Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

Miss Bala

The likeable Gina Rodriguez, this film’s star, deserves better, quite frankly. But Miss Bala misses the mark.

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Turok

New jobs can be awkward. Just ask Joseph Turok. He’s the new guy on a space-age special ops team that’s been tasked with bringing in Turok’s old mentor—a nasty, heartless guy by the name of Kane. Problem is, most of the folks in the squad don’t seem to …

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Mirror’s Edge

Leap! Dodge! Slide! Flip! Run! RUN! Runrunrunfasterfasterfasteraaarrgghh— This, in a nutshell, sums up the life of Faith: Not, mind you, “a life of faith,” as in Bible studies, prayer and possibly a stay in a monastery, but “the life of Faith,” as in t …

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Dragon Ball Super: Broly

You don’t need to see much of Dragon Ball to realize that this franchise is more adult than it lets on.

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Replicas

This is one movie I’d rather not see replicated anytime soon.

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Dante’s Inferno

Do you know what shape this year’s most diabolical game comes wrapped in? A circle. Actually, nine circles. Abandon hope, all ye who desire to play.

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Holmes & Watson

It doesn’t take a Sherlock to deduce that this is a movie to stay far, far away from.

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Aquaman

Parents should press pause and thoughtfully consider this film’s negatives before packing up the kids to see this flick.

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The Favourite

The Favourite may indeed be a favorite with secular critics and Academy voters. For me? Not so much.

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Welcome to Marwen

If it wasn’t for all the Nazis, Marwen would be a pretty great place. It has everything a knee-high, World War II-era Belgian village could need: a fountain, a church, a boarding house, a bar. The town’s caretakers—all beautiful, heavily-armed dolls—se …

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Mortal Engines

This dystopian tale could’ve been a little more whimsical and a little less grim—more Wizard of Oz and less Mad Max.

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Bird Box

Bird Box won’t be up for any awards, most likely, and it’s R all the way. It didn’t need to be.

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Social Animals

For those who want a raw look at Instagram and how it’s impacting teens, Social Animals is as relevant, and as riveting, as it gets.

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Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

This darker, bloodier take on Mowgli’s story won’t be for everyone.

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Creed II

Adonis Creed comes to understand what he should fight for—family and friendship and even love—and what he shouldn’t.

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