Final Fantasy XIII Review: A Flawed Yet Ultimately Entertaining Experience

by Shaun El-Ters on March 11, 2010

Final Fantasy XIII is a really big deal. Not only is it the newest installment in one of the most prolific franchises in gaming, but it is being hailed as the savior of the Japanese style RPG. Recognizing the magnitude of this release, I stressed about how I was going to write this review. I wrote a bunch of openings, trying to achieve the perfect introduction. Some were cutesy; some serious. In the end, I figured you all just want to hear about the game itself, so I decided to just…

Switchfoot hits Flag with a Hurricane

by admin on March 11, 2010

Switchfoot played at Ardrey Auditorium March 4. Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas and Drew Shirley make up the group and stopped in Flagstaff as part of their Hello, Hurricane tour. Check out the interview with Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman.

Stars talk “She’s Out of My League”

by Cathy Cooksey on March 11, 2010

The new romantic comedy She’s Out of My League, featuring Jay Baruchel of Tropic Thunder fame, is set to hit theaters March 12.

In a conference call, Baruchel and one of his co-stars, Nate Torrence, talked briefly about the film.

The movie stars Baruchel as 20-something-year-old Kirk Kettner, who works as an airport security guard with his three best friends, Jack (Mike Vogel), Stainer (T.J. Miller) and Devon (Torrence).

Kirk meets Molly (Alice Eve), “a hard 10” according to Stainer, while Kirk tries to maintain his “five” status.…

On the Shelf: Dante’s Inferno

by Cathy Cooksey on March 11, 2010

Dante’s Inferno is the newest game released by Electronic Arts (EA) and is based on the first part of Dante Alighieri’s poem, “The Divine Comedy.”

With stylistic combos and button mashing, Dante’s Inferno proves to be the equivalent of God of War for the Xbox 360.

Despite having similar gameplay to God of War, Dante’s Inferno has some unique art designs. Each level is different from the others, making sure gamers pay attention to their surroundings. For example, in the level of Lust, Cleopatra’s castle is made of bodies in…

Sound Check: “Rated R” by Rihanna

by Briana Davis on March 11, 2010

A good portion of the world’s population has heard some version of what happened between Rihanna and her former boyfriend Chris Brown on Feb. 8, 2009. In case you’ve somehow managed to avoid the persistent media coverage surrounding the couple, Brown was charged with assault, and the pair is no longer together.

Rihanna’s response to the incident was largely captured in her latest album, Rated R. In comparison to her past works, Rated R is noticeably darker, with more violent, aggressive themes, and it makes use of a larger variety…

At the Movies: “Alice in Wonderland” needs a little more wonder

by Gary Sundt on March 11, 2010

While I was watching Alice in Wonderland, I thought constantly about how the flick was tailor-made for some of my best friends in high school. They tend to wear more makeup than needed (the guys just as much as the girls), and they are probably interested in some form of the arts. They aren’t “Goth kids” necessarily, but they love their Hot Topic shirts and can quote all of Donnie Darko.

Tim Burton, the director of Alice in Wonderland, caters to this audience. His oddball works (which include Edward Scissorhands,

Comics

by admin on March 11, 2010

NAU professors entertain more than their students

by Ryan Gahris on March 11, 2010

Imagine yourself at a concert, ready to forget about your school day and homework — except at this show, one of your professors is on stage going on about more than the required text.

You might have a reaction similar to that of Jaime Garcia, a junior international relations major, who found it surprising when his Spanish professor started shredding as lead guitarist for a band called Fight the Quiet.

“Oh man, that guy’s a professor at school,” Garcia said. “Who would have thought that some professor could get on…

Listen Up: The Grates

by Sam Opp on March 11, 2010

Have you ever noticed that release dates for music, movies and video games are sometimes different all over the world?

Most times the difference in these dates may be only a week or two. For The Grates, that difference was a year. Their 2008 album Teeth Lost, Hearts Won came out in August in their home country of Australia in Mid-August, 2008. The album didn’t make its way to the USA until around the same time in 2009.

