TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES (Released to Theaters USA 2018)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Teen Titans Go! To the Movies—weak and disorganized—is a pointless work of nothingness. Watch for a comical cameo of the Marvel creator, Stan Lee, in this DC presentation.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline The Teen Titans try to get their own movie and, in the process, save the world from Slade/Deathstroke.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Peter Rida Michail and Aaron Horvath for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Aaron Horvath, Jelenic, Peggy Regan, Peter Rida Michail, and Will Arnett for making the film possible. Cast includes Greg Cipes, Scott Menville, Khary Payton, Tara Strong, Hynden Walch, Will Arnett, and Kristen Bell. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a okay film to some extent but is not the best of films overall.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Monsters VS Aliens—despite its lack of strong character development—has enough ‘boom and bang’ special effects to override its rather small storyline to take it into the worth viewing class. Some flaws in the movie are: transitions between why a non-threatening Ginormica (voice of Reese Witherspoon) is immediately thrust into a government facility with  other facility ‘monsters’ and a poor establishment of her relationship to other inmates. It will be interesting to see how screenplay writers Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon improve the sequel.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

A meteorite hits Susan Murphy (voice of Reese Witherspoon) on her wedding day and she turns into a giant who immediately becomes government property.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Directors Robert Letterman and Conrad Vernon for directing efforts. Thank you to Lisa Stewart for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Ginormica (voice of Reese Witherspoon), B.O.B. (voice of Seth Rogen), Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice of Hugh Laurie), The Missing Link (voice of Will Arnett), General W.R. Monger (voice of Kiefer Sutherland), Gallaxhar (voice of Rainn Wilson), President Hathaway (voice of Stephen Colbert), Wendy Murphy (voice of Julie
White), Carl Murphy (voice of Jeffrey Tambor), Derek Dietl (voice of Paul Rudd), and Computer (voice of Amy Poehler).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a fair to middling piece of animation for children.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (Released to Theaters USA 2017)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

The Lego Batman Movie—great animation—throws villains at the audience like raindrops falling from the sky once the Joker gets to the Phantom Zone. Scenes get messy and difficult to follow. Some villains are given prominence which helps and it is interesting to see which villains Warner Brothers sees as more significant than others. The movie is good, overall. It has a solid beginning and conclusion. The voice cast is well-chosen. The presentation and portrayal are good.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

 Batman fights Joker, again, in Lego form.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Chris McKay for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Will Allegra, Matthew Ashton, Bradford Lewis, Benjamin Melniker, Steven Mnuchin, Zareh Nalbandian, Michael E. Uslan, and Jill Wilfert for making the film possible. Cast includes: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, Siri, Zach Galifianakis, Jenny Slate, Jason Mantzoukas, Conan O'Brien, and Doug Benson.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Yes. Overall, the movie tells a suitable to good story and throws in a little comedy as a bonus. At places it runs slow, but definitely works as a good child/adult share film for  a one-time watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE NUT JOB (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.8|5.0 Starsìììì

The Nut Job—one of the greatest animated films of 2014. It’s funny and fun, a good choice for the child/adult combo looking for good entertainment that suits both age groups. Brendan Fraser, Jeff Dunham, and Katherine Heigl add their talented voices to this film. The movie’s strength lies in an incredible script written by Lorne Cameron and Peter Lepeniotis. Don’t miss the end credits. There’s a particularly entertaining adaptation of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” that plays during those credits.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Surly, the squirrel (voice by Will Arnett), steals nuts from a nut cart and then the camera changes focus to the local park where Raccoon (voice by Liam Neeson) throws food down a tree hole as it is handed to him by animals in the park. Through a series of mishaps the tree burns down leaving the animals without sufficient food for the winter and the story is on as good guys and ‘bad’ guys show their true colors.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Peter Lepeniotis for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Hangjoo Ahn, William Bradley, and Hoe Jin Ha for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Surly (voice of Will Arnett), Grayson (voice of Brendan Fraser), Raccoon (voice of Liam Neeson), Andie (voice of Katherine Heigl), King (voice of Stephen Lang), Precious (voice of Maya Rudolph), Mole (voice of Jeff Dunham), Jimmy (voice of Gabriel Iglesias), and Lana (voice of Sarah Gadon).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s playful entertainment that doesn’t lose its timing from its opening scene to its last scene and into its closing credits.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

G-FORCE (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

G-Force almost lives up to its hype. It starts well and pretty much holds its own to the end credits. The audience gets a bonus at the end with a cool song that leaves the viewer with a good feeling that they have been fully entertained. Casting makes outstanding choices for the voices of the guinea pigs and the mole. All in all—good work.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The government has equipped a team of small mammals to serve as special agents. When the government shuts down their special task unit, the animals find themselves on their way to a pet shop.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Hoyt Yeatman for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Duncan Henderson, David P.I. James, Chad Oman, and Mike Stenson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Saber (Bill Nighy), Kip Killian (Will Arnett), Ben (Zach Galifianakis), Marcie (Kelli Garner), Connor (Tyler Patrick Jones), Penny (Piper Mackenzie Harris), Agent Carter (Gabriel Casseus), Agent Trigstad (Jack Conley), and Rosalita (Niecy Nash).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s fresh, a novel concept, and a good adult/child share movie.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers