‘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 […]
Science Fiction
‘Event Horizon’ reviews
John’s “Event Horizon” Frightening Friday review, May 21, 2021 “Event Horizon” – “ ‘Event Horizon’ is the scariest movie you will ever see,” said the film’s trailer. Of course, there’s roughly one movie per week […]
‘V for Vendetta’ reviews
John’s “V for Vendetta” flashback review, Nov. 5, 2020 “V for Vendetta” – This adaptation of Alan Moore’s famous comic book takes us to a not-too-distant future when England is ruled by an oppressive state. […]
‘The Prestige’ review
“The Prestige” – Like “V for Vendetta,” this wide release surprisingly allows viewers to use their brains while being entertained. During the progressive age of Thomas Edison, two rival magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) […]
’28 Days Later’ review
“28 Days Later” – This new British horror classic starts with a killer premise — a guy wakes up in a hospital to discover he’s (seemingly) the last man on Earth. It eventually turns into […]
‘Spider-Man’ reviews
John’s “Spider-Man” flashback review, May 18, 2019 “Spider-Man” — This is a colorful start to a new film franchise, but it has some nagging flaws: The Green Goblin, despite the best efforts of Willem Dafoe, […]
‘E.T. The Extra Terrestrial’ review
“E.T. The Extra Terrestrial” — This 20th Anniversary release allows Steven Spielberg fans to go back to a time when a simple movie about intergalactic friendship could make you cry. A time when Drew Barrymore […]
‘Planet of the Apes’ (2001) reviews
John’s “Planet of the Apes” (2001) flashback review, April 13, 2018 “Planet of the Apes” — Director Tim Burton and writer William Broyles’s re-imagining of the 1968 sci-fi classic isn’t exactly an intellectual exercise, but […]
‘Jurassic Park III’ reviews and commentary
John’s “Jurassic Park III” flashback review, johnvhansen.com, Jan. 29, 2015 “Jurassic Park III” — Director Joe Johnston cuts out the fat and gets right to the meat, giving ample screen time to up-and-coming stars Spinosaurus […]
‘The 6th Day’ review
NDSU Spectrum: Movie review ‘6th Day’ asks moral questions and blows stuff up By JOHN HANSEN Dec. 1, 2000 A filmgoer couldn’t be blamed if they experience déjà vu all over again during “The 6th […]