The Grates sound is very similar to two major bands from…

VIDEO: PJ/ONE Silent Auction raises funds to support student photographers

by Kristine Cannon on March 10, 2010

Watch “PJ/ONE Silent Auction” video

The bidding has begun. This past Friday, the Third Annual Friends of Photojournalism Silent Auction opened the doors of Hidden Light, the walls featuring artwork and photographs by local and established artists – all up for auction.

Among these photographers are Ami Vitale, photojournalist and photographer for National Geographic, and Alan Berner, award-winning photojournalist for the Seattle Times. Berner will be at NAU March 24 to 26.

Vitale donated three of her photos to the project and met up with photojournalism students March…

Benefit for Haiti gets the Mardi Gras treatment

by Stormi De Silva on March 10, 2010

Lady Gaga blasted in the Aspen Crossing Learning Community lobby where couples posed in front of the wide backdrop while old-time jazz set the stage for Texas Hold ‘Em and Roulette. The second annual Mardi Gras Casino night was held March 5 in benefit of Haiti charities.

“The vast difference from last year’s casino night to this current one is that there will be better prizes offered, food, more games, and lots of freebees,” said Yemille Ojeda, a sophomore marketing finance major.

Each person who attended this event was…

Asian Film Festival Presents a Slice of India

by Ryan Gahris on March 10, 2010

Starting Feb. 18, the first-ever Asian Studies Film Festival began with a mesmerizing BBC documentary entitled “Ganges.” Two other Films, “Welcome to Sajjanpur” (Feb. 25) and “Sita Sings the Blues” (March 4) completed the series at the Cline Library with this year’s focus on India.

Asian Studies Program Coordinator, Bruce Sullivan, expressed how the diversity of these three films only hints at the full scope of Indian life. Sullivan related this inevitable shortcoming to an analogy of  blind men and an elephant. All of the blind men have a piece…

Press Start: The “Games As Art” Debate

by Shaun El-Ters on March 4, 2010

Videogames have grown up. Once a niche technology focused on high scores and competition and defined solely by its gameplay, the medium has evolved into a thematic vehicle that utilizes storytelling, audio and visual ambiance. Games now provide their audiences with a truly unique form of media by blending storytelling with interactivity.

However, despite this growth and progression, the true nature of games is still fervently debated.

The biggest debate regarding this issue is whether games can be considered a “higher art.” Even Roger Ebert has voiced his opinion on…

At The Movies: Oscar picks

by Gary Sundt on March 4, 2010

It’s that time of year again, dear reader. 2009 is over, the nominations are in, and Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will co-host. Oh giggidy, it’s the 2010 Academy Awards.

The list of Best Picture nominees has been expanded from five to 10, but the competition is no more intense. And while the race between Avatar and The Hurt Locker is certainly close, I have a feeling my predictions here will hold water come March 7.

Best Picture: Avatar, because it’s the most important movie of 2009. Sure, the story…

Kyle Gass’ Trainwreck jams at Green Room (with video)

by Cathy Cooksey on March 4, 2010

Trainwreck, described by band member Kyle Gass (also of Tenacious D) as “wreck ‘n’ roll” style, played at The Green Room March 2.

Despite starting in 2001, Trainwreck’s first live performance did not occur until 2002. In late 2009, they released their debut album, The Wreckoning.

Trainwreck features Gass under his stage name of Klip Calhoun, John Konesky as John Bartholomew “Shreddy” Shredman, Jason Reed as Daryl Lee Donald, John Spiker as Boy Johnny and Nate Rothacker as Dallas St. Bernard.

Gass said the music of the band follows the…

Listen Up: “Plastic Beach” by the Gorillaz

by Sam Opp on March 4, 2010

Is there a point in time a band wears out its relevancy? Would Nirvana still be making music today’s youth would find rebellious? Can a band still creatively move forward without alienating its fanbase?

The new Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach, will be released March 9. Its first single, “Stylo,” focuses on guest vocals provided by Mos Def and Bobby Womack, which is a trend throughout the album, with appearances by Snoop Dogg and members of The Clash.

