The Peach Review速 Arts & Culture
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Video Games
11
16 Music
Movies
20
Events
33
Sports
46 *cover photo by Hakim Wright
Recreation & Travel
67
Arts & Culture
Paul Cézanne, Provençal Manor, ca. 1885 Oil on canvas
Cézanne and the Modern Masterpieces of European Art from the Pearlman Collection
In the mid-twentieth century, businessman Henry Pearlman, the founder of Eastern Cold Storage Company, assembled an extraordinary collection of European modern art. He was particularly drawn to the work of Paul Cézanne, one of the most pivotal figures in the development of modernism. Pearlman acquired some twentyfour of Cézanne's paintings, including one of the most significant private holdings of the artist's watercolors. This exhibition is the first public tour of the Pearlman collection since the 1970s. Paul Cézanne. Mont Sainte-Victoire, ca. 1904–1906. Oil on canvas 33 x 25 5/8 in. The Henry and Rose Pearlman Foundation, on long-term loan to the Princeton University Art Museum
The vibrant colors, strong compositions, and bold brushwork of the School of Paris, including Chaïm Soutine and Amedeo Modigliani, reverberate throughout the collection. They accompany works by influential older artists: Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Camille Pissarro. Henry Pearlman found living with these works of art in both his home and office a transformative experience, which he aimed to share with others by lending his collection. The present international tour of the Pearlman Collection has been organized in this spirit of generosity.
Make a Joyful Noise Luca della Robbia (Italian, 1399/1400-1482) Cantoria (Choir loft) 1431-1438. Marble. 17 feet long Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy
 Photo: Scala / Art Resource, NY
As Filippo Brunelleschi's great dome for Florence Catheral was nearing completion in the 1430s, many important art commissions were awarded to fill its spacious interior. Chief among these was Luca della Robbia's organ loft, known today as the Cantoria or singing gallery. This exhibition features three marble panels from this Renaissance masterpiece, displayed in the United States for the very first time. "Make a Joyful Noise" reunites the original sights and sounds of Florence Cathedral during the Renaissance by showcasing the reliefs alongside a number of other sumptuous musical objects, including three richly illuminated choir-books and a specially designed lectern.
Luca della Robbia began his Cantoria in 1431 and completed it seven years later, eventually producing ten exquisitely carved marbles that illustrate the celebratory text of Psalm 150, which encourages worshippers to praise God through music. The panels famously depict jubilant boys and girls singing, dancing, and playing instruments. The Cantoria hung on one of the piers of Florence Cathedral until it was dismantled in 1688.
"Make a Joyful Noise" provides a rare opportunity to view della Robbia's marbles alongside some of the magnificent objects that originally accompanied them. Considering these elements together provides a renewed appreciation of the multi-sensory experiences Renaissance Florentines expected from their religious art and sparks new insights into the objects' interrelationships.
The Forty Part Motet High Museum of Art, Atlanta, 2014. Photo by Mike Jensen.
Described as "achingly beautiful" (The New Yorker) and "transcendent" (The New York Times), sound artist Janet Cardiff's critically acclaimed installation The Forty Part Motet will travel to the High in fall 2014. From the collection of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Cardiff's The Forty Part Motet is a mesmerizing reworking of a 40-part choral piece by Tudor composer Thomas Tallis (ca. 1505-1585). The installation features the voices of 59 singers (adults and children) performing Tallis' Spem in Alium Nunquam Habui (1556), which translates to In No Other is My Hope and is perhaps Tallis' most famous composition. Each voice was recorded separately, and all voices are played back in unison via 40 individual loudspeakers on tripods (one speaker for each choral part). The audio component features a 14-minute loop – 11 minutes of singing and three minutes of intermission.
Cardiff configures the speakers in a large oval, with eight groups of five speakers arranged together (one group each for soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass). As visitors wander among them and progress through the work, they hear each distinct voice and also experience different combinations and harmonies. A visitor can stand in the middle of the installation and hear all of the voices as they unify into one musical piece or move close to an individual loudspeaker for an intimate experience with a single voice.
The installation will be on view concurrently with "Make a Joyful Noise" Renaissance Art and Music at Florence Cathedral, an exhibition that explores the relationship between the visual and performing arts and features three marble panels from Italian sculptor Luca della Robbia's famed organ loft. The organ in Luca's loft accompanied chants and motets, much like the one that is featured in Cardiff's piece.
While the Cézanne and Joyful Noise exhibits departed this weekend, The Forty Part Motet has been extended through February 15, 2015.
The Nutcracker Thursday, December 11, marked opening night for the long-awaited Nutcracker and kicked off the 2014/15 Season for Atlanta Ballet. The Nutcracker takes us back 100 years ago to a snowy Christmas Eve in St. Petersburg, Russia. A toy maker named Droselmeyer had just finished putting the finishing touches on some gifts he was taking to children at the Petrov house. On his way to the Petrov house, he passes the magical town clock he created, and sees it chime three times. After each chime a different character appeared: A ballerina, a nutcracker, and a rat king.
The Nutcracker is an artistic piece, most synonymous with the holiday season, that will also bring a bit of nostalgia. Most people can recount a performance during their childhood (or performing it in school). For some of us that may mean the 1950s and 1960s, for others it may be the late 80s or early 90s. The great part about seeing an updated performance is that you get a chance to see how far innovation and creativity have come in artistic performances.
The stage setup was good, the dancing was fantastic, and kudos must be given to Judanna Lynn in Costume Design. A part of those upgrades that were visually appealing? All of the costumes. A Rat King that was actually dressed up like a rat (no mask or fake tails), a man who actually looked like a Nutcracker, and in ACT II where the Shepherdess (Kiara Felder) performed with her flock? All 3 of them were in full-lamb costumes.
The old-school days involved masks, with some being attached to sticks and what not. Now in 2014 you can appreciate the creativity of the Costume, Set, and Lighting Design.
There’s a long-list of upgrades the Atlanta Ballet brought to the forefront that fans will appreciate. When it started snowing in St. Petersburg, it was concurrently snowing in the Fox Theatre. You could hear the “oohs” and “aahs” as the snow fell, and could see people raising their hands to try to touch it. When Droselmeyer was upstairs in his building preparing for his travels, he threw a handkerchief out his 2nd story window. To the amazement of the audience the handkerchief zigzagged in mid-air for a solid minute before disappearing.
Normally a ballet will have an audience admire its art form in complete silence, with the performance itself accompanied by an orchestra. Atlanta Ballet stepped it up and welcomed a bit of interaction, which turned out to be a smashing success. Remember these scenes: Spanish, Mother Matrushka, and Trepak. You won’t be disappointed!
It was a great feeling knowing the sound troubles that we usually note in association with the Fox, appeared to have been rectified for this performance. With theatre sound standing above par, it gave way for the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra to massage the souls of those in attendance. You’ll recognize the sounds from Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker Doll, Rat King, and Snowflakes scenes.
This was hands-down, the best performance of Nutcracker we’ve ever seen. This was more than a ballet, it was an experience. 10 out of 10.
-Jon J.
Photos by C. McCullers, courtesy of Atlanta Ballet
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – Cooper Grodin and Julia Udine – photo by Matthew Murphy
After long-last, the Phantom of the Opera has arrived in Atlanta! This Broadway in Atlanta series has turned out to be a real treat thus far. Not only is Phantom the longest running show on Broadway (still grossing $1 million a week) but its popularity has never staggered since its debut in 1986 in London. We are fortunate, as the original Andrew Lloyd Webber classic is based in New York, we get to experience a new adaptation by Cameron Mackintosh.
Both Phantom enthusiasts and first-timers alike will be able to enjoy this wonderful stage production. For starters, this may be the best Christine Daaé you’ll see in a Phantom adaptation. Julia Udine produced quality, showed stage presence, her look was spot on with the original, and her singing was beautiful. Ben Jacoby stood out for his part as Raoul, normally a not so masculine character who completely gets the shaft by Christine for the manly, sultry-voiced Phantom. But this Raoul was no loser, he was manly, had a strong voice, and hair on his chest. Phantom first-timers are in for a great treat with Christine and Raoul, and should also take note of Ubaldo Piangi, played by Frank Viveros. A character of many colors, Piangi stands as a strong supporter of Carlotta and brings laughter to the audience in numerous performances.
