Culture
Movie review: Despicable Me 2
NEW YORK (CNS) — The transformative power of both romantic love and family affection is showcased in the sweet animated sequel “Despicable Me 2” (Universal). Co-directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin’s follow-up to their 2010 feature makes for a thoroughly endearing comedy and provides morally suitable entertainment for family members of all ages. Once again, […]
Book sees U.S. church history as misguided effort to assimilate
As the book title indicates, he tends toward pessimism. He sees the decline and fall principally as the result of efforts by influential church leaders in the19th and 20th centuries to assimilate the church into U.S. society, leading to the watering-down of belief in many traditional Catholic teachings, such as on abortion and artificial birth control, as many Catholics fell victim to the views and attitudes available in a pluralistic environment.
Hi yo, moviegoer, and ride away from this ‘Lone Ranger’
Parents may assume, going in, that "The Lone Ranger" (Disney) -- a big-screen attempt to provide an answer to the old question "Who was that masked man?" -- is a family-friendly project geared to kids. Alas, for a variety of reasons, especially the film's treatment of religion, such an assumption would be dead wrong.
Movie review – The Heat
NEW YORK (CNS) — Sometimes funny, but relentlessly foul-mouthed, director Paul Feig’s buddy comedy “The Heat” (Fox) revels in its own vulgarity. In large part, that’s because of the character of Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy), a scruffy, rule-averse Boston police officer who’s none too pleased when she’s forced to team, temporarily, with uptight FBI agent […]
Mother Dolores Hart reflects on life of screen gems with Elvis, to reforming a monastery
In 1963, Dolores Hart, a rising young Hollywood starlet with a glittering career beckoning, walked away from it all, as well as an engagement to marry, to enter Regina Laudis Monastery in Bethlehem, Conn. for formation as a Benedictine nun. Her very moving life story is told in the just released “The Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows.”
Movie Review: Monsters University
NEW YORK (CNS) — Your friendly neighborhood monsters are back. This time, they’re heading to college and screaming up a storm in “Monsters University” (Disney), a 3-D animated prequel to the 2001 hit “Monsters, Inc.” This hilarious sendup of academia provides the backstory to key characters. It also reinforces familiar but important messages for young […]
Brad Pitt would rather not be in Philadelphia for ‘World War Z’s zombie apocalypse
If you think your commute is bad, Brad Pitt has to get his family from Philadelphia to Newark through a swarm of zombies in the new action thriller 'World War Z.' The tale is high on body counts but low on subtle story telling.
Explosions, effects in ‘Man of Steel’ overtake solid moral tale
All human interest the picture initially contains yields, in the end, to pure chaotic spectacle. Superman and his adversaries hurl each other about; skyscrapers are leveled and oil trucks ignited. Then it's on to more of the same in a different locale. Oh, well, as they say on Krypton, it was nice while it lasted.
New comedy just about as funny as the end of the world
Intended as an amusingly outrageous romp through Armageddon, "This Is the End" finds an ensemble of actors in a Los Angeles mansion during the Apocalypse. There they squabble, trade insults and generally waste their time -- as well as the audience's.
Old guys go for the gags at Google, in ‘The Internship’
NEW YORK (CNS) — Director Shawn Levy’s comedy “The Internship” (Fox) has a topical premise along with two likable stars. Humor and inventiveness, on the other hand, are in short supply. Adding insult to comedic injury, the belabored effort has enough bad language and offensive material to cancel out its pertinent message concerning the virtues […]