New Release
‘Light of the World’
Set in the 1st century A.D., this film follows the life of Jesus (Ian Hanlin) as told through the eyes of his closest followers. From the call of the fishermen to the miracles at sea, it brings the Gospel accounts to the screen in ways that families can enjoy together.This has some of the best animation I’ve seen and gives the story a vivid sense of warmth. But the real power is in how story keeps Jesus front and center: calm, steady, and commanding without unnecessary flash. It hits the major moments straight on and never strays into fluff.
Family Pick
‘The Rookie’
High school baseball coach Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) has long buried his dream of pitching in the majors, but his players aren’t buying it. When they strike a deal with him and he gives pro ball one last try, he finds himself staring down the impossible.Quaid nails it as Morris; not flashy, not preachy, he’s just a regular guy who laces up again when everyone figured his dream was dead. Baseball is just the backdrop. It’s really about grit, second chances, and a man proving he’s still got some fire left in the tank.
Power, Prejudice, and Friendship
‘Victoria & Abdul’
In her later years, Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) meets Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a clerk from India, whose presence upends the rigid formalities of court life. What begins as an ordinary act of service grows into a friendship, stirring resentment among her court.I didn’t expect much going in, but it turned out sharper than I figured. Dench still commands the screen, but Fazal nearly steals it. The film is dressed up nicely, but what really works is how it digs into a friendship nobody saw coming.
Ticket to Trouble
‘The Major and the Minor’
A broke young woman (Ginger Rogers) ditches her big-city dreams and schemes her way onto a train with a child’s ticket. Disguised as a kid, she winds up under the wing of a straight-laced officer (Ray Milland).Billy Wilder’s direction keeps the pace snappy and the actors hit every mark. Watching Ginger Rogers pull off a kid disguise is half convincing, half charming, and completely ridiculous.
