John Hansen

X-Files 2016

First episode impressions: ‘The X-Files’ miniseries (TV review)

In 2002, I watched “The X-Files” series finale with a couple of friends at a friend’s apartment. Obligatorily, we watched it with no lights on. I had been keeping up with the series, and was generally an apologist for it even though I didn’t pretend to understand the details of the alien colonization/government conspiracy mythology. […]

‘X-Files’ flashback: ‘Goblins’ (1994) (Book review)

With “The X-Files” returning for the start of a six-episode miniseries tonight, I thought it’d be a good time to go on an “X-Files” kick. Having already done reviews of the nine TV seasons and two movies, that means it’s time to move on to other media, starting with Charles Grant’s “Goblins” (1994), the first of six original […]

‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines II – Rebel Stand’ (2002) (Book review)

Aaron Allston is best known for his Wraith Squadron novels, but his two “New Jedi Order” novels – the “Enemy Lines” duology – are sneaky good, too. They don’t make as strong of an impression as other his “Star Wars” novels because they lack a main character or even group of characters. Indeed, “Enemy Lines II: […]

Star Wars female villains

The 20 best female ‘Star Wars’ villains before Captain Phasma

Commentary: Captain Phasma is not the first female “Star Wars” villain, let alone the best. Here are my picks for the best female “Star Wars” villains.

10 ‘first’ female ‘Star Wars’ villains before Phasma

Commentary:Despite the hype, Phasma is not the first female “Star Wars” villain. Here are 10 other characters who could stake that claim.

‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines I – Rebel Dream’ (2002) (Book review)

Aaron Allston enters the “New Jedi Order” fold with the saga’s 11th book, “Rebel Dream” (2002). As with Michael Stackpole’s “Dark Tide” duology earlier in the series, Allston’s “Enemy Lines” duology (to be followed by “Rebel Stand”) is not an “X-Wing” story on the sly. However, “Rebel Dream” does have a significant “X-Wing” flavor, mainly because Wedge […]

‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The New Jedi Order: Dark Journey’ (2002) (Book review)

Rey from “The Force Awakens” has gotten a lot of hype as a breakthrough female Jedi, but as fans of the Legends canon know, Rey had many predecessors. Perhaps the most richly characterized was Jaina Solo, and the book that focuses on her the most is “Dark Journey” (2002), the 10th novel in the “New Jedi Order” […]

The 10 best short stories in ‘The X-Files: Trust No One’ (Book review)

“The X-Files” returned to comics in 2013, it will return to the small-screen for six episodes starting on Jan. 24, and last year it returned to bookshelves with “Trust No One,” a collection of short stories published by IDW, which also produces the comics. With the exception of the “I Want to Believe” movie novelization in 2008, […]

Movies and TV shows John is looking forward to in 2016 (Commentary)

Here are some movies and TV shows on my radar in the year ahead: “The 5th Wave” (movie, Jan. 22) – Chloe Grace Moretz stars in this “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” riff. While the preview – as with most movies nowadays — gives too much away, this still looks like a compelling family survival drama […]

In ‘The Force Awakens,’ the creative side of ‘Star Wars’ dies – with thunderous applause (Movie review)

“Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens,” the first big-screen building block in Disney’s takeover of the empire formerly owned by George Lucas, is frustrating on many levels: It copies the plot of “Episode IV — A New Hope” without adding any new perspectives, it gives no sense of the scope of the events, and […]