OCR Text |
Show ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY 3/21 Daily Utah Chronicle Though creