Culture
Next year’s new take on the biblical epic ‘Ben-Hur’
This fourth big-screen adaptation of Civil War Gen. Lew Wallace's epic 1880 novel, "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ," is produced by the husband-and-wife team of Roma Downey and Mark Burnett.
Movie review: 99 Homes
Trenchant, didactic and unflinching, "99 Homes" (Broad Green) also is an example of profoundly moral filmmaking.
Cold War thriller ‘Bridge of Spies’ another instant Spielberg classic
Few incidents in the long history of the Cold War were as rich in personal drama as an exchange of prisoners that took place on a Berlin bridge in 1962 -- a story told skillfully by director Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks.
Like Halloween treats, ‘Goosebumps’ has frights of many kinds
The mildly scary adventure film is an overview of author R.L. Stine's numerous children's books, rather than an adaptation of any one of them. It wittily incorporates the writer himself, via the comedic talents of Jack Black.
Book examines importance, influence and interpretations of Vatican II
The Second Vatican Council dramatically changed the life, attitudes and thinking of the Catholic Church. Those who straddled the 1962-65 event quickly experienced how groundbreaking these were.
In ‘Woodlawn,’ race hatred and bad football reign, until faith shows up
The true-life movie tells the inspirational tale of how black and white high school football players battled each other until a chaplain led them to faith in Jesus, forgiveness and an improbable winning streak.
Vatican Museums app seeing strong growth in first two months
The Vatican is "a world treasure, so how do we make (it) accessible to someone who can't travel the distance?" said the manager of a mobile-device app showcasing the Vatican's artworks. It has been downloaded 5,300 times.
‘Pan’ takes special effects to new high, but outlook to new low
In a revisionist back story about Peter Pan, the director and writer of the new action adventure film take up a thorough trashing of the Catholic Church. Neverland is new agey, and shots against Catholicism abound.
Books stand as cautionary tales of a world at war, for today
Seventy years after the end of the Second World War, two compelling new books reveal nuances of Pope Pius XII's and German Catholic clergy's moral response to Nazi Germany, and underscore war's challenges to morality.
Media ‘gets’ and media ‘hits’ noted in wake of papal visit
Just as Pope Francis got what he wanted from his apostolic journey to the United States in a close-up view of American Catholicism at its most compassionate and energetic, so too did the media covering Pope Francis largely get what they sought in covering his six-day September visit in the form of larger audiences.