BUGSY AND MUGSY (Released to Theaters USA 1957)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Bugsy and Mugsy—Bugs Bunny short film—pairs the bunny with gangsters. The film is worth a watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline  Rocky, the gangster, and his dim witted henchman, Mugsy, try to hide from the police in a condemned building. But Bugs Bunny finds the building is a drier place to live when it is raining than his hole in the ground.  Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Friz Freleng for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Edward Selzer and John Burton for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This toon is not as good as other films in the Looney Toons lineup. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE CHIMP (Released to Theaters USA 1932)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Chimp—suitable short story—works in the 'okay' range. Overall, it works as an afternoon watch.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy work for the circus. When they accidentally destroy an act and make the circus go out of business, they have to find a place to live.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director James Parrott for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Hal Roach for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a suitable afternoon watch and is better than some Oliver and Hardy films. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN (Released to Theaters Canada 2020)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run—odd story, not as good as the first film—works more for children than adults. The actors are well chosen: Keanu Reeves, Danny Trejo, and Snoop Dogg. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline Plankton kidnaps Gary the Snail and gives him to King Poseidon. Plankton wishes to remove SpongeBob from the Krusty Crab so that Plankton can get the Krabby Patty Secret Formula.   Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Tim Hill for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Ryan Harris for making the film possible. Cast includes Tom Kenney, Akwafina, Matt Berry, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Snoop Dogg, Bill Fagerbakke, Tiffany Haddish, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, Keanu Reeves, Danny Trejo, and Reggie Watts.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It's an okay watch that children will like better than adults. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SOCIAL LION (Released to Theaters USA 1954)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Social Lion—cute watch—has an interesting story to tell. Know that the audio is suitable with subtitles but without subtitles it is difficult to hear some of the dialogue.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A lion is captured by a safari and put on a ship to the USA. The lion's crate breaks while unloading, but the busy city people seem unaware of the loose lion.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jack Kinney for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Freberg, Paul Frees and James MacDonald.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This short film earns a watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

HIROSHIMA: OUT OF THE ASHES (Released to Television USA 1990)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Hiroshima: Out of  the Ashes—television film—works at a higher level of quality than many television movies. This story gives a look at the other side of the mirror of the Hiroshima story and the aftermath. It does not finish the story suggesting there is more but not showing the more. Be aware that the death scenes and lingering life scenes are vivid and horrific.  Watch for some of our best actors...Pat Morita from the Karate Kid movie series, Max Von Sydow, and Mako in the cast. The movie is recommendable and noteworthy.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   A pregnant woman. her sister, a small boy, and a grandfather live a quiet, life in Japan. Then the atomic bomb hits Hiroshima and now they have to 'pick up the pieces' of lives shattered in the aftermath of 1945.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Peter Werner for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Robert Greenwald for making the film possible. Cast includes Max von Sydow, Judd Nelson, Mako, Tamlyn Tomita, and Pat Morita.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a film that tells a simple and important story. It's worth its watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE BLACKSMITH (Released to the USA 1922)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì The Blacksmith—cute Buster Keaton short film—has both good presentation and portrayal. Underneath the comedy it's interesting to see a 1922 film, after World War 1, showing that critical stage when blacksmiths may have needed skills necessary to work on both cars and a fading means of travel, the horse. This short film is well put together.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  An employee blacksmith is a not very good at his job but tries to make the best of his work when he sees a problem.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Directors Buster Keaton and Malcolm St. Clair for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Joseph M. Schenck for making the film possible. Cast includes Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Virginia Fox. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a cute watch. Behind the comedy, it illustrates the latter years of the blacksmith profession...how he possibly had to know how to work on cars as well as riding horses. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SWEETWATER (Released to Internet USA 2023)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Sweetwater—biopic—works like a movie made for television rather than a true theatrical release. Even though this movie highlights significant events in this professional's life, it does not provide a high quality, in-depth look at his contributions to the professional basketball game and to the changes that he played in how to play the game. It is written and presented, not as an inspirational story, but as a fact-driven story. It is like all the emotional appeal has been vacuumed out and one is left with a raw, unstimulating piece of art work. Watch for Jeremy Piven, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cary Elwes. Their efforts to act in this movie are shaped by the borders that define it with no access to the free spirit that allows any creativity.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A biopic about Nathaniel 'Sweetwater' Clifton, one of the Globetrotters' basketball players.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Martin Guigui for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Josi W. Konski, Tim Moore, Daniel Moorman, and Dahlia Waingort Guigui. Cast includes Everett Osborne, Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Richard Dreyfuss, and Kevin Pollak.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It's a biopic that shows significant events in Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton's life and his contributions, not only to the Globetrotters, but to changing the way basketball is played and who is allowed to play in national championship games. The movie itself seems shallowly done and provides little depth to its narrative. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DUCK AMUCK (Released to Theaters USA 1953)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Duck Amuck—one of the best Looney Toon shorts—reviewed, to date, on this critiquing site. It's creative, funny, and heavily laced with charisma. WOW! What a short film! Great writing, presentation, and portrayal.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Daffy Duck is in one scene, but the artist continually changes scenery and the confusion begins for Daffy Duck. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Warner   Brothers Pictures for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a great story with terrific presentation and portrayal. It is the iconic Daffy Duck in wonderful animation. WOW! What a film idea!  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC (Released to Theaters USA 2023)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì  Knights of the Zodiac is an okay film that is not well written and a little convoluted. The characters are given to the audiences with little preparation and not much background or character development.  The acting, presentation, and portrayal are okay/suitable but the story itself seems pointless. It is difficult to decipher its meaning and how to relate that to the human world. It seems like a movie that started in the middle of another film and tried to make a new movie from it.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A couple adopt a girl who is a reincarnation.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Tomek Baginski for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Yoshi Ikezawa, Joseph Chou, and Tim Kwok for making the film possible. Cast includes Mackenyu, Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman, Diego Tinoco, Mark Dacascos, Nick Stahl, and Sean Bean.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  No. It is an okay watch for the special effects, but not a scene turner for story. There's no WOW! factor here. The movie lacks originality and that necessary link to the human. An audience will not walk away from this movie and feel like it is memorable or like they've been given something very worthwhile. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MADE IN ITALY (Released Non-USA 2019)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Made in Italy—Liam Neeson—runs as a drama. It has a good story and good/great presentation.   Film Poster Courtesy of Images Storyline  A man is going to lose an art gallery in divorce proceedings if he cannot raise purchasing money within thirty days. He contacts his father to find a way to gather the necessary money.   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director James D'Arcy for directing effect. Thank you to Producers Pippa Cross and Sam Tipper-Hale for making the film possible. Cast includes Liam Neeson, Micheál Neeson,Valeria Bilello, and Lindsay Duncan. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. The film is good both in portrayal and presentation. The story works and backs itself with terrific Italian scenery. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers