by Cory Woodroof | Dec 31, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Well, it’s that time of year again, folks. 2012 has been quite the memorable year. We’ve seen new changes around the student center, famous faces around campus, nail-biting Bisons match-ups and many more memorable events that have made for exciting and prosperous spring and fall semesters. We here at Lumination have tallied up our top 10 stories of the year, varying from evacuated dorms to a free concert with a favorite of many. Before we start our countdown, we want to remember Matt Deery and Kelcy Smart, two Lipscomb students who passed away over the fall semester. Both students will be deeply missed, and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with their family and friends. http://www.luminationnetwork.com2012/08/03/friends-honor-matt-deery-as-someone-who-made-the-world-better/ http://www.luminationnetwork.com2012/11/27/lipscomb-community-shares-memories-of-kelcy-smart/ A few stories that deserve some recognition that didn’t quite make the cut involve the Olympics, Batman, motorcycles and some bad weather. In 2012, we saw swimmer Michael Phelps break the record for most metals earned by an Olympian. We also saw the final installment of the Dark Knight trilogy (a few of the caped crusader’s vehicles even made their way to Nashville). In February, we wrote about a group of Lipscomb’s psychology professors and their love of motorcycles. On top of that, we saw some nasty weather arrive in March that broke a window in the High Rise dormitory! We’ll call these our ‘honorable mentions’. http://www.luminationnetwork.com2012/08/01/with-19-medals-michael-phelps-becomes-most-decorated-olympian-of-all-time/ http://www.luminationnetwork.com2012/06/22/the-tumbler-and-batpod-roll-into-nashville-to-promote-new-batman-movie/ http://www.luminationnetwork.com2012/07/23/the-dark-knight-rises-ends-series-on-high-note/ http://www.luminationnetwork.com2012/02/06/psychology-professors-turn-motorcycles-into-therapy/ http://www.luminationnetwork.com2012/03/02/recapping-the-severe-weather-from-march-2-2012-with-your-photos-and-videos/ 10. SINGARAMA/ALL-AMERICAN DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT Per tradition, Singarama, the variety show competition between social clubs, was held in March. Phi Sigma, Tau Phi and Gamma X were this year’s big sweepstakes competition winners for their act entitled ‘All Hands on Deck.’ The students in Delta Nu,...
by Bridgette Begle | Dec 6, 2012 | Uncategorized
This fall at the multiplex, we have seen relationships between mental illness patients in Silver Linings Playbook and sexually abused children growing up and limping through high school in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but Hollywood kicks back to the simplicity of cute romance and predictable plots in Playing for Keeps. Just because a movie is predictable does not make it bad. I mean, Gerard Butler uses a Scottish accent, and Jessica Biel and Catherine Zeta-Jones are gorgeous — it’s hard to go wrong there. Butler plays George, a former soccer star, who ends up coaching his 9-year-old son’s soccer team. He is faced with the challenges of divorced soccer moms throwing themselves at him, while he tries to cope with his ex-wife’s (Jessica Biel) upcoming marriage. In the process, George learns responsibility and tries to become an adult, hoping it will be enough to win her back. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), Playing for Keeps is definitely a movie that hits home with the issue of divorce. George’s son, played by Noah Lomax, portrays the innocence of a little boy dealing with the emotional journey of his dad coming home while he has a future stepfather pushing his way in. The film definitely hits home with serious topics like divorce, so bring your tissue box. Something that might surprise you watching this movie is Dennis Quaid’s role. He is not the sweet, fun-loving dad of twin daughters that were separated at birth any more. Quaid plays a money-loving manipulator, which, of course, he does so well because of his acting abilities. Butler is a good-looking man. I get it....
