THE BAD GUYS (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Bad Guys takes unexpected and interesting twists and turns in its storyline to enhance entertainment value. The computer animation does not follow the usual brassy presentation that American animation has adopted and therefore softens the viewing experience so that focus remains on the story itself rather than the technology it is presented in. The story itself is adventuresome and easily earns its rating for a ‘worthy watch.’ 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Animals, who traditionally create emotions of fear and upset in humans, endeavor to turn good. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Pierre Perifel for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Damon Ross and Rebecca Huntley for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Avoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, and Lilly Singh. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. While not an A-grade animated release, the movie moves along and entertains.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

HALO 4: FORWARD UNTO DAWN (Video Release USA 2012)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn—short mini-series segments made into a movie—does not have a rich tapestry to make a movie storyline. It obviously works on a sci-fi game format which often produces a movie that ‘peters out’ into a situation of running out of storyline and then frantically attempts to just ‘connect all the dots.’ Gamers, however, will most likely find the film worth watching, but not as entertaining as playing the game itself. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

High ranking military officers’ children come under attack while they are training at a military academy. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Stewart Hendler for directing effort. Cast includes: Thom Green, Anna Popplewell, Enisha Brewster, Osric Chau, Kat de Lieva, Daniel Cudmore, Mike Dopud, and Masam Holden. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Fans of the game series may like this movie better than the general movie audience.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ENOLA HOLMES 2 (Video on Demand (VOD) USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

Enola Holmes 2—mystery detective movie—bases itself on the old Sherlock Holmes characters except it includes the entire Holmes family and rounds out the earlier Holmes’ movies. The sequel improves on the Enola Holmes 1 movie in that there is more cooperation between the entire family to solve crime, governmental support is enhanced, and there is less breaking of the 3^rd wall (which was quite disconcerting in the first film). Millie Bobby Brown reprises her role as Enola Holmes.  Henry Cavill reprises his role as Sherlock Holmes. Mycroft Holmes is not in this film. but Louis Partridge as Twerksbury and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes reprise their roles. Susan Wokoma receives an enhanced role. The movie deserves a sequel. It is a good watch for detective/mystery fans. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Enola Holmes endeavors to help a young girl find her friend. 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Harry Bradbeer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Ali Mendes, Millie Bobby Brown, and Robert Brown for making the film possible. Cast includes: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and Helena Bonham Carter. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a great sequel to the first film and begins to round itself out into a solid storyline for many sequel films to follow.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SINBAD: AFROS AND BELL BOTTOMS (Home Box Office (HBO) Special USA 1993)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì 

Sinbad: Afros and Bell Bottoms—good Sinbad-style standup comedy routine—contains some suggestive content but for the most part it presents material for a full round of chuckles. It’s an adult watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Sinbad’s standup comedy routine discusses the culture of afros and bell bottoms. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Debbie Allen for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Mark Adkins and Sinbad. Cast includes: Sinbad 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

 Yes. Both Sinbad fans and standup comedy fans will enjoy this routine. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE THREE CABALLEROS (Theatrical Release USA 1944)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Three Caballeros—an overview of the different cultures of South America and Mexico—uses Donald Duck as the primary animated character for the movie. A parrot named Jose Carioca adds variety and color to this anthology.  Donald Duck is shown as a character with high interest in attractive females, but this focus is child-watch friendly although it gets old in the overall series.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

An anthology of animated cartoons featuring Donald Duck on location in South America and Mexico. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Norman Ferguson for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes:  Aurora Miranda, Carmen Molina, Dora Luz, Sterling Holloway, Clarence Nash, Jose Oliveira, and Joaquin Garay, Frank Graham, Fred Shields, Nestor Amaral

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This animated anthology presents an interesting look at South American and Mexican cultures with strong emphasis on insights into those cultures.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

NIGHT ON EARTH: SHOT IN THE DARK (Television Release World-Wide 2020)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì 

Night on Earth: Shot in the Dark—short documentary—focuses on night behavior of earth animals. The camera work is terrific. The film teaches more about the technology available for shooting this type of documentary than the actual night life. Nothing ‘new’ here and seems a bit like other wildlife shows. There is some interesting Vampire Bat footage of bats feeding at night.  

