The history books tell of Honest Abe’s achievements, of ending the bloodiest American war and healing the nation. Some books may tell of his personality, that he was earnest, patient, guarded, generous, and firm, all of which may be interpreted as differently as the eye that reads about them. But with the movie Lincoln, we now have a tangible, indelible portrayal of the character of our 16th president.

Unconditional, directed by Arlington native Brent McCorkle, says many things about love, forgiveness, underprivileged children, and even a little on racism. Quite a lot to cover in less than two hours. Wind lifts the story of Samantha and her journey to find peace, but the film glides shakily under the weight of its many themes. With so much to teach this fallen world, the biggest mistake for Christian filmmaking is trying to say it all in one story.

            After losing her husband to a fatal mugging, Samantha Crawford (Lynn Collins) plans to end her own life. Before she can complete the deed, two child victims of a hit-and-run draw her in to help them get to the hospital, where she crosses paths with her best childhood friend, Joe Bradford (Michael Ealy), who runs a safe house for children from the projects. As they reconnect and reminisce on their childhood and stories of brokenness, Sam begins to suspect her husband’s killer lives in the apartment next door.

It’s almost impossible not to like Jordin Sparks. Her stunning performances on American Idol’s sixth season instantly won her a place in the hearts of many music lovers, not to mention she’s gorgeous and comes off as exceedingly humble. What’s not to like? Well, with last month’s release of Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 movie of the same name, there is at least one thing. Her acting.

To be fair, I haven’t seen the original version of the movie, so I’m not exactly sure how closely the remake tails the original. But the film’s producers, Hollywood heavyweights Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil, don’t give Sparks much to work with.

After The Dark Knight (2008) came out, the question on everyone’s mind was, “How on God’s green earth can Christopher Noland (director, writer) top this?” Whether or not you enjoyed the second film in the Batman trilogy, no one could deny its edge, novelty, or power. Did Noland raise the bar too high for the third film? Well, the answer is a resounding yes. It pains me to say it, but The Dark Knight Rises falls way below its predecessor in storytelling and character development.

The Dark Knight Rises will forever be associated with last month's tragic events in Colorado, and audiences may never see The Joker in the same light again. Does this make The Dark Knight an evil film, as some are inclined to think? Of course not. The Dark Knight was one of the best films of the past decade, and James Holmes merely attempted to stain a God-honoring work.