by Cory Woodroof | Nov 17, 2012 | Opinion
Soon after Adele powerhouses through one of the better James Bond theme songs in recent memory during one of the signature opening credit sequences, we see Dame Judi Dench’s M sitting at a computer, typing out the obituary of a Mr. James Bond. “What do you say about a man like that,” M wonders as she puts word to screen. Indeed, what do you say about this version of James Bond? Ever since 2006’s mightily superb Casino Royale, we’ve been given the definite 21st century Bond. Daniel Craig’s 007 now outlines the idea of the character, adapting a sense of Bourne-esque grittiness that makes the spy relevant in today’s landscape. You know what they say – adapt or die. 2008’s Quantum of Solace might have been the biggest departure from a typical Bond movie, putting the hero in dire straits – both mentally and physically. For once, one of the “Bond girls” from Casino Royale left a mark that scarred – badly. Quantum was a good movie that served as a solid second entry in the Craig series – but it wasn’t particularly fun. I don’t think people were as receptive to watching their favorite secret agent mope around. I wasn’t as vehemently against the movie as others, but sure, it was no Casino Royale. People like a happy Bond – they like the suave smile. They like their Bond to be awesome. Skyfall shows the secret agent being exactly that – awesome. Beautifully shot by Roger Deakins and wonderfully scored by Thomas Newman (both deserve Oscar nods), Skyfall is a thunderous example of how even after 50 years, Bond can still wow. ...
by Cory Woodroof | Nov 11, 2012 | Opinion
Hats off, Disney, hats off. The mouse house can’t call 2012 an off year simply because of their job in producing this summer’s mega-hit The Avengers. One of their two animation companies, perennial powerhouse Pixar, also scored big with Brave, even though the Scottish fairy tale can’t necessarily be called an instant classic. Even though two of the studio’s less audience-friendly offerings, March’s John Carter and last month’s Frankenweenie, failed to ignite the box office, the craft and imagination put into both well made up for poor returns (in the creative sense). Those two films showed Disney taking risks. The studio has always been able to get by with Pirates and talking cars, but films like John Carter and Frankenweenie show a side of Disney that is still willing to occasionally surprise. The praise for Carter‘s pulp and Frankenweenie‘s charm might not leave the circle of critics, but it shows the studio still has a few surprises up its sleeve. For years now, Walt Disney Animation Studios has served as Buena Vista’s animation B-team. Much like a decent-enough backup quarterback, the former pioneer of animated films has been relegated to bench-warming for the superstar studio Pixar. Disney’s in-house animation department hasn’t exactly been putting out garbage (recent efforts Bolt, The Princess and The Frog and Tangled are strong cases for the studio’s growth, with the animation division now being stewarded by Pixar vet John Lasseter), but in comparison to the folks at Pixar, their films lack the heft and public recognition (and Oscars). In 2011, Pixar finally produced a goose egg with the disappointing Cars 2. A month later, Disney Animation released the pleasant-enough Winnie the Pooh...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 13, 2012 | Opinion
Before I get 500 negative comments based on this review, let me add this important disclaimer. Kevin James’ newest comedy, “Here Comes the Boom,” is a flawed product. It’s ridden with inspiring clichés and could have used about twenty minutes cut out of its 105 minute run-time. It’s also one of the sweetest, down-to-earth comedies I’ve seen in a good while. “Here Comes the Boom” allows the likeable James to really hone in his, well, likeable personality, saddled with a half-way decent script filled with workable comedy and “that’s nice” greeting card heart. The film is also timely, making fairly accurate complaints against the current state of the public education system. Social commentary with effective humor? In a Kevin James movie, nonetheless? Strange times, indeed. After the budget of a Boston high school undergoes massive cuts, the music department led by Henry Winkler’s committed Marty, ends up falling to the wayside in favor of other extracurricular activities. James’ apathetic biology teacher Scott Voss, a friend of Marty, decides to save his pal’s job by entering into the ring of mixed martial arts. (He was a top wrestler in college, now, not so much). Teaming up with Marty and UFC fighter Bas Rutten’s Niko, Voss puts on the spandex and gloves in order to fight his way to somewhere around $38,000 dollars (the amount needed to keep Marty at the composer’s stand). I was skeptical about the prospects of this film simply due to the fact that Kevin James isn’t usually in that great of a movie. Last year’s not-as-bad-as-everyone-said-but-still-not-that-good Zookeeper seemed to become the thought that popped into one’s...