For a band to expand creatively, they have to learn from what they’ve done,…

Q&A with Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

by Ryan Gahris on March 4, 2010

San Diego alternative rock band Switchfoot has been on tour supporting its eighth record, Hello, Hurricane, released November 2009. The group, founded by brothers Jon and Tim Foreman, boasts two gold records and sold over more than 500,000 copies of both Learning To Breathe (2000) and The Beautiful Letdown (2003) since its debut in 1996.

The Lumberjack asked singer/guitarist Jon Foreman a few questions about Switchfoot’s recent release while he was between tour dates in Texas prior to the band’s stop at Ardrey Auditorium March 4.

The Lumberjack: Starting…

Sound Check: Artist: Alkaline Trio

by Jennifer Newell on March 4, 2010

Alkaline Trio’s new album, This Addiction, gets the job done if you just want some angsty, late ‘90s, Good Charlotte-esque tunes to listen to while you work out. But This Addiction should not be considered particularly special.

The first three tracks on the album — “This Addiction,” “Dine, Dine My Darling,” and “Lead Poisoning” — are so similar they could very well be the same song. Cliché punk lyrics pervade this album, with smoking guns, heroin, pools of blood and last suppers to express what I’m sure is a unique…

Brandy’s brings more than just pancakes to the table

by Briana Davis on March 4, 2010

A cozy dining area, walls lined with works of local artists and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee combine to create the welcoming ambiance of Brandy’s Restaurant & Bakery on East Cedar Avenue.

Any skepticism I had been harboring about the restaurant’s strip-mall location was immediately washed away when I was greeted and directed to a comfortable booth.

Alongside the local art, the walls of Brandy’s also feature the wide smile and vibrant, spiked hair of Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. The show…

Lunafest to showcase local women’s movement

by Briana Davis on March 4, 2010

Local musicians, a silent auction, guest speakers and a series of short films will take over downtown Flagstaff March 6. These festivities will comprise Lunafest, a “national traveling festival of short films.”

The makers of the Luna Bar, a wholesome nutrition bar for women, created Lunafest in 2000. The festival occurs yearly throughout the United States and Canada and was brought to fruition in an attempt to not only promote female filmmakers, but to also raise money and awareness for various women’s issues and nonprofit organizations.

Flagstaff’s Lunafest will benefit…

On the Shelf: Sons of Tucson

by Trevor Gould on March 4, 2010

Sons of Tucson centers on a lovable loser named Ron Snuffkin (Tyler Labine), a Jack Black look-alike who ekes out a living by sleeping in his car and owing people lots of money.

Snuffkin encounters the Gunderson brothers — rebellious Robby (Benjamin Stockham), polite Brandon (Matthew Levy) and control-freak Gary (Frank Dolce). The Gunderson brothers are rich but without parents, needing someone to pretend to be their dad. After much deliberation, the Gundersons recruit Snuffkin to stand in as their father. Much hilarity ensues.

Sons of Tucson contains a wacky…

Soundcheck: ‘The Dandy Warhols Are Sound’

by Troy Farah on March 3, 2010

Remastered and remixed, The Dandy Warhols Are Sound takes the Let It Be … Naked approach to the Dandy’s 2003 release, Welcome to the Monkey House. Basically, Capitol Records producers snubbed the Dandy Warhols’ creative intentions, shelving a mix of Monkey House for a more commercialized version. Sound is the band’s original intention, as done-up by Grammy Award-winning soul mix engineer, Russel Elevado.

It begins slowly with a shorter version of “You Come In Burned.” If you’ve heard it, you can already tell this is going to be a much…

Best Actor & Actress Oscar predictions with video

by admin on February 26, 2010

Click below for Lumberjack exclusive video by Kristine Cannon about students’ Best Actress/Actor Oscar picks.

Watch the Best Actor/Actress Oscar predictions video

BEST ACTRESS
The nominees for the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actress are:

  • Sandra Bullock for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side

SAG Award Winner for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Golden Globe Winner for Best Actress in a Drama
People’s Choice Winner Favorite Movie Actress
Broadcast Film…

NAU’s Shrine of the Ages takes on “A Broadway Revue”

by Alicia Gillman on February 25, 2010

NAU is known out of the three public Arizona universities for its advanced music program. Shrine of the Ages is one of the choir-based organizations on campus, and all members — sophomore and above — must audition to sing in the choir.
According to Ryan Hollingshead, Shrine of the Ages has had a notable part in NAU’s past.

“Shrine of the Ages has been part of the University since 1933, started by Dr. Eldon Ardrey, hence the name Ardrey Auditorium,” Hollingshead said. “The name references Shrine’s past tradition of…

Debating the Best Final Fantasy Hero

by Shaun El-Ters on February 25, 2010

At the end of last year, Square Enix released Final Fantasy: Dissidia, a game in which the main characters from ten Final Fantasy games duke it out with the ten central antagonists. The game is decently fun and rich with the series’ history, but the plot manages to be even dumber than its premise would lead you to believe, and the script reads like a seven year old’s fan fiction. An illiterate seven year old.

Anyway, when you load up the game and pass the unnecessarily long tutorial, you are…

SoundCheck: Lil Wayne’s “Rebirth”

by Joey Chenoweth on February 25, 2010

The typical image of a crazy genius is a mad scientist with wild hair passing up sleep to find the cure for freckles or something. It’s not usually a guy with dreads and shiny teeth who allegedly lost his virginity at the age of 11.

And yet, here’s Lil Wayne, who has proved his genius time and again, especially with his previous album, Tha Carter III, which contained incredible creativity and wordplay.

Yet every crazy genius occasionally does something stupid. And for Lil Wayne, that is Rebirth.

There is…

AtTheMovies: Shutter Island

by Gary Sundt on February 25, 2010

Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is like seeing any other psychological thriller ever made. It has elements of the haunted house story, the troubled detective story and even comes complete with its very own twist ending that you’ve already seen in several other films.

Even if you’ve seen it all before, that should not deter you from watching Shutter Island. In fact, the familiarity of the storyline, combined with the expertise of direction, is the very reason you should see this movie.

The film begins with “Fog Tropes,” a haunting 1981…

Locavores feast on Flagstaff’s finest

by Josh Smith on February 25, 2010

In 2007, the new Oxford Dictionary chose “locavore” as its word of the year. A locavore, or localvore, is a person who only eats locally grown and produced food, usually within a 50- to 250-mile radius of where he or she lives.

This trend has slowly gathered a following throughout the country, and in a place as environmentally conscious as Flagstaff, it is growing even more rapidly. In addition to the Flagstaff Community Market, which opens May 30, several restaurants opened in the past few years with the goal of…

Local author Gabaldon: From science to fiction

by Briana Davis on February 25, 2010

Anyone familiar with NAU will recognize Diana Gabaldon (that’s Gah-bal-DOHN, sounds like stone) for the residence hall bearing her father’s namesake. However, as an international best-selling author, she has gained notoriety in her own right.

Gabaldon’s family history is almost older than the city of Flagstaff; her maternal ancestors reached the area in the 19th century. One of Gabaldon’s relatives, a great-grandfather, served as one of the city’s earliest mayors.

At a young age, Gabaldon pursued science in her academic career, earning degrees in zoology, marine biology and behavioral ecology.…

OnTheShelf: Chuck Klosterman’s Eating the Dinosaur

by Troy Farah on February 25, 2010

Eating The Dinosaur, the latest essay collection of pop culture analysis from Chuck Klosterman, lightheartedly analyzes the relationship between mass media and perceived reality. Like most Klosterman books, it’s written as a blend of a philosophy textbook and an issue of Entertainment Weekly, which isn’t really a bad thing.

Despite Klosterman being somewhat pretentious and repetitive, his writing is still a thought-provoking pleasure to read. These flaws are upfront in Dinosaur, and they only make Klosterman’s thought experiments more human.

Dinosaur starts out with “Something Instead of Nothing,” an…

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