KILL THE IRISHMAN (Released to limited Theaters USA 2011)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsììì  Kill the Irishman—adult watch—ranks well with existing mafia movies. The use of Val Kilmer, Ray Stevenson, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Christopher Walken creates the perfect casting mix. Good watch overall. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline  The true story of the American gangster, Danny Greene.  Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Jonathan Hensleigh for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso, and Tommy Reid for making the film possible. Cast includes Ray Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Val Kilmer, and Christopher Walken. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. It's a good watch overall when wanting a good gangster movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

TOP GUN: MAVERICK (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì 

Top Gun: Maverick—WOW!—has terrific action, storyline, and dialogue lines. The story has come to its maturity and presents onscreen at a much higher level than the original Top Gun movie. Tom Cruise takes this film to the next level in entertainment value with his terrific supporting cast. It easily becomes one of the better military films marketed and easily establishes itself as a prime candidate for addition to the home video library. It has entertainment value written all over it. 

Film Poster of Google Images 

Storyline 

This war film is about precision air fighters who must remove a set of targets perceived as dangerous to world safety. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Joseph Kosinski for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and David Ellison for making the film possible. Cast includes: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer. 

Buy a Ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie defines great storytelling and improves vastly on the first Top Gun movie. It shows maturity, values courage and loyalty, and the importance of rehearsal and training. Wonderful work for all involved in production. Incredibly well-written piece of entertainment.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BATMAN FOREVER (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.1|5.0 Starsììì

Batman Forever features Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, and Val Kilmer to tell its story. Despite its great cast, the story is difficult to get through due to poor timing and meager reliance on good transitioning between scenes. This creates a distinct ‘jittery, mixed-up feeling’ that steadily builds a desire to stop the film and watch something else. Director Joel Schumacher’s choice of Tommy Lee Jones for the Harvey Dent/Two Face character proves less effective in this movie than Director Christopher Nolan’s use of Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two Face in The Dark Knight film. Interestingly, this lack of effect seems to revolve, not just in the acting, but around the makeup department. Batman Forever retains the original half green face for Two Face while The Dark Knight’s makeup department tosses the half green face in favor of a phenomenal use of rotting flesh that reveals teeth and bone, an amazing improvement over the traditional face. The Riddler, in this film, seems to dominate the scenes which becomes a natural outcome of choosing Jim Carrey to portray this character. It will be interesting to see what Christopher Nolan or Zack Snyder can do with that character in future films.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Batman (Val Kilmer) has opportunity to battle the Riddler (Jim Carrey) and the criminal Two Face (Tommy Lee Jones).

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Joel Schumacher for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer), Harvey Dent (Tommy Lee Jones), Dr. Edward Nygma (Jim Carrey), Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), Robin/Dick Grayson (Chris O’Donnell), Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough), Commissioner James Gordon (Pat Hingle), Sugar (Drew Barrymore), Spice (Debi Mazar), and Gossip Gerty (Elizabeth Sanders).

 Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The movie enlarges Robin’s personality as he relates to Batman, which is a rather interesting enhancement of the ongoing Batman story. The film narrowly serves the ‘I love Batman club’ more than the overall movie audience seeking action entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers