Thank you to Director Chad Stahelski for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee for making the film possible. Cast includes Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose, Riccardo Scamarcio, Common, Lance Reddick, Bridget Moynahan, John Leguizamo, Peter Stormare, Franco Nero, and Ian McShane.
Yes. This is a good film, but the feel of the portrayal is sterile and not as realistic as desired.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
Broken Arrow—okay film—accesses the talents of John Travolta and Christian Slater. It’s difficult to establish John Travolta as an antagonist. The acting, presentation, and storyline run from suitable to weak. This film has little character development.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A soldier turned bad and the USA government try to take control of two undetonated nuclear warheads that were lost in transit.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director John Woo for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mark Gordon, Bill Badalato, and Terence Chang for making the film possible. Cast includes John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Frank Whaley, Bob Gunton, Howie Long, and Delroy Lindo.
Maybe. Don’t expect a terrific movie. The film runs on an action theme that is a suitable watch.
Video Critique Available Here:
The Pilgrim’s Progress—sterile and weak—begs for an explanation. It is a message film but without a clear message. The story needs expansion and a definition for the scenes which are undefined. Even a Wikipedia plotline read does not sufficiently supply quality of storyline to really make one want to watch it as a high priority, It has a lot of explaining to do. It lacks coherency and explanation for random characters that appear throughout the story. The theme seems to run on a death theme rather than a life theme. It supports annulling of promises made for the marital state, gives permission to abandon wife and children, and encourages walking toward death rather than toward life. In 2019 there were much better animation techniques available than this film uses.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A man leaves his wife and sons to take a journey that he knows has no return.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Robert Fernandez for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steve Cleary, Robert Fernandez, Chris Jung, and Larry Zielke for making the film possible. Cast includes David Thorpe, John Rhys-Davies, and Kristyn Getty.
No. This film does not support good moral values.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
This action film is about a supervirus named
“Snowflake” and the efforts to contain it after it leaves a laboratory injected
into a human.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director David Leitch for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Chris Morgan, Hiram Garcia for making the film possible. Cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Edris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Cliff Curtis, and Helen Mirren
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
Breakheart Pass—interesting story but poorly written and difficult to follow—has a run-of-the-mill storyline. While Charles Bronson has made some great movies, this is not one of his better efforts. It is a suitable watch for the western movie fan, but not a great watch.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
This western film is about a train destined
to Fort Humbolt. Its Bill of Lading states it is carrying medical supplies for
a diphtheria outbreak.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Tom Gries for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jerry Gershwin and Elliott Kastner for making the film possible. Cast includes Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Jill Ireland, Charles Durning, Ed Lauter, and David Huddleston.
Video Critique Available Here:
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts—different twist to its storyline than the Shia Lebouf and Mark Wahlberg Transformer movies—Iacks relatability. The fight scenes come one after another without a real storyline that connects the scenes together in one seamless flow. But it is good to see another Transformer movie and despite its overall lack of good portrayal will, most likely, draw the Transformer movie fan into the theater as well as sell Hasbro toys.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
This action fantasy film is about securing
the Transwarp key so that Unicron does not destroy other planets including earth.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Steven Caple Jr. for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian, and Duncan Henderson for making the film possible. Cast includes Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback.
Yes. Despite the low-grade quality of this movie, it will satisfy the Transformer film fan.
Video Critique Available Here:
John Wick—Keanu Reeves—tells a strong story of revenge and cleaning a dirty house of its bad people. This story may not serve Keanu Reeves as well as Constantine or The Matrix Quad Pack, but it is not bad. The movie has good acting, portrayal, and presentation. Watch for the Allstate Insurance ad actor, Dean Winters, playing one of the henchmen in this movie.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
A man desires revenge on the people responsible for the death of a beagle given to him by his wife as a parting gift.
Additional Thanks
Thank you for Director Chad Stahelski for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Basil Iwanyk, David Leitch, Eva Longoria, and Michael Witherill for making the film possible. Cast includes Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Willem Dafoe
Yes. This movie is good enough to deserve a sequel and did produce 2 sequels with a John Wick 4 available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime. Thank you to all involved in production.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
Lucy is a film that takes its audiences into the unknown and widens our perspective of what our brains possibly could do if we could use 100 % of the brain’s potential. This film explores that subject very well with the help of actress Scarlett Johansson who plays the part of Lucy. This movie is very watchable and by adding Morgan Freeman as a lecturing professor it increases the realism of the show and makes the subject matter seem like a real possibility. Watch for a totally fabulous conclusion to this action thriller. The idea for this story has been well-chosen and creates good after-viewing discussion material. Very watchable. Well-ordered story that is easy to follow. There is no mistaking the protagonist or the antagonists. The film makes sense and the characters are well-defined. Great writer for the movie’s script. Good work for all involved.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
Scientists experiment on humans to allow them 100% use of their brain power.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Luc Besson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Virginie Besson-Silla for making the film possible. Cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-ski, and Amr Waked.
Yes. This is a terrific standalone movie that needs no embellishments.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
R.I.P.D.—well-written—chooses Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges to tell its story. The team is perfectly complimentary. This movie is both comical and creative. The presentation and portrayal are very good. It’s good to watch a fresh idea unfold on screen and after watching the film walk away feeling sated.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
A police officer is killed and finds himself transported to a different realm where he is given a new partner and assigned the task of freely going back and forth between earth and the new realm to track and detain criminals who have escaped punishment for their crimes.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Robert Schwentke for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Neal Moritz, Mike Richardson, and Michael Fottrell for making the film possible. Cast includes Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, and Stephanie Szostak.
Yes. It is worth watching and tells a good story
that completely earns its watch. Thank you to everyone who made the film
possible.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
Casino Royale— fun, artistic romp—accesses the best of the best in actor/actresses for the production of this movie. The point of the film seems to be: sit back and enjoy our artistic effort. The stage settings are rich; outdoor settings are beautiful. And while, the story completely lacks depth, it hits all the high points of what it takes to make a 007 movie.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
The movie plays as a farcical representation of the James Bond movies.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Directors John Huston, Ken Hughes, Robert Parrish, Joe McGrath, and Val Guest for directing effort. Thank you to Charles K. Feldman and Jerry Bresler for making the possible. Cast includes Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven, Woody Allen, Ronnie Corbett, Joanna Pettet, Orson Welles, Daliah Lavi, Deborah Kerr, William Holden, Jean-Paul Belmondo, George Raft, John Huston, Terrence Cooper, Barbara Bouchet, Gabriella Licudi, Graham Stark, Tracy Reed, Tracey Crisp, Kurt Kasznar, Elaine Taylor, and Angela Scoular.
Yes. This film is worth watching.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
The Lego Ninjago Movie—low-grade, weak movie—may appeal to very young viewers. The movie tries but does not shine. The animation is great but the storyline runs on a trite theme.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
A boy desires a stronger relationship with his father but finds a large disparity in ethical values.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Directors Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher, and Bob Logan’s directing effort. Thank you to Producers Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Chris McKay, Maryann Garger, and Roy Lee for making the film possible. Cast includes Dave Franco, Michael Pena, Kumail Nanjiani, Abbi Jacobson, Zach Woods, Fred Armisen, Jackie Chan, Justin Theroux, and Olivia Munn.
.Maybe. It needs a restart on its storyline. It looks like there were ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’ during production who had too much money to work with.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben
Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A man finds his calling in rescuing children from the sex trade.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Alejandro Monteverde for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Eduardo Verástegui for making the film possible. Cast includes Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp.
Yes. This is a wonderful film and more than worth watching. It is a rough story presented in an easily digestible format and doesn’t miss a beat in delivering its story.
Video Critique Available Here:
The Horse Soldiers—John Wayne film—is better than expected and turns into one of Mr. Wayne’s better works that stands as well as the John Ford film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, and stands with great cinematography and acting that catches its story in the small nuances of dialogue and body movement. One thing that helps this movie a great deal is the presence of William Holden serving as a military medical recruit. Another help to the story are the scenes that show honor during wartime (as the decision made by John Wayne when a group of children who are training in a military school make a decision to start service early). This is a John Ford-directed film. John Ford also directed the 1939 film Stagecoach. Comparing the two watches is good proof for longevity in one’s field improves quality of production.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
The film focuses on the lives of a troop of Civil War Yankee soldiers.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director John Ford for directing effort. Thank you to Producers John Lee Mahin and Martin Mahlin for making the film possible. Cast includes John Wayne, William Holden, and Constance Towers.
Yes. This is a quality watch and worth watching for western fans and John Wayne and John Ford fans.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
The Flash—Ezra Miller as Flash—is a thinking watch with a storyline that both the writer and director do not seem to fully understand its impact or significance. This creates a superficial entertainment piece that loses portrayal value (as when Barry gets lost in another universe). The 15-minute conclusion allows a sequel to this high-profile film. The movie ends with a rather comical twist of events.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Flash runs into the past to see if he can save his mom.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Andy Muscietti for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco for making the film possible. Cast includes Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdu, Kiersey Clemons, and Michael Keaton.
Yes. The movie works at the interesting, good story level.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
Wander— interesting almost mind-bending constipation—delivers a pointless story. The story is hard to follow and lacks clarity of purpose. The best part of the watch is seeing Tommy Lee Jones on screen along with Aaron Eckhart.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A small town in New Mexico experiments on humans to make them trackable and destructible if they do not follow the ‘rules’.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director April Mullen for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Tim Doiron, Andre Relis, Chad Verdi, April Mullen, Jason Allison, Mary Aloe, Douglas Falconer, and James van der Woerd. Cast includes Aaron Eckhart, Katheryn Winnick, Heather Graham, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Maybe. It is what it is.
Video Critique Available Here:
Ben Meyers
Meg 2: The Trench is an okay film that ‘kind of works’ until Jason Statham and his crew leave the oil rig; then the film goes downhill from there. This film has suitable special effects. The acting is good. The camera work is good to suitable. It is a sequel movie that can stand on its own. Know that it is not terrible but it could use some touching up in storyline, portrayal, and presentation.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Oversized sea creatures and dinosaurs begin attacking humans.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Ben Wheatley for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Belle Avery for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, and Cliff Curtis
Yes. ‘Yes’ because if one is following the series this is the next film in the Meg films. Overall, it is a suitable watch that can fill in time as an afternoon watch.
Video Critique Available Here:
