THE SWAN (Released to video On Demand (VOD) in the USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The Swan—odd short film storyline—leaves itself open to multitudinous interpretations. It provides good, after viewing discussion as its leaves the conclusion open for review. It’s not an easy watch and involves a difficult subject to examine within a few minutes of watching time. This is a Wes Anderson-directed film that causes deep reflection and does not easily categorize itself. It is the essence of trying to place a round block into a square hole.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline                                                                                                       A bullied boy who is pursued by young men with a gun.                   Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Wes Anderson for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, and Steven Rales for making the film possible. Cast includes Rupert Friend, Ralph Fiennes, Asa Jennings, Eliel Ford, Truman Hanks, Herlin Benoit, and Octavia Tapia.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe.  Sad watch that turns on a tortuous wheel.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BASIC (Released to Theaters in the USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Basic—unclear, with a conclusion not supported in the movie’s storyline—has too many characters to track without clear definition of roles, incongruous and misleading dialogue, and mixes strong and suitable acting skill with awkward and weak acting skills. The audience finds no continuity of thought, no real pattern that follows traditional thinking patterns.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Image  Storyline  An exceptionally cruel sergeant demoralizes his team to the point of disbandment.  Additional Thanks                                  Thank you to Director John McTiernan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mike Medavoy, Arnie Messer, James Vanderbilt, and Michael Tadross for directing effort. Cast includes John Travolta, Connie Nielsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Giovanni Ribisi, Brian Van Holt, Taye Diggs, Cristian de la Fuente, Dash Mihok, Tim Daly, Roselyn Sanchez, and Harry Connick Jr.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. If one wants to see this film, read a plot line on Wikipedia first due to its alphabet-soup, messy storyline.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET (Released to Theaters in the USA 2023)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget—much improved over the first film, Chicken Run—continues to use the unique animation of stop motion entertainment. It is a good children’s watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images                                                                                                                    Storyline                                                                                                                    Rocky and Ginger's daughter wants to break out of the island that she grew up in. So when she does, she meets another chicken who tells her about a place to have fun, but this place is not what it seems.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Sam Fell for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steve Pegram and Leyla Hobart for making the film possible. Cast includes Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Mohammed, and Miranda Richardson.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This is part 2 of the Chicken Run movie series. This is not the usual film; it is interesting how the story is written. It is what it is.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MERRY LITTLE BATMAN (Released to Video On Demand (VOD) in the USA 2023)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Stars ììì  Merry Little Batman—cute—has terrific animation, a cohesive storyline, and kindness built into Batman as a father figure and the son who admires his father. The story runs on healthy principles and makes it a good share for children and adults. Good work for all involved.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  Batman has a small son with large aspirations to be just like his father.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Mike Roth for directing effort. Thank you to Rebecca Palatnik for making the film possible. Cast includes Yonas Kibreab, Luke Wilson, James Cromwell, and David Hornsby.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This movie is good enough to be a movie series or television series, and can be expected to do quite well. This film is very well done and worth watching.                                                                                                                      Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

KING-SIZE CANARY (Released to Theaters in the USA 1947)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  King-Size Canary is a cute short film and tells a good story. However, it follows the typical cat and bird story format which quickly loses its ability to be very creative. It leaves its audience with a run-of-the-mill I’ve seen this before feeling.  The animation, still viewable, is beginning to fade but it still serves as a watchable movie.  Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline   A growing formula fed to a canary to  make it more edible turns into an unexpected conclusion.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Tex Avery for directing the film. Thank you to Producer Fred Quimby for making the film possible. Cast includes Frank Graham, Pinto Colvig, and Sara Berner.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a good watch and is cute. The story is well written and well portrayed.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CAMOUFLAGE (Released in the USA 1944)

 Please watch this short film with historical judgement and an understanding of the times in which it was produced. Any references to racial differences or slurs are a part of that time in history.

