If ‘Rocky IV’ can change, everyone can change

November 22, 2021November 22, 2021 John Hansen Movies

Movie review: Stallone tinkers with perfection in “Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago,” but he can’t break a classic. Both versions are great.

‘The Suicide Squad’ is Gunn’s latest pop-art masterpiece

August 9, 2021April 18, 2025 John Hansen DC Extended Universe

Movie review: James Gunn can make colorful entertainment like this in his sleep, but it’s the extra attention that makes this sequel better than the original.

Allen finds farcical footing in ‘Bananas’ (1971)

February 24, 2021April 17, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Woody Wednesday (Movie review): This early calling card in Allen’s oeuvre is driven by snort-worthy off-the-cuff lines.

‘Judge Dredd’ (1995) an entertaining critique of police states

February 22, 2020April 17, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Superhero Saturday (Movie review): Stallone’s SF-actioner is a blunt but entertaining critique of police states .

‘Rambo’ (2008) a shell-shocking portrayal of war

January 9, 2020April 17, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The fourth “Rambo” film is a shell-shocking portrayal of what weapons of war can do.

‘Rambo III’ (1988) is a fun (and unintentionally funny) actioner

January 2, 2020February 5, 2022 John Hansen Movies

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): “Rambo III” is an entertaining actioner, but the novelization shows it could’ve been better.

‘Rambo: Last Blood’ shrinks the scope for a brutally efficient rescue/revenge tale (Movie review)

December 18, 2019May 2, 2021 John Hansen Movies

“Rambo: Last Blood” is an efficient, brutal, gritty and appropriate capper (if it is indeed the capper) to Sylvester Stallone’s five-film series. It poetically marks the final point on a bell curve: “First Blood” is […]