Newspapers / Montreat College Student Newspaper / March 26, 2004, edition 1 / Page 7
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arts ^ entertainment Movie Review: Dawn of the Dead by Moriah Geer-Hardwick First off, I should say that the post- apocalyptic/survival/horror genre has been the only genre to suceessfully penetrate my hardened, desensitized shell of cynicism, and genuinely freak me out. To me, there’s some thing genuinely frightening about society, as we know it, imploding into a violent, inescapable black hole of chaos and death. So, when 1 trotted off to see the remake of George A. Romaro’s 70s cult classic. Dawn of the Dead, 1 was already well into the nail-biting stage. Still, I was unpre pared for the Ihr 40 min experience of gut-wrenching gore and violence and the wide-eyed, shell-shocked feeling that still eerily clings to the back of my mind. Not that Dawn is just a senseless, thrill-kill kind of movie. It is actually a well thought-out drama, filled with lifelike characters and heartrending emotion. Delving into the most imag inable definitions of “worst-case-scc- nario,” it is the story of a handful of people whose world has crumbled around them. An unexplained virus has swept across the nation, turn ing all infected with it into mind less, primal killers. Loved ones, neighbors, even children, all turn on each other, and only a few survivors manage to take refuge behind the locked doors of a local shopping mall. Confronted with the shock of death and loss, they begin to degrade into the baser tendencies of their true characters. Only those with strong wills to survive,and enough self- discipline to remain sane, manage to keep any of them together. Death is not glorified here; it is only an inevitability that each one of them desperately wants to avoid. Now, in no way can I feel justi fied in actually recommending this movie to anyone. It’s violent, gory, shocking, and deals with difficult, sensitive issues with all the tact of a chainsaw. It also deals with several zombies with a chainsaw, but that’s exactly what I’m getting at. It’s a remake of a cult classic that became famous mostly because of its blood- splattered notoriety. No doubt it too will create its own crimson trail into the pages of cinema history. It’s not for the weak of heart and definitely not for the weak of stomach. What then, you may ask (grant ing that you aren’t one of those sick puppies that naively think death is quote-unquote: cool), is the point of watching such a film? For many, the answer is simply, there is none. Some people, and no malice intended here, are better off with “Veggie Tales,” and “Leave it to Beaver” reruns. They shouldn’t watch Dawn of the Dead, or The Passion, or Saving Private Ryan, or Braveheart, or any sort of film that deals with that pesky little thing called a sin-nature and the deadly consequences it brings. I don’t know if everyone is supposed Camera, Movies, Action ! to let themselves come face to face with the inner demons that we, as fallen human beings, all share. I know the hope that grace through Christ brings us is more than sufficient to blot out what we are without a Savior. For some people that’s all they want in life. But me, I like to know what humanity is and what it will do when the sandy foun dations of social normalcy, etiquette, and yes, religion are washed away by some catastrophe. And far better than actually living through some cataclys mic event is experiencing empatheti- cally a hypothetical rendition of what could happen. Final Take: Though compelling, and decidedly disturbing, watching Dawn of the Dead is an experience to be survived rather than enjoyed. A stunning film in its own right and more than a little overwhelming, the movie is a fascinating example of the fallen nature of humanity and the breakdown of society. Rated R for pervasive strong horror, violence and gore, language, and sexuality. Jubilee Conference Challenged Students hi/ lannifAr by Jennifer Kaiser On the snowy morning of Feb ruary 27, seven Montreat students along with Assistant Dean of Stu dents Tom Oxenreider, Outdoor Education professor Dottie Shuman, and Davis Hall Resident Director Jeremy Burnett, set out for Pitts burgh, Pennsylvania for Jubilee 2004. Jubilee is a weekend conference for college students put on every spring by the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO). Over two thou sand students, mostly from colleges in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, met at the Downtown Pitts burgh Hilton for this annual event. This year’s featured keynote speaker, Lakita Garth, gave a chal lenge for the students to put them selves in the “gates” of society. Referring 'to ancient cities where the gate was the position of power for the entire city, she urged students to find the places in today’s society where they can make a difference for Christ. Senior human services major Amy Boggs said that Jubilee, “really challenged my views on who Christ was as a person. He didn’t always come to preach, but to meet our needs. I gained an awareness that my role as a Christian is to meet the needs of the world around me.” On Saturday, students had the opportunity to attend their choice of several seminars on various topics of interest to society and the academic world. Professors, writers, and professionals came from around the country to present how they had found a way to bring Christ into their fields of expertise. They challenged students to look beyond the pulpit and see every profession as a platform for fol lowing Christ by serving others. Running alongside the tradi tional Jubilee were two branches of the conference. Jubilee Latino and Jubilee Africana. “I enjoyed my time at the Jubilee Africana seminars,” said sophomore April Heyward. “I learned how the past greatly affects problems the culture faces today and ways to be a help in the future.” Along with incredible speakers, there was also time for inspiring worship, fellowship, and exploring the beautiful city of Pittsburgh. Sat urday night was packed with many events for students to enjoy, includ ing ethnic music and dancing, such as the Hip-Hop group. Liberation, the University of Pittsburgh gospel choir called. Some Of God’s Children, and Latino and Irish dancing. There was also a political forum, and a poetry reading with Lucy Shaw, author of Polishing the Petoskey Stone. Booths of representatives from various ministries, graduate schools, and seminaries, as well as a book table also enriched the conference. A local bookstore brought hun dreds of volumes on every aspect of society, written from a Christian perspective. There were sections for any job field, interest, or theological issue. For anyone interested in attending Jubilee in the future, Boggs describes it as “a great time to step out of you nonnal routine, a safe place to wor ship and be challenged.” For more infonnation on the CCO or Jubilee 2005, check out www.ccojubilee.org or contact Tom Oxenreider. What'S upP Montreat Happenings Post-College Financial Realities Senior Coffee Break Series Side Dinning Room, Howerton Cafeteria Thurs 1 Apr, 3pm Easter Break Thurs 9 Apr - Mon 12 Apr Southeastern Conference on Christianity & Literature Thurs 15 Apr - Sat 17 Apr Contact Dr. Rich Gray for info at (828) 669-8012 x, 3216 Coffee House with Eric Peters Gaither Fellowship Hall Thurs 15 Apr, 8pm Sports Men's & Women’s Tennis Home v. Tennessee Wesleyan Fri 2 Apr, 2pm Softball Home v. Lee Fri 2 Apr, 5pm Baseball Home V. VA-Intermont Sat 3 Apr, 1pm Men’s & Women’s Tennis Home v. UFA-Wise Sun 4 Apr, l;30pm Baseball Home V. VA-Intermont Sun 4 Apr, 2:30pm Baseball Home v. Lenoir-Rhyne Tue 6 Apr, 3pm Men’s & Women i Tennis Home v. Bryan Wed 7 Apr, 2pm Baseball Home v. N. Greenville Tue 13 Apr, 2pm Theater Vincent One-man play about Vincent Van Gogh UN CA Lipinsky Auditorium Tue 13 Apr, visit www.unca.edu/studentlife/arts.htm for info Lysistrata Diana Wortham Theater, Pack Place Opens Thurs 15 Apr, call (828) 257-4530 for info $10 student-rush tickets may be available Dance Montreat College Spring Formal Biltmore Estate Sat 3 Apr, 8pm-lam, $15 single, $27 couple Contra Dance The Gray Eagle, 185 ClingmanAve., Asheville Every Mon, 8pm, $5 Old Farmer’s Ball Warren Wilson, Bryson Gym Every Thurs, lesson at 7:30pm, dance 8-llpm, $5 Ballroom Dancing Asheville Ballroom, 991-B Sweeten Creek Rd. Sat 27 Mar & Sat 3 Apr, 8-11pm call (828) 274-8320 for info Music Danu Diana Wortham Theater, Pack Place Fri 26 Mar, 8pm, call (828) 257-4530 for info $10 student-rush tickets may be available Tarbell Patton Recital in Chapel of the Prodigal Sun 4 Apr, 7pm, free Catacombs Worship, poetry, and art with Warren Wilson Students Wed Mar 31,8:3 Fellowship Hall Katy Bowser in concert in Gaither Chapel Tues 30 March, 7pm - 9pm Mar. 26,2003, Page 7 The Whetstone
Montreat College Student Newspaper
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March 26, 2004, edition 1
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