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Camouflage—instructive animated short film—has focused on the importance of ground and aerial camouflage techniques during wartime. It is well-presented and makes learning an easy process due to its presentation about the importance of knowing how to camouflage well. This instructive animation film needs restoration, but still is very watchable. Know there are derogatory racial comments in this film. This is a film from WWII that planned to be used as a training video for United States soldiers. The audio quality is poor and needs to be supported with subtitles.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  Camouflage is a skill that must be learned well and this film shows how to do it.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Hoodie, the Chameleon                         Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?             Maybe. Educational and very much a part of its times.  Many comments are derogatory and rough due to its complete representation of history.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

A KNIGHT FOR A DAY (Released to Theaters in the USA 1946)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  A Knight for a Day—Disney short film—leaves the audience with an empty feeling. The animation and story are still marketable and overall it is a suitable watch.  “This is a poster for A Knight for a Day. The poster art copyright is believed to belong to the distributor of the film, the publisher of the film or the graphic artist.”—Wikipedia  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A knight’s servant accidently knocks him out and has to serve in the knight’s place.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jack Hannah for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Jack Mather, John Brown, and Arch Denison.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This is a suitable film and watchable.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

RADICAL WOLFE (Released In Theaters in USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì

 Radical Wolfe focuses on the adult career of the writer Tom Wolfe much more than on his complete life story. It focuses on the milestones of his prolific writing career and the waves he made with his choice of words on paper. By the end of the documentary, there is no doubt who Tom Wolfe is, but huge, unanswered questions remain: Why? How?  And out of so many talented journalists, what really defined Tom Wolfe as the single journalist and writer to gain distinction over other writers that may be much more talented than he?  If one has not read Tom Wolfe, this documentary can be a good introduction to the writer before getting to know him better through his writings. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images                                                                             

 Storyline

 Author Tom Wolfe’s career story is  told in documentary form.

 Additional Thanks

 Thank you to Director Richard Dewey for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Nathan Epstein, David Light, and Gerry Ohrstrom for making the film possible. Cast includes Christopher Buckley, Niall Ferguson, Jon Hamm, Tom Junod, Michael Lewis, Lynn Nesbit, Gail Sheehy, Gay Talese, Emily Witt, and Tom Wolfe.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The documentary is quite thorough about Tom Wolfe’s adult career. Look forward to some interesting interviews with both persons who knew him and persons who appreciated his style.

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

TO CATCH A THIEF (Released in Theaters in the USA 1955)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

To Catch a Thief—unusual Alfred Hitchcock film—features Cary Grant in a grand story of cat burglars targeting high end jewels and other valuables of high society. Watch for the dialogue ‘patter’ between Grant and Grace Kelly. That same ‘patter’ is used in the film, North by Northwest between Grant and Eva Marie Saint. The acting runs as Grant runs and is supported with a great presentation and a good story. It is a very watchable story for Cary Grant fans. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

A retired burglar finds himself involved in that world again when someone begins lifting jewels from the rich and famous in the same style he used when he was active. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Alfred Hitchcock for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Alfred Hitchcock for making the film possible. Cast includes Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, and John Williams. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This is a good watch and worth watching for Alfred Hitchcock fans and Cary Grant fans alike. It sprinkles some suspense throughout its story. Watch for the cameo appearance of Alfred Hitchcock in the early part of the film. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

BLACK DOG (Released in Theaters in the USA 1998)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsìììì 

Black Dog—not great but fun to watch—reminds, due to its similarity, to some of the Burt Reynolds and Sally Field trucker movies. Watch for some tight, creatively fresh, large vehicular stunts used in the movie. The film has the potential to be a cult classic due to its presentation. It harmonizes  Patrick Swayze, Gabriel Casseus, Randy Travis, Brian Vincent, Brenda Strong, Erin Broderick, Meat Loaf, and Charles S. Dutton into an entertaining watch that does not drain audience energy with its light appeal to emotional involvement. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A man runs a load of illegal firearms into a dangerous ‘hornet’s nest’ of trackers and law enforcement officers. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Kevin Hooks for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Peter Saphier, Mark W. Koch, and Raffaella De Laurentiis for making the film possible. Cast includes Patrick Swayze, Randy Travis, Meat Loaf, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Charles Dutton. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie completely works when an audience is in the mood to watch a trucking movie that includes mobsters and high level law policing. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

