THE STRESSFUL ADVENTURES OF BOXHEAD AND ROUNDHEAD (Amazon Release Romania 2014)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì

The Stressful Adventures of Boxhead and Roundhead—highly creative attempt to make a full-length film with an undeniably intriguing story—entertains the intellectual audience, but the relevance of the story may fly over the head of a generalized audience. Complicated to watch, it encourages watching for the expansion of Filmmaker, Animator, and Director Elliot Cowan’s entertainment talents into additional stories. This film cannot be absorbed well in a single watch. It deserves a second watch.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Boxhead and Roundhead lose their home and must travel to the big city to earn enough money to rebuild.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Elliot Cowan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Elliot Cowan, David Ginsberg, and Richard O’Connor for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Boxhead (voice of Jeremy Beck), Roundhead (voice of Elliot Cowan), Clerk (voice of Carl Doonan), and Lars (voice of Boris Hiestand).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie seems to work at a highly intellectualized view of life. A general audience may prefer a film like The Breadwinner which works intellectually and still satisfies the wider audience.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MY LUCKY STARS (Originally Released in Hong Kong 1985/DVD Release USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì

My Lucky Stars—billed as an action movie—works more as slapstick comedy that mixes Chinese and a type of Western culture together into an amateurish film that has its own charm. Jackie Chan, if not at his best, certainly is not at his worst in this film. The acting is good as is the portrayal of storyline. The movie is a pleasant dip into international entertainment that works for an afternoon watch.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Hong Kong police officer Muscle (Jackie Chan) asks childhood friends to help him round up a gangster group.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Sammo Kam-Bo Hung for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Leonard Ho and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Kidstuff/Fastbuck (Sammo Kam-Bo Hung), Herb (Charlie Chin), Rawhide (Stanley Sui-Fan Fung), Sandy (Richard Ng), Roundhead/Blockhead (Eric Tsang), Muscles (Jackie Chan), Swordflower (Sibelle Hu), and Ricky Fung (Yuen Biao).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Do some research first about the Japanese Yakuza mobster group to increase appreciation for this film’s content. This Hong Kong action film has Jackie Chan and Eric Tsang among other good Chinese actors. It’s a stimulating cultural watch and provokes thought about the international existence of mobsters, gangs, and crime families, why they exist, and the worlds they propagate.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

DEATHGRIP (DVD Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Deathgrip—terrific for the off-road bicycling aficionado—sports terrific camera angles, great mountain biking stunts, and excellent outdoor scenery.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Excellent mountain biking through European countries is the subject of this movie.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Clay Porter for directing effort. Additional characters/cast include: Josh Bryceland, Brendan Fairclough, and Brandon Semenuk.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It works for the off-road bicycle enthusiast. If you’re not a fan, then it may run into boring quickly.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

FIRE WITH FIRE (DVD Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.2|5.0 Starsììì

Fire With Fire has depth of storyline, but is weakly acted by Josh Duhamel, Bruce Willis, and Rosario Dawson so that the characters lack believability. Without depth of acting input, the film fails to establish likeability, interest, and the desire to sit through the entire predictable story.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Jeremy Coleman (Josh Duhamel) tries to take revenge on crime boss, David Hagan (Vincent D’Onofrio).

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director David Barrett for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Brandt Andersen, Martin Blencowe, Michael Blencowe, Barry Brooker, Remington Chase, Michael Corso, Nadine DeBarros, Zev Foreman, Ted Fox, Brett Granstaff, Anthony Gudas, Corey Large, Jenn Lee, Fredrik Malmberg, Stepan Martirosyan, Jeff Rice, Kevin Robl, Jess Rosenthal, Mark Stewart, Daniel Wagner, and Stan Wertlieb for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Mike Cella (Bruce Willis), Talia Durham (Rosario Dawson), Lamar (50 Cent), Robert (Julian McMahon), Boyd (Vinnie Jones), Darren (Arie Verveen), and Adam (Eric Winter).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. If you are a Josh Duhamel fan, this could be a watch. But there are better films out there that feature him as an actor like Transformers. If you’re trying to pick this film up because of Bruce Willis, don’t bother. It rates as one of his worst performances.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MONSTER FAMILY (Video Release USA 2018)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.5|5.0 Starsìì

