Home Video Picks & Passes 08.02.20

Historical fiction, horse racing and gladiator movies get a thumbs-up this week.

(photo: Shutterstock)

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) — PICK

Seabiscuit (2003) — PICK

Spartacus (1960) — PICK

New on Blu-ray, Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus is Jewish producer and star Kirk Douglas’s contribution to the sword-and-sandal genre that, until then, has been synonymous with biblical or triumph-of-Christ spectacle. Inspired by a true story, the pre-Christian epic provides historical context for the Gospel story in intriguing ways, most obviously the bold climax. On Hulu is Peter Weir’s brilliant Master and Commander, starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany in a rousing, intelligent adaptation of Patrick O’Brian’s nautical historical fiction. Among many strong points is the matter-of-factly Christian historical setting. New Netflix offerings include Gary Ross’ crowd-pleasing Seabiscuit, starring Tobey Maguire in a fact-based story of a race horse whose unexpected comeback inspired Depression-era America. Some unfortunate language and an entirely unnecessary brothel scene mar what could have been a family-friendly film.

CAVEAT SPECTATOR: Master and Commander: Bloody battle violence and field surgery; a suicide; some profane language, rude humor and brief obscenity. Might be fine for mature teens. Seabiscuit: Comic lewd behavior and a bedroom scene (nothing explicit); remarriage after divorce; implied induced vomiting for weight loss; crude language and profanity; sports-related roughness. Adults. Spartacus: Rough gladiatorial and battlefield violence; moderate sexual frankness, including veiled homosexual innuendo. Teens and up. 

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne attends a German Synodal Way assembly on March 9, 2023.

Four German Bishops Resist Push to Install Permanent ‘Synodal Council’

Given the Vatican’s repeated interventions against the German process, the bishops said they would instead look to the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Meanwhile, on Monday, German diocesan bishops approved the statutes for a synodal committee; and there are reports that the synodal committee will meet again in June.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

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