THE BUTLER (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.9|5.0 Starsìììì

The Butler—a fabulous, top-of-the-line, loosely-based-on-real-life events movie—tells the story of Cecil Gaines, White House butler. The cast is as outstanding as the script. Oprah Winfrey, Lenny Kravitz, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, John Cusack, Vanessa Redgrave, and Liev Schreiber take this film from a regular story to masterpiece status. The movie is absolutely a best working effort for Director Lee Daniels and a complete win for Executive Producers.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), in a series of life events—some devastating and some fortuitous—moves from a small child working in Southern cotton fields to the White House.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Lee Daniels for directing efforts. Kudos to Music Composer Rodridgo Leão and Script Writer Danny Strong. Thank you to Executive Producers Len Blavatnik, James T. Bruce IV, Elizabeth Destro, Michael Finley, Aviv Giladi, Adonis Hadjiantonas, Vince Holden, Brett Johnson, Sheila Johnson, Jordan Kessler, Adam Merims, David Ranes, Matthew Salloway, Hilary Shor, Earl Stafford, Danny Strong, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, and R. Bryan Wright for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), Earl Gaines (David Banner), 8-year old Cecil Gaines (Michael Rainey, Jr.), Abraham (LaJessie Smith), Hattie Pearl (Mariah Carey), Thomas Westfall (Alex Pettyfer), Annabeth Westfall (Vanessa Redgrave), 15-year old Cecil Gaines (Aml Ameen), and Maynard (Clarence Williams III).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a classic that should be in the home library and is more than worth a re-watch.

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Ben Meyers

THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (Theatrical Release USA 1986)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

The Great Mouse Detective—a heartfelt, simple adventure—bases its story on a mouse who makes toys. This film uses two well-known animation direction experts, Ron Clements and John Musker, to organize the story from Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone. The animated feature stands among the better family entertainment films and is a good choice for the child and adult.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

A toymaking mouse, Hiram Flaversham (voiced by Alan Young), is kidnapped by a peg-legged bat, Fidget (voiced by Candy Candido). An evil rat, Professor Ratigan (voiced by Vincent Price), wants the toymaker mouse to build a robotic queen so that the evil rat can take over Mousedom. But, the toymaker mouse’s daughter, Olivia Flaversham (voiced by Susanne Pollatschek), gets a mouse detective, Basil Bartholomew (voiced by Barrie Ingham), to solve the case.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, David Michener, and John Musker for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Burny Mattinson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Professor Ratigan (voice of Vincent Price), Basil of Baker Street/ Bartholomew (voice of Barrie Ingham), Dr. David Q. Dawson/Thug Guard (voice of Val Bettin), Olivia Flaversham (voice of Susanne Pollatschek), Fidget (voice of Candy Candido), Mrs. Judson (voice of Diana Chesney), The Mouse Queen (voice of Eve Brenner), and Hiram Flaversham (voice of Alan Young).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a good adult/child share film. The animation is good. It’s a clean, decent story.

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Ben Meyers

ZOOM (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Zoom—it’s definitely not in the best family film category. It lacks realism and its comedy plays as a sporadic event which seems partially the problem of casting choices. Both Rip Torn and Chevy Chase are not up to their usual acting abilities. They act their parts almost half-heartedly with a certain ‘unawareness’ as if their minds are elsewhere. While this preoccupation with ‘something else’ is balanced with strong acting by Tim Allen as Jack Shepard/Captain Zoom, along with Spencer Breslin as Tucker Williams/Mega-boy, Michael Cassidy as Dylan West/Houdini, Kevin Zegers as Connor Shepard/Concussion, Kate Mara as Summer Jones/Wonder, and Ryan Newman as Cindy Collins/Princess, it doesn’t really make up for the seeming non-support of Rip Torn and Chevy Chase.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Jack Shepard (Tim Allen), a mechanic, under the direction of Dr. Grant (Chevy Chase), trains kids to search and get rid of a superhero gone bad—who turns out to be, Jack’s older brother.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Peter Hewitt for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Trevor Engelson, Neil Machlis, and Nicholas Osborne for making the movie possible. Additional characters/cast include: Captain Zoom (Tim Allen), Marsha Holloway (Courteney Cox), Tucker Williams/Mega-Boy (Spencer Breslin), Connor Shepard/Concussion (Kevin Zegers), Summer Jones/Wonder (Kate Mara), Dylan West/Houdini (Michael Cassidy), CindyCollins/Princess (Ryan Newman), and Larraby (Rip Torn).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. If there’s a limited time slot for entertainment, it’s not going to deliver quality entertainment for that allotted time.

