Culture

DC’s ‘rebirth’: a return to happy superheroes?

Superheroes have gotten too serious. That's the takeaway from "DC Universe: Rebirth," the famed publisher's new series of comics through which it aims to retool its cosmos.

How St. John Paul II used spiritual power to bring down Soviet Union

The PBS documentary "Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism" shows the role the Polish pontiff played in bringing about the overthrow of Eastern Europe's Marxist regimes.

‘Mutant Ninja Turtles’ thrill their target audience: 13-year-old boys

Kids will easily comprehend genetic engineering, and get the film equivalent of a candy bar, in the CGI-animated action film sequel, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows."

History a refreshing departure from overly pious views of St. Francis

St. Francis of Assisi had a few rough edges, according to Jon Sweeney, who rejects the common practice of making him too saintly.

Movie review: Me Before You

What begins as a charming love story with a strong pro-life message veers off course toward a climactic endorsement of behavior no one committed to scriptural values can accept.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

This lame spoof undercuts itself by making the vanity of music superstars seem too absurd to bother parodying. It's also vulgar in the extreme.

X-Men: Apocalypse

One can only hope that "X-Men: Apocalypse" spells not the end of the world, as the title implies, but the conclusion of this tiresome franchise.

Despite flaws, book offers excellent insights into Bible women

The book would make an excellent text for a parish or ecumenical discussion group.

Bucks County band brings its Celtic flair to the world

The River Drivers started out just jamming in the living room of Bristol resident Mindy Murray. But after playing at a St. Mark School Mass, they started bringing their Celtic and American folk music to wider audiences.

‘All the Way’ offers a compelling civics lesson about civil rights

Rarely has a civics lesson been as compelling -- and entertaining -- as that provided by "All the Way," a new HBO historical drama about the epic civil rights struggle of the 1960s.