 The Tiger’s Apprentice—starts strongly—has a story that can be understood more by an eastern audience than a western audience. The movie delves strongly into Asian concepts of demonology and witches and begins to greatly complicate its story when Tom is taken in by Tiger to train. The computer animation and voicing are good. Storyline A young, high school teen's world changes when his grandmother's friend visits and soon he becomes aware of witchery and shape shifters who claim they help him.
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%20Blog%20Poster.png) The Fifth-Column Mouse—slow and not as entertaining as other animated short films—allows coloration to tell its parable. Storyline Thank you to Director Friz Freleng for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Voice casting includes: Mel Blanc, Michael Maltese, and The Sportsman Quartet.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. This is a military propaganda short film that has an interesting portrayal. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers |
 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì Maleficent: Mistress of Evil—much improved over the first Maleficent movie—wisely surrounds Angelina Jolie with enough background story distraction that her overpowering onscreen presence becomes balanced and provides a good movie watch. The story has a broader range, depth, and a sweet development of fantasy characters that provide welcome, bright, colorful movement from beginning to conclusion. The war scene is suitably done. The moral of the story is very good. The work effort for this sequel film shows and invites another sequel which, hopefully, will materialize. Storyline Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Joachim Rønning for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeff Kirchenbaum, Matt Smith, Michale Vieira, and Linda Woolverton, for making the film possible. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Harris Dickinson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sam Riley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ed Skrein, Robert Lindsay, David Gyasi, and Leslie Manville,  Buy a ticket? Yes, No, Maybe? Yes. This sequel film has great animation effects and a much improved story over the last Maleficent movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers |
%20Blog%20Poster.png) The Wise Quacking Duck—good, animated short film—has good presentation and portrayal. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline A man's wife wants duck for dinner, so the man tries get one and targets Daffy Duck. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Robert Clampett for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast Include: Darrell Payne and Mel Blanc.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes.
It is a good watch and works from a nicely written story. Video Critique Available Here:
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%20Blog%20Poster.png) Freddy the Freshman—early black and white animated feature—provides a good study in early animation efforts and also shows small beginnings of the evolution of later much beloved cartoon characters. It's a sweet portrayal of college football. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Freddy is a freshman who becomes a football star. Additional Thanks Thank you to Rudolph Ising for directing effort. Thank you to Co-Producers Leon Schlesinger, Cast Include Rudolph Ising, The Kings Men, and Johnny Murray, for making the film possible.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. Despite its age and generally lower quality of animation, it retains watch-ability as a historical part of United States entertainment in the early 1900s. Video Critique Available Here:
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 The Big Green—formula story—provides suitable, clean family entertainment. Expect a linear, shallow story that runs on the concept that starting a small town sports team can save the day when everything is going quite wrong. Most of the actors are little to not known. The movie is similarly written to Angels in the Outfield where a miracle is needed but this time the miracle is formed through hard work and effort rather than divine intervention. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. It re-tells an old story with a different stage setting and characters. It's a simple, suitable watch that can be a good family share movie. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers |
%20Blog%20Poster.png) Fresh Hare—early work of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd's interaction—offers the very different look of these two cartoon characters. It's a good watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Elmer Fudd plays the part of a Canadian Mounty who hunts Bugs Bunny to bring him to justice for multiple traffic violations and other related crimes. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Friz Freleng for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Voice casting includes: Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This
is a good show and has a good story. Video Critique Available Here:
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 Casablanca—WOW! classic movie—exemplifies the importance of high quality writers in building good movies. The portrayal and presentation run from great to good. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman show extremely well in close facial shots. The film may get a little slow at times but that does not hinder the overall feel of the film and the 'take-home' satiation that money and time are well invested in viewing this movie. This film is in black and white but that adds to the quality of the film. The camera work is exceptional as it optimizes the sense of suspense and emotion with excellent timing. Storyline Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Michael Curtiz for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Jack L. Warner, and Producer Hal B. Wallis for making the film possible. Cast includes Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. It is a B-grade film but it works for its money by telling a creative, high quality story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers |
 The Gentlemen—odd, complicated story—is a movie that even with a plotline read is difficult to follow. It drags its audience through a crime-driven, murder-solution, unwholesome and low thinking, drug-oriented life-style. It may work in films where one can learn what not to be. But in this film, one comes away thinking 'why do we care?' The movie begs the question, 'Why was this film financed and given the green light?' Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A USA man wants to unload his marijuana business, located in England, which activates a chain of unwanted con men who want a 'piece of dirty pie'. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Guy Ritchie for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, and Bill Block for making the film possible. Cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. It is what it is. It works outside the general mafia-styled movie and does not entertain. It plays too deeply into the gross realities of its world and drags it audience through the mud with it. Its complicated plotline does not allow its audience to comfortably and easily understand its storyline but superficially talks about the worst parts of this world with exceptionally graphic violence. It allows no room for audience comfort. A misnomer to title this movie "The Gentle-Men." Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers
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 Angels in the Infield—okay—gets off to a rough start with its reliance on several tropes that lead to weak portrayal and presentation. Know that this movie does get better toward its conclusion but the collage made from other Hollywood-built movies has definitely hindered its ability to shine. Expect an easy-on-the-mind film that can be a family-share movie with no hidden surprises. It is a television-released film so do not expect the quality of a theatrically-released movie. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline A baseball player's ex-wife leaves his daughter with him. Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Robert King for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Roger Birnbaum for making the film possible. Cast includes Patrick Warburton, Britt Irvin, Kurt Fuller, Rebecca Jenkins, Duane Davis, Beau Starr, Colin Foxx, Peter Keleghan, Dan Duran, and David Alan Grier.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe. It does not have a high quality portrayal or presentation. The acting is okay to suitable. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers |
 Storyline  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This
is a good show and tells a good story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers |