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Ben Meyers

HELLBOY (Theatrical Release USA 2004)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Hellboy—you’ll either love it or hate it. But, either way, its heart, comedy, and unique story line unmistakably place it in its own class. Ron Pearlman acts as Hellboy.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

During World War II, Sergeant Whitman (Angus MacInnes) leads a team of soldiers and a young Doctor Broom (Kevin Trainor) to an old ruin to spy on Germans. He finds the Germans opening an otherworldly portal. After a battle, Sergeant Whitman searches the grounds for any life that may have seeped into the earthly realm and finds Hellboy, as an infant, in the ruins.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Guillermo del Toro for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Patrick J. Palmer for making the film possible. Kudos to Composer Marco Beltrami for Hellboy’s musical scores. Additional characters/cast include: Hellboy (Ron Perlman), Trevor Bruttenholm (John Hurt), Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), John Myers (Rupert Evans), Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden), Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor), Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), and Sammael (Brian Steele).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a well done tribute to the marvelous world of comics.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER (Theatrical Release USA 1982)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Stars ììì

The Man from Snowy River—an Australian western—has its own distinctive flavor. Even though it stars America’s Kirk Douglas, there is no mistaking the different texture of this story compared to other westerns Kirk Douglas has played (i.e., The Way West/Man Without A Star). The script, derived from an 1890s Australian poem, seems disorganized and a little weak as if the writer did not have enough material to make a solid story. Even though the film was quite successful at Australian box offices, it performs as something an American would watch on a ‘ho-hum’ afternoon of Bonanza reruns rather than a film one would go to theater to watch. The Ben Meyers’ reaction to this film is: ‘pretty much bored throughout the movie, checking the wrist watch to see when the 102 requisite minutes will be finished’. Redeeming factors for this film are: 1) outstanding scenery 2) a conclusion that nearly matches the unmistakable American Western movie style and literally pulls the rest of the film together.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Young Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) earns his right to run his deceased father’s Australian station.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director George Miller for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Edgley and Simon Wincer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Henry Craig (Terence Donovan), Harrison/Spur (Kirk Douglas), Mountain Man (Tommy Dysart), Man in Street (Bruce Kerr), Banjo Paterson (David Bradshaw), Jessica Harrison (Sigrid Thornton), Clancy (Jack Thompson), Kane (Tony Bonner), and Mrs. Bailey (June Jago).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It introduces the audience to great Australian scenery and has a workable conclusion.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE MAGIC OF BELLE ISLE (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Magic of Belle Isle—a heartfelt classic—features a simple story perfectly scripted. It’s a 2012 winner. Wow! The movie’s slow, easy pace could not have been better. This film was not well received in the box office and received poor ratings from most movie critiques. Not so here. It’s a sleeper that will come into its own as a feel-good story about getting well and the power of others to inspire.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Alcoholic writer Monte Wildhorn (Morgan Freeman) and his nephew Henry (Kenan Thompson) drive an aging 1993 GMC truck to a small summer house. Henry takes a handmade plywood ramp from the back of the truck, sets it in front of the front porch, and Monte takes a remote-controlled wheel chair up the ramp into his summer quarters. While that is happening, the next door neighbor, Charlotte O’Neil (Virginia Madsen), washes the roof of her house with a garden hose and the story is off and running as it follows the interactions between the writer and his new neighbors through the summer.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Rob Reiner for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Liz Glotzer, Jared Goldman, and Martin Shafer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Charlotte O’Neil (Virginia Madsen), Finnegan O’Neil (Emma Fuhrmann), Willow O’Neil (Madeline Carroll), Flora O’Neil (Nicolette Pierini), Fire Captain (C.J.Wilson), Carl Loop (Ash Christian), and Mahmoud (Debargo Sanyal).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film is easy on the mind with a small town flavor that is easy to digest.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

DOUBLE TAKE (Berlin International Film Festival Berlin Germany 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Stars ììì

Double Take—an intellectually stimulating fictional, documentary-type presentation film—contains vast archival footage and excellent documentation that successfully uses metaphor to examine paranoia, fear, and competition between forces, from entertainment and political sources, to create environs of fear far outside reality.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Alfred Hitchcock meets his doppelgänger.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Johan Grimonprez for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Doris Hepp for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Leonid Brezhnev (himself), George Bush (himself), George W. Bush (himself), Jimmy Carter (himself), Fidel Castro (himself), John Chancellor (himself), Bill Clinton (himself), Ron Cochran (himself), and Walter Cronkite (himself).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The movie credits Director Johan Grimonprez’ ability to present a complicated viewpoint within exceptionally fluid thinking processes. Intellectually entertaining.


Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE MIGHTY DUCKS (Theatrical Release USA 1992)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

The Mighty Ducks—a superior execution of a very good story—causes the Ben Meyers’ team to forget critiquing and actually ‘get lost’ in the film itself. This is a great movie catch for the family entertainment night.

Film Poster Courtesy Wikipedia 

Storyline

Young Gordon Bombay (Brock Pierce) listens to his hockey coach, Coach Reilly (Lane Smith), telling him to do well with a penalty shot. The boy gets into proper position and shoots the puck. It hits the railing of the goal net and the other team wins. It is a first-time loss for the hockey team. The next scene shows an adult Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) working as a successful lawyer in a court room setting and the story is off and running.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Stephen Herek for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Jon Avnet and Jordan Kerner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Hans (Joss Ackland), Casey (Heidi Kling), Gerald Ducksworth (Josef Sommer), Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson), Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), Goldberg (Shaun West), Lewis (M.C. Gainey), and Les Averman (Matt Doherty).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a win for all age groups needing entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ANASTASIA (Theatrical Release USA 1997)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.0|5.0 Stars ììì

Anastasia—interesting animated story from Fox Animation Studios—completes itself with terrific music and outstanding songs. However, this film does not have enough time to tell its story and actually seemed rushed, especially at the end of the script, almost as if there wasn’t enough money to finish the film at its proper pace. The script begins with no background story. The audience is ‘dumped’ into a quite complicated story without preparation and it takes a while to ‘catch up’ to the tale which makes this animated feature seem a little too sophisticated for younger children.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Eight-year-old Anastasia, daughter of the Romanov Russian ruling family, escapes with her Grandmother Marie during the Russian Revolution only to become separated from her Grandmother after a nasty fall that leaves her in a state of amnesia. Ten years later, Anastasia leaves the orphanage where she was raised and through a series of fortunate events becomes briefly reunited with her Grandmother only to find that she has awakened exceptionally evil spiritual forces still intent on completing her destruction.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Maureen Donley for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Anastasia (voice of Meg Ryan), Dimitri (voice of John Cusack), Vladimir (voice of Kelsey Grammar), Rasputin (voice of Christopher Lloyd), Bartok (voice of Hank Azaria), Sophie (voice of Bernadette Peters), Young Anastasia (voice of Kirsten Dunst), The Dowager Empress Marie (voice of Angela Landsbury), Czar Nicholas/Servant/Revolutionary Soldier/ Ticket Agent (voice of Rick Jones), and Phlegmenkoff/Old Woman (voice of Andrea Martin).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Do some research on the plot for this film before buying the ticket. Ten minutes of explanation before the film will greatly enhance the adult/child entertainment experience and expand the family’s knowledge of different ways that various cultures understand supernatural powers.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE EXPENDABLES 2 (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Stars ììì

The Expendables 2—at some points stupidly funny with quite good action scenes—stars our favorite action heroes: Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris (a new addition from the last Expendables), Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme (a new addition from the last Expendables), Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth, and Terry Crews. While the Ben Meyers’ team prefers them individually, the all-star cast presents a ‘hard to pass it by’ appeal. The mixture of younger with seasoned actors in this genre seems a little unsettling and raises the question would it have been better to work with seasoned actors only in the story. But, this critic team likes the film and evidently box office likes it, too, as it grossed approximately $3 to every $1 invested. We’re looking forward to Expendables 3 which includes Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, and Kellan Lutz. Sylvester Stallone, as of this writing, is working on Expendables 4 for a 2017 release. This film starts with a good bang for your buck. Audiences definitely will not be bored.

Movie Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Our favorite body builders show muscle power across Nepal, New Orleans, Albania, and Bulgaria as they track villains and correct wrongs.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Simon West for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Guymon Casady, Guy Avshalom, Basil Iwanyk, Zygi Kamasa, Trevor Short, Samuel and Victor Hadida, Danny Dimbort, Jason Constantine, and Boaz Davidson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Booker (Chuck Norris), Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Church (Bruce Willis), Trench (Arnold Schwarzenegger), Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), Toll Road (Randy Couture), Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth), Hector (Scott Adkins), Stephan (Alexander Moskov), and Bojan (George Zlatarev).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The film can’t be faulted for its terrific presentation of our favorite body building actors.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

TARZAN (Theatrical Release USA 1999)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

Tarzan—although disappointingly short in length (only 88 minutes)—turns into a very good movie for adults and children alike. The film, illustrated with the usual terrific Disney animation, tells how the whole Tarzan story begins with Tarzan’s human parents, their jungle home, and Tarzan’s eventual adoption into a gorilla colony.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

How it all began—a shipwreck, a tree house, a brutal murder, an infant left alone in the jungle, and decisions, decisions, decisions: “Now that I know I am human, what do I do?”

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Chris Buck and Kevin Lima for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Bonnie Arnold for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Clayton (voice of Brian Blessed), Kala (voice of Glenn Close), Jane (voice of Minnie Driver), Tarzan (voice of (voice of Tony Goldwyn), Professor Porter (voice of Nigel Hawthorne), Kerchak (voice of Lance Hneriksen), Tantor (voice of Wayne Knight), Young Tarzan (Alex D. Linz), and Terk (voice of Rosie O’Donnell).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s Disney at its best.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

WITH GREAT POWER: THE STAN LEE STORY (Comic Con International Film Festival San Diego California 2010)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Stars ììì

With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story—a documentary about one of our greatest comic book writers/creators, Stan Lee, creator of The Hulk, Spiderman, Fantastic Four, Thor, X-Men, Daredevil, and Iron Man—begins with President George W. Bush commemorating Stan Lee for his lifelong contributions to the world of arts. The documentary contains wonderful interviews with business owners, colleagues, and actors/actresses who know and have worked with Stan Lee. Inspiring and personal, the film allows deep insight into a successful man who built an empire while maintaining an outstandingly happy marriage and nourishing a widely diverse circle of friends. Although over 86 years of age, Stan Lee sets the bar by continuing to be actively and heavily involved in an industry he made great. The documentary is more than worth watching for a wider audience than the average comic fan.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

The documentary explores the vast contributions comic book writer/creator Stan Lee makes to the entertainment community.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Terry Dougas, Nikki Frakes, and William Lawrence Hess for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Terry Dougas, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis, Nikki Frakes, and William Lawrence Hess for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Avi Arad (Himself), Sean Astin (Himself), Dick Ayers (Himself), Kenneth Branagh (Himself), Ian Bryce (Himself), Nicolas Cage (Himself), Gill Chamion (Himself), Michael Chiklis (Himself), and Thomas Haden Church (Himself).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This documentary is exceptionally personal, insightful, and delightful.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (Theatrical Release Hong Kong China 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.1|5.0 Stars ììì

The Sorcerer and The White Snake works itself quickly into a B-grade movie. The redeeming factors are: really good special effects and superb animation of some of the snake scenes.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The story begins with Abbott Fahai (Jet Li) walking through thunder, lightning, and high wind with his pupil, Neng Ren (Wen Zhang), toward an old shrine’s double doors. The doors immediately swing open and Neng Ren wonders where the blizzard inside the shrine comes from. Abbott warns him not to believe what he appears to be seeing. Neng Ren complains that he is cold. Abbott states that his pupil is already under ‘her’ spell. A pink mist forms a lady in a beautiful red dress. The pupil believes she is the Ice Harpy and runs to fight her, but becomes frozen. Abbott engages in battle with the enchantress and captures her in a stone bowl. His pupil returns to normal and they return to their world. The story improves as Xu Xian (Raymond Lam), a physician, unwittingly marries a white demon snake (Huang Shengyi) disguised as a beautiful maiden. After Abbott Fahai informs Xu Xian that he has married a snake demon, the story progresses into an eternal love-lost/love-regained/love-lost story.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Ching Siu-Tung for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Bo-Chu Chui and Yang Zi for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Abott Fahai (Jet Li), White Snake (Shengyi Huang), Xu Xian (Raymond Lam), Green Snake (Charlene Choi), Neng Ren (Zhang Wen), Ice Harpy (Vivian Hsu), Rabbit (voice of Miriam Chin Wah Yeung), Mysterious Herbalist (Kar-Ying Law), and Chicken (voice of Suet Lam).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Despite a thin storyline and less than professional acting, the movie gradually improves as it progresses. It’s a good film for cultural studies.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

