by Shelby Talbert | Mar 11, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Characters swooping off the pages of comic books and onto the silver screen is a major genre in Hollywood, with the latest being “The Batman” directed by Matt Reeves. It’s hardly the first time onscreen for The Caped Crusader, but the audiences keep coming back for him and similarly heroic colleagues. “It’s an inspiring story, but it’s also a story about how far the human condition can go,” said film major Alex Eaton. “I think that’s why we keep coming back,” said the student from Atlanta of billionaire Bruce Wayne’s latest turn in his bat costume. Superhero films have become a large part of the movie industry, with several of the highest-grossing movies from the last 15 years being Marvel properties. Of course, COVID closed theaters and has otherwise affected the box office, but that didn’t stop the superheroes: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” made over a billion dollars globally and is the biggest domestic debut since the pandemic began over two years ago. Comic book rival DC has not surrendered the box office to Marvel. Justice League, Wonder Woman, Superman and, of course, Batman, aka The Dark Knight, keep returning to the screen and streaming services for DC. Audiences are looking for heroes, according to Eaton. “These are characters who stand for justice in the right way,” Eaton said. “I think the success of characters like Batman and Spider-Man ties back to the idea of normal people taking it upon themselves to help the innocent.”Dr. Christopher Bailey is a professor in the College of Entertainment and the Arts who last month released his own superhero film “Incognito.” Bailey said he was...
by Abigail Davis | Apr 3, 2020 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Just before business shutdowns, social distancing guidelines and quarantine mandates began, the Lipscomb College of Entertainment and the Arts community had the opportunity to celebrate the release of the new Christian movie, I Still Believe, with their newly announced partner: Kingdom Story Company. Taking place at the AMC Thoroughbred 20 theater in Franklin, the evening began with guests walking down the red carpet. Jeremy Camp, the real-life inspiration for this story of faith and love, posed with fans for photos alongside his family. The film was shown in Theater 6 which was reserved solely for Lipscomb students and staff. The movie “commercials” included a display of Lipscomb CEA student talent in the form of short films, promotional videos and music videos. Just before the opening credits, Lipscomb’s administration took the stage to announce the partnership between the production company and the CEA. Then, Jon and Andy Erwin and Jeremy Camp took the stage to share more about the film and the process of making it. Many students were on the edge of their seats listening to what these passionate artists had to say. The producers shared their stories of humble beginnings and how blessed they felt for the success they had achieved in the industry. The wisdom which they imparted on all the young, hopeful filmmakers in the room was, “Dream big. Dream bold. Dream impossible.” “I feel like God has anointed this film,” Jeremy Camp said. “There are thousands of stories and the fact that they chose my story is a huge honor.” The film was a heart-warming story of both love and faith that stands strong in...
by Cory Woodroof | Jan 23, 2012 | News Slider, Opinion
At the age of six, I was a Star Wars kid. During the dog days of my early youth, the epic story of Luke Skywalker’s quest to defeat the Empire captivated me more than any other silly children’s entertainment. I proudly owned the original films on VHS. I collected a large group of action figures from the Star Wars universe – even those random aliens that only appeared in a frame or two during the cantina scene of A New Hope. I even saw The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi during their theatrical re-releases. So, obviously, May 19th, 1999 meant more to me than my birthday, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, or any other organized holiday that warrants a sort of reward or present. On this fateful day, writer/director George Lucas unveiled the first new Star Wars film in sixteen years. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace changed my six year old world like nothing ever had. The spectacle, the action, the peril – everything collided to create a gigantic supernova of wonder and amazement. All those years of persistent enjoyment had paid off immensely. A few years passed, two more prequels made their way to the screen, and I couldn’t have been happier. Shift to this past week. George Lucas announced his retirement from the big budget film industry on the heels of his newest production, Red Tails. Lucas says he wishes to switch his focus onto smaller, more personal projects. “I’m moving away from the business, from the company, from all this kind of stuff.” Lucas said in the statement. No one can argue that Lucas,...
by Cory Woodroof | Sep 20, 2011 | News Slider
I really don’t think there is anything Brad Pitt can’t do. While some uneducated film-goers may write him off as one of Hollywood’s hollow “pretty boys”, most film lovers recognize that Pitt is one of the best actors in cinema right now. In Moneyball (based off the novel Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game), Pitt takes the reigns and delivers a fantastic performance as Billy Beane, the GM of the Oakland A’s. Billy Beane’s life revolves around baseball. He, in his glory days, was a star baseball player who was taken into the major leagues right out of high school. Beane’s journey in the major leagues drives his desire for success. Now the manager for a mediocre organization, he loses three major players and looks ahead to the future. His world is turned upside down when he meets Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). Brand, a scout for a rival organization, has a method of baseball that will change the method of scouting (and baseball) forever. Beane is quick to take Brand away from his old job and offer him a position with the A’s. The duo work together to craft a great team on the A’s meager budget and prove their naysayers wrong. The film follows the A’s 2002 season, as well as gives a striking character study of Beane. This is not just a movie about baseball. This is an engrossing look into the life of a man who is willing to do everything he can to be successful, even if it means approaching a radical method of carrying out business. The film itself depends on Pitt’s...
by Jadrienne Myhre | Nov 11, 2010 | Opinion
Connecting with the dead may have some appeal, but as far as movies are concerned, it is important to connect to the audience. And in this department, Hereafter is dead on arrival. Why? Because there is no climax or storyline, and no character development. Each of the characters is troubled, but instead of developing the characters or offering a moral lesson, after 129 minutes the movie simply, well, ends. There is nothing. The characters stay confused and simply leave once they get a psychic reading from Matt Damon’s character, George Lonegan. The three characters – Marcus, Marie, Malorie – are troubled by events from their pasts. Marcus’ older brother dies, Marie has a near-death experience, Malorie, who has unresolved conflict with her father in her past, drops out of the story half-way through the film and never surfaces again. Damon’s character is a middle-aged psychic who no longer wants his job, but seems to have no development and no resolution. In the beginning of the film, he is frustrated with his brother for exploiting his psychic ability, and confused about what to do. At the end, he leaves for England, still frustrated and confused. The movie as a whole lacked resolution. It felt more like a snapshot than a story. None of the characters get resolution, just readings. For George Lonegan, there is no indication that his struggle is ever resolved or even justified. Perhaps there was some subtle closure in George getting the “normal relationship” he wanted at the end of the film, but for the average audience member, this is hardly satisfying. Directed by Clint Eastwood, this film is rated...
