Student Activities has yet another outstanding Documentary Film Night, featuring a film that, for some of us, will be more terrifying than The Exorcist and more emotionally distressing than The Notebook. Start preparing now for That Sugar Film. Come to the LaHaye Event Space on Tuesday, October 11 starting at 7 PM to witness the film that celebrity chef and all-around healthy guy Jamie Oliver says is “a definite must-see!”

That Sugar Film stars Australian actor Damon Gameau, who conducts a health experiment on himself involving what you may have already guessed is sugar. As he reveals in the early going of the film, he shifted his diet (primarily as a way to impress his girlfriend) from an intake of generally unhealthy things like cigarettes, sugar, and homemade pizza, to a much healthier diet that, at the very least, eliminated all processed sugar. However, when she became pregnant, and as he noticed the amount of attention being given to the sugar content of many of the foods we consume, he decided to look for more “definitive answers”. That is where his experiment came in. His goal: to eat the average Australian’s intake of sugar per day, but without eating any stereotypically “sugary” foods. In fact, he attempts to do the opposite, eating only foods that are labeled “healthy”, or at least thought of as healthy, such as flavored yogurt, smoothies, juices, and cereals. That average intake according to the film, by the way, is 40 teaspoons daily. This may seem high, but as Damon demonstrates in the film, that amount is relatively easy to reach eating those “healthy” foods because of what the film shows are “hidden sugars”. You get to see what happens to Damon as a result of his experiment, as well as a brief history of sugar as a commodity and industry, and even a cameo from everyone’s favorite Australian, Hugh Jackman.

Following the film, you will hear from several terrific guest speakers, including Dr. C. Anna Henderson, who is a Registered Dietitian from the Department of Public Health, Kristina DiSanto, who is a Registered Dietitian from Liberty Dining Services, and Campus Recreation’s own Jamie Swyers, who is the Director of Recreation Centers. They will be checking your bags at the door to make sure you don’t have any “junk food”. JUST KIDDING. (No, but seriously, if you want to buy any soda or candy, you’ll have to go to the dumpsters outside of the building between the Event Space and the Tower Theater. Ask for “Patty”. Bring quarters.)

Just to “cover our bases”, we should mention that this film is rated PG for what is described as “disturbing material and discussions”, largely involving health-related issues.

This event is free to attend. Space is limited, so get there early. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

Watch the Trailer

What would Fall Welcome Week be without a Movie Night? It would still be very good. However, it is hard to argue that a Movie Night does anything other than make Fall Welcome Week better. So please, do not argue with us. Come to the Vines Center on Saturday, August 27 for a double feature of these:

• The Legend of Tarzan – 8:00 p.m.
• The Jungle Book (2016) – 10:00 p.m.

On one hand, it does not seem to be surprising to see more than one critic ask why or how The Legend of Tarzan came to be. Maybe by pointing this out we’re cutting off our own vine in mid-swing, so to speak, but this is our nicer way of pointing out that this movie was not particularly well-reviewed. Besides, how many current moviegoers, especially that coveted 18-39 year old demographic, were clamoring for more of a character that has been represented on movie screens over 50 times since 1918, a few of those occurring since 1998? And as other reviewers have asked, given the current socio-political climate in the US, is this really the time for a reboot of the British colonial, white-guy-as-king-of-the-jungle hero story that is Tarzan? Well, on the other hand, it’s pretty clear that the Tarzan filmmakers were aware of these things, as the cast and certain plot points suggest. The various historical issues of the story are present but primarily serve as a backdrop and catalyst for the action. Samuel L. Jackson as George Washington Williams gets to be both Tarzan and the audience’s guide through it all; his facial expressions are probably the closest thing to what everyone should feel as they watch this movie. This lets Christoph Waltz be his usual, slightly insane bad guy self, Alexander Skarsgard be the almost perfectly physique-d Tarzan, and Margot Robbie the near-perfect Jane. Plus, since no one is coming to this movie for a thorough exposition and denunciation of European colonialist practices circa 1881-1914, it should allow most folks the chance to enjoy Samuel L. Jackson wisecracking and Tarzan swinging on things, fighting some people and some animals, and, of course, saving Jane.

Our second movie for the night is the most recent version of The Jungle Book, which at least critically speaking is the polar opposite of The Legend of Tarzan. One of the best reviewed movies of 2016 (so far), The Jungle Book is a CGI marvel and an absolute load of fun to watch. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising at this point, but it is amazing to hear how some actors are almost able to voice their own persona into an animated character, and this is particularly true for those in The Jungle Book: Bill Murray (Baloo), Scarlett Johansson (Kaa), Idris Elba (Shere Khan), Christopher Walken (King Louie), and Ben Kingsley (Bagheera). The seamless blend between live action and animation is largely the result of an excellent performance from new actor Neel Sethi as Mowgli. It’s an outstanding blend of nostalgia and novelty, and you should come see it whether you’ve seen it already or not.

As usual, we will provide free popcorn and lots of inexpensive junk food and drinks for your snacking pleasure. Enjoy the show!

Student Activities is happy to present another opportunity for you to watch a movie outside. Come to our next Outdoor Movie Night for a very special presentation of Finding Dory. Just bring a blanket or other sitting device to the fields outside Dorm 28 on Saturday, September 10 at 10:30 p.m., sit back, relax, and enjoy.

How many popular movies with a sequel-ready story wait 13 years, 18 days to make one? Answer: not many. Yet that was exactly the path Disney, and eventually Pixar, chose with Finding Dory. The list of movies with delayed sequels is long, but not many are as critically acclaimed or popularly beloved as Finding Nemo. Of the massively popular franchises, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Mad Max are a few that have gaps between a sequel greater than that between Nemo and Dory. But whether the sequels are two or twenty years apart, the challenge for the movie maker remains the same: How can you create a movie that builds on an existing story without it being, as Dory director Andrew Stanton said, “derivative or redundant”?

Finding Dory accomplishes this with ease, shifting the focus to Dory, keeping Nemo, Marlin, and other old characters close without being show stealers, and introducing new characters that contribute far more than they distract. As other reviewers have discussed, both Dory and Nemo must overcome their limitations (Nemo’s malformed fin and Dory’s short-term memory loss), but Dory’s story is far more about the effects of life with a disability than Nemo’s. This is why both the character interaction and setting of Dory is such a perfect fit for the story. In Finding Nemo, much of the action takes place in the vastness of the ocean in all its mystery and danger, concentrating as much on Marlin’s journey as anything else. By contrast, Dory spends much of the time on screen in various confines – a bucket, a coffee pot, a touch pool, and, in one of the most important scenes in the movie, a series of pipes – a bit more chaotic and rapid-fire than the action of Nemo. All of these settings mirror Dory’s mental struggles perfectly as she tries to remember her way back to her parents: her mind flashes from present to past, her physical location shifts in similarly sporadic fashion.

The beauty of the story is in the proximity of her support. The Dory we are introduced to shows personality and manner that appear to just go with the flow, seemingly carefree and moving with ease between people and peril, which in a different context could seem like pure independence (more like the turtle, Crush). But we know this is not the case: the danger around her is real, and she has great need for the support of friends and family. In one sense, everyone she encounters can be a new friend, even if they are a soon-to-be-remembered old friend. But new or old, her friends are always close by, sometimes playing catch up, sometimes speaking to her from a distance, but they are never far away, regardless of how far away she thinks they are. Finding Dory is a bit sillier than its predecessor, but in that sense it is a great accomplishment, maintaining the fun while still treating disabilities with great sympathy and respect.

Believe it or not, the 2016-17 school year is upon us, which means that the Student Activities Block Party is just around the corner. Meet us in the LaHaye parking lot on Saturday, September 3 starting at 5 p.m. for the best annual “welcome back” event that Liberty University has to offer! For those of you who have never experienced Block Party, this is what you can expect to see:

• A full parking lot of carnival-style rides and games, including the always popular Ferris wheel
• A wide variety of local food vendors and food trucks
• Many of the university’s departments and student-led clubs, ready to provide you with all the information you could possibly want
• Music performances by Colony House, singer-songwriter Dave Barnes, and local favorites Vacation Manor
• A fireworks show at the conclusion of the Colony House performance

Colony House will be visiting us for the second time, having performed here previously last April in the LaHaye Event Space. Their first album When I Was Younger is excellent, and as we heard first hand during their performance here, demonstrates how capable band members Caleb & Will Chapman, Scott Mills, and Parke Avery are in terms of musicianship and quality songwriting. This is why we are very excited to host them only a couple weeks before the release of their upcoming album Only the Lonely, available on September 16. You can check out the tracks “You & I” and “You Know It” on your favorite streaming service today, and you can definitely check them out for yourself when they play here on Sept. 3.

Dave Barnes is no stranger to Liberty University either, having performed here several times (including Block Party in 2011). Unlike that Block Party, this time we don’t expect there to be a hurricane just east of us. But just like that Block Party, we expect Dave to be just as endearing and melodic as ever. You will surely hear your favorites from his extensive catalog, but we are excited to see how his most recent, Eagles-inspired release “Carry On, San Vincente” sounds on a summer night in September. It should be a perfect setting for his laid back sound.

And of course, we love to support local talent, so we are thrilled to be able to add Vacation Manor to the show this year. Be sure to check out their debut EP “Girl, Say” as soon as you can.

While you enjoy everything we have to offer, take plenty of pictures and tag all of your posts with #SAblockparty. There will be tons of prizes and giveaways throughout the day, so be sure to get there early and plan to stay late!

Finding Nemo: the beloved fish tale that left heart strings all over the world being tugged when it premiered in 2003. With a high volume of emotional twists and learned life lessons, Nemo is a motion picture that sticks with its viewers far beyond their initial movie experience. Out of all the occurrences and characters that made Finding Nemo important, there is one fish that stuck out to all: Dory, the fun, spunky blue tang. And this is why the fish now has her own movie: Finding Dory, released June 17.

Although Finding Dory is the sequential movie to Nemo, it did not seem to be a sequel at all – instead, the attention was taken off of Nemo and Marlin and focused on Dory and her past. Because of this shift in character attention, the films felt separate, illuminating each for its strengths. While Nemo focused more on a father’s love for and protection over his son, Dory focuses more on overcoming obstacles and facing her infamous short-term memory loss head on in order to find out more about herself and where she came from. Instead of allowing Dory’s memory issue to make her feel alienated, Dory’s parents and friends work with her in order for her to live her life as “normally” as possible. Alissa Wilkinson from Christianity Today writes, “Dory’s short-term memory loss isn’t the result of an accident: it’s just something she’s born with, and something her parents need to help her live with, while figuring out how to avoid being overprotective.”

Tasha Robinson from The Verge seems to pinpoint the overarching theme of the film in her Dory review when she states, “disabilities aren’t the same as limitations.” Dory’s parents and friends will work with her as much as they need to in order for her to feel safe and cared for despite any challenge she may face. An example of this lies in the fact that Dory’s parents do not chase her when she leaves, but instead leave a trail for her to find her own way back home despite her memory struggles. Her parents trust her intuition enough to allow her to survive on her own although they wish so badly that they could take care of her.

When it comes to the plot as a whole, the movie is a bit predictable in a Pixar/Disney “everything will work out” sort of way. Yet, having this in the back of your mind does not mean that there is not excitement happening through the journey of Finding Dory. In the case of this movie, the means to the end is exciting even if the end is already foreseen.

Finding Dory is not “better” than Finding Nemo, but it does a great job of being everything it needs to be: adventure-packed, fun-filled, and gently instructing to all ages. Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood writes that Finding Dory is “a sequel that proved you don’t have to stint on quality”, while A. O. Scott from New York Times writes, “certainly the best non-Toy Story sequel the studio has produced.”

I wasn’t a morning person as a young gal (sort of like today), so my alarm clock going off at 6:30 AM would immediately send me into a state of annoyance. This particular alarm clock was going off for yard sale day at my house, which meant I would have to participate in a sort of clothing catharsis. I don’t really like getting rid of things, yet I have a mother who loves interacting with people and a father who enjoys nothing more than throwing things away, and that combination led me to being involved with putting on many yard sales.

A yard sale is an intriguing event – ultimately, you are selling items out of your house that you once bought for a much greater amount. Why not sell the clothes on something like eBay or through a store like Plato’s Closet? That would be less effort on the seller in multiple ways.

While they could be more work, yard sales are important because aside from getting rid of things that need to be purged from your possession, you are able to interact with so many people. There is something exciting about seeing that an item you no longer have a need for is one that someone else is excited about receiving.

When it comes to buying and selling at yard sales, there is something important not only in being a seller, but also a buyer. I can remember distinct times from my middle school years when my neighborhood would have a community yard sale and I would ride my bike from house to house, finding trinkets I didn’t really need and purchasing them. I still remember some of the people that I would see each year, selling their items and striking up conversations with the shoppers. This is what a yard sale is to me: interacting with people and realizing that they can pass something along to you that you never knew you needed until that moment.

With our Community Yard Sale being on May 4th, Student Activities is really excited. We aren’t only excited about Mama Crockett’s, Golf Park Coffee (love that cold brew), and the awesome items that will be sold. We are excited about the interactions that people will have with one another while they search through and share items. And that’s the reason we do what we do – for the fostering of relationships through events, even in a busy time of the year.

Student Activities wants you to read more. We also want you to watch movies, so what better way is there to sort of combine those two things than by coming to our Literary Movie Night. Join us on Friday, April 22 on the lawn outside the Vines Center starting at 9 p.m./darkness for In the Heart of the Sea and Macbeth (2015).

First up is In the Heart of the Sea, the Ron Howard-directed, sort-of disappointment from last year. However, consider two things:

• For what it’s worth, there is a sizeable gap between the critical reception of the movie and the overall IMDB user rating of the movie.
• For what it’s actually worth (in dollars), In the Heart of the Sea didn’t have any help by being released the week prior to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Adapted from the non-fiction work of the same name by author Nathaniel Philbrick, it is the story of a whaling ship, the Essex, sailing in the early 1800’s which was attacked by a sperm whale and (no spoilers here!) may or may not have sunk. Unlike the real story, the movie version has an outstanding cast, anchored(!) by the Moby Dick of hunks, Chris Hemsworth, the always outstanding Brendan Gleeson, and the quite good Cillian Murphy. With tons of mega-budget effects and the always compelling storylines of man vs. nature and man’s will to survive, we say In the Heart of the Sea was sort-of disappointing not because it isn’t good, but because it failed to live up to its mega-budget expectations. Still, it is a spectacle and a very intense movie experience.

The only way to follow up the story that inspired Moby Dick is with Shakespeare, and last year’s Macbeth is as good a movie as there is to fit the bill. Michael Fassbender adds his name to the list of excellent actors who have recently portrayed Macbeth, a list that includes Patrick Stewart, Kenneth Branagh, Sam Worthington, and James McAvoy. His performance is outstanding and leads the way for all of the outstanding actors in the film. Certainly, the cast is one of its strengths, with Marion Cotillard (Lady Macbeth), Sean Harris (Macduff), Paddy Considine (Banquo), and Jack Reynor (Malcolm) giving excellent supporting performances. The other obvious strength of the movie is the cinematography, carried by the natural beauty of the English and Scottish countryside in which the movie was filmed. It is mostly true to the original material, though there are several moments that diverge from Shakespeare’s text. Additionally, we should mention that this movie is rated R so it is a more mature viewing experience than other movie versions of Macbeth. But this film is outstanding overall in its portrayal of one of the greatest stories ever told, and so we are confident in our presentation of it.

As usual, our Movie Night is free to attend, we provide free popcorn, and other concessions are available for purchase. Please contact us with any questions or concerns, and be sure to check out our website for more information about our upcoming Movie Nights and other events.

This very well could be the most excited Student Activities has ever been for a Movie Night. Join us on Saturday, April 16 on the lawn outside the Vines Center starting at 9 PM (or “the darkside” of the day) for a one-time-only showing of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS.

In one sense, you have to be at least 39 years old to truly say that you grew up with Star Wars. A New Hope was released in May, 1977, and presumably not many infants were there to see it, so you probably need to be a little older than that. Since Star Wars was an instant and massive success, its lasting influence was nearly guaranteed, especially compared to some of the other successful sci-fi movies that were around in the late 70’s. Planet of the Apes’ sequels, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Logan’s Run were all pretty big at about the same time Star Wars was released. But which of these did your older siblings or parents anxiously wait to watch with you, becoming not so much a fun movie night as much as a rite of passage? Which of these movies, or any other movies for that matter, continue to grip audiences the way Star Wars has since the very beginning?

This is why anyone who loves Star Wars, regardless of the generation, feels like they grew up with it. Despite nearly 40 years of distance since the original release, despite all of the weird, George Lucas, “Special Edition” edits to the original movies, and even despite Jar Jar Binks, there is something about Star Wars that captures a viewer’s attention and imagination from the moment the words “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” appear on the screen and the John Williams theme blasts into space.

The Force Awakens builds a near-perfect bridge from the original trilogy to what will eventually be Episodes 7, 8, and 9. As one critic described it, J.J. Abrams’ touch on Star Wars is perfectly depicted in the scene with Finn & Rey as they escape Jakku in the Millennium Falcon: with his new cast flying away from TIE fighters through the wreckage of star destroyers on a Tatooine-like desert planet, it is as though J.J. Abrams is joyriding through the amazing history of the Star Wars universe. The Force Awakens is both familiar and novel, with Abrams adding all of the obligatory throwbacks that long-time fans would want while simultaneously making the movie his own and setting everything up for Episodes 8 and 9. It was the movie event of 2015, and it further reinforces Star Wars as the premier, cross-generational movie franchise. As critic Matt Zoller Seitz said of it, “These films are a part of American history, cinema history, and our personal history, all at once.”

As usual, our Movie Night is free to attend, we provide free popcorn, and other concessions are available for purchase. Please contact us with any questions or concerns, and be sure to check out our website for more information about our upcoming Movie Nights and other events.

Student Activities is proud to present Coffeehouse: The Legends on Saturday, April 9. Join us in the Vines Center starting at 11:30 p.m. for a night of great performances by you, the students of Liberty University, honoring some of the greatest artists and musicians of all time.

As you’ll hear from the opening moments of the show, this semester’s Coffeehouse is all about answering the question “What makes a legend?” Seems like a simple enough question, until you realize 1.) there is no such thing as objectivity, especially with questions like this, and 2.) people have short memories and/or think history only goes back to approximately 1998.

Leave it to Chris Rock to make one of the most helpful clarifications for this discussion. On an episode of Kevin Hart’s show Real Husbands of Hollywood, Chris explains the difference between himself and Kevin:

“I’m big, you’re hot. I’m like Prince, you’re like Trey Songz.”

This is the heart of the matter. Think of all the hottest, new-ish stars out there: Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Bradley Cooper, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lawrence, even (gasp) Rihanna, to name just a few. Hot right now? Yes, very, all of them. Giant stars? Sure, absolutely. Legends?? No, or at least not yet.

Are you still talking about Robert Pattinson? Aaliyah? Alicia Silverstone? The guy that was in that last Superman reboot, not the new guy, but the one before that? Exactly. Supposedly big stars, or the next big stars, come and go. Yes, Aaliyah’s death was tragic, and the others are flash-in-the-pan examples compared to stars like T-Swift, Rih Rih, and J-Law. Will they be legends someday? It sure looks like it. But until that day, we want to give credit where credit is due.

