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Ken Hanke

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Author of books KEN RUSSELL'S FILMS, CHARLIE CHAN AT THE MOVIES, A CRITICAL GUIDE TO HORROR FILM SERIES, TIM BURTON: AN UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF THE FILMMAKER. Associate Editor: SCARLET STREET magazine. Movie reviewer/movie coordinator, MOUNTAIN XPRESS. Member Southeastern Film Critics Association.

Favorites:

TOMMYTHE RULING CLASSLOVE ME TONIGHTMOULIN ROUGEBRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Location:

Asheville NC

Official Website:

http://www.mountainx.com

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 91% 5/5 EDIT “The movie is never dull, and while it doesn't have a big ending in the sense of bringing the story itself to a close, it has one that reaches just the right emotional high point and wisely leaves it there.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jan 13, 2026 Full Review High and Low (1963) 97% 4.5/5 EDIT “It may not be one of Kurosawa’s best works, but it’s certainly a worthy one.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Aug 13, 2025 Full Review Planet of the Apes (2001) 42% 4/5 EDIT “It's fast, it's fun, it's exciting. You're not likely to find a better film of its type anytime soon. It's only serious failing is that it's not as special as Burton's name on it would make you expect.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Apr 30, 2024 Full Review In the Mood for Love (2000) 92% 4/5 EDIT “In the Mood for Love will more than reward a viewer willing to work with its deliberate pace and use of nuance rather than outright statement.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jul 14, 2023 Full Review The Sunshine Boys (1975) 69% 3/5 EDIT “The sole point of calm in this work that constantly confuses loud for funny is George Burns, who underplays every scene and walks off with what accolades there are.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 14, 2021 Full Review The Unforeseen (2007) 90% 4/5 EDIT “Very thought-provoking and worth seeing.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Sep 22, 2020 Full Review The Strange Case of Dr. Rx (1942) 43% 4/5 EDIT “Flick, fast and fun.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) May 12, 2020 Full Review Transsiberian (2008) 91% 4/5 EDIT “Anderson hasn't made a great film here, but he's made a very good one. Just don't go to it thinking it's a fun "train thriller."” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) May 5, 2020 Full Review The Plainsman (1936) 100% 4.5/5 EDIT “It's also one of DeMille's best movies, occasionally (like the last shot) achieving the truly mythical. And both Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur are everything movie stars should be.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Apr 22, 2020 Full Review Lady on a Train (1945) 71% 4.5/5 EDIT “It's a lot of fun in that slick 1940s way.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Apr 21, 2020 Full Review The House of the Seven Gables (1940) 80% 4/5 EDIT “The results are a good, if far from great, little film.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Apr 16, 2020 Full Review Black Sunday (1977) 76% 3.5/5 EDIT “The acting is good -- especially from Dern in his over-the-top mode -- and parts of the film are exciting. But I draw the line at finding it to be any sort of a classic.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Aug 23, 2016 Full Review Dark Horse (2015) 96% 4/5 EDIT “Sweet without being cloying, crowd-pleasing without being obviously manipulative, this is how this kind of tale ought to be told. See it now before Hollywood decides to remake it.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 21, 2016 Full Review Weiner (2016) 96% 4.5/5 EDIT “Yeah, you almost certainly know how this is going to play out, but that doesn't keep the film from being compelling and even fascinating.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 21, 2016 Full Review The Fits (2015) 96% 4.5/5 EDIT “Virtually impossible to synopsize and not even easy to describe. Let me just say that this a rather special movie.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 21, 2016 Full Review The Conjuring 2 (2016) 80% 4/5 EDIT “While deploring the glorification of the Warrens, I can't deny that James Wan has made one creepy horror movie.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 14, 2016 Full Review Genius (2016) 51% 4.5/5 EDIT “Is Genius a great film? I won't go that far, but it is intelligent and entertaining. And moving. I'll take that.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 14, 2016 Full Review Marguerite (2015) 95% 5/5 EDIT “Something at once comic and surprisingly thoughtful -- a work of great delicacy and generosity. There's a magical, almost luminous, quality to Frot's portrayal.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 7, 2016 Full Review Maggie's Plan (2015) 86% 4.5/5 EDIT “It may be a minor treat, but it is a treat and a terrific showcase for Gerwig -- and what it affords Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore ain't bad either.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 7, 2016 Full Review Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) 79% .5/5 EDIT “The last time I spent 86 minutes that lasted this long, dental work was involved.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jun 7, 2016 Full Review Love & Friendship (2016) 96% 5/5 EDIT “It is Austen -- reasonably at least -- with a touch of Oscar Wilde and full-on Whit Stillman. Funny, appealing, civilized -- and fully aware of the artifice holding it all together.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) May 25, 2016 Full Review The Nice Guys (2016) 91% 4.5/5 EDIT “Rude, raunchy, violent and very funny action-comedy-mystery with two great leads and a surprisingly terrific newcomer. All in all, I'd call it good unwholesome fun.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) May 25, 2016 Full Review The Meddler (2015) 85% 4/5 EDIT “Susan Sarandon shines in this unassuming, likable and sometimes even surprising comedy that manages to miss nearly every pitfall.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) May 17, 2016 Full Review Money Monster (2016) 59% 4/5 EDIT “Often witty, frequently exciting, but neither as modern nor as important as it seems to think it is. Viewed as entertainment, however, it's worth a look.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) May 17, 2016 Full Review The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) 62% 4/5 EDIT “Thoroughly standard biopic that doesn't challenge the viewer but is uniformly entertaining, splendidly acted and strikingly intelligent.” – Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) May 10, 2016 Full Review
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