For the singing as a whole, the group did exceptionally well. A Phantom performance is usually judged by the following songs: Hannibal, Masquerade, and one could argue All I Ask of You and Phantom of the Opera. All were excellent in this production.
The orchestra was under the direction of Richard Carsey, and after Friday, every orchestra should be under the direction of Richard Carsey. That orchestra blew the lid off the place! They have an extremely important role providing music that: leads the scene, that is the focal point of the scene, background music to support the singing on stage, and acts as “filler” in between singing (when actors are dancing or moving stage parts, then go right back into singing).
When attending a show, you’ll notice the warning they give before curtain call explaining the use of strobe lights and live gunfire. The likes of live guns may be a Phantom first but it was appropriate for a production of this type. The Stage setup, pyrotechnics, and the special effects will leave you in awe throughout the performance. Be sure to take notice of the steps to the Phantom’s lair, the elephant in the Hannibal performance, and the iconic Chandelier.
We can happily give Cameron Mackintosh’s Production of Phantom of the Opera an 8.5 out of 10. Just being at such a production comes with a special feeling that’s hard to describe. While in attendance be sure to get a playbill and find the Phantom of the Opera stop-and-repeat backdrop. It’s a wonderful photoop and if you want to avoid a line, find it before curtain call or during intermission.
Phantom of the Opera- A collector’s piece….. Indeed.
-Jon J.
(Above) THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 2 - Julia Udine and Cooper Grodin photo by Matthew Murphy-4839 (Left) THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 4 - The Company performs Hannibal 1192 - photo by Matthew Murphy - Copy
Video Game
Reviews
Of the mouse driven point-and-clicks that I have played in my life, few have been as smooth as this game. From music to character design this game is crisp, its colorful without being obnoxious and the menus are easy to navigate. The story is simplistic, an art lover/thief who wants her art back goes on a robbing spree, but the game doesn't actually call for a rich narrative. The levels are navigated with mouse controls that are tight, but not perfect, weaving your way through art galleries with constantly increasing security. In order to win, the player must steal all the art in the level, and maybe a few of the optional pieces, before exiting unseen.
At its core it is a puzzle game that somehow trumps its counterparts, unlike similar games where the objective is to kill someone or destroy something while getting points for completing other arbitrary and meaningless tasks, The Marvellous Miss Take manages to keep all objectives relative to the theme of the game. Stealing more earns more points, and in a Carmen Sandiego-ish manner the level can only be completed if Miss Take has her hat, which she loses while running if spotted. The increased diďŹƒculty felt more like a challenge than a task, and an actual feeling of accomplishment overtook me every time I outsmarted the guards, cameras, and dogs to make my stylish escape.
While the mouse controls are not perfect and can lead to slightly unfair situations the rest of the game is intuitive enough to not make that an actual problem, for instance the diďŹƒculty of running around a corner is oset by how easy it is to retrieve objects of value. The distraction items that are available go a long way in making the player feel more in control of their circumstances. This game was a fun and I hope to see it on Android or the IOS soon, because it is a game that should be shared with as many people as possible with high replay value. 9 out of 10.
-Alana Clarke
As a preface I know almost nothing about Star Trek outside of the Shatner years, that said I do not think Star Trek A.D. is going to shake things up for those that are fans of the lore. The gameplay is not exactly riveting either, as a matter of fact this has the honor of being the first game that's battle system was built to lull me to sleep and then punishes me for my lapse in attention. It begins by allowing the player to chose between being a member of the Klingon Empire or the United Federation of Planets, whichever you choose you will then be allowed to select a gender and name for your character, and for the next twenty minutes of tutorial based gameplay those will be the only choices you get to make.
What the game is supposed to be is a browser based RPG that emerges the player in the world of Star Trek and allows them to explore the universe to gain resources while adding in battles that are real time, but mostly based on ability cool downs. Herein lies the problem, while the game has set out to do all of this it manages to fail, rather hard, at every point. I am fully aware this game is still in beta, but since this is the state the game developers have decided to release it in this is the state in which it will be judged. To begin, the graphics all range from solid to passable, but the animations fluctuate between PS One FMVs to 1999 gifs (for those not familiar with either that means they range from poor to flip-book quality). The early part of the game is an on-the-rails tutorial meant to introduce the primary battle mechanics. Unfortunately, it doesn't explain a whole lot and has the added bonus of being boring.
Whether it be because the prompts were not prominent enough or simply the functions of the many, many mana?/energy?/health? bars were not explained before the next battle occurred. When the fight is won the player is usually awarded with an object that's purpose is never defined, with few exceptions. The battles themselves take place automatically, with both sides firing as fast as their base stats allow. The only player interaction is to use the abilities acquired to blow up chumps or give you something to do while fighting a hopeless battle. Later the player is prompted to make buildings to produce resources, a process that requires about five steps, not one of which clarifies why the resources are needed; for instance the game will tell you that X is necessary to make Y‌ but it will not tell you what Y is. Then comes the most perplexing moment when you are required to ferry the recently mined materials to other planets with no real explanation; are we helping people in need? Are we colonizing new planets? Who knows?
The story mode seems sparse, though I am sure once out of beta it will be expanded. For now if you are a diehard Star Trek fan, this game might be for you, and it might even be up your alley if you really miss 1990 point and click graphics. However, if you are looking for something that looks worthy of being in the 2000's or a game that will teach you about Star Trek lore, or even spark your interest in the franchise I suggest looking elsewhere unless some major changes are announced. 5 out of 10
-Alana Clarke
EVENTS
Taste of Atlanta
I only had the chance to catch one day of Taste of Atlanta this year but as expected, it was well worth it. With over 90 Restaurants and expecting over 50,000 people to attend, I was able to grab a few nice bites from some of Atlanta’s best! There were a few lines that wrapped around each other and plenty of random dancers in the streets near Georgia Tech. By the way, “Street dancing is always a Win”. I really enjoyed the live bands that were on stage playing a few familiar covers.
One thing to make mention is parking is not great at this event because there are just so many people and the traffic is crazy! So my advice is to take Marta because in this case it really is smarter. Another option is UBER which I didn’t find out until later was offering first timers a free ride by entering the coupon code TASTEOFATL14 for $20 off your first ride. Note to self… look for coupon codes before going to any major event in the city.
I’m sure everyone wants to know about the restaurants I had the pleasure of raiding. Yes, The FOOD!! The first victim of the day was Sufi’s Atlanta. My story behind choosing Sufi’s first is, after years of going to R. Thomas I would always park in Sufi’s lot behind the restaurant. So I thought it was only fair for me to experience the food at least. The thing is each time eating at R. Thomas I would look at Sufi’s sign and say “I’m going to eat here one day.” I felt bad and decided this was my time to make amends. The Chicken and rice was nice for what it was, but I think I’ll need to experience a full meal to really appreciate the experience. The Cannoli at Cibo e Beve was really nice, it wasn’t a lot but I wanted more… a lot more! Of all the restaurants I had the chance of tasting, Milton’s Cuisine was my favorite. For I have never been a fan of cream corn but, I can and will make an exception for the Smoked Chicken Confit with Creamed Corn and Pea Shoots. It was amazing, something you have to experience for yourself. Alma Cocina was another win for my taste buds. I had the Pork Pibil Tamale with Green Chile Sauce Crema and Pico de Gallo. Last but not least were Hard Rock Café’s Burger sliders with Mac and Cheese. It was okay; it was the last restaurant before the exit as I was leaving for the evening.
Of course I had to get in on the Hashtag fun at #TasteATL and Twitter @TasteofAtlanta. Cool thing is I actually gained a few new followers that day from liking a few others pics with the tag. Hope to see you next year!
www.Ciboatlanta.com
www.SufisAtlanta.com
www.Miltonscusine.com
www.Alma-atlanta.com
www.hardrockcafe.com/cafes/atlanta/
Story & Photos: Johnny Hill
*Check the next page for video
Atlanta Beer Festivals hosted the 5th Annual Boos and Brews at the Masquerade on Saturday, October 25, 2014. This is was an epic Halloween costume party with a beer focus. There was live music with GoBox, DJ’s, a live costume contest, as well as a post event costume contest on Facebook.
