The second series of Squid Game continues to be a complex tapestry of moral dilemmas and human suffering. The series’ intense and often disturbing content requires Catholic employ a thoughtful and discerning approach.

If the pure spectacle of noisy, balletic action sequences, fighter jets in combat, and, needless to say, that indestructible red, white and blue shield, constitute diverting entertainment – and, for some at least, they always seem to – that’s sufficient.

At the heart of the narrative is the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857, a tragic and historically complex event involving the deaths of more than 100 emigrants at the hands of a Mormon militia and their allies.

The series follows Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian and bartender, who encounters Martha, a lonely woman who quickly fixates on him with alarming intensity.

Two double lives provide the context for some good one-liners in the generally enjoyable espionage comedy “Back in Action” (Netflix). Unfortunately, however, the quality of the humor flags as the film’s plot progresses and some of the ma-terial viewers encounter along the way makes this production an apt choice for grown-ups only.

Though the result is not always satisfying, the production overall is both reverent and engaging. The film is also suitable for a wide audience.

Cast aside any concerns about the dangers of artificial intelligence – “The Wild Robot” (Dreamworks) has arrived, a Mary Poppins bot ready to chase your cares away in this warm and fuzzy animated adaptation of the bestselling children’s book by Peter Brown.

In approaching the comic adventure “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” (Paramount), viewers will likely be expecting to witness more of the hyperkinetic antics that are the trademark of the Sega video game-based characters around whom the franchise is built. What they may not be bargaining for are complex layers of emotional pain.

With D. J. Caruso’s new film “Mary” streaming on Netflix ahead of Christmas, two Marian scholars shared with OSV News that “Filmmakers face many difficulties in portraying Mary, particularly because of the four Marian dogmas”.

Directed by co-writer Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand and David G. Derrick Jr., Moana 2 is a lively and eye-pleasing musical is family-friendly in most respects.