Culture
‘Doctor Strange’ flashes strong special effects, New Age mumbo jumbo
The Marvel Comics superhero showcases a surfeit of magical nonsense and rigmarole concerning spell-casting, astral bodies and the like. With Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead, the acting rises well above the genre average.
Memoir of Notre Dame priest has insights but not definitive biography
From the 1950s through the 1980s, Father Theodore Hesburgh was one of the most famous priests in the United States and, probably, the busiest.
‘Hacksaw Ridge’ tells tale of ultimate Christian love on WWII battlefield
The film's brutal portrayal of how Army medic Desmond T. Doss single-handedly saved the lives of 75 wounded soldiers while under constant enemy fire would seem far fetched were they not true.
For its tedium, ‘Inferno’ is more akin to movie purgatory
Catholic viewers will be glad to note that neither their faith nor the early history of their church is trampled on, as they both were so blatantly in "The Da Vinci Code." In "Inferno," churches do make lovely backdrops.
Memoir on path to Catholicism could inspire many
Kevin Lowry's book is unique in that it is a 21st-century account by a nontheologian written for regular folks. While every story is unique, Lowry's is captivating because he grew up the son of a Presbyterian minister who had no intention of ever being anything else.
‘Denial’ honors the memory of the Holocaust by debunking its deniers
The courtroom drama portrays a prominent attempt in the 1990s to erase one of history's most notorious genocides. Deniers, the film suggests, will always be with us, but they must be fought at every turn.
‘Monsters’ may be one of your favorite things
Emil Ferris' debut graphic novel, "My Favorite Thing Is Monsters" (Fantagraphics), is an extraordinary work.
Boo! A Madea Halloween
Going by "Boo! A Madea Halloween" (Lionsgate), Tyler Perry may be getting a little bored with his signature character. So this is a film best appreciated by die-hard Madea completists who won't mind that the plot is too casually constructed.
Ouija: Origin of Evil
Whatever else may be haunting the unconvincing horror prequel "Ouija: Origin of Evil" (Universal), a slavish devotion to logic is not its characteristic specter.
Book outlines false historical accusations against Catholic Church
The church, as a human institution, has been flawed and certainly found itself on the wrong side of history at times. But there also are accusations based on faulty information, misinterpretations, exaggerations and distortions of fact.