LITTLE WOMEN (Released to Theaters USA 2019)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

Little Women—worth watching—may not be as well portrayed as the 1994 movie version of Little Women, but still tells its story well and relies on a very good cast that includes Meryl Streep. 

Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

The March sisters live their lives through their teen years and flourish into women who get married, start a new life, and stay in sisterly contact.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Greta Gerwig for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Amy Pascal, Denise Di Nova, and Robin Swicord for making the film possible. Cast includes Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Overall, the movie does justice to the Little Women story and presents a suitable/good watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ARCADIAN (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Arcadian—an example of a movie that has everything going for it to be a 4.8 to a 5.0 star, but fails—has a boring script that seems weak and pointless. The acting relies on highly skilled acting by Nicolas Cage. There is an eerie feeling that emanates from the movie so that one may feel the movie is 'weird and unsettling' when it concludes.   Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline A man and twins sons try to survive in a post apocalyptical world with wolf-like animals that try to take out the remainder of human civilization. The wolf- like animals hunt at night.    Additional Thanks  Thank you to Benjamin Brewer for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Michael Nilon, and David Wulf, Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier, Braxton Pope, and Nicolas Cage for making the film possible. Cast includes Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, and Maxwell Jenkins.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. It is good enough for one watch to see what the film is about. But, the script, as written, hampers its ability to go to top billing. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE WAR WITH GRANDPA (Released to Switzerland 2016)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  The War with Grandpa—presents as a comedy—has little comedy. This is a war where everyone loses. It has a good cast: Oakes Fegley, Christopher Walken, Cheech Marin and Uma Thurman, but it does show a situation where someone should have stepped in long before the climax reveals itself. There are some original comedic points; but overall, it is not a high quality storyline.   Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline A woman believes her father can't take care himself anymore. So she brings him to her house and makes her son's room into his room; but her son is not happy.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Tim Hill for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Marvin Peart, Rosa Morris Peart, and Phillip Glasser for making the film possible. Cast includes Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley, Laura Marano, Cheech Marin, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Walken.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is well-acted and has good portrayal, but no one 'wins' in this movie. It is meant to be a comedy, but seems to fall flat in storyline.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PREDATORS (Released to Theaters USA 2010)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Predators—this movie 'kind of' works as a part 3 of the Predator series—references part one (with Arnold Schwarzenegger who acted in the Predators movie made in the late 1980s).This film is interesting, not spectacular, but suitable for watching. Be aware that the violence is cringeworthy and the dialogue uses much language. This is not a family share movie and limits its audience to adults due to the violence and language.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images/Wikipedia

Storyline

A Caucasian man is in freefall. He endeavors to deploy his parachute and succeeds shortly before he falls through trees and hits the ground hard. He finds an Hispanic man and soon a Russian all in the same place and state of mind. None of them know why they are there.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Nimrod Antal for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Robert Rodriguez, John Davis, and Elizabeth Avellan for making the film possible. Cast includes Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, and Lawrence Fishburne.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a suitable watch. The acting is a bit weak in certain scenes, but overall the film is watchable.

Video Critique Available Here:  

Ben Meyers

THE QUEEN MARY: GREATEST OCEAN LINER* (Released to Television UK 2016)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì The Queen Mary: Greatest Ocean Liner—informative film—allows a good peek into the history of the Queen Mary. It's a good watch, educational for the family. This was originally a 1-hour long film but they shortened it for Paramount + through Smithsonian channel.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline History of the Queen Mary ship and how it still serves in its old age.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director and Producer Matthew Pinder for directing effort. Thank you to Producers for Ewan Agnus, Jackie MacLean, Mick McAvoy, Dan McCue, Clare Paterson, making the film possible. Cast includes Iain Glen, Everette Hoard, Ian Johnston, Eileen Gourley, Bruce Peter, Robert Tennenbaum, Ludwig Katzentein, Bill Spurrier, Ray Devau, and Larry Schlesinger.      Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Provides good after-viewing discussion. Good story. Also Know as: Mighty Ship at War: Queen Mary Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

HOP TO IT, BELL HOP* (Released to Theaters USA 1919)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Hop to it, Bell Hop—another buddy comedy with Oliver Hardy and Bobby Ray—provides a suitable to okay watch. This short film's conclusion is interesting but seems oddly done. There seems to be two versions and two different names released in two different years for this movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of  Wikipedia

Storyline

Two men work as bell hops and try their best to make customers feel comfortable. 

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors and Producers for making the film possible. Cast includes Bobby Ray and Oliver Hardy.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It is a suitable watch.

*Also Known as Hop to It.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD (Released to Theaters USA 2021)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì Those Who Wish Me Dead—Angelina Jolie and Jon Bernthal—hits hard and fast as it combines an out-of-control forest fire with military-skilled assassins as they pursue specifically targeted families.  The script is very realistically portrayed on screen. It is a top-of-the-line thriller/drama that completely earns its watch. Be aware that this film is violent, fast, and efficient in telling the story.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline Female forest fire fighter and a policeman are caught up in political intrigue while trying to save a boy from assassins.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Taylor Sheridan for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steven Zaillian, Garrett Basch, Aaron L. Gilbert, Kevin Turen, and Taylor Sheridan. Cast includes Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Nicholas Hoult, Aidan Gillen, Medina Senghore, and Jon Bernthal.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is a really good film and tells an exciting story on screen. This film is a great watch and has outstanding acting. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SAPS AT SEA (Released to Theaters USA 1940)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Saps at Sea—cute, short 56-minute film—seems redundant with some of its gags and the film can be slow at times. Laurel and Hardy play together in this movie.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel are working at a horn factory testing horns. Oliver gets fed up with the noise of horns all the time, and is  given the greenlight to go home and get some rest and get well.  Additional Thanks   Thank you to Director Gordon Douglas for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Hal Roach for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, and Richard Cramer.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This short film is suitable and worth one watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 (Released to Theaters USA 2023)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3—not the best of the three films—gets boring and uninteresting toward the middle and end. When it ends, the audience may feel, "That's finally over." This film is what it is. Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline After her fathers dies, Toula wants to contact her father's friends in Greece to give them her father's journal of his American experiences.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Nia Vardalos for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Rita Wilson for making the film possible. Cast includes Joey Fatone, Gia Carides, Lainie Kazan, Elena Kampouris, Andrea Martin, John Corbett, and Louis Mandylor. 

Should You Buy This ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

 Maybe. It is what it is. It tells an okay to suitable story. The movie catches interest in its early stages but fails to keep that in the latter scenes. If a fourth film is planned, it will need to improve significantly over this one to earn its time and money expenditure from an audience. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

OCEAN'S EIGHT (Released to Theaters USA 2018)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì  Ocean's Eight—wanna-be Ocean's film—showcases Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchette. The movie has no organization. It is not funny nor is it witty. The objective is unclear. Messy in every way.   Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  Debbie Ocean (sister of Danny Ocean) gets out of prison with a statement that she wants to live simple, but in reality she plans to steal a high priced necklace.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Gary Ross for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Steven Soderbergh and Susan Ekins for making the film possible. Cast includes Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe.  This movie is messy and disorganized. Money and time will not be well-spent here. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SURVIVING CHRISTMAS (Released to Theaters USA 2004)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Surviving Christmas—off beat comedy—that, despite its very good cast, does not 'pull its weight' to produce real comedy.   Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb  Storyline A man, at odds with his girlfriend, has a recommendation given him to remove past regrets. Getting rid of past regrets 'gets out of hand' when he hires the family living in his childhood home to be his temporary family over the holidays.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Mike Mitchell for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jenno Topping and Betty Thomas for making the film possible. Cast includes Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, and Catherine O'Hara.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It is a Ben Affleck film, but not one of his best films. Be aware there are scenes or references that are not family friendly. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES (Released to Theaters USA 1932)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì Pack Up Your Troubles—cute and suitable for everyone—has a World War I setting that uses the comedic skills of Laurel and Hardy to interpret its story. Nothing spectacular here, but suitable.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Laurel and Hardy are recruited into WWI.     Additional Thanks Thank you to Director George Marshall and Raymond McCarey for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Hal Roach for making the film possible. Cast includes Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, James Finlayson, and Don Dillaway. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. It's a full-length film that still offers chuckles and engages a variety of emotions within the audience. It's simply written with a good to suitable story that still works. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers