Culture
In ‘Million Dollar Arm,’ baseball agent learns cultural curveballs
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Strong humane values permeate the breezy baseball-themed conversion story "Million Dollar Arm" (Disney). Jon Hamm stars as an agent recruiting pitchers in India. He teaches them the game, while they teach him about respect, religion and life.
‘Professor Layton’ and family-friendly Nintendo
NEW YORK (CNS) -- For Catholics who are interested in the gaming world, yet confused about the different consoles on the market, a good name to know is Nintendo. Nintendo is far and away the most family-friendly gaming system available.
‘Oz,’ the sequel: Nice movie; not memorable, but nice
NEW YORK (CNS) -- The animated musical adventure "Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return" is a pleasant, family-friendly outing, though one likely to be forgotten not long after its closing credits roll. But stacked up against the 1939 movie -- and small-screen fixture -- "The Wizard of Oz," its inferiority is glaring.
Gripping account tells past, present of monks kidnapped in Algeria
On the night of March 26-27, 1996, seven of the monks were kidnapped during the Algerian civil war.
‘Boxers & Saints’: Faith and rebellion in China
NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Boxers & Saints" (First Second Books), a two-volume graphic novel written and drawn by Gene Luen Yang, is an example of comic art at its best.
Hero of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ really is a good guy
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Patrons will feel they've gotten their money's worth from the overstuffed but diverting 3-D comic-book sequel "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (Columbia). In the fast-paced and clean language film, Spider-man not only battles evil but encourages goodness as well.
Moviemaking style makes ‘The Quiet Ones’ a disquieting thriller
NEW YORK (CNS) -- The "found-footage" technique adds suspense to the mental illness/possession theme of the film. Restrained depiction of blood makes it unlike the typical slasher film, but the religious themes present can be confusing to viewers.
A challenging but worthwhile read on U.S. church and how it changes
Peter McDonough, professor emeritus at Arizona State University and twice a Fulbright fellow, begins his book "The Catholic Labyrinth" with these words, "The argument of this book is not that Catholicism changes ...
A dilemma for TV watchers: more news but less content
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- At the end of March, the Federal Communications Commission took action to quash the growing monopolization of local TV airwaves by just a handful of broadcasting conglomerates.
Movie review: The Other Woman
NEW YORK (CNS) -- When a screenwriter's armory of jokes is so depleted that a large dog having a very visible accident qualifies as a sight gag, moviegoers of taste will want to steer clear. And so they should in the case of the crass comedy "The Other Woman" (Fox).