Culture
Movie review: Do You Believe?
Despite its title, the competent ensemble drama "Do You Believe?" (Pure Flix) is not a film well calculated to invite the attention of the inquisitive, still less to convert the doubtful.
Movie review: The Gunman
The plodding thriller "The Gunman" (Open Road) leaves a trail of messy mayhem and misguided values as its action shuttles between Africa and Europe.
Deadly teens are still on the run in ‘The Divergent Series: Insurgent’
The film is faster and sleeker than its predecessor but the violence and moral ambiguity place this film outside the reach of younger adolescents.
Vatican astronomers’ book uses humor to explore faith, science
As members of the research staff at the Vatican Observatory, Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno and Jesuit Father Paul Mueller are asked a lot of questions related to science and faith.
‘Run All Night’ and watch for a tale of conversion
The crime drama starring Liam Neeson can be viewed as a Catholic-inflected redemption story, if you can step over the high body count and sordid urban landscape.
Fresh and faithful take on ‘Cinderella’ fits like a glass slipper
The venerable fairy tale exudes vibrant new life as it opts for exuberance and sincerity over a revisionist approach. Watch for Cinderella's shimmering blue dress, which steals the show.
Comic-book reissue of St. John XXIII’s life improves on the original
Forget the Avengers. The coolest Marvel-related character this year is Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, better known to the world as St. John XXIII.
Relics can be key to understanding life in Jesus’ time, Jesuit says
Is the Shroud of Turin real, as many Catholics believe? Or is it a product of the 14th century, as suggested by tests conducted of strips taken from the shroud?
Evolution of death: How church teachings shifted on capital punishment
An author argues that St. Pope John Paul II set the foundations for declaring capital punishment always morally and ethically wrong -- and in doing so, broke with 2,100 years of church tradition.
Movie review: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Based on its ingratiating surface, the comedy sequel "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (Fox Searchlight) might be categorized as the sort of film that, while safest for adults, could also be appropriate, at a stretch, for well-grounded teens.