It was time to to give the stiff arm to pumpkin spice and run to the Spirit Store to find the best costume. So you might ask yourself “How does one combine a beer festival with a costume party and live music?” Well the answer to that is below.
You’ll see a final recap of Taste of ATL (they happened on the same day) and after that you can see the wackiest costumes patrons could come up with!
Tap above to play recap of Events
Story & Video: Johnny Hill
MOVIE
REVIEWS
It’s the movie “Penguins” fans have all been waiting for. The beloved quartet from Madagascar have their own cartoon and now their own film. POM took a page out of the Shrek handbook and provided tons of comedy for adults in this movie. There’s enough silliness to keep the kids happy and copious amounts of dry comedy to please any adult in attendance.
Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private embark on an epic adventure after leaving the usual drab daily life of a penguin in the South Pole. Penguins of Madagascar take you to the very beginning of their existence in Antarctica. There’s no need to “learn” to love them, because you’ll love everything about them from the start, including how Private was the last addition to their family. Everywhere they go, they go on a mission, they make you laugh, and you feel good that you brought your kids and are getting your money’s worth.
Aside from the nonstop comedy you’ll experience, there’s also a few voices you’ll recognize, including: John Malkovich, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, and more.
Everything about this movie is great. It’s a great family film and if you’re older you can enjoy it too. POM gets a 9 out of 10 from me. Whether you have kids or not, take the time to see this movie as soon as you need comic relief from reality.
It’s the age-old argument of, “was it better than the first?” Many people don’t believe “the sequel” can ever match the pure genius and creativity of its origin. American Pie, Hangover, Scary Movie, and many others have had fans constantly revert back to the original movie as the best make in the series. Then there was Horrible Bosses 2. This movie will spark the same argument amongst viewers, and in my opinion, it’s equally as funny as the original.
Nick, Kurt, and Dale (Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikas, and Charlie Day) are back together again, but this time, as entrepreneurs. Things were looking up for the guys and their new invention until a slithering investor named Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz) took advantage of them. Along with the help of Bert’s son Rex (Chris Pine), the group devise a plan to get their money back plus some.
This comedy is a lot of what you saw in the first movie with fresh bits from Chris Pine and Christoph Waltz. Jennifer Aniston is still a great fit in her recent roles as an antagonist and there are a few moments you get to share again with Kevin Spacey.
This movie is sure to make you laugh and it can still be enjoyed without seeing the first. Horrible Bosses 2 gets a 9 out of 10. The movie isn’t long and its full of laughs from beginning to end. A great film to see over the weekend.
Nightcrawler is a dramatic thriller written and directed by Dan Gilroy. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the role of Louis Bloom, a driven loner that’s desperate for work. He’s extremely meticulous and isn’t very fond of other people. His drive leads him to a strong interest in Crime Journalism. This leads him to become a nightcrawler, a person who searchers during the evening/overnight hours for news stories.
After capturing a car accident here and a hit-and-run there, he begins to build a professional relationship with News Manager Nina (Rene Russo). As their strange relationship grows, so does his confidence and his bank account. Each story he turned in was worth serious money. The more tapes he turns in the more money he gets. But he gradually becomes obsessed, hiring a homeless man as an assistant and as he upgrades his car and equipment, he hits Nina with a list of demands for using his videos.
The film was a bit different from what I expected after seeing the commercials. It’s still a great movie and it didn’t end the way I predicted it would. I can easily give this an 8.5 out of 10. Jake Gyllenhaal played a very creepy character in Louis Bloom, but he did it so well I couldn’t picture anyone else pulling it off. This one is worth checking out whenever you have some free time. It’s right under 2 hrs. and it’s a thriller, so you can see this one at night without worry of boredom.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 had kids across America heading to movie theaters in droves, excited to see the third installment of the franchise. Directed by Francis Lawrence, Mockingjay Part 1 rejoins us with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and the rebellion. When Katniss destroys the games, she goes to District 13 and finds out District 12 has been obliterated. After meeting President Coin and is persuaded to be the new Mockingjay, only after a pardon is guaranteed for the former tributes and Peeta is rescued. She has some familiar faces by her side after she agrees to be the Mockingjay. Those include: Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks) to name a few.
Followers of the book seemed pleased with the film. I’ve been following the franchise closely film by film, speaking with THG purists after each film. The vast majority have been pleased with how the movies have followed the book.
It was good to see Phillip Seymour Hoffman on-screen since his passing. His role wasn’t major but it was still nice to see. There was lots of crying by Katniss in this movie to the point where it was extraneous. Every time she went to the cafeteria and look at the TV screens you could feel tears coming. I also couldn’t help but notice the similarities to the Twilight films in this movie: Both have young girls, who fall in love with guy #1, end up meeting guy #2, haphazardly fall in love with guy #2 in the process, eventually choose one guy but as opposed to letting the other one go they string him along with them. There was “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob,” now social media is laced with “Team Peeta” and “Team Gale.”
While I enjoyed the film and it had its share of action, the beginning is very slow, and you’ll notice between the start of the movie and the end, not too many things happened. It really feels like the movie’s sole purpose is to prep you and get you ready for Mockingjay Part 2. If you’re a fan of the franchise you’ll still enjoy it but when you watch, you’ll see what I’m talking about. At 2hrs and 2 minutes you can catch a late-showing without worry of drowsiness as the massive explosions should keep you awake. I can give this an 8.5 out of 10. It’s caught flack for being labeled a “setup movie” (like what I explained about this one prepping you for the next movie) and critics have questioned its success, scoffing at its paltry $50 million opening day earnings (Hunger Games did $67M, Catching Fire did $70M). But its a solid film and you should definitely see it if you’re a fan. If you haven’t seen the first two then you’ll be pretty lost and should at the very least, watch Catching Fire first.
Gone Girl instantaneously restored my faith in Ben Affleck. It was an excellent film and his acting was spectacular. Directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl is an exploration into what happens when a perfect marriage takes a wrong turn. Nick and Amy Dunne (Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike) had what seemed to be the perfect marriage. They talked about all their problems if any arose, they showed their love for each other constantly, they were playful, everything was going great. All of that came to a halt when the economy crashed.
Amy narrates her experience throughout the movie and notices a change in Nick, that started when things started going downhill. An old flame reappears in Desi Collings (Neil Patrick Harris) and when Nick’s wife disappears he consults the law prowess of Attorney Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry).
This movie was excellent, plain and simple. There were a few parts by Amy that seemed a tad unrealistic but aside from that, it was great. Ben Affleck did a great job with his character and Rosamund Pike put on a performance comparable to Leonardo DiCaprio’s drugged up/Lamborghini scene from “Wolf of Wall Street.”
One thing about the film, it does run long. You’ll start to notice the film drag but by that time you’ll be 90% through the movie and its 2hr 29 minute run-time. I give Gone Girl a solid 9 out of 10. If you have free time this weekend, this is a must see.
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) returns to his childhood home in Indiana where his father (who’s also the town’s judge) Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall), is suspected of murder. As Hank sets out to discover the truth, he also confronts multiple aspects of his past, including: his brothers, father, ex-girlfriend, and various residents in town.
Other familiar faces you’ll notice are Hank’s older brother Glen (Vincent D’Onofrio) and ex-girlfriend Samantha (Vera Farming). The Judge is directed by David Dobkin and has a plot that’s interesting enough to peak your interest yet moves at a slugs pace. Was the movie good? Yes, it was very good actually. Even with the dry commentary from fellow lawyer Dwight Dickham aka Billy Bob Thornton. With as many brand-name actors featured in this film it better be great, right? Unfortunately, the mark was missed in length, as the movie runs a very noticeable 2hrs. and 21 mins. There’s a wonderfully dramatic exchange between Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall where you feel like the climax has been reached and you’re just awaiting the conclusion. I thought that was a perfect time to conclude as the film was beginning to drag, but it continued on for another 40 minutes (at least).
The Judge would make for a good weekend movie to see. It’s good enough that shouldn’t wait til it gets Red-boxed but it’s not a film that you need to sprint to the theatre to see. I give it a 7.5 out of 10. I think a lot of bad reviews the film received were unfair, so I definitely suggest seeing it for yourself.
Exodus: Gods and Kings has lots of mixed reviews across the internet. With most of them being negative, you should still attempt to see a film with an open mind so you can form an opinion without bias. With that being said, Exodus is one of the worst movies released in 2014.
What exactly was Ridley Scott thinking when making this disaster? But this is a special type of disaster: from a historical perspective, a biblical perspective, and a filming perspective. So let’s delve into this deeper shall we?
Historically, you’re telling the story of a mass exodus of Hebrews from Egypt. Egypt is located in North Africa. Where they’re going is considered the Middle-East, are you following so far? You can find hoards and large numbers of extras for every type of movie except when it comes to even a “fairly” accurate depiction of minorities. You can count on your hands how many black people are in this movie and this is supposed to be Egypt, which is a country, that is in North Africa. How many Middle-Eastern actors were in this movie? Close to the same amount as black people with the exception that you see black people: get eaten, killed, and serve the “Egyptian” royalty as slaves and peasants. So was it really a surprise when a large number of moviegoers rallied together to boycott this movie months before its release? Still not convinced? Let’s pretend you aren’t, but remember they’re fleeing Egypt to go to Canaan (Along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea). Well, then where are all the Middle Eastern people? Because these “Hebrew slaves” look like they’re “Escaping LA” instead of Egypt.
So a few quick notes: Moses is sent to see Viceroy (who’s white) and has 3 black people who are servants. “Egyptians” are meeting and eating while all the black people in the scene are musicians, there to please the attendants, or they’re “security.” 1 of the 2 assassins was black (he dies of course).
Biblically, this is a disappointment. In 2014, a time of technological advancements and innovation, you can whip out your phone and have a bible at your fingertips. So the question is why? Why wasn’t one used the entire way through to tell a story that’s been told a thousand times over? Where in the bible did it say Moses was a sword-wielding bad ass? 90% of the movie he had a sword, 10% was holding a staff. No. God talks to Moses via burning bush, but as the bush is burning a white child appears to talk to Moses? No. Moses believes he’s God’s messenger, this white child has a British accent. No. The first 4 plagues were just bogus: Alligators appear out of nowhere and eat fishermen in the River Euphrates (of course the first fisherman you see is black, he’s eaten immediately) and then tear into fish before turning on themselves. The river turns red from all the death that took place. Because of all the carnage there were dead bodies in the river, which brought about gnats, gnats brought about frogs, maggots and flies show up because of the frogs dying. No. The final plague takes place and God takes the first-born of whoever doesn’t have the blood of a lamb smeared around their door frame. In Egypt, of course, they show a black family, 1 black family, and as you guessed, their child doesn’t make it (I mean this is almost comical).
Finally we come to the filming perspective. People understand that whether you’re taking fictional events from a book, experiences from real life, and even events that take place in the bible, you are going to make it “Hollywood.” All I ask is that you don’t insult people, I think that’s a fair request. Like stated earlier, its 2014, they could’ve easily consulted a bible for accuracy and events… Or, they could just make up stuff because its “easier” or “fun.” Moses had a sword the majority of the film. Moses appears to be more like a psycho than a man having conversations with God. Why couldn’t the dialogue have been more believable? Why was God depicted as a bald, white, 4-year old with a British accent? That baby could’ve provided commentary for a Premier League Match, and that’s who you chose to be the visual/voice of God? Was it too much to have Moses touch the river with his staff to turn it to blood instead of having alligators randomly appear? Moses couldn’t part the Red Sea, so he sees a comet, goes to sleep and wakes up to water receding? That’s just awful decision-making by everyone involved. Aaron was mentioned less than 5 times, I can only remember Joshua being mentioned once or twice, and the amount of inaccuracies in the film are just insulting. Hollywood has always made bad decisions so you can’t be surprised.
Remember people, California is an extremely diverse state (extremely diverse), yet they chose Jake Gyllenhaal as the “Prince of Persia” and Tom Cruise as the “Last Samurai.” Are you sure there aren’t any Asians or Persians in LA? Give me a break…
The acting in this movie was appalling. Joel Edgerton will go down as the worst Ramses in the history of Exodus depictions. There is nothing positive to say about him in this film at all. The worst part was towards the end when his son died and they used a fake baby. They actually showed the fake baby, he shook the fake baby, and he was shown holding it in around 3 or 4 scenes. Out of the 15 main characters only 4 look believable and historically accurate: Ghassan Massoud (Ramses’ Grand Vizier), Golshifteh Farahani (Nefertari), Indira Varma (High Priestess), and Hiam Abbass (Bithia). At least they’re from Damascus, Iran, Spain, and Nazareth, but a story that takes place in Africa doesn’t have black faces in it? Minor roles and extras don’t count, because it’s taking place in Egypt, which is a gigantic country, a country that is in Africa. Christian Bale wouldn’t have been my first pick as Moses but, as time went by he became less nauseating. Joel Egerton was a complete flop as Ramses, John Turturro as Seti wasn’t that bad, but he was only around for a short time. Ben Kingsley wasn’t even that bad and he barely spoke in this film. But I almost threw my notepad across the theatre when I saw Sigourney Weaver. That’s the best you could do to play an Egyptian? This isn’t Alien 7, so what in the world was the purpose of casting her?
The older less glitzy movies that depict bible stories are far more accurate. It’s sad that you apparently have to sacrifice accuracy for technology. Hollywood has a serious identity problem. A small number of people will see this movie and probably won’t see any of the problems noted in this review, and that’s fine. Our existence as people, wasn’t made to agree on everything. But the problems I’ve noted here are real problems that should be addressed. The budget for this film was $140 million… would it really have hurt to tell a bible story straight from the bible?
This debauchery gets a 3 out of 10. Its run-time is 2hrs 30mins and while it’s not boring, you’ll catch yourself in more than a few “what the heck?” moments.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, was the epic conclusion to the story of Middle Earth. Since 2011, you had a Hobbit film to look forward to every Christmas and years before that, the same happened with Lord of the Rings. The direction for the grand finale came from Peter Jackson with writing by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro.
Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and company have made it to the Lonely Mountain. The last time we saw our luck-wearing, barrel-riding Hobbit, he was in awe as Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) flew away with Lake Town in his sights. An unsuspecting hero arises to confront Smaug the tyrannical, and as it turns out, he was the least of their worries.
When Bard (Luke Evans) and Thranduil (Lee Pace) visit the mountain to claim their share of the treasure, they are met by a Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) suffering from dragon sickness and drunk with power and greed. The gold corrupted his heart and caused him to turn on his friends.
The 3 barely have time to discuss their discrepancies as the enemy begins to close in. “The Battle of the Five Armies” comes from the races engaged in battle: Men, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and Goblins.
Even though this film was epic in many ways, after watching, Jackson could’ve ended this after 2 installments. A rushed ending to Smaug and a noticeable “fast forward” from Thorin, Bard, and Thranduil to the battle everyone was expecting, are just a few of the noticeable problems. Some unexpected characters are killed off in the film but, the way and manner in which they were killed was epic.
There were too many scenes, lines, and bits of action that were in the trailer that never happened in the film. Having read the book and seen the animated movie from the early 80s, another apparent issue was the 5 armies. Because there wasn’t a Goblin “army,” there were really only 4 armies in battle. Aside from that, the film should be good enough to please even the most extreme Tolkien purist.
Bilbo’s bravery is put on display in various moments throughout the movie. After trying to talk sense into Thorin, he also makes a firm statement to Gandalf (Ian McKellen), aggressively confronts Thorin regarding the arkenstone, and he even went towards Azog’s (Manu Bennett) army just to warn his friends of a coming calamity. We also saw quick cameos from the likes of Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Saruman (Christopher Lee), and Elrond (Hugo Weaving).
The fight scenes are pretty exciting as well. Bard gets his taste of action, we got to see Thranduil fight for the first time, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) sees her fair-share of battle, Legolas (Orlando Bloom) decimated more than a few orcs before his epic standoff with Bolg (Lawrence Makoare), and the epic finale between Thorin and Azog the Defiler lived up to its hype.
There’s love, happiness, sadness, comedy, and many a lessons-learned. It touts the exuberance of a stand-alone film even though it’s the final part of a trilogy. It possesses all of the attributes of a great movie and should meet the demands of Hobbit fans the world-over. It gets a solid 9 out of 10. This is the shortest of the 3 Hobbit films at 2hrs and 20 minutes and even the most dedicated fans may become annoyed with all of the CG. It possesses the potential to be a great 3D film (we saw it in standard) and should be a good screening no matter the time of day (because of its shorter runtime). Seeing the final installment is bittersweet. You’re excited because after a year of waiting you finally saw the screening, but because you’ve seen it, you know it’s the end of the road.
-Jon J.
MUSIC
Milton Nascimento: An Evening of Evolution Monday night was a bucket evening for me. You know how you have these musical icons on your bucket list in terms of people / groups that you want to see perform before leaving this life? Well, seeing Milton Nascimento perform at the Rialto Center for The Arts Monday night provides me the opportunity to lessen my bucket list by one name (granted, I’ve still got to see ‘The Eagles’, ‘The Rolling Stones’, and ‘Prince’, but I digress).
From the first time I heard Milton’s voice on Wayne Shorter’s 1974 album “Native Dancer”, doing the vocals on ‘Ponta De Areia’, I have been intrigued by his voice (as evidenced by the enclosed You Tube video). Watching Milton’s international presence evolve over the last 40 years has been fun to watch — especially in the jazz world. Milton says that appearing on Shorter’s album was a turning point in his career — an integral part of his evolution. This appearance eventually led to collaborations with jazz pioneers like Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, and Esperanza Spalding just to name a few.
The 73-year-old Nascimento was met with a rousing applaud from the packed Rialto crowd as he “shuffled” onto the stage. While my Portuguese /Spanish is a tad rusty (a nice way of saying I’m challenged in both languages), my ears are totally bilingual; and what I heard last night was marvelous.
After the first few numbers I felt I was attending a world music concert; then it evolved into a jazz concert; then, post-curtain call it evolved into a party!
As with any vocalist that is getting on in years and whose voice depends a great deal on reaching falsetto levels (think Eddie Kendricks, Smokey Robinson, El DeBarge), Nascimento’s voice experiences the periodic crack when reaching for the upper registers. This however didn’t take away from a quality performance; also, this review would be totally of non effect and incomplete if kudos aren’t given to the five-piece band playing behind Nascimento:
-Kiko Continentino, Piano
-Widor Santiago, Sax (tenor & soprano)
-Wilson Lopes, Guitar
-Lincoln Cheib, Drums
-Gastao Villeroy, Bass
I would also be remiss if kudos weren’t given to Leslie Gordon and her team at the Rialto — from the PR group, to the ladies handling the tickets, to the folks doing concessions, to the parking (which by the way is free); everything relative to the venue was top shelf and professional.
Needless to say, audiences in the other seven cities on Nascimento’s eight city mini-tour are in for a treat, and since this is his first U.S. visit in almost ten years, I would strongly recommend folks get their tickets and get them early in order to see this Brazilian icon.
Tap above to hear “Travessia”
-KJ
Certain moments in life have a way of breaking you down to the point you have no choice but to evolve into a better state of mind. I believe we all go through this at some point in our lives but the lesson we take from a "rock bottom" moment is entirely up to us. Dion Primo spent some time in room 13 of a hospital ER floor after a near death experience. Instead of feeling bad we should see that he is actually one of the lucky ones. Surviving has elevated him to the mind frame to live for today because tomorrow isn't promised.
The album opens with "Twice" produced by REO as an apology and reconnection with his faith and journey to find his purpose. "Chuck Taylor Classics" produced by Superville is about being yourself and releasing classic music to withstand time rather than temporary hits. "R.A.R.E." also produced by REO wants you to view the world from your third eye and tune into what's real. Lone$tarr produced "Bottles" with a hook to grab your attention and turn it to what's happening outside of the club.
"Problems" with production by Jaisu tells you to face the hardest drug eecting everyone, negativity. "Tie You Down" (Maverick Soul) is appreciation for the Queens who are rushing to get in a relationship a little too soon. "Feng Shui" (REO & Mateo) advises you to move people out of your life in order to allow your energy to flow freely.
"New Love Order" ft Jane Handcock produced by CAM puts religion and politics aside to make room for infinite love. “F***WITCHU” ft PBzE T.O. (Jaisu) says to believe in yourself first before expecting anyone else to. Simply play your role like Pippen.
"King Mentality" produced by Pheonix and Lone$tarr takes everyone to school, enrolling them in Life 101. "Sapiosexual" Ft. Jovi Rockwell produced by REO teaches about mental orgasms and an intellectual attraction that is above physical. "Elevation" Ft. and produced both by Yamin Semali raps about better days and higher thinking. "In the now" produced by Jaisu and J.U.S.T.I.C.E League talks about the power of turning the word "now" into "won". Taking over today in order to win over tomorrow.
This album is not to make you dance but instead make you think about life from a deeper perspective. I applaud Dion Primo for being brave enough to touch on topics that are not as popular in the hip hop culture but coincidently we all face everyday. We need to help and guide each other to a more peaceful existence. Cheers to Primo for helping to lead the way.
Tap above to hear “Twice”
-YoAngie
Hot off of performing at the 2014 Belk Bowl, Miranda Lambert releases her third single from the hit album Platinum today. Though hype about the album began almost a year ago with the release of her first single from the album “Automatic,” two singles and 11 months later the buzz is still going strong upon the release of “Little Red Wagon.”
By this time we have all had time to let Platinum breathe and take on a life of its own, so in honor of Miranda’s third single release I’ve compiled a list of my top 7 songs from the album. If you’ve waited this long to check it out, hopefully this list will set you on the path to Texasbound-righteousness.
7. “Platinum” –
“Somethin’ about platinum irrefutably looks as good as records as it does on me.” This may be prophetic of this album’s future, but I guess we’ll see. I’m a brunette and I still sing this song like the bleach blonde I am at heart. It’s sure to be stuck in your head for days.
6. “Babies Makin’ Babies” –
An album about small town life wouldn’t be complete without a strangely poetic about unplanned parenthood. The steel guitar and Miranda’s pronunciation of “babies” are enough to make this song an album standout.
5. “Little Red Wagon”-
The third single release from Platinum is everything we expect from Miranda in the best way: a little bit of sass (okay a lot of sass), strong electric guitar, a catchy melody line and a tell-it-how-it-is lyric in classic Miranda fashion.
4. “All That’s Left [feat. The Time Jumpers]” –
Though this album as a whole is a throwback to classic country, this song in particular makes you feel like you have jumped back in time (pun intended.) If Patsy Cline was still with us today, she probably would have fought Miranda to record this song. And that is a bummer; because that is a fight I would love to see.
3. “Somethin’ Bad [Duet with Carrie Underwood]” –
When country music’s two blonde bombshells came together, magic was bound to happen. Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood’s voices sound so similar in parts of this track that you honestly can’t tell who is who. If you were looking to find a song that will inspire you to light things on fire or punch your ex in the face, this song is definitely for you.
2. “Automatic” –
Though this was the first single from the album released in February 2014, it still hasn’t grown old for me. Growing up in the south, Miranda Lambert has made no secret that she appreciates a life full of the simple things. In a way, this seems to be an anthem of sorts for the way she lives. Thankfully the song was released just in time last year to be nominated for this year’s Grammy Awards in both the Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance categories.
1. “Smokin’ and Drinkin’ – [feat. Little Big Town]” –
This jam is by far my favorite on the album. Often it seems like collaborations are forced and overdone for the sake of showing off how much talent exists within two artists on a five minute track. This song does the complete opposite. Neither Miranda nor Little Big Town overdo it: Miranda keeps the melody simple while Little Big Town provides the hauntingly ambient harmonies they are known for. Five and a half minutes of reminiscing of the good old days are hardly enough when a track is this beautiful. You might want to play it on repeat.
Tap above to watch “Somethin Bad” featuring Carrie Underwood
-Lauren Brumley
Usher's concert was simply a knock out in Atlanta. It went the distance and in the end Usher delivered 20 years of an awesome career into one night for the jammed packed crowd at Phillips Arena.
What made this concert so amazing was the attention to detail Usher put into every aspect of this night. Whether an old or new fan, the experience is one they will never forget. It was clear after this riveting night, Usher has so much love and appreciation for the city of Atlanta.
The lineup assembled to make The UR Experience Atlanta EPIC included T.I., Young Jeezy, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Juicy J, Young Thug, and Rae Sremmurd. Yes, all of these well acclaimed and accomplished artists all on one stage, one night -- all to support Usher. Not to mention the opening act August Alsina who got everyone primed and ready for a stellar show. It really felt like a music festival featuring the best of the best in the music industry.
Here is a list of some the songs that kept ALL of Phillips Arena on their feet dancing, singing and of course taking selfies:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
"My Way"
"OMG"
"Love in This Club" with Young Jeezy
"You Make Me Wanna"
"U Remind Me"
"Twisted"
"Climax"
"Burn"
"Good Kisser"
"Lemme See"
"Hey Daddy/Daddy's Home"
"I Don't Mind" with Juicy J
"Lovers and Friends" with Ludacris and Lil Jon
"Yeah" with Ludacris and Lil Jon
"No Mediocre" T.I.
"About the Money" T.I. and Young Thug
"No Flex Zone" Rae Sremmurd
"No Type" Rae Sremmurd
The lighting, special effects, live band and awesome dancers which includes Beyonce's head dancer Ashley Everett all made The UR Experience Tour not only a success but a celebration of loving life.
Usher ended his night thanking his mother Jonetta Patton, along with the city Atlanta for taking a chance on him and making the start of his career and now 20 years later. He ended the night with his hit song, Without You”.
-Desmond McLennon
Tap above to hear “I don’t mind” with Juicy J *Photo Courtesy of Usher’s Facebook Page
Ne-Yo in Concert Just in case you missed it… October 23, 2014 at The Tabernacle was night I will never forget. I’ve done my own personal artist of the year award and the winner is… Ne-Yo. I’ve been a big fan of Ne-Yo since the release of his first 2005 single “Stay”. Plenty of my friends have seen him in concert and have ranted and raved about his performance. I can say it’s totally different experiencing it for your self. The energy that he generates is off the charts. He takes you back performing hits from his first 2006 album “In My Own Words - So Sick”, 2007 album “Because of You - Because of You ft. Jay-Z”, 2010 album “Libra Scale – She Got Her Own” and there were plenty more that took everyone back to that happy place we all have when experiencing music we love. From his signature dance moves to the bands amazing performance as you watch the show, you begin to lose yourself in the overall experience. Ne-Yo also teased and blessed the crowd with a few songs on his upcoming sixth album titled “Non-Fiction”.
The opening artist Kandace Springs definitely is another upcoming artist to look out for in the near future. A pianist with a powerful voice and the beauty of a goddess she will capture your heart, not only with her presence but the music she produces. There aren’t many true R&B artists getting major airplay on the radio nowadays. Going into the new year I’m sure after hearing a few of the upcoming albums will make them a believer that R&B is alive and well!
Story & Photos: Johnny Hill Tap above to hear “She Knows” with Juicy J
future m r i e x l t e a a p s e monster e
The night? October 28. The place? Tree Sound Studios. The cause? To celebrate the release of Future’s new mixtape entitled “Monster.”
Any event that takes place at Tree Sound is a celebration. So if you ever attend an event here, you need to be prepared for positive vibes, great music, good networking, and Mali’s (hostess extraordinaire) world-renowned cooking.
To celebrate Future’s recent project, friends and media were invited to enjoy great food, a listening session, artwork, networking, and a costume party, all in one place.
The video below will give you a taste for what an event at Tree Sound is like.
Big thanks to Mali, Groove Chambers, and the entire Tree Sound family.
Photos: Anna Lira & Hakim Wright Video: X
Tap above to watch video (Explicit lyrical content)
SPORTS
ATLANTA HAWKS
The Atlanta Hawks kicked off their 2014-15 season mixed in controversy and fallout. Many wondered what would become of them this season. But preseason showed promise and the players rose above the happenings in the front office and the news.
The Hawks kicked off their preseason against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio. The Hawks surprised everyone with the victory, and even though it was preseason, they had know idea the damage they would incur during the regular season…
The Hawks kicked o their regular-season with a special treat for the fans. Rapper and Atlanta native T.I. gave a 3-part concert for all in attendance. He performed songs before the game, at halftime, and held a special post-game concert for the fans. If that wasn’t enough, the Hawks organization debuted their new million dollar projection system that brought the hardwood to life.
The Hawks downed their Eastern Conference rival the Indiana Pacers in dramatic fashion to make opening night complete.
At this point, the Hawks own a 5-1 record at Philips Arena this season, the secondbest home mark in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is undefeated at home (4-0) against Eastern Conference opponents.
Paul Millsap is the only player in the NBA this year averaging at least 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Over the last 5 games, Al Horford is shooting .705 FG% (31-44), hitting at least .580 from the field in each contest.
The Hawks are showing championship potential for sure but fell in a tight game with the top-ranked Toronto Raptors 126-115.
This was one of those nights that brought the city out. There wasn’t an empty seat in Philips Arena when Kobe & Co. came to town. It was clear that a lot of Lakers fans and LA transplants were in the building as the crowd looked to be a split 50-50 as far as colors were concerned (half the crowd in purple and gold, the other in red and white).
Although the Hawks looked healthier and had a better record, the debut of Nick Young aka Swaggy P and the 1-9 Lakers handled business. Kobe Bryant, Carlos Boozer, and Jeremy Lin all had double figures by halftime, with Bryant leading the charge with 19.
Atlanta only lost by 4 points and it was around this time, that everyone was starting to see the potential in this year’s team.
The Bulls game proved to be a statement victory for the Hawks. They had beaten up on so many weaker teams this season that the whipping they put on Chicago made the Hawks oďŹƒcial. Al Horford scored 21 points against the bulls, helping Atlanta notch a 10th game to add to their winning streak.
Now the Hawks are on a 14-game win streak and are sitting comfortably in 1st place in the Eastern Conference. Its not only fun to go to Philips Arena for their themed nights and special give aways, but its twice as fun when your home team is winning. If there was ever a time to support the Atlanta Hawks, now is that time. -Jon J. Photography: Spurs: Kent Foster Pacers- Hakim Wright Raptors- X Lakers, Bulls- Anna Lira
ATLANTA FALCONS
The Falcons entered Sunday’s game with a 4-6 record this season yet, sat in first place in the NFC South after edging out Carolina in Week 11. Cleveland arrived with a 6-4 record after their 3-game winning streak was snapped by the Houston Texans.
With the Falcons up 24-23 with under a minute left in the game, nerves were high for the Browns as they started their possession at their own 20-yd line. But as confident as they’ve been all game, they marched down the field with a combination of Crowell runs and Gordon catches. In the final seconds, they brought in Billy Cundiff for a short 38-yd FG try which was successful as time ran out.
Cleveland’s Quarterback Brian Hoyer threw for 322-yds and 3 interceptions while Crowell and West combined for 150-yds rushing. Josh Gordon made a triumphant return to the team. He was target 16 times, double what the second highest receiver was targeted (8). He averaged 15-yds per catch and racked up 120 receiving yards.
Falcon’s Wide Receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones combined for 164-yds receiving and a touchdown. Matt Ryan threw for 273-yds, 2 touchdowns, and an interception.
The final score was Cleveland 26, Atlanta 24. The Browns take away a great road win and improve to 7-4, while the Falcons woes continue at 4-7.
-Jon J.
Photo: X
Georgia Tech
Football
Georgia Tech beats Georgia in Overtime Thriller It’s the game all of Georgia has been waiting for; Clean Old’ Fashion Hate, Georgia Tech vs. Georgia, to answer the ultimate question: Who Runs This State? This year landed the Yellow Jackets in Athens, GA for the early afternoon game. Sanford Stadium played host to a sold-out crowd which looked 95% Georgia, 5% Georgia Tech (by fan base).