What makes a legend? Three main things: popularity, influence, and time. The true test of a legend is an artist or group’s ability to reach a wide audience, with the ability to inspire others to create, or more likely imitate. Most of the all-time greats do this over a long career, though as we’ll see at Coffeehouse: The Legends, some artists were able to make massive impact in only a short time, cementing their name and legacy among the greatest in their profession.

So as you sit there in the audience during Coffeehouse this weekend, try to refrain from thinking about all the great stars who are absent from the show, or the many people you think should be there. Instead, try to focus on the quality of the performances, the massive stars who stand the test of time and bring you the amazing works that will likely be enjoyed for years to come.

Tickets for Coffeehouse: The Legends are on sale for just $5, but will go up to $7 the night of the show. To purchase them, or for more information about anything Student Activities has to offer, visit our website.

It is that time of year! Student Activities is now fully into a season of planning for Coffeehouse. This week, we are hosting tryouts to determine which acts will be awarded a spot into Coffeehouse on April 9th. As many of you already know, the theme for Coffeehouse will be “The Legends”, encompassing many legendary singers, songwriters, and bands throughout history. From Aretha Franklin, to Michael Jackson, to The Beatles (just to name a few), each of these legends left a lasting an impact as one of the greatest musical artists of our time. However, not all legends had an easy path. Some of the most famous artists faced heavy criticism along the way, challenging them to work harder to achieve their goals and earn respect.

One such artist is Elvis Presley. When his career began in the mid-1950’s, many journalists and even parents were outraged by the concerts that Elvis orchestrated. One journalist even stated at the start of Elvis’s career,* “Elvis can’t sing, can’t play the guitar, and can’t dance”. Parents were especially concerned for their kids to see Elvis live, whether on TV or in concert, because his dancing and other movements were so provocative at the time. Even though he stirred up a great deal of controversy throughout the 1950’s and 60’s, Elvis persevered on his road toward stardom that popularized rock ‘n’ roll music in America, and impacted other genres including country and gospel.

The Beatles, one of the truly great bands in rock history, faced critique early on in their careers. However, 50 years ago, many people questioned, criticized, and even mocked them for their musical skill set. For example, The New York Times said, “The Beatles’ vocal quality can be described as hoarsely incoherent, with minimal enunciation necessary to communicate the schematic texts. The Los Angeles Times had similar beliefs: “With their bizarre shrubbery, The Beatles are obviously a press agent’s dream combo. Not even their mothers would claim that they can sing well. Despite such harsh criticism, The Beatles continued on, and their arrival in the US redefined the meaning of the term “teen heartthrob” and forever changed the way people experienced music.

Another legendary artist who overcame many critical challenges is Bob Dylan. When accepting his 2015 MusiCare award, he stated, “I’m glad for my songs to be honored with such high esteem. But you know, they didn’t get here by themselves. It’s been a long road and it’s taken a lot of doing.” Individuals from day one of Bob Dylan’s career questioned his abilities. Some said, “He can’t sing. He croaks. Sounds like a frog” to even saying he can’t carry a tune and talks his way through a song. Comments like these only furthered Dylan’s passion and desire to create music that audiences have enjoyed for years. With a deep respect for musical tradition, Bob Dylan left an impact on the culture around him, and is one of the iconic figures in American music.

Coffeehouse: The Legends gives an opportunity for students to pay homage and respect to some of the greatest artists of all time. But just like these legends experienced, public performance comes with adversity, part of which is hearing the voices of critics. Looking back on past Coffeehouse acts, all of those performances displayed a level of talent and greatness that I know I cannot replicate. Yet, some performances during Coffeehouse are criticized for the performers’ talent or abilities. But as previously mentioned, even legendary artists like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles were criticized for the same things. As students prepare for tryouts this week, let us not forget the level of respect each group deserves. Whether or not a group is awarded a spot in Coffeehouse, we hope everyone will display a level of appreciation to the groups who take the step to even tryout in the first place. For those that do move onto the big stage and perform under the lights, just try to remember that you are performing for the audience, not the critics.