RED DAWN (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Stars ììì

The Red Dawn remake just doesn’t ‘cut it’ like the original 1984 release of Red Dawn with Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen. The remake has the same premise, but it’s definitely not the same strong portrayal of story by any means. There seems to be a casting challenge in that the remake’s characters, Chris Hemsworth and Josh Peck, do not play off each other as well as the characters in the original release of this movie. The rest of the casting choices such as Josh Hutcherson and Conner Cruise seem conflicted as if their character personalities have not been solidified enough or understood enough to portray them well. But, the upshot is: the realism, action, and general execution of the remake works.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The movie begins, unlike the original, as if it has to explain the setting with news blurbs of real and recent talks of international conflict. The camera fades in to show a parking lot with a football game going on in the distance, then switches to show the main character, Jed, sitting in a 1990 Dodge listening to the game while watching it through his front window. The camera switches to the football field where his brother, Matt, plays in the game. Jed walks toward his father, Tom Eckert (Brett Cullen), to see how his brother’s team is doing and Tom nods to the score board which reads Home 14 and Guest 17. At 13 seconds on the clock, a goal kick fails and the home team loses the game. Jed walks back to the parking lot and the movie is off and running.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Dan Bradley for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Kevin Halloran and Vincent Newman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth), Matt Eckert (Josh Peck), Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson), Toni Walsh (Adrianne Palicki), Erica Martin (Isabel Lucas), Daryl Jenkins (Connor Cruise), Danny (Edwinn Hodge), Tom Eckert (Brett Cullen), and Julie (Alyssa Diaz).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a good flick but Director Dan Bradley seems challenged by the casting choices for the film.

Video Critique Available :Here

Ben Meyers

FIREPROOF (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.5|5.0 Stars ìì

Fireproof—predictable, trite—tries too hard to show us how to put a broken marriage back together. The movie is worth a watch due to some pretty fair emergency scenes acted by Kirk Cameron and his supporting cast. The main problem appears to be a poorly written script, but it also seems Director Alex Kendricks did not pull the best that his actors had to offer for this film’s story. The story’s intentions are good; the movie just needs to be placed into more professional hands for full development. It’s worth a watch for anyone struggling with a failing marriage.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Fireman Caleb Holt’s (Kirk Cameron) marriage is failing. His father John Holt (Harris Malcom) asks him to try the Love Dare, a 40-day program to re-establish marital strength.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Alex Kendricks for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Catherine Holt (Erin Bethea), Michael Simmons (Ken Bevel), Wayne Floyd (Stephen Dervan), Terrell Sanders (Eric Young), Eric Harmon (Jason McLeod), Cheryl Holt (Phyllis Malcolm), Gavin Keller (Perry Revell), and Robin Cates (Stephanie Makulinski).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. There is a good message here and it does introduce couples to a means of perhaps saving a marriage.

Video Critique available at:

Ben Meyers

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX (Theatrical Release USA 2008)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Stars ììì

The Tale of Despereaux—creative and worth watching for the adult and child—is about an apprehensive rat who is more brave than apprehensive and a mouse who should be apprehensive, but is not afraid of anything. The script is a little dry at times, but there is something irresistible about this story that makes it worth watching.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Rat Roscuro’s (voice by Dustin Hoffman) life becomes inextricably entertwined with Mouse Despereaux (voice by Matthew Broderick), Princess Pea (voice of Emma Watson), and Serving Girl Miggery Sow (voice of Tracey Ullman) in this tale where everyone wants to be happier but haven’t quite found their place in life yet.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Sam Fell and Robert Stevenhagen for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Robin Bissell, Ryan Kavanaugh, William Sargent, and David Lipman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Andre (voice of Kevin Kline), Lester (voice of William H. Macy), Boldo (voice of Stanley Tucci), Botticelli (voice of Ciarán Hinds), and Gregory (voice of Robbie Coltrane).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Its got freshness to its storyline and its presentation.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers