‘Free Guy’ (2021) mulls ideas as it romps through game

January 6, 2022April 18, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Movie review: This Ryan Reynolds comedy-actioner is mostly for fun, but it does think about the value and rights of artificial intelligences.

‘Elektra’ (2005) universally hated, but not half bad

February 8, 2020April 30, 2023 John Hansen Movies

Superhero Saturday (Movie review): This “Daredevil” spinoff is the best of the universally hated superhero films.

‘Last Action Hero’ (1993) deconstructs genre’s absurdities

January 30, 2020April 17, 2025 John Hansen Movies

Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Shane Black and Arnold have fun deconstructing our favorite action genre absurdities.

In Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One,’ is the Oasis a fun game or a stultifying trap? (Movie review)

July 14, 2018May 10, 2021 John Hansen Movies

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 […]

Whedon successfully assembles ‘The Avengers’ (2012)

May 19, 2018April 18, 2025 John Hansen Marvel Cinematic Universe

An outsider’s take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Movie review): TV legend Whedon successfully moves into tentpole filmmaking.

‘The Incredible Hulk’ (2008) not incredible, but not bad

May 11, 2018April 6, 2023 John Hansen Marvel Cinematic Universe

An outsider’s take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Movie review): The Incredible Hulk is introduced into the MCU, albeit with an actor who wouldn’t return.