Monster Family thrives on weird. An odd story to serve children, the movie’s best features are the great voicing, the good animation, and the happy ending. The worst features are sloppy character development and reliance on a weird storyline for a child’s watch. Dracula’s relentless intent to steal another man’s wife seems to deserve a movie rating upgrade.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Dracula (Jason Isaacs) becomes fixated on another man’s wife, Emma (Emily Watson), and creates havoc within the family until they come to their senses and begin realizing the importance of maintaining family integrity.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Holger Tappe for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Ralph Kamp for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Frank (Nick Frost), Fay (Jessica Brown Findlay), Cheyenne (Celia Imrie), Baba Yaga (Catherine Tate), Max (Ethan Rouse), Renfield (Ewan Bailey), Head Model (Emma Tate), and Sheila (Jessica McDonald).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The movie generates a weird energy that fails to draw one into its story.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE NIGHT THE MOON FELL (DVD Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.2|5.0 Starsììì

The Night the Moon Fell begins with about 30 seconds of wondrous animated scenery and completes itself with an unexpected, emotional whammy. This short film points to Director John Bashyam as a person to watch for feature length films to see if he can cover the distance while maintaining those two factors at the same impact level as this short film production.

Film Poster Courtesy of  Google Images

Storyline

Sometimes it is better not to get off a bicycle to investigate strange phenomena.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director John Bashyam for directing effort.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. For a preliminary, intellectual view into John Bashyam’s work, it has value.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS: PART TWO* (Video Release USA 1994)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.0|5.0 Starsììì

Where the Red Fern Grows: Part Two—great concept—can’t get its story on paper, let alone on camera. Disastrous attempt to continue the classic original by projecting into the future a possible outcome for the original story. Good to see Wilford Brimley onscreen.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Grandpa Will (Wilford Brimley) helps rehabilitate Grandson Billy Coleman (Doug McKeon) after the war.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Jim McCullough Jr. for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer William J. Immerman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Rainie Pritchard (Chad McQueen), Sara Coleman (Lisa Whelchel), Wilson Jeffries (Adam Faraizi), Karen Carlson, Devin Payne, and Jessie Turner.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Some stories do not need sequels. The original Where the Red Fern Grows completed itself. This movie would have been better if written as a stand-alone rather than linking to a classic. Classics are a tough act to follow and force a comparison. A film with potential goodness can rarely stand the comparison. It’s better to cut any link and write it as it is. This film would have gathered strength and perhaps gained its own classic status with that strategic move.

* Also Known as Where the Red Fern Grows: Part 2

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BATTLE DRONE (Video Release USA 2018)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.9|5.0 Starsìì

Battle Drone has potential to be a good movie, but the script requires an overhaul and Director Mitch Gould needs to pull better effect from his actors/actresses while working on realism that captures audience emotion. The audience needs to feel the tension of the moment, to feel threatened, horrified, afraid, attacked. The film Hostage has the elements this movie misses and establishes professionally orchestrated scenes that provide backstory and lead to climatic moments that leave the audience breathless. This film, unfortunately, fails to capture the moments that make a movie great.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Droids attack mercenary warriors.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Mitch Gould for directing effort. and to Executive Producers Robert Benvie, James T. Bruce IV, Arianne Fraser, Suraj Gohill, Phillip B. Goldfine, Mickey Gooch, Michael Hamilton-Wright, Cristopher Rush Harrington, and Glen Reynolds for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast: Alexandra Hayes (Dominique Swain), Valkyrie (Natassia Malthe), Karl Kess (Michael Peré), Vincent Rekker (Louis Mandylor), Dax (Jason Earles), Grigori Romanov (Oleg Taktarov), Shiro (Dan Southworth), Kyle Blackwood (Richard Alan Reid), Agent Barnes (Steve Pound), and Agent Smith (Jo Marr).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. Better action choices are: San Andreas or No Country for Old Men. If one is specifically looking for robot/droid versus humanoid, the Terminator series dominates this story theme. The classic robot/alien/humanoid story, a super watch, is 1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

YOU CAN’T FIGHT CHRISTMAS (Video Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.0|5.0 Starsìì

You Can’t Fight Christmas—wannabe Christmas love story—tries. This chick flick has a long way to go to be a good chick flick. Kudos to Tomika Smalls for great costuming.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Ambitious plans for hotel renovation clash with ideals that desire preservation of the status quo.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Kenny Young for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Sebastian Battro, Tom Berry, Elizabeth Cullen, and Sean Dwyer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Leslie Major (Brely Evans), Edmund James (Andra Fuller), Millicent Williams (Persia White), Belinda King (Porscha Coleman), Kevin Boudreaux (Travis Winfrey), Thomas Wallace (Nathan Davis Jr.), Darren Rollins (Dedrick Bonner), Arnold Willis (Matthew Jones), Jasper (Larry Poindexter), and J. J. James (Richard Gant).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. A Christmas Prince or Christmas Inheritance works at a little higher level than this film for entertainment value, but none of these movies stand as long-term, classic Christmas movies.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

DISCOVERING BIGFOOT (Video Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

Discovering Bigfoot fails to increase belief in the existence of Bigfoot. Dr. Jeff Meldrum plays it safe when examining film footage of Bigfoot by saying very little in regard to identifying the creature. No one produces a body of Bigfoot. The 'documentary's' images are difficult to interpret due to the usual blurred film footage often used when someone claims to have produced solid evidence that Bigfoot exists.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Wilderness survivalists, expert researchers, and well-educated professors dive into Bigfoot territory to attempt contact.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Todd Standing for directing effort. Additional characters/cast include: John Bindernagel, Jeffrey Meldrum, and Todd Standing.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Interesting, but follows the same path of other Bigfoot movies—fails to adequately prove or disprove the veracity of this enigma.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

A CHRISTMAS PRINCE (Internet Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì

A Christmas Prince—loveable, easy on the mind film—easily establishes itself at the level of a typical Hallmark or ABC television Christmas special. It’s predictable and simple with a small surprise toward its conclusion; it tells a clean story by means of Ben Lamb, Rose McIver, and Honor Kneafsey (who would have made an up and coming new Shirley Temple).

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Journalist Amber (Rose McIver) receives assignment to acquire inside story on Prince Richard (Ben Lamb).

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Alex Zamm for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Eric Jarboe, Brad Krevoy, Amanda Phillips Atkins, and Jimmy Townsend for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Queen Helena (Alice Krige), Princess Emily (Honor Kneafsey), Mrs. Averill (Sarah Douglas), Lady Sophia (Emma Louise Saunders), Simon (Theo Devaney), Rudy (Daniel Fathers), Melissa (Tahirah Sharif), and Max (Amy Marston).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie works as clean, holiday fare for the entire family. It’s a simple cookie with milk kind of film. Nothing fancy but satisfying.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GHOST PATROL (Television Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì

Ghost Patrol—predictable animation—works for children, but does not serve sophisticated enough fare to engage the adult audience.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

Two kids and their dog look for ghosts in an old mansion.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Karen J. Lloyd for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Loris Kramer Lunsford, Anne Loi, Jason Netter, and Josh Scherba for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Gabi Flores (voice of Lili Beaudoin), Spence Avery (voice of Travis Turner), Spooky/Mrs. Choi/Cat (voice of Kathleen Barr), Colonel Geist/Pompous Artiste (voice of Scott McNeil), Harper Avery/Aunt Lulabell (voice of Shannon Chan-Kent), Marco Flores/Texan (voice of Vincent Tong), Mrs. Flores/Rich Woman (voice of Nicole Oliver), and Gabi Flores (voice of Franciska Friede).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. The movie has a long way to go to be called entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED) (Television Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.2|5.0 Starsììì

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) moves through dialogue and scenes in a style that makes one think this is a type of reality show. This adult comedy presents its story in a way that life sometimes moves—disjointed, disconnected from reality, chaotically arranging life events without an easily perceived pattern that defines the more orderly life. It’s difficult to pin point any one scene and say, this is what the film is all about because the entire movie defies definition and works outside bound norms. The film classifies itself more as an eclectic offering for the elite intellectual rather than the every day person.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The Meyerowitz family railroads its way through dysfunctional relationships without resolution or sustainable forward movement.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Noah Baumbach for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Noah Baumbach, Scott Rudin, and Lila Yacoub for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Danny (Adam Sandler), Eliza (Grace Van Patten), Harold (Dustin Hoffman), Jean (Elizabeth Marvel), Maureen (Emma Thompson), Marcus (Danny Flaherty), Brian (Adam David Thompson), James (Ronald Peet), MOMA Employee (Hannah Mitchell), and L.J. Shapiro.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Better choice for time and money is Parental Guidance.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SAND CASTLE (Television Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì

Sand Castle does not follow the normal war flick’s theme of ‘let’s get it done or die trying’ format. It focuses on the reality of being on the ground in hostile territory, how that impacts local villagers who may decide to benefit from services provided by foreign invaders, and how local villagers can sabotage work that has long-term benefit to both sides. The film moves itself along more as an artistic piece intent on revealing the satirical side of war than as a true war flick.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Private Matt Ocre’s (Nicholas Hoult) attempt to be sent home from the Iraq War fails and he is relocated to Baghdad to transport water from a well that is not yet functional.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Fernando Coimbra for directing effort. Thank you for Executive Producers Juliet Berman, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Chris Roessner, and Sara Smith for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Captain Syverson (Henry Cavill), Sergeant Harper (Logan Marshall-Green), Sergeant Major MacGregor (Tommy Flanagan), Sergeant Chutsky (Glen Powell), Kadeer (Navid Negahban), Sergeant Burton (Beau Knapp), Corporal Enzo (Neil Brown Jr.), First Lieutenant Anthony (Sam Spruell), and Haring (Gonzalo Menendez).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The movie paints the face of irony very well, but if you are a hard-core war fan, even though this film is based on a true story, better films are: We Were Soldiers or Windtalkers.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

A NEW ECONOMY (Windsor International Film Festival Release Windsor Ontario Canada 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

A New Economy—stimulating philosophy—keeps begging the question how does the New Economy currently sustain itself within the economy at large? Not much is said here about the mathematical analysis of this philosophy. Before Ben Meyers establishes this movie review as a purely ‘cretan’ view that completely misses the point of the film, this single, simple addition to the documentary would move it out of the philosophical into the reality of the material. ‘Getting back to nature’ has merit. Is the cooperative, getting back to nature model actually new or is it business as usual with a new name? Are the products readily sold? Are these businesses standing on their own or are they considerably supported by revenue which they themselves did not generate? Are the products themselves better than what is already marketed and if so, in what way? It is unclear about the purpose of the musical band. How does this New Economy help/advantage our population at large?

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The film uses phrases such as cooperate, New Economy, socially responsible, fresh start, open business model, non-traditional business models, people-friendly, revolutionary businesses, local sustainable, democracy, open value network, peer-to-peer organization, cooperative values, and base principles to define its ‘New Economy’. The film introduces several businesses who exemplify and define the adopted business language.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Trevor Meier for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Trevor Meier and Melanie Wood for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Himself (Michael Ableman), Herself (Sabina Ali), Himself (Gar Alperovitz), Himself (Tiberius Brastaviceanu), Himself (John Fullerton), Himself (Ben Knight), Herself (Jessy Kate Schlinger),and Himself (Richard Sennett).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s one of those required viewing films because it touches on a proposed experimental business model that needs assessment. Is this a new model or an old model operating under a new name? How is this model finding its place among other established models? Will it have long term sustainability and if it does, what evolutionary pattern will it follow to ensure that sustainability? And, when it finally establishes itself as a viable entity, what will it be? Will it have evolved itself into something quite recognizable or will it truly be different? It’s stimulating to study and watch the progress of something touted as ‘new’.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers