Culture
Complex ‘Captive State’ wraps social commentary in sci-fi drama
After humanity surrendered the earth to invading aliens, a young Chicagoan prepares an uprising, thwarted by surveillance and spies. While the film is ambitious it promises more than it ultimately delivers.
‘Anthem’ video game loads slowly, but rewards the patient
The breathtaking artwork, with its lush landscapes, is as excellent as the original soundtrack. The flight mechanics are a thing of beauty but an excessively slow loading screen is among some flaws.
For teens even at ‘Five Feet Apart,’ love finds a way
The two lead characters in this engaging young-adult romantic drama for whom touch is fatal discover the redeeming power of love in a compassionate, medically correct and morally sound way.
Author explores virtues with deep dives into great books
In "On Reading Well," Karen Swallow Prior shows how classic literature can highlight the best in humanity, through both positive and negative examples drawn from the works of Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton and more.
‘Wonder Park’ embarks on superlative, if scary, ride
The characters in this animated adventure find everything "splendiferous" even when they aren't. While it offers a positive climax, "chimpanzombies" make an amusement park's rides frightening to little ones.
‘Plant-forward’ menus in Lent can have year-round benefits
Many cultures eat plant-based meals, which not only offer an abundance of nutrients and protein, but also reduce the carbon footprint of the consumer, writes Brooke Mullen, who offers four alternatives to meat.
Latin American saint championed social justice in troubled times
Two new books present the martyred St. Oscar Romero to a new generation, taking different approaches. One lets St. Oscar speak in his own words of spirituality and sin, and the other is more academic in tone.
‘Alienated America’ author urges Catholics to engage in parish, community
Washington Examiner reporter Tim Carney thinks it was the dissolution of civic institutions such as church and family that made communities vote for Donald Trump in 2016.
In latest ‘Kingdom Hearts’ video game, 20-year saga wraps
"Kingdom Hearts III" concludes its past 12 installments of storytelling that mixes familiar Disney characters with original personas. The game play is wholesome and stunning, if less than challenging.
Author’s journey helps readers confront their own privilege
An author grew up unaware of her social and economic advantages. When she gave birth to a child with Down syndrome, she became a minority among parents and aware of prejudice and inequity in her own life.