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.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

With 200-plus titles, you’d think Mario would tire of chasing after Princess Peach each time Bowser nabs her. But Nintendo never loses our interest.

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“Tighten Up”

The first big hit from this rootsy, garage-band duo doesn’t dish out too much more than a dash of desperate blues. The video is another story.

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Red Dead Redemption

The makers of Grand Theft Auto have another hit on their hands after deciding to set their sights on the Wild West. If you play it, will you find its promised redemption? Or just wind up dead?

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30 Days of Night

When the sun sets for 30 days in Barrow, Alaska, the few hardy—and unlucky—souls who stick around don’t fare well against a marauding band of blood-crazed vampires.

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Miss USA Gone Wild

Once upon a time, the “only” skin  beauty pageant contestants had to show was during the swimsuit competition. I put “only” in quotes, of course, because these days, those bikinis have gotten pretty teeny and there’s plenty of flesh on display. But app …

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Letting Go

Former CCM singer Jennifer Knapp is back from Australia with a new album—and the confession that she’s been in a same-sex relationship since she went on hiatus almost a decade ago.

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The Powerless Rise

This pioneering Christian metalcore act’s fifth release fairly explodes with a prophetic call to renounce the self-serving values of the world and lay down our lives for one another.

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Friends, Family and Facebook

Something curious has been happening with my Facebook profile lately: I’ve been getting friend requests from lots of relatives. Some are cousins who are younger than I am. But, interestingly, several have come from my parents’ siblings. I’m now “friend …

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“California Gurls”

First, Katy Perry’s sun-kissed summer hit isn’t a remake of The Beach Boys’ groovy tune from 1965. Second, it makes quite a few more mistakes than just misspelling girls.

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I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

Adam Sandler and Kevin James, married? Don’t believe it. It’s just a silly gag. What’s not are the things Chuck and Larry have to say about sexuality.

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The Oracle

Godsmack waited four years to release its latest album. But time has not healed all wounds for this chart-topping post-grunge rock act.

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The Oracle

Godsmack waited four years to release its latest album. But time has not healed all wounds for this chart-topping post-grunge rock act.

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Firehouse Dog

A freak accident lands a superstar dog in a dilapidated firehouse where a father and his adolescent son are learning to communicate … and trying to stop an arsonist too.

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Movie Monday: What a Nightmare

It was a Nightmare at the box office this weekend. Specifically, the remake of Wes Craven’s 1984 horror flick A Nightmare on Elm Street slashed the competition. The movie raked in an estimated $32.2 million—and that despite the fact that mainstream cri …

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Madonna Joins the Choir

It was an interesting week on the Billboard 200 album chart. Two soundtracks clocked in among the Top 5—an unusual happening in its own right. Even more strange, however, was that both were collections from artists who’ve been around a long time: Madon …

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