BLENDED (Released in Theaters Canada 2014)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

 Blended—not a typical Adam Sandler film—works at the fresh concept level with its storyline and using some film time to stage itself in Africa. The movie can be a bit obnoxious, raunchy, and off the wall at times but this happens at the ‘cagey’ level and leaves the audience with another performance from Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore that is worth watching as it delves into adult reactions to blending a new family from two, dissolved families with children. It leaves its audience with a satisfied feeling like the feeling left at the conclusion of the 2004 movie, 50 First Dates that also starred Barrymore and Sandler. Watch for Terry Crews who pops randomly into scenes throughout the movie to perform song and dance routines. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Two single parents meet on a blind date that goes badly and then find themselves in a series of random meetings that force a reconsideration of their first date. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Frank Coraci for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Adam Sandler, Jack Giarraputo, and Mike Karz for making the film possible. Cast includes Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Nealon, Terry Crews, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The movie runs on an unusual mix of single parents who go on an African vacation and learn how to blend into a state of compatibility. Watch for the addition of Shaquille O’Neal into the movie’s storyline. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

POISON (Released on Video On Demand (VOD) the USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì 

Poison—artistic, short film—returns to the roots of filmmaking and produces a small film with large impact. The movie focuses completely on acting and the audience gets a rich, closeup dose of tremendous skill wrapped in a small packet. More than worth watching…it moves away from action, noise, and lights to real talent in telling a great story. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A man believes a highly poisonous snake has crawled into his bed and is lying on the man's stomach under his covers. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Wes Anderson for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steven Rales, Wes Anderson, and Jeremy Dawson for making the film possible. Cast includes Dev Patel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Eliel Ford, and Benoit Herlin. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. It easily becomes a short story that will be remembered for a long time. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

LIFE (Released in Theaters in the USA 1999)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

Life—Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy—portrays the irony of being put away for life when caught in dubious circumstances and how two eventual ‘friends’ survive that situation. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The life prison sentence is explored in this ironic, comedic movie. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Ted Demme for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Brian Grazer and Martin Lawrence for making the film possible. Cast includes Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie works for its one-time watch. It runs on a linear path without complex dialogue or multi-layered storylines that add a bit of richness to a movie but there is no mistaking its message that gently hides behind its dialogue. Be aware the movie contains a constant stream of dialogue lines that run from uncultured to raunchy. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

NORTH BY NORTHWEST (Released in Theaters in the USA 1959)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

North By Northwest—interesting thriller—deserves a quick plot line read before watching to obtain full enjoyment of its story. Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint team to make a great romance story wrapped in an intense web of intrigue. Watch for an extremely talented cast that includes Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Martin Landau, Jessie Royce Landis, and Leo G. Carroll. Watch for cameos of Edward Platt who played the Chief in Get Smart TV series. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A mistaken identity causes a man’s normal life to turn upside down into an intrigue-driven nightmare.

 Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Alfred Hitchcock for directing effort. Thank you to Alfred Hitchcock for making the film possible. Cast includes Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Jesse Royce Landis. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes.  Read a plotline on Wikipedia before watching. That read will help the audience track the story better. This is a quality watch worth watching.

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers

THE ONE (Released in Theaters in the USA 2001)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì 

The One—Jet Li film—serves up an almost redundant number of kick fighting maneuvers. It is a worthy watch for Jet Li fans. Watch for a very young presentation of Jason Statham. Everything about this movie works in the good to suitable range. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

In a time when the concept of multi-verses is understood and policed, a human learns how to freely travel through different verses to almost kill every version of himself, and use that gathered power to become super-human. 

Additional Thanks

 

Thank you to Director James Wong for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steve Chasman, Glen Morgan, Charles Newirth, and James Wong for making the film possible. Cast includes Jet Li, Delroy Lindo, Carla Gugino, and Jason Statham. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. The movie bases its portrayal on the backs of Jet Li, Jason Statham, and Delroy Lindo. 

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers