by Wade Funderburg | Apr 20, 2010 | News Slider
“The Secret of Kells” is an Irish movie that was nominated for best animated picture in the Academy Awards, is an entrancing animated film that showed at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville. The fanciful storybook animation is reminiscent of Samurai Jack and Kim Possible, though the animators don’t hide from the two-dimensional look for the majority of the film. I’ll be looking forward to seeing how good it looks on Blu-ray. The plot revolves around a young Irish lad, Brendan, living in Kells, a community surrounded by walls. The walls are to protect the people from the Norse invaders whilst they complete a book that will “bring light to the darkness.” The plot is fairly simple and easy to follow overall, but a lot is going on in most of the scenes of the film and it can be hard to take it all in at first. It was, however, enough to grab and hold the attention of me, a college student. Though the “Abbot,” “brothers” and Celtic crosses would hint at Catholicism, the filmmakers seemed to avoid any kind of religious agenda. If you do your research, you will see that the Book of Kells is actually a heavily illustrated and ornamental book containing the four Christian gospels in Latin. I wouldn’t recommend the movie to people with small children, as I imagine a few scenes (such as when the Vikings attack, or when Brendan encounters the cave of Crom Cruach) might be too frightening for them. The soundtrack to the film was also incredible. Mostly featuring classic instrumental Irish folk music, it’ll definitely be one to pick...
by McCall Graves | Apr 19, 2010 | News Slider
Growing up in a fashion-forward region of California, Megan Avery, a senior Fashion Merchandising major at Lipscomb University, is beginning her career with an organization that helps change the lives of many children. Having an eye for fashion, Avery has been involved with many things in the fashion-merchandising field. From photo shoots to fashion shows. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10, the Bible. Avery has now decided to take this special gift to another level. She has come up with an idea that will brighten the faces of the children at St. Jude. She will be designing unique hospital gowns, from detachable ballerina skirts to screen-printed cowboy holsters. “I want to start locally and, as it grows, go into countries all around the world,” said Avery. “I want to be able to donate these hospital gowns to less fortunate children.” “If one child smiles, it will be worth it. Just to take their minds off of the situation for even a split second, it will totally be worth it in my eyes.” The future company will be called “Ave.” The gowns will be sold through Ave. for profit, but there will be a non-profit organization attached to it as well. Donations will be accepted or gowns may be purchased in the honor of a child. To present the special gowns to the children, a fashion show will take place at the selected hospital. The honored child will model their new gown and receive a complete makeover to make the experience as magical...
by Dale Lipscomb | Apr 19, 2010 | News Slider
Two comedic geniuses unite for the first time on the big screen in the movie Date Night. Tina Fey and Steve Carell make Date Night a hilarious movie going experience. The PG-13 comedy goes beyond sexual humor to adding a message about love to the semi-romantic action-comedy film. The movie begins by showing how difficult marriage for Phil Foster (Carell) and Claire Foster (Fey) can be when kids and work take up all the time. One of the key moments in the movie is when the Fosters find out their friends Haley Sullivan (Kristin Wiig) and Brad Sullivan (Mark Ruffalo) are separating. Phil and Claire start to wonder if their marriage is in the same danger as their friends. Phil decides he and his wife are going to spice up their date night instead of doing the same routine. The Fosters claim to be another couple at a restaurant (played by James Franco and Mila Kunis) that did not show for their reservation. After enjoying several glasses of wine, two men mistake the Fosters for the couple whose reservation they took, and escort them out back for some questions. The real action begins when they are accused of stealing delicate information from a modern day mob boss. At this point, Carell and Fey begin their movie-long flee from the bad guys. Later, they steal a car, sparking an intense car chase scene, but not quite as classic as the Blues Brothers (1980) final car chase. The movie is filled with great jokes, some cleaner than others. Each comedic scene had the audience cracking up. One of the defining characteristics...
by Jesse Baker | Apr 18, 2010 | News Slider
Just in time for sunny skies Darwin Deez has dropped a self-titled album that displays a refreshingly unique style that will move your feet and put a smile on your face. If you happen to search Deez on YouTube, you will find he is the prototypical “hipster” that may look like he’s just having a bit of fun with music, but if you dig a little deeper into the album you’ll find a delightful collection that is far more impressive than his goofy videos might lead you to expect. The upbeat songs, mostly set to electronic beats are a throwback to popular 80s sounds used by Duran Duran, but you might also compare Deez’s sound to that of Cake or maybe even Jon Foreman with a drum machine. Although Deez may not be up to win any songwriting awards, the ways in which he is able to tell familiar tales of love with a completely unique spin stands out in a big way. How many other artists write love songs from the perspective of a nuclear fallout shelter? In “The Bomb Song” Deez pleads, “The sky is green / It’s been that way since they dropped the bomb […] Say you love me now / Maybe you will say you love me now.” Or in “Bad Day,” Deez sings his mischievous wishes for a romantic rival, hoping for everything from the last page of his 800-page novel going missing to rain falling in the open window of his car, because “every day ought to be a bad day for [him].” As playful and silly as Deez may be, the...
by Keela Evans | Apr 18, 2010 | News Slider
Students have different challenges each day to complete goals, tasks and various assignments. This week, the Campus Ministry team challenged the entire Lipscomb community to give back to Nashville. Last Saturday, students donated time and materials to make the city-wide yard sale a success. The goal of the yard sale was to raise money for the Nashville Rescue Mission and the House of Mercy by having students and community members donate items for the sale. Nashville Rescue Mission and House of Mercy benefit the homeless by providing food, shelter, and clothing. “Seeing all of the people who helped and gave up such important things to them, and then seeing how much we are able to give to the charities was by far my favorite part,” said Kaitlynn Passon, an intern for Campus Ministry. “Students really made the day possible and special by being so giving,” said Passon. “I really did see what it means to sell the things you have and follow Christ.” Campus Ministry was able to give more than $1,300 to the mission efforts and donated all remaining items to Goodwill. Leftover shoes were donated to a group in...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Apr 17, 2010 | News Slider
Click to expand the video player. Nashville’s not unknown to Tim Tebow. He played football against Vanderbilt here when he was leading the Florida Gators. And he’s spent much of the last few months preparing for the upcoming NFL draft by training at D1 Sports Training, in Cool Springs, just south of Nashville. (BULLETIN: Thursday night, April 22, Tebow was home in Florida, watching the actual draft, carried live on ESPN. While there was some question by the experts as to whether he would be drafted in the first round, he was picked up by the Denver Broncos.) Last Saturday though he was in Nashville, spending the day at Lipscomb University, speaking to kids and adults about his faith, his foundation and his future. Tebow is different from many college and professional athletes, in that he is an outspoken Christian, committed to his faith and to giving back to the youth of the world. At the midday press conference, reporters were interested in what Tebow has been doing to hone and improve his quarterbacking skills since his college career ended, but Tebow kept changing the subject to other people. One reporter asked why he chose to do this daylong series of events so close to the National Football League draft. “I try to manage my time very carefully and do things that are very close to my heart—things that really make a difference,” said Tebow. “People want to make it all about me right now. But I want to take the attention off of me, and focus on others. “I want to give back, to inspire someone or to give someone hope. That’s why I...
