THE ELECTRIC EARTHQUAKE (Released in 1942)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Electric Earthquake—early Superman short, animated film—doesn't have much time to present its story. The presentation and portrayal are suitable to good.  The concept is interesting. The film is available for viewing on YouTube Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia   Storyline   A Native American man wants the land of Manhattan back. When he is turned down, he creates an artificial earthquake. Super-Man is on the case.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Dave Fleischer for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Max Fleischer for making the film possible. Cast includes Bud Collyer, Joan Alexander, Julian Noa, and Jackson Beck. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. It shows early efforts to develop the Super-Man character. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers Yes. This is a good afternoon short film to watch and tells a suitable storyline.

ARTHUR THE KING (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Arthur the King—Mark Wahlberg—works on the slow side of  storytelling but does give good insight to endurance cross country racing and the enormous amount of skill it takes to do this sport. The movie allows an almost miraculous performance of the dog who keeps showing up in the lives of one team of racers. Watch for Simu Liu from the Marvel movie Shang Chi.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A man gets financial sponsors to enter the Dominican Republic cross country race with a team composed of former colleagues. Along the way he makes friends with a stray dog who finds him and his colleagues later in the race. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Simon Cellan Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Brandt, Dorothy Canton, Zev Foreman, Jen Gorton, Mikael Lennord, Greg Renker for making the film possible. Cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, Bear Grylls, Paul Guilfoyle, Rob Collins, and Alani IIlongwe. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. the film is slow and bland at times, but provides a good look at this sport. The best part of the film is the last 15 to 20 minutes. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

GOPHER GOOFY (Released to Theaters USA 1942)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Gopher Goofy—cute, animated short film—has Mel Blanc using a different version of the voice of Bugs Bunny for one of the gophers in this film. Listen for it. Watch for gophers instead of chipmunks for the antics.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A man fights gophers to keep his garden in tip top shape.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Norman McCabe for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Thank you to Mel Blanc for voicing.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a good watch and  relies on good writing for its story. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE IRON MAN (Released to Theaters USA 1931)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The Iron Man—cute, short, animated film—shows early pen and ink, black and white cartooning. This small film is an example of early effort to incorporate sound into animation.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  A man gets a robot in the mail.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Directors John Foster and Harry Luske for directing effort. Thank you to Producer The Van Beuren Corporation for making the film possible.    Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a good academic study but not as entertaining as other short films from the 1930s era. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

FOOD WILL WIN THE WAR (Released to Theaters USA 1942)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Food Will Win the War—interesting short, colored film—shows what the United States was capable of for food production at the beginning of World War II.  Walt Disney and his team  engaged in much research to make this film and that effort shows.   Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline  An overview of how much food the United States was able to produce during WWII.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Hamilton Luske for directing effort. Thank you to Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Fred Shields as the narrator.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is a good watch for viewing the concerns of that era and how those concerns were addressed. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

IN THE NAME OF THE KING: A DUNGEON SIEGE TALE (Released to Theaters Canada 2007)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale—odd casting mix—redundantly shows one sword fighting scene after another rather than building a solid and interesting basic story that is novel and unique. This results in a slow movie. The acting is suitable to okay. The costuming department overly performs and produces soldiers who are supposed to look frightening and just can't quite get there. Movie Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A farmer and the friend who raised him fight an evil warlock and Krug. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Uwe Boll for directing cffort. Thank you to Executive Producers Stephen Hedyes, Wolfgang Herold, and Chet Holmes for making the film possible. Cast includes Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani, Kristanna Loken, Matthew Lillard, Brian White, Ray Liotta, and Burt Reynolds. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. 'Diehard' Statham fans will see many high action scenes, but this film is redundant and slow.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BITE THE BULLET (Released to Theaters USA 1975)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì Bite the Bullet—nice relief from alien movies—focuses on the theme of endurance horse racing and the humans who participate in this sport. While this film does not compare with the endurance horse racing movie, Hidalgo, it still holds interest with its solid writing, presentation, and portrayal. The film works on an adult audience level with its genre-defined western treatment of women. Expect a welcome exposure to western-style stage settings and scenery. There is a welcome treatment of the value of taking care of one's horse and humanely looking to the needs of one's competitors. The movie is gentle on the mind and is a good watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Several men and one woman participate in a United States cross-country endurance horse race in the early 1900s.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Richard Brooks for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Richard Brooks for making the film possible. Cast includes Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ben Johnson, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Robert Donner, Jean Willes, Mario Arteaga, and Dabney Coleman.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It suits the western fan well with a good  story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP (Released to Theaters USA 2008)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  College Road Trip—suitable, predictable afternoon watch—plays like light Disney fare for the young teen audience. Know that it serves clean entertainment with no hidden surprises. Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symoné play the father/daughter duo well. A little tweaking of the basic script has potential to push the chuckle factor to the 'riot' level. Camera work needs some improvement. Overall, it's sweet and provides another look at father-daughter relationships. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline   A man has a daughter, who he wants to be a good girl, and keeps tight control to protect her even when it is time for her to go to college.   Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Roger Kumble for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Green, Anthony Katagas, Raven-Symoné and Ann Marie Sandalin for making the film possible. Cast includes Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symoné, Kym Whitley, Adam LeFevre, Rakka Kikka, Brenda Song, Margo Harshman, Lucas Grabeel, and Matthew Schlein. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is not a total waste of time and money. The comic element is in place. Expect light comedy and a sweet treatment of the father/daughter relationship.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MAN OF THE HOUSE (Released to Theaters USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Man of the House— is an interesting film and the acting is good to suitable. The story is rather ho-hum but don't pass this one up. The conclusion delivers a hard punch to the gut to remind audiences of the importance of loyalty and imbuing value to the quality of steadfastness. Interesting cast mix adds to the value of the film. It is basically a suitable film in presentation, portrayal, and camera work. It is the concluding scenes that make this film memorable.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Sandy Archer wants to get married again after her husband leaves her and her son many years before. When she begins dating again, she finally settles on lawyer Jack Sturges. But her son is not convinced that Jack will stay and believes he will leave like his father did.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director James Orr for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Bonnie Bruckheimer and Marty Katz for making the film possible. Cast includes Chevy Chase, Farrah Fawcett, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, George Wendt, David Shiner, and Art LaFluer. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a suitable watch overall but has some suggestive themes. Watch for an exceptionally well done closure that delivers a whale of 'the moral of the story is'. Terrific story about the most important thing a step-parent or any parent needs to do for children and spouses. Watch for Art LaFleur and George Wendt as guest stars. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers