by Logan Butts | Jun 28, 2013 | Opinion
In preparation for the upcoming summer blockbuster The Lone Ranger (we’ll have a review next Wednesday), the latest outing for eccentric superstar actor Johnny Depp, I am recommending some of his best roles. After delving into the actor’s filmography, I chose three of my favorite Johnny Depp-led films for this week’s Home Video Update. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (PG-13, 143 minutes- also starring Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley) The best adventure film of the last decade that didn’t take place in Middle Earth, Pirates melded fantasy, action and comedy like no other film since the Indiana Jones series. Since its release, the film has become a modern classic: even Klaus Badelt’s franchise-defining score is instantly recognizable. I found Depp’s performance as the beloved Captain Jack Sparrow to be the highlight of the film. He even earned an Oscar nomination for the role, something that rarely happens for blockbuster movies. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (PG, 115 minutes- also starring Freddie Highmore) Although the film doesn’t quite reach the delirious heights of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the first adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book, Depp’s performance gives the legendary Gene Wilder a run for his money. Depp uses his trademark eccentricity and knack for pulling off insane outfits and hairdos to his advantage in one of his multiple collaborations with Tim Burton. Rango (PG, 107 minutes- also starring the voices of Isla Fisher and Abigail Breslin) Rango was far and away the best animated film of 2011. I remember being blown away by the sheer amount of film references and hilarious...
by Evan Webb | Jun 21, 2013 | Opinion
Pixar’s Monsters University is the sequel/prequel to Monsters, Inc. (made after Monsters, Inc., but taking place before the events in Monsters, Inc.). The film follows the story of Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) as he sets off to college in hopes of graduating with a degree in scaring. Now, I don’t believe it’s a secret that Pixar’s latest films have not exactly been the impeccable works we’ve grown accustomed to from the pioneering studio that brought us Up, Wall-e, and the Toy Story franchise. With a resume like that, one would expect pure gold every time they walked into a theater. However, Monsters University tends to follow in line with the likes of Cars 2 as opposed to Toy Story 2. Sadly, the mark has been missed in one of the most anticipated movie franchise returns in recent years. Don’t misunderstand me: Monsters University is not a bad film. It develops a plot, builds new and old characters and gives great graphics and animation to those characters, but that is one of the bigger problems – it does just that. Perhaps I have been spoiled by Pixar’s previous endeavors and come to expect too much from their genius, or perhaps the studio has hit a snag in their current output. Monsters University was essentially a typical college movie dressed in Pixar clothes. The film felt as if it was presented to children with characters we either already knew or ones that aren’t memorable enough to care about. The biggest problem I had with the latest Pixar movie was that it lacked so much of the studio’s originality and freshness. I...
by Logan Butts | Jun 20, 2013 | Opinion
Hello, readers! Welcome back to another week of Logan’s Home Video Update! This week’s edition will be featuring animated movies. Two of the films have new installments this summer, so I figured this would be a great opportunity to review them. The other was my favorite animated film from last year. Despicable Me (PG, 95 minutes- starring the voice of Steve Carell) A surprisingly huge box office and critical success in the summer of 2010, Despicable Me surprised everyone with its charm and wit. What a few detractors called Pixar-lite, I called a heart-warming film with an awesome soundtrack and some memorable characters (mainly Agnes and the Minions). I will use a slightly paraphrased version of Agnes’ now famous quote to sum up the movie. “It’s so good, I’m gonna die!” Monsters, Inc. (G, 92 minutes- starring the voices of John Goodman and Billy Crystal) Speaking of Pixar, Monsters Inc. was another overwhelming success from the Pixar assembly line. It was the first original Pixar movie to come out in three years after the underrated A Bug’s Life, and it was definitely worth the wait. It has become beloved enough over the years to garner a prequel 12 years later. Wreck-It Ralph (PG, 101 minutes- starring the voice of John C. Reilly) In my opinion, this was the best animated film of last year and one of the best non-Pixar animated films in a long time. The universe in the film was filled to the brim with eye-popping visuals and familiar characters from both past and present video games. The movie brings out all sorts of emotions in the...
by Cory Woodroof | May 30, 2013 | Opinion
In 2010, director M. Night Shyamalan released a film called The Last Airbener, adapted from a popular Nickelodeon cartoon. The film was supposed to kick off a series, but, instead, got kicked flat in the face by the movie-going public.I mean, critics were savage with this movie the way the raptors dined upon that poor cow in Jurassic Park. Now, don’t get me wrong. I made it 30 minutes into the film before I decided that I had better things to do with my time (homework, flossing, laundry, reading the instruction manual of the DVD player, etc.). Truth be told, it wasn’t exactly enjoyable. And, for M. Night, it was strike three. The movie-loving community was all but ready to give up on the former Oscar-nom, who, a little over a decade ago, had helmed one of the great twisty films of all time with The Sixth Sense. His follow-ups, Unbreakable, a personal favorite, and Signs, were also highly respected for their signature Shyamalan suspense and surprises. Unfortunately for M. Night, the streak ended. The Village (The Village…bangs head on wall) M. Night’s 2004 tense journey into a village with a deep, dark secret, pushed the envelope too far with one of the most eye-rolling ‘gotcha’ moments in cinematic history. It chose to throw away an otherwise fair outing with a chalkboard screech of an ending. For film critics, it was blood in the water. I’ve never been a fan of the early Aughts effort, and it’s a big reason I avoided Shyamalan’s next two outings, The Lady in the Water and The Happening. As it goes, critics weren’t too...
by Cory Woodroof | May 21, 2013 | News Slider
The following is a press release issued by the University: Lipscomb University announces the creation of a Master of Arts in Film and Creative Media, the university’s first academic major in film and a graduate program unlike any other film program in Nashville. Currently, plans are to deliver the new 36-hour curriculum in a 17-month time frame beginning this fall semester. The inaugural enrollees will receive 20 percent off the cost of the program. Applications for the inaugural cohort are due by Aug. 2. “The master’s degree in film and creative media prepares graduate students to operate within all digital media, making their skills more marketable in today’s multi-platform world,” said Mike Fernandez, chair of the Lipscomb University Department of Theatre and acting director of the new program. “These students will be able to do so much more than just feature films. They will be prepared to film commercials, music videos, training and education videos as well as content for social media,” he said. The program takes a unique entrepreneurial and experiential approach to learning. Students will be expected to create digital content each semester. Additionally, they will be encouraged to find creative ways to make business connections and digital content for local companies and organizations or for university departments on campus that need it. As part of that approach, the program requires a one-year internship with a production company. AFFIRM Films/Sony Pictures Entertainment, Veritas Entertainment, Cartoon Pizza and Klausner Creative have signed on as Lipscomb’s first internship partners for the program. “I’m encouraged by the methodic and careful planning by Lipscomb University in launching the new master’s degree...
