Family Drama
‘American Beauty’ review
John’s “American Beauty” review, NDSU Spectrum, October 1999 John’s “American Beauty” Throwback Thursday review, Aug. 28, 2025
‘Lost in Space’ reviews
John’s “Lost in Space” flashback review, June 17, 2021 John’s “Lost in Space” review, NDSU Spectrum, April 17, 1998
‘The Sixth Sense’ reviews
John’s “The Sixth Sense” flashback review, July 19, 2021 “The Sixth Sense” – This psychological thriller stars Haley Joel Osment as a boy who sees dead people and Bruce Willis as the psychologist who tries […]
‘Mighty Joe Young’ review
“Mighty Joe Young” – A giant gorilla and his human friend search for freedom and safety in an unkind work in director Ron Underwood’s film. Joe comes to life thanks to Rick Baker’s special effects […]
‘Contact’ reviews
John’s Throwback Thursday review of “Contact,” May 20, 2021 “Contact” – In the wake of big-budget toy commercials such as “Batman and Robin,” “Contact” is a refreshing change: It’s a summer blockbuster with substance to […]
‘The Simpsons Movie’ review
“The Simpsons Movie” – This mid-summer “Simpsons” fix is essentially an extra-long, extra-good episode that sends the family on the run to the snowy northwest (“Clap for Alaska!”) after Homer’s latest gaffe causes Springfield to […]
‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ reviews
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” – Perhaps the most challenging book of J.K. Rowling’s series to adapt, “Phoenix” ends up being the best “Potter” movie so far. The cinematography is rich and […]
‘Walk the Line’ review
“Walk the Line” – He wasn’t just a guy with a cool voice who dressed in black. Country legend Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) also swooned over a woman (Reese Witherspoon’s June Carter), battled a pill […]