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

This documentary focuses on night vison camera footage catching nature scenes. 

Additional Thanks 

Cast includes: Peter Fison, Alessandra Mastronardi, Beren Saat, and Samira Wiley. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This production is reminiscent of nature films that were produced in the 1960s except the night vision cameras are exceptionally sophisticated and give some outstanding shots of the nightlife behavior of animals.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

DENIAL (All Medias Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Denial—sophisticated—presents ‘no shab’ entertainment value. Dialogue lines work at a higher level and deliver with force and impact. Acting team of Rachel Wiesz, Timothy Spall, and Tom Wilkinson deliver. The movie easily earns the investment of time and money. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This biographical legal drama film is about a woman who struggles to refute a holocaust denier’s claims. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Mick Jackson for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Gary Foster and Russ Krasnoff for making the film possible. Cast includes: Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall, Andrew Scott, Jack Lowden, Caren Pistorius, and Alex Jennings. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The film works at a high intellectual level and completely delivers. The movie especially appeals to audiences who appreciate legal dramas.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

STORMBREAKER (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Stormbreaker—great idea—uses Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four) as the lead actor. He has good screen presence and exhibits high potential for additional films. The movie works as B-grade, intrigue entertainment. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

This spy action film is about a young man who is recruited by MI6 to infiltrate a supercomputer organization to discover any ulterior motive in donating high tech systems free of charge to British school systems. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Geoffrey Sax for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Marc Samuelson, Peter Samuelson, and Steve Christian for making the film possible. Cast includes: Sarah Bolger, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry, Damian Lewis, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Sophie Okonedo, Alex Pettyfer, Missi Pyle, Andy Serkis, Alicia Silverstone, Ashley Walters, and Mickey Rourke.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. Despite its initial failure in theaters, the movie follows the strict protocols of superior spy films and earns its watch.

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

ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (All Medias Release USA 2005)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room—documentary—works on a predefined format as an attempt to establish how and why Enron went bankrupt. The movie has been well formulated and cycles around an easily understandable presentation. Take care choosing this as a family watch as there are exceptionally pornographic scenes thrown into the middle of the film. For the most part, it serves as a good watch for the adult audience. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The documentary examines the path of Enron from its beginning to its demise. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Alex Gibney for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Alex Gibney, Jason Kliot, Susan Motamed, and Alison Ellwood for making the film possible. Narration by Peter Coyote. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. It is well put together and follows a pre-defined path. Except for the introduction of unnecessary pornographic scenes in the middle of the movie, it is completely watchable.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ALLIGATOR (Theatrical Release USA 1980)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Alligator may be a typical 1980s-style B-grade film, but it works as a great horror movie with all the right bells and whistles. The movie uses good storytelling, excellent timing, and the correct buildup of musical scoring to create ambience that competes with some of the best edge-of-the-seat entertainment out there. Know that it is not a high-profile film, but it is a fun watch. Know that it is not a family view film due to gore and some sexual scenes. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

An oversized alligator, who has a taste for humans, terrorizes the sewers. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Lewis Teague for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Brandon Chase for making the film possible. Cast includes: Robert Forster, Robin Riker, and Michael Gazzo. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie is slightly reminiscent of Spielberg’s Jaws series and catches the horror factor very well throughout the movie. If this is the emotion looked for, this film provides it realistically, repetitively, and professionally. No lack here in a horror film. Good watch; worth buying the ticket.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE (Theatrical Release Netherlands 2021)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Forgotten Battle becomes a bit hard to follow due to the heavy packing of actors that disallows time to fully examine deeper characterization.  Whether intentional or thoroughly accidental the film’s focus becomes Teunje Visser, her doctor father, and her brother Dirk, but the backbone of the story truly relies on the resistors, the soldiers who support them, and the turning of a battle.  This film has been released in Dutch, German, and some English with great subtitles incorporated throughout. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A World War II film shows a small vignette of the Dutch Resistance to German occupation. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Matthijs van Heijning Jr. for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Alain de Levita, Paula van der Oest, and Mark van Eeuwen for making the film possible. Cast includes: Gijs Blom, Jamie Flatters, and Susan Radder. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie runs on a sophisticated presentation that has been well portrayed. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE KNIGHT AND THE PRINCESS (EL Gouna Film Festival Egypt 2019)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.0|5.0 Starsììì 

