Contributor: Bob Hoose

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

Unconditional

Inspired by “Papa Joe” Bradford’s real life of service to at-risk kids in Tennessee, Unconditional asks the question, Is it possible to see the beauty of life and have hope for sunlight even when things are the darkest and stormiest? Children’s storybook writer Samantha would’ve said no. But that was yesterday.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Hermione no more, Emma Watson magically transports herself into a teen romance movie … that winds up with more monsters in it than Harry Potter ever had to face.

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Occupy 3-D

In this season of political grumbles and social gripes, I’m taking a well-needed and long-in-the-coming stand.  I’m am officially raising a protest against … 3-D movies and all the headachey eyestrain they stand for! I’ve got my signs ready, I’ve packe …

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Borderlands 2

Another dystopian shooter filled with furious aliens, fast one-liners and quick trigger fingers.

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Bringing Out the Troll in Us

I think it’s time we admit it: The Internet makes it easier for us to be nasty. Now, don’t get all riled up. I’m not hating on the Internet. And I’m not saying that it creates haters. Nope. I’m simply saying that with all its “likes”, “friends,” “follo …

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Tekken Tag Tournament 2

Double the fighters, double the punches, double the fun, a whole chorus of fans chimes in. Here’s what you need to know about Tekken’s newest tsunami-style takedown.

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The Gullible Among Us

P.T. Barnum once said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” According to a study published recently in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, however, it turns out that he was being conservative. In fact, in the U.S. alone, there’s a sucker born just …

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The Cold Light of Day

This Hitchcockian wannabe has a spy-worthy start, but can it follow through for the family when push comes to shove? Or kidnap comes to corruption?

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Hollywood Needs You

It has long been stated by the really smart heavy thinkers in the know that there are only a certain small number of basic plotlines in existence. And these basic stories are said to be repeatedly reshaped into every legend, book, screenplay and brilli …

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Charlie Bartlett

Teenager Charlie Bartlett comes up with a plan to become the most popular kid at school: Psychoanalyze his pals … and give away lots of prescription meds.

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Lawless

Like the white lightning it showcases, this is a flick that might look like a Mason jar full o’ fun, but you’ll find it burns somethin’ wicked whilst you’re gulping it down.

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Guild Wars 2

Some 250 years after the conclusion of the first game, ancient dragons have awoken and begun doing what dragons do: terrorizing the land and corrupting its inhabitants. Someone’s got to figure out a way to take them on.

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Premium Rush

Slide, dash, duck and swerve. The life of a Manhattan bike courier is a fast-pedaling one. But there’s more to navigate here than a few opening cab doors and misjudged stoplights.

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Darksiders II

The seal has been broken and the horseman Death is on the move. But this Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse tale won’t be following any sort of biblical script.

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Call of the Wild … ly Famous

We, the people, have always had an affection for those in the spotlight: the famous. Ever since the first scruffy human guy shuffled back to his clan, pushed his Bieber-ish locks aside and grunted about his near-death brush with a sabre-toothed tiger ( …

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