Start of this ‘Monster’ (1995) epic hints at a masterpiece

October 8, 2025November 3, 2025 John Hansen Books

Book club book report: I wade into the world of manga with the beginning of a mood-drenched, character-heavy saga from Naoki Urasawa.

Dourif, Mancini lean into the premise for ‘Child’s Play 2’ (1990)

October 7, 2025October 7, 2025 John Hansen Child's Play/Chucky

‘Child’s Play’ flashback (Movie review): The actor and saga creator Don Mancini realize what they have here — a vicious killer trapped in a doll’s body – and they fully play it up.

‘Buffy: The Bewitching Hour’ (2023) a treat for Tara fans

October 6, 2025October 4, 2025 John Hansen Books

‘Buffy’ flashback (Book review): Ashley Poston goes back to Season 3 for a tricky novel about what Tara was doing in her senior year of high school.

Handoff to McKenzie is intriguing – if not exactly smooth – in ‘Marple’ Season 4 (2009)

October 5, 2025September 16, 2025 John Hansen Agatha Christie

Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): Though Marple’s personality changes, she still fits the elderly sleuth’s flexible template in four engaging episodes.

‘Child’s Play’ (1988) delightfully codifies killer-doll subgenre

October 3, 2025September 28, 2025 John Hansen Child's Play/Chucky

‘Child’s Play’ flashback (Movie review): Evil toys go mainstream as Chucky joins the pantheon of Eighties slasher icons.

Martial arts, laser guns and confusing rules mix in ‘Timecop’ (1994)

October 2, 2025August 19, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The ambition to be Van Damme’s “Terminator” outstrips the execution, but you gotta admire the movie’s guts.

‘M3gan 2.0’ an exposition-heavy trek through AI fears

September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Movie review: Though not as stuck in the mud as “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” this is another SF film where chatter outstrips action.