presentation of the same technology such as the clear box-shaped screens that are constantly accessed by the characters. It’s almost as if the 'imagination well' for story telling has run dry and has chosen to rely on improbability to substitute for the well-written story. Depth of story is lacking and the human aspect that makes one care and become emotionally attached to the characters does not appear in this film. That aspect has disappeared and is replaced by a cold, almost calculated, indifference. As always, this Spielberg film retains Spielberg's unique mark, but not as strongly as in his earlier films. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A game offers a high stakes’ prize for successful accomplishment. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Steven Spielberg for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg, and Dan Farah for making the film possible. Cast includes: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Lots of technical eye candy keeps eyes busy, but artificially-introduced backgrounds tend to de-involve audiences to the point of distraction. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers