‘Poltergeist’ (1982) the most huggable haunted-house movie ever
Frightening Friday (Movie review): It’s not scary by adult standards, but the special effects are great in this film that came out one week before “E.T.”
Steven Spielberg
‘Poltergeist’ (1982) the most huggable haunted-house movie ever
‘West Side Story’ (2021) an ugly tale presented with false beauty
Movie review: Steven Spielberg grandly resurrects the classic stage musical, and it’s unclear if its lack of fresh appeal is accidental or intentional.
Sci-fi masters meet for engrossing ‘Minority Report’ (2002)
PKD flashback (Movie review): Dick and Spielberg meet halfway for an engrossing sci-fi classic.
In Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One,’ is the Oasis a fun game or a stultifying trap? (Movie review)
Director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “Ready Player One” – now available for home viewing — captures the spectacle and banter of Ernest Cline’s novel without fully tapping into the serious stakes nor the veneer of […]
All 18 ‘Jurassic Park’ stories, ranked from tame to tops
Story rankings: Here’s a ranking of every “Jurassic Park” story, from the worst comic books to the best of Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton.
‘The Post’ reviews
John’s “The Post” review, Jan. 21, 2018 Michael’s “The Post” review, Top 20 films of 2017, Jan. 21, 2018
‘Duel’ review
“Duel” – Steven Spielberg’s made-for-TV debut wrings maximum tension out of a simple premise: A beleaguered businessman (Dennis Weaver) cuts off a semi on the highway and is subsequently pursued throughout the film by the […]
‘The Post’ fondly recalls the old days of a respected press, war protests (Movie review)
One of my bosses encouraged us to attend “The Post” (2017) – which recently got a wide theatrical release – to rekindle our passion for newspapering. The film encourages some of that spirit, no doubt, but […]
‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ reviews
John’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” Completely Random Slice of Pop Culture column, Brainerd Dispatch, May 29, 2008 John’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” flashback review, johnvhansen.com, […]
‘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 […]