Buzz Lightyear versus Iron Man? Mr. Incredible versus Captain America? Though Disney owns both Pixar and Marvel, seeing these colossal clashes play out on the big screen seems a bit … unlikely. Even if such a showdown were to happen, faceoffs between Marvel’s and Pixar’s protagonists might fall a bit short. Watching Hulk and Thor duke it out on the trash planet of Sakaar … oh yeah, I’d pay money for that. Watching Hulk take on Up’s Carl Fredricksen has... Read more
Every superhero has his weakness. Superman has his kryptonite, Batman had his Bane. And in Incredibles 2, Mr. Incredible faces perhaps his strongest foe yet: Single fatherhood. It’s not as if his wife, Helen (a.k.a. Elastigirl) is leaving him permanently. This is, after all, a Pixar movie. But when she’s given a chance to help legalize superheroes again—an exclusive club that her entire family belongs to—she feels she must take it. That means leaving home for a bit to take... Read more
On Feb. 2, 1968—Groundhog Day—Simon & Garfunkel recorded the final version of their classic song “Mrs. Robinson” for their album Bookends. It includes one of the most poignant lines in all of pop music: Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you. “I thought of him as an American hero and that genuine heroes were in short supply,” Paul Simon later told The New York Times. And indeed, in early 1968, they were. The... Read more
Can God forgive us? Michael, a despairing environmental activist, asks this of Rev. Toller in First Reformed—the powerful, searing story of a pastor, a church and perhaps a faith in crisis. Theologically, at least from my evangelical background, the question has an easy, encouraging answer: Of course. We live under the umbrella of God’s grace. We’re sinners, He knows it, and so He shows us mercy and forgiveness when—perhaps especially when—we don’t deserve it. But do we believe it? Grace... Read more
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors will face off for the fourth straight (!) NBA Finals starting tonight. The Warriors have the edge in their championship rivalry (winning titles in 2015 and 2017), and they’re heavily favored this time, too. I’m a sucker for a good underdog story, so I’ll be rooting for the Cavs. Still, Golden State’s an absolute marvel of a team—an Avengers-level mashup of superstars that, when they’re on their game, are nigh-unbeatable. They’re also... Read more
A paradox lies at the heart of the new documentary Pope Francis: A Man of His Word, and it’s this: Actions speak louder. As Christians, what we do is far more eloquent than what we say. How we behave is far more persuasive than how we speak. Again and again in the doc, Francis drives home a truth often lost in the midst our noisy world: How important it is to listen. Listen. Listen. Admittedly, Francis says a lot in... Read more
I’m a sucker for haunted house stories. Nothing gives me goosebumps like a movie filled with dark hallways, creepy attics and maybe a secret panel or two. Ghosts seem to have an affinity with run-down Victorian mansions. Wraith, out on video today, gives us a picture-perfect haunted house. But the ghost who takes up residence here is decidedly a different sort of spirit—and one that carries in its spectral hands a decidedly pro-life message. Michael Sajbel, Wraith’s writer and director,... Read more
I saw Avengers: Infinity War last week. I’m still recovering. If you’re like me, read on and we’ll process together. (But if you haven’t seen Infinity War just yet, wait to read this ‘til you do.) Most of us go to movies, especially superhero movies, to be entertained. Sure, movies like Captain America: Winter Soldier and Black Panther have wider themes they want to explore. Yes, they can be great and gritty and even kinda sad, like Logan. But normally,... Read more
I don’t need to tell you this, of course. But Avengers: Infinity War is coming out this weekend, and it’s gonna be big. Like, big big. Hulk big. Ant-Man-turned-giant big. The Avengers will fight Thanos and his gauntlet encrusted with Infinity Stones and— Wait. What’s that, you say? I do need to tell you about Infinity Wars? You don’t know Captain America from Captain Crunch? That Groot is something that a tile expert with a speech impediment might mention? Think... Read more
Captain America Not-so-secret alias: Steve Rogers Starred in: Captain America: The First Avenger; Captain America: The Winter Soldier; Captain America: Civil War Appeared in: The Avengers; Avengers: Age of Ultron; Spider-Man: Homecoming Special abilities: Super-strong; Super-fast; Has a super Frisbee. Captain America is my favorite superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And he has to go. It’s not because I want him to go. Cap (played by Chris Evans), has been the heart and soul of the Avengers for years.... Read more
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