STAR TREK BEYOND (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Star Trek Beyond—special effects hide many of the faults in this movie— has a weak story line that questions its relevancy and clarity. An audience may question what direction Director Justin Lin is taking this film. It is what it is. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline Krall (Idris Elba) attacks the Enterprise and its crew scrambles for survival and means of escape.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Justin Lin for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Tommy Harper for  for making the film possible. Cast include: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, and Sofia Boutella.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe.  Hard core Trekkies will love the special effects.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (Released to Theaters USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì Star Trek into Darkness—tries too hard—fails to catch the Star Trek magic. The special effects are probably the best part. The film could almost be skipped.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is relieved of starship duties due to failure to keep the prime directive; but, is quickly restored to his position after Starfleet headquarters undergoes attack.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director J.J. Abrams for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Paul Schwake for making the film possible. Cast include: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anton Yelchin, and Bruce Greenwood.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. This is a suitable to okay watch. Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

STAR TREK (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì   Star Trek—okay to suitable watch—hides story flaws behind special effects. The special effects, animation, makeup, and choice of cast are outstanding. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are great picks for youthful look-alikes of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. The movie notably lacks the 'magic' of the first series. But, this movie will suit for 'trekkies' and 'trekkers'.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline James Kirk (Chris Pine) attends Starfleet Academy and meets Doctor McCoy and Captain Pike. During training the cadets are mobilized to answer a distress signal coming from Vulcan. They board the Enterprise and the story is on.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director J.J. Abrams for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Bryan Burk, Jeffrey Chernov, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci for making the film possible. Cast include: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, and John Cho.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a suitable watch and story with very good special effects, animation, make-up, and casting.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

Avatar: The Way of Water becomes an ode to visually stimulating special effects while forgetting storyline and emotional appeal are as integral a part of producing the satisfying entertainment experience as visual stimulation. Avatar: The Way of Water becomes Avatar rerun, except it changes its stage setting to underwater and adds green to the coloration of a tribe with different life ways. Once one has seen Avatar, the second showing seems superficial. The animation? Off the charts. The presentation, acting, and portrayal are good. If the audience is as interested in technological improvement as much as a Hollywood insider, then this movie may work.  Know that editing cuts were not well done and the film becomes an overwhelmingly long watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This science fiction film is about: Earth dying and sending Recombinants to conquer Pandora. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director James Cameron for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Richard Baneham, and David Valdes, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, and Edie Falco. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The movie works well as an immersive artistic presentation, but the story works superficially and takes a 3.2 hour time investment to complete. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE LOSERS (Theatrical Release USA 2010)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Losers—interesting film—has a fairly good storyline supported with great acting and presentation. Its directing has good execution thanks to Director Sylvain White. There are some sexual scenes, but besides that it presents good entertainment value. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images                                                                                                               

Storyline 

A special ops team goes to Bolivia to take out a drug lord’s operational base. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Sylvain White for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman, and Kerry Foster for making the film possible. Cast includes: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Columbus Short, Oscar Jaenada, and Jason Patric. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie runs as an okay watch, a good film to fill time.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

AVATAR (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Avatar, the imaginative culture and the world this culture inhabits, is vibrant with color. The movie touches the emotions at repeatedly high levels throughout the film. The acting and voicing are very good. At times, one forgets that one is watching a ‘motion capture’ movie. The writing is solid and blurs the lines that separate reality from fiction. Enjoy Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, and the rest of the cast in this audience-captivating movie.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A man is assigned to serve on a planet inhabited by native flora and fauna highly deadly to human survival. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director James Cameron for directing effort. Thank you to Producers James Cameron and Jon Landau for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie has spectacular special effects that use color well. It works on an epic scale. While the basic storyline could use improvement, there is no denying the outstanding use of color, the originality of the movie’s special effects, and the creativity of the culture and its environment. It earns its watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. II—inspired fun—writes its story with terrific creativity and becomes one of the best film releases of 2017.  The movie’s borders are boundless and could easily, due to the heavily defined characterizations, become a long running television series on par with Star Wars. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. II serves up 137 minutes of great entertainment for the Teen/Adult audience.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) father, Ego (Kurt Russell), reveals himself and Peter discovers the cause of his mother’s death.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director James Gunn for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Victoria Alonso, Louis D’Esposito, Nikolas Korda, Stan Lee, and Jonathan Schwartz for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Baby Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper), Yondu (Michael Rooker), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone), Ego (Kurt Russell), and Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie does not equal the entertainment quality of Guardians of the Galaxy, but it comes in a very close second to that film’s entertainment value. Introductory scenes are particularly outstanding with special effects, costuming, make-up artistry, background scenery, and casting consistently presenting fresh visuals that harmonize quite pleasingly.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers