by Cory Woodroof | May 31, 2012 | Uncategorized
Unlike most folks, I have a definitive soft spot for Men in Black II. Sure, the film fails in comparison to the original and has some outstanding flaws, but there’s just something about the goofy follow-up that makes me defensive. Is it a good movie? Eh, not really. When I think of MiB II, I think of Ghostbusters II – a sequel full of fun villains and silly antics. Come to think of it, Ghostbusters and the original Men in Black also share some striking similarities. Both were game-changing works of sci-fi comedy that still carry a strong following. I say all that to say I really dug Men in Black 3. Let me back up a bit. When Men in Black 3 was announced, immediate groans were heard across the galaxy (see what I did there?). Viewed as nothing more than a needless sequel, fans of the original feared yet another lackluster follow-up to tarnish the reputation of the once-popular series. While I may be a fan, I’m in a small group. Honestly, adding in a third installment after a poorly received second feature will never be an easy journey. Just look how Ghostbusters III is doing. Thankfully, Men in Black 3 both returns back to the basics that made the original so fun and avoids the mistakes of the second installment. This time around, the audience finds Agents J (Will Smith returning to the screen after nearly four years away from movies) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) facing a new, time-altering threat in Boris the Animal (Jermaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords), a one-armed time traveling...
by Cory Woodroof | May 18, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Greg Brown was introduced as Lipscomb’s new head coach of the women’s basketball team Thursday afternoon in a press conference with Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson. Brown, a former associate women’s basketball coach with the University of Central Florida, replaces former coach Frank Bennett, who was promoted to associate athletic director earlier this year after 32 years of coaching the Lady Bisons. Before Brown spoke, Hutcheson shared some insight into the future of the Lady Bisons program, the hiring process and what Lipscomb looked for in a new coach. “At Lipscomb, we make a big point of being interested in what we call the four C’s,” Hutcheson said. “We want to excel in the classroom, in competition, in the community and in our Christian walk, and so when we’re looking for a coach, we’re interested in all of those things.” Hutcheson said he believes that Brown is the right man for the job. “As we looked for a coach, we did find several who embodied what we were looking for, but out of that came a guy in Greg Brown,” Hutcheson said. “[Brown] embodied all four of the characteristics we were looking for, and he has a background and a resume and experience that’s really unsurpassed.” Hutcheson said he believes that the women’s basketball program can be successful in the coming seasons. “I am firmly convinced there is no reason that Lipscomb women’s basketball cannot be great,” Hutcheson said. “We are in a great city, at a great place in a great city. Middle Tennessee is known for its women’s basketball. There is no shortage of talent in this area,...
by Cory Woodroof | May 16, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson announced today the hiring of Greg Brown as the new head coach of the Lady Bisons basketball team. Brown, the former associate coach of the University of Central Florida women’s basketball team, replaces former head coach Frank Bennett, now holding the position of Lipscomb’s associate athletic director. Brown also served for two years as both a graduate assistant and assistant coach to Pat Summit and the University of Tennessee’s Lady Vols. “I’m extremely excited for Greg to be our next women’s coach,” Hutcheson said. “He brings to Lipscomb a strong coaching background and has been mentored by some of the top coaches in the country.” An alumnus of Lipscomb, Brown also served under Don Meyer as a student assistant coach. Hutcheson believes that Brown will be a great addition to the Lady Bisons basketball program. “I’m confident that he will continue to mentor and train our student athletes to become leaders on the court, in the classroom and in their Christian walk,” Hutcheson said. “He has been a part of successful coaching staffs at every level, and I’m excited that he’s bringing that leadership to Lipscomb.” Brown expressed gratitude for his hiring. “I’m honored to be named the head basketball coach at Lipscomb,” said Brown. “Lipscomb is a special place for me and my family. I’m excited to represent the university and be part of its growth, and I look forward to building on the traditions of excellence at Lipscomb. I’m very fortunate to be able to coach in a Christian atmosphere, and I thank Philip Hutcheson and Dr. Lowry for this opportunity.” Brown will be...
by Cory Woodroof | May 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
In his newest collaboration with friend Johnny Depp, director Tim Burton has re-entered the world of cobwebs, camp and comedy with Dark Shadows, an adaptation of the late 60s/70s daytime soap opera. With Dark Shadows, Burton returns to his roots – the world of funny-spooky strangeness, utilized in such films as Beetlejuice and Mars Attacks! Fresh off the hay fever nightmare that was 2010’s Alice in Wonderland, Burton finally gets back to the stuff that he’s good at – campy horror comedies. Dark Shadows does take itself seriously, but Burton makes sure his signature style shows. While you can’t call this new Burton adaptation a comedy, per se, the director uses his sense of dark humor to his advantage, cultivating hearty laughs at the expense of the ultra-campy vibe. The plot of the film follows Barnabas Collins (Depp), a pre-revolution era man cursed with the identity of a vampire after denying the love of a witch (Eva Green). Barnabas awakes 200 years in the future (1972 to be exact) to find his family’s once-prominent business in ruins and his current lineage in dire need. To make matters, the lovelorn witch, Angelique, who cursed and imprisoned him now runs the top business in the Collins-founded town of Collinsport. Barnabas, now surrounded by his distant descendants (including Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Lee Miller and Chloë Grace Mortez), sets out to restore the family business to its former glory while dealing with Angelique’s malevolent meddling. At its best, Dark Shadows gives Depp and company a chance to flex their comedic chops. Being that Barnabas is a foreigner to the 20th century, many laughs come from...
by Cory Woodroof | May 9, 2012 | Uncategorized
Ever since the post-credit sequence in 2008’s Iron Man, fanboy audiences world-wide have eagerly awaited the assembling of The Avengers, Marvel’s answer to DC’s Justice League. The Avengers, made up of such heroes as Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America and Thor, has always been a beloved comic book property for diehard Marvel fans. Under the watchful eye of S.H.I.E.L.D director Nick Fury, The Avengers would team up to take on the villains in the Marvel canon while saving room for constant bickering among themselves. Ever since the moment Samuel L. Jackson’s Fury told Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark of the planned initiative to bring earth’s mightiest heroes together, Marvel Studios has introduced audiences to not just the carefree, narcissistic Iron Man. Edward Norton brought the Hulk to the screen (again) in ’08, but due to some contractual/creative differences, Norton’s satisfying take on the big green man marked his only outing as the beast. Stark returned to the screen in 2010’s love it-or-hate it Iron Man 2. Aussie Chris Hemsworth (best known at the time for a flash-shot performance in 09’s Star Trek) brought the proud, Shakespearean Thor to the big screen in 2011. In the same year, Chris Evans completed the pre-Avengers rally with Captain America’s origin. Through the thick and thin, these set-up movies have had their strengths and weaknesses. Everyone loves Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, but many complain the Iron Man movies lacked the scale necessary for superhero glory. Most have already forgotten about The Incredible Hulk (a shame, really. I find the film highly underrated.), and Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger were enjoyable...