Georgia immediately went to their run game to start things off. Nick Chubb kicked off the 1st drive for the Bulldogs and scored the first touchdown. The 10 play, 75 yd drive was all from the legs of Nick Chubb. After 3 exchanges, the Bulldogs has possession once again and relied on Chubb to get their yardage. After a 75 yd drive UGA was well on their way to scoring again until Chubb fumbled the ball on the Georgia Tech 3 yd line (the fumble was recovered by GT).
But the action didn’t stop there. After Tech marched downfield, they had to settle for a FG. That FG attempt was then blocked by UGA’s Ray Drew and recovered by Damian Swann. Georgia Tech’s Defense was holding solid, keeping the pressure on Hutson Mason as he was floored by Keshun Freeman for the big sack. If that wasn’t enough, once UGA got to Tech’s 1 yd line another running back, Sony Michel, fumbled the ball again for the Bulldogs (recovered by Quayshawn Nealy).
The Yellow Jacket’s offense finally found its rhythm as QB Justin Thomas found Darren Waller for the 7 yd touchdown reception. After the completed extra point, the Jackets went into halftime with the game scored 7-7.
On a freak play, Justin Thomas was somehow stripped at the 1 yd line and Damian Swann returned it 99 yds for the touchdown. The back and forth continued between these two teams, as Marshall Morgan tried a 49 yd FG but it was blocked by Adam Gotsis. Georgia Tech responded with a 4 yd Zach Laskey touchdown.
The 4th Quarter turned into a shootout and became the turning point in the game. Points were coming from everywhere and even more freak plays were happening. This time in a 30 yd Georgia Tech kickoff that was recovered by Georgia Tech. A group of Georgia players thought the ball would bounce out of bounds, but while 4 players were staring at the ball and fell to Lance Austin.
With Georgia up 24-21 in this crazy game of FG blocks and 2 yd fumbles, Tech put the game into overtime with a dramatic 53 yd FG that barely passed the crossbar. Zach Laskey scored his 3rd touchdown in the 1st overtime but the Extra Point was blocked yet again by Ray Drew.
With tensions high and the suspense even higher, the Bulldogs opted with a pass within 10 yards instead of leaving it with Chubb and threw an interception. With that interception Georgia Tech won the game 30-24 and left 93,000+ fans in disarray. Georgia fans were holding up signs stating “We Run This State!” To their chagrin, they were proven incorrect this year.
With this massive victory Tech moves on to play in the ACC Championship next Saturday against Florida State. But before the big game, the team had to relish in sweet victory between the hedges.
Nobody expected the game to be this dramatic with blocked kicks, fumbles, interceptions, and all the drama in between. This episode of “Clean Ol’ Fashion Hate” saw Georgia Tech as the victors. Until next year’s episode at Bobby Dodd in Atlanta!
Next week they take on Florida State for the ACC Championship. -Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright
ACC Championship
Approximately 1 week after an epic upset in Athens, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets found themselves in the ACC Championship game. Their foe? #4 ranked Florida State. Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium played host to this year’s Conference Championship game in front of 64,808 fans. Synjyn Days made his return to the Jackets’ lineup with a 3-yd touchdown to start the game. After a big defensive stop, followed by an exceptional drive that ended with a Days touchdown, Georgia Tech found themselves up 7-0 against an opponent who was heavily favored to blow them out.
The Seminoles responded when Jameis Winston found Nick O’Leary with a 46-yd pass as he calmly ran in for the touchdown.
The game was turning into an all-out battle of offense. Georgia Tech finished another long-yardage drive with a 3-yd touchdown by Running Back Synjyn Days.
The game was turning into an all-out battle of offense. Georgia Tech finished another long-yardage drive with a 3-yd touchdown by Running Back Synjyn Days.
With the score 14-7 and the Quarter coming to a close, the Florida State Seminoles had every intention of responding. That came with a 1-yd. run by Dalvin Cook, who was responsible for all the yards on their scoring drive.
To shake things up, the Jackets finally took to the air after 27 rushes as Justin Thomas hit Deon Hill for the big gain into FSU’s red-zone. From 4-yds out, Zach Laskey ended the 7 play, 75 yd drive with the rushing touchdown. Laskey’s touchdown had the Jackets up 21-14 with 8:00 left in the 1st Half.
The back-and-forth continued as Jameis Winston threw a 44-yd rocket to Rashad Greene for the Seminole touchdown. This coming just as Tech’s-D was solidifying itself, Greene took advantage of his open space as the cornerback covering him slipped and fell by the far sideline. Minutes later Winston went back to Greene to take the lead just before halftime to make it 28-21 Florida State.
Synjyn Days found the end-zone again from a yard out while FSU responded with a 33-yd field goal. The back-and-forth continued between the 2 division leaders as the game was now 31-28.
Tech’s defense finally got a stop and forced Florida St. to kick another field goal from 32 yds out. So with the Noles up by 6, they tried a new setup to get their D ready to face a vicious GT running attack. By the time the 4th Quarter started the Yellow Jackets had over 320-yds rushing.
With Georgia Tech down by 6 and the way both teams have been scoring one after another, the Ramblin’ Wreck were looking to score on their next possession and take the 1 point lead. Unfortunately, they ended up in a 4th Down position around midfield and failed to convert. They turned the ball over with 6 minutes left in the game.
After the turnover on downs, Florida state put their offense in the hands of Dalvin Cook. Cook put up 29-yds on the ground to put the Noles in FG range. After the successful try by Roberto Aguayo the score was FSU 37, GT 28.
With 2:56 left in the game, the Ramblin Wreck found themselves in a horrible position. Down by 9 points and starting at their own 3-yd line, the Yellow Jackets had a mountain to climb. Out of all the times they chose to pass they went to the air in duress. Quick passes to B.J. Bostic and Darren Waller from Justin Thomas kept the Jackets moving downfield. They were moving with such fluidity and quickness, one had to think “where was this all game?” They relied so heavily on the run-game that it became their only source of offense.
Thomas connected with Waller for 25-yds and a touchdown to cap a 6 play, 97yd drive that lasted one minute and ten seconds. Again, with a scoring drive like that, there was no reason the Jackets should’ve fell behind. So with the game now at 37-35 and the Jackets down by 2, they had to go for the onside-kick. With little time to play and a capacity crowd going crazy in cold and fog, the Jackets made a last ditch effort to snag what they deserved, an ACC Championship title. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Their ACC title hopes fell when the onside kick landed in FSU’s hands and immediately downed the kick. Florida St. ran the clock out and the miracle at B of A Stadium never happened.
The final score was Georgia Tech 35, Florida State 37. Synjyn Days had 19 carries for 67-yds and scored 3 touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets. “It was nice to have three touchdowns but we lost so that kind of negates the three touchdowns in my book.” Here’s what Georgia Tech Coach Paul Johnson had to say after the game: “Well, I’m disappointed in the outcome of the game, but I’m awfully proud of the football team. I thought they kept playing. Florida State is a very talented team, and you know, it was the kind of game where you couldn’t make a mistake.” -Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright
2014 Orange Bowl Champions
It was everything Tech fans had hoped for. The Yellow Jackets, in a major Bowl Game, ranked in the Top 10 (at #10), against a Top 10 team (#8), from the SEC. There was no possible way this allotment could've been better. That ladies and gentlemen was the scenario for the 2014 Capital One Orange Bowl. Georgia Tech took on #8 ranked Mississippi State and made Atlanta proud. To watch how far the Yellow Jackets have come this season, you can only be happy for such a program and their players. It was a joy to watch this season. Although they didn’t win the ACC Championship, you could still argue this was one of the Yellow Jackets best seasons under Coach Johnson. This game was the epitome of a “perfect ending” to a dream season for the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets produced over 500 yards of offense and their leader Justin Thomas won MVP. Could it get any better? Well, we found out things actually could get better. The Preseason rankings for 2015 were released and the Yellow Jackets were voted the No. 8 team in the country. To add the preverbal cherry on top, that’s one spot ahead of in-state SEC rival Georgia Bulldogs who were voted No. 9. -Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright
RECREATION & TRAVEL
Belk Bowl Fan Central & Fan Fest
The Belk Bowl is a must, even if your school isn’t participating. It’s fun, affordable, and close-by (about a 3hr drive from Atlanta to Charlotte). Since its so close we chose to take Megabus (its our preferred option).