The Knight and the Princess—interesting study film on Egypt’s animation offerings—uses animation that does not move with fluidity, blurs at times, and works from a story that needs a rewrite to establish coherence in thought. Much of the dialogue (English voiceovers) is mostly unintelligible and the audience will have to rely on subtitles which will add to time investment in this feature. The musical additions are dropped in odd places throughout the movie so that one does not expect music when it suddenly appears. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A man’s desire to save people leads him to his true love. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Bashir El Deek for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Alabbas Bin Alabbas for making the film possible. Cast includes: Aiemzy, Mohamed El Dafrawy, Lekka El Khamisy, Maged El-Kidwani, Hani Eskander, Weam Essam, Mohamed Ghaneemah, and Donia Samir Ghanem. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

No. This film can be shelved for the 2003 animated film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas or the 1992 animated film Aladdin.

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

THE LAST BLOCKBUSTER (All-Media Release USA 2020)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Last Blockbuster—documentary—incorporates the human factor very well in that it details family interaction at home and in the video store located in Bend Oregon. It’s surprising to see nostalgia in action and to see this video store still functioning despite the accommodations of streaming, video on demand, and the complete affordability of entertainment options on Netflix Streaming, Amazon Prime, Disney +, AppleTV, and so many more. The entertainment world is changing so rapidly that it is difficult to stay abreast of the new services available, let alone providing the home with consistent access to the new technological necessaries to access that entertainment.  The documentary has validity for the nostalgic factor and does bring back memories of a time when one had to use considerable time and monetary resources to access entertainment. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

This documentary details how one last Blockbuster store continues to provide entertainment services to a small town in Oregon. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Taylor Morden for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Zeke Kam for making the film possible. Cast includes: Lauren Lapkus (Narrator), Tom Casey, Kevin Smith, Sandi Harding, Lloyd Kaufman, and Jamie Kennedy.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The documentary creates feelings of nostalgia to some extent, but also makes the viewer thankful for the newer and more convenient ways to access entertainment. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

 

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST THE REVENGE OF SCAR (Video on Demand USA 2022)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar—odd storyline lacks international appeal—needs a reality check. The entertainment value sits in the okay range. Despite this, the movie is set on being a series.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

Alchemists are attacked by an evil force. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Fumihiko Sori for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Yumihiko Yoshihara for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ryosuka Yamada, Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka, Rayuta Sato, Jun Kunimura, Fumiyo Kohinata, and Yasuko Matsuyuki. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. The concept is interesting, but the movie needs much improvement in presentation and storyline. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SHANE (Theatrical Release USA 1953)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

Shane—good, down-to-earth, refreshing, and simple film—is a wonderful relief from fantasy, science fiction, supernatural, and war movies that currently dominate the market. Great, natural acting by Alan Ladd, Van Heflin, Jean Arthur, Brandon De Wilde, Ben Johnson, and Jack Palance weave through the opening to ending scenes. Good story telling and great writing, that is deeply immersed in thoughtful thinking, bring this film to the forefront for adding to the family home video library. Worth its watch. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A man drifts into a new homesteading area and helps a farming family and the community who have settled there. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director George Stevens for directing effort. Producer George Stevens for making the film possible.  Cast includes: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon deWilde, and Jack Palance. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is good story telling and earns its watch. Even after 70 years (as of 2023), this film has lost none of its entertainment value. It’s an above average western and more than earns its watch.     

                                                                       

Ben Meyers