Culture
‘Batman’ returns as fun, creative, restrained hero
Before the dark and despairing tone of the film "The Dark Knight Rises," before the violent video game "Batman: Arkham Asylum," Batman was fun. A reissued, half-century-old comic book shows the Light Knight.
Authors offer cultural background on church conflict with Galileo
As reflected in the subtitle, "A European Story," the authors of "Galileo's Telescope" present Galileo's astronomical discoveries of 1609-11 -- resulting from his modification of the Dutch "spyglass" -- as a European phenomenon that was as much philosophical and cultural as scientific.
Say ‘Aloha’ to romantic comedy with dash of strategic defense
The film's premise: one part screwball comedy, one part tale of redemption through love, and one part satirical cautionary tale of the military-industrial complex.
Hard to find fault in ‘San Andreas’ effects
The eye-popping, ear-splitting 3-D spectacle of a California earthquake comes to the screen just for a fun, if preposterous, summer film.
Disney does it again: ‘Tomorrowland’ a hit for families
As it did with "Pirates of the Caribbean," Disney's new theme park attraction is now also a delightful science-fiction film and great fun for the entire family.
There goes the resale value: ‘Poltergeist’ haunts family, wrecks home
Hollywood's preoccupation with remakes continues with "Poltergeist" (Fox), a reimagining of the 1982 horror film that gave new meaning to the term "haunted house."
Movie review: The Water Diviner
A father copes with the loss of his three sons during World War I in "The Water Diviner" (Warner Bros.), a fictional drama inspired by true events.
‘Catholicsm’ isn’t so hard after all
Despite the title of the “Idiot’s Guide” series, its new book on the Catholic Church is a thorough and enjoyable introduction for anybody.
‘Pitch Perfect 2:’ Catchy songs but a tin ear for dialogue
The sequel story of a college a capella group fails at humor by belittling women. It's out of tune with what should be a wholesome anthem for self-improvement and achievement.
Books use different approaches to offer valuable lessons to youths
A great deal of study has gone into trying to understand the development that takes place during adolescence, the period that runs roughly through the teen years but may begin earlier and often continues into the early 20s.