Culture
‘Now You See Me 2’ shows solid values amid the razzle-dazzle
The film sequel's dense plot and quick dialogue are enhanced by elaborate illusions and a great deal of technology. The moral: Be true to yourself while not always believing in what you see.
Movie review: Warcraft
Anyone who has ever doubted the genius of Catholic novelist J.R.R. Tolkien need look no further than the heavy-handed video game adaptation "Warcraft" (Universal) for confirmation of his gifts.
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.