Contributor: Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

The Water We Swim In

Culture, it’s said, is like an ocean. And we are the fish swimming there. For the most part, we’re not really aware of the water around us. It’s just there … always there. It’s where we swim and live. That comparison is helpful, I think, because it rem …

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“Say You’ll Haunt Me”

Stone Sour’s latest hit, “Say You’ll Love Me,” isn’t really sour at all … or even haunted, for that matter. Has Corey Taylor really written a straight-up love song?

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The Last Airbender

The nations of Air, Water, Earth and Fire are at war. And only a young avatar named Aang can bring stability and harmony back to this war-torn world. Will he succeed, or should this film (based on a popular Nickelodeon animated series) be left out in the elements?

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Recovery

Eminem continues to rap about kicking his debilitating drug habit. A few moments of surprising vulnerability turn up on Recovery as well … along with a lot of the same ol’ Slim Shady.

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Can’t Be Tamed

The racy video for the title track from Miley’s third album ruffled lots of Hannah fans’ feathers. Will the rest of her songs smooth things over again? Or just kick up more dirt in the nest?

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Can’t Be Tamed

The racy video for the title track from Miley’s third album ruffled lots of Hannah fans’ feathers. Will the rest of her songs smooth things over again? Or just kick up more dirt in the nest?

Read more

“Love the Way You Lie”

Eminem and Rihanna delve into the dark depths of a love/hate relationship that’s equal parts fiery passion and explosive violence.

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“Love the Way You Lie”

Eminem and Rihanna delve into the dark depths of a love/hate relationship that’s equal parts fiery passion and explosive violence.

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Movie Monday: Don’t Mess With the Karate Kid

Every week, Hollywood industry insiders speculate on how well new movies will do at the box office. Most weeks, these wizened mavens are pretty accurate. Every now and then, however, there’s a big surprise. That’s what happened last weekend, as two reb …

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The Matador

Pierce Brosnan stars as an anti-Bond, an aging hit man who forms an unlikely friendship with a struggling salesman after the two meet in a Mexico City bar.

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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Can’t get enough angst-filled reflections on the paradoxical relationship between love’s eternal power and death’s cold grasp? The third Twilight soundtrack brims with moody, gothic musings on that very conundrum.

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“If I Die Young”

The first hit from these country-crooning siblings mingles beautiful melodies with musings about life’s uncertainty—the fear of which is muffled by the hope of heaven.

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Never Back Down

‘The Karate Kid,’ ‘Fight Club’ and ‘The O.C.’ collide as a teen hunk with a chip on his shoulder gets swept into the brutal world of mixed martial arts fighting.

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The Trojan Happy Meal

So I’m in the checkout line at Safeway the other day with my almost 4-year-old son. This is always a touchy moment, because he’s usually ready to be anywhere else by the time we get done grocery shopping. This particular day, however, something caught …

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Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Yet another wreck of a vehicle for Will Ferrell’s comedic talent, in which he delivers the news—’70s style.

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