Belk Bowl Fan Central was the official fan party of the Belk Bowl and THE place to be the night before the game. After cheering on your school, along with cheerleaders, bands, and mascots, you had various options for entertainment: bars, restaurants, movie theaters, bowling, and many other attractions.
Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Belk is the country’s largest privately owned and operated department stores, located in 16 states, with over 24,000 associates. In 1888, 24 year-old William Henry Belk opened his first store with a vision, passion, and commitment. Now Belk is led by its third generation of leadership: Tim Belk, Chairman & CEO, and Johnny Belk, President and COO.
The following day, Belk Bowl’s Fan Fest took place outside of Bank of
America Stadium. The rain couldn’t keep these hardcore fans away who
enjoyed food, games, and musical entertainment. The highlight of the day
was the performance by Miranda Lambert (pictured below).
The 2014 Belk Bowl played host to a long-awaited SEC-ACC match between the 13th ranked Georgia Bulldogs and the 20th ranked Louisville Cardinals. It was loud, it was cold, but it was a great night for football. Bank of America Stadium turned red tonight between the band, cheerleaders, and all the fans of both teams. It was a long-awaited date for the Bulldogs, who were looking for revenge after their loss to Georgia Tech in Athens.
The 1st Quarter was fairly sloppy between both teams but the Bulldogs finally found their stride around the 8:30 mark. Quarterback Hutson Mason hit Chris Conley for a 44 yd. touchdown pass to top off an 8 play, 90 yd drive. The players and fans were looking forward to great things out of Mason for his last game. Unfortunately, the QB was unable to finish the 1st Half as he left with complaints of dizziness.
Louisville wasted no time responding with a touchdown of their own. Quarterback Kyle Bolin connected with Gerald Christian for an 11 yd touchdown to tie the game at 7 points. Bolin finished the game throwing 20 of 40 completions for 300 yds, 1 TD, and 2 INT’s. He was sacked 3 times thanks to the pressure of Georgia’s defense. Louisville’s DeVante Parker had a monster game for the Cards, racking up 120 yds in the air off of 8 key receptions. He wasn’t able to convert these numbers to points but he came up with multiple key plays to keep his team in the mix.
As posted above, Nick Chubb broke multiple records and made a serious statement about his athletic ability. Chubb ran the ball 33 times for 268 yds and 2 TD’s, with an 82 yd run being his longest rush and a Belk Bowl record.
Ramik Wilson and Lorenzo Carter led the Georgia defense with 8 tackles respectively while Tramel Terrry had 2 INT’s.
By halftime the score was UGA 20, Louisville 7. Altogether the Cards only scored in the 1st and 3rd Quarter and each time it was a single touchdown. Georgia on the other hand left their offense in the hands of their Running Backs. Sony Michel had a 2 yd touchdown run in the 3rd Quarter while Chubb finished off the Cards in the 4th with an 8 yd touchdown. Kicker Marshall Morgan made 3 field goals tonight to contribute 9 points, which made the score 37-14. Chubb’s final touchdown blow came with 2:02 left in the game. Michel ran the ball 11 times and gained 34 yds and his 2 yd touchdown was his only one for the match.
After the game Georgia Quarterback Brice Ramsey, who came in for Mason at the drop of a dime, commented on his substitution: “It was short notice alright. I didn’t warm up at all or anything. I played real cold, but there are no excuses.” (Ramsey came in after Mason’s injury).
We also had a chance to hear Coach Petrino’s thoughts on Nick Chubb:
“He’s just a really good running back. He’s hard to tackle and he’s got great vision. There were a number of times where we had guys there to make the play and he just made them miss or ran over them. It was a tremendous performance by him; they also have a great offensive front. They know what they are doing and they do a good job of sustaining their blocks.” -Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright
Tax Slayer Bowl
On January 2, 2015, Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Florida played host to the Tax Slayer Bowl. This specific Bowl matches an SEC team with a Big 10/ACC opponent or Notre Dame. This year, the SEC’s Tennessee Volunteers faced the Iowa Hawkeyes.The Vols came into Jacksonville with a record of (7-6, 3-5). The Hawkeyes had a fairly similar record of (7-6, 4-4).
Originally known as the Gator Bowl, it has been held continuously since 1946. The name Tax Slayer Bowl comes from TaxSlayer.com having the contract as the principal sponsor. It has also gone by other names: Mazda Gator Bowl, Gator Bowl, Outback Steakhouse Gator Bowl, Toyota Gator Bowl, Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, and Progressive Gator Bowl just to give you a few examples. This particular Bowl Game is operated by Gator Bowl Sports.
In the past 3 years of its current title as the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, it’s played host to games such as Florida/Ohio St., Northwestern/Mississippi St., and Nebraska/Georgia. Some of their more memorable games include:
• 2010: Bobby Bowden’s last game at Florida State. FSU beat West Virginia 33-21
• 1989: Vince Dooley’s final game. Dooley, the MVP for his Auburn team in the 1954 Gator Bowl, coached his final game at Georgia in a 34-27 victory over Michigan State.
• 1978: Clemson 17, Ohio State 15. The game that marked the end of Coach Woody Hayes’ era at Ohio St.
This SEC/Big 10 matchup was played in front of a mostly orange, 56,310 fan-base who had a lot to be happy about. In the 1st Quarter the Vols put on a dominant display on offense and set the tone of the game by scoring 21 points. Tennessee Running Back Jalen Hurd scored 2 TD’s 7 minutes apart. The 3rd was a 49 yd TD pass from Tailback Marlin Lane to Wide Receiver Vic Wharton on a half back toss-pass. 3 minutes into the 2nd Quarter, Quarterback Josh Dobbs scored a TD on a 8 yd run to make the game 28-0.
The numbers were pretty close between both teams. The only difference was Tennessee turned their yardage into points. Josh Dobbs had an incredible game. The sophomore out of Alpharetta, Georgia went 16/21 for 129 yds and 1 interception. His biggest impact came on the ground with his scrambling ability. With only 5 missed passes, Dobbs used his running ability when receiving options were few, racking up 84 yds on the ground. Jalen Hurd was another impact player who rushed for 122 yds and 2 TD’s. Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin anchored Tennessee’s Defense and led the team in solo tackles (5) and assisted (8) for a total of 13.
Iowa was able to score those 21 points in the 2nd Half to make the game respectable. The final score of 45-28 was more kind to Iowa than proving the dominance of Tennessee. Although the Vols only scored 3 points in the 4th Quarter, they dominated the game from start to finish.
Iowa’s Quarterback duo of Jake Rudock and C.J. Beathard combined for 177 passing yds. Mark Weisman finished with 10 yds rushing but registered 2 TD’s. The big man on the ground for Iowa was Jordan Canzeri, who found his form late in the game, but had 122 yds. The passing game was widespread as 8 different players registered receiving yds. But only one player, Tight End Ray Hamilton, was able to get at least 3 receptions and 50 yds (finished with 51 yds).
There’s a lot of readers that have never had the privilege of having the “Bowl” experience. If you are looking for a Bowl with fun activities, in a fun city, and reasonable ticket prices, then the Tax Slayer Bowl is the perfect fit. Not only will you enjoy the beautiful scenery in Jacksonville, but the beach is a stone’s throw away and there are plenty of Bowl related activities for you to enjoy. This particular Bowl has a history of above-par opponents and is guaranteed for the next few years to have an SEC team face someone from the BIG 10/ACC or Notre Dame.
This year has been a Bowl Season to remember and Jacksonville and its historic Gator Bowl, will be waiting for you to create new memories next year. Story & Photos: Yoh Phillips & X
Editor-in-Chief Jon Jones
Editor KJ
Games/Mobile Apps Titus TBZ Rowell Alana Clarke
Videography Malcolm “X” Lewis Johnny Hill
Music Contributions Lauren Brumley YoAngie! Caquias KJ Johnny Hill Desmond McLennon
Art/Graphics Bob Jeffreys Fashion Team Joy Larkins Keisha Campbell
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Below you’ll see some features to look forward to in our 12th issue in April!
Photography Hakim Wright Malcolm “X” Lewis Yoh Phillips Anna Lira Jonathan Davis Kent Foster Event Contributions Johnny Hill Erica “EDB” Bizzell Consultant Desmond McLennon