- John Hansen
- May 27, 2021
Depressive ‘Solaris’ (1972) is the anti-‘2001’
Watched today, “Solaris” (1972) requires a pact with the viewer beforehand. It offers none of the things we look for in modern space films, such
Depressive ‘Solaris’ (1972) is the anti-‘2001’
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- John Hansen
- May 26, 2021
Ullman, Allen conspire in amusing ‘Small Time Crooks’ (2000)
Woody Allen pairs with fellow comedian-actor Tracey Ullman – wife Frenchy to his Ray – in “Small Time Crooks” (2000), an endearing rags-to-riches trifle. I
- John Hansen
- May 25, 2021
Creepy new dino highlights ‘Camp Cretaceous’ Season 3
When the “Jurassic Park” toy line released “Chaos Effect” figures back in the day, I thought “Why not make more actual dinosaurs?” What Mother Nature
- John Hansen
- May 24, 2021
‘Rising Sun’ (1992) makes trade pacts thrilling
I was ambivalent about reading “Rising Sun” (1992), since I’m mainly into Michael Crichton for his sci-fi works. But I found it thoroughly engrossing as
- John Hansen
- May 23, 2021
Snyder back in zombie zone in ‘Army of the Dead’
After the bloated movie (miniseries? deleted scenes collection?) that was Zack Snyder’s 4-hour “Justice League,” the writer-director-cinematographer returns to his comfort zone with “Army of
- John Hansen
- May 23, 2021
Poirot all business in ‘Murder in Mesopotamia’ (1936)
“Murder in Mesopotamia” (1936) is entertaining, but it doesn’t hold up to a close analysis the way Agatha Christie’s top-shelf novels do. In a way,
- John Hansen
- May 21, 2021
‘Event Horizon’ (1997) remains a creepy cult classic
Upon its release, “Event Horizon” (1997) was billed as “The scariest movie you will ever see,” and through the eyes of someone just getting into
- John Hansen
- May 20, 2021
‘Contact’ (1997, 1985) makes science accessible, lovely
In the late-1990s gamut of “mysterious alien object/message” movies, “Contact” (1997) is the mainstream one – in the best sense of that term. You can
- John Hansen
- May 19, 2021
‘Radio Days’ (1987) a trip back to medium’s heyday
Having expressed his nostalgic feelings for Manhattan (“Manhattan”) and old-time cinema (“Play It Again, Sam” and “The Purple Rose of Cairo”), Woody Allen next pens
- John Hansen
- May 17, 2021
Crichton’s career stealthily begins with ‘Odds On’ (1966)
The layperson knows Michael Crichton’s first novel as being “The Andromeda Strain” (1969), but his first published novel was actually “Odds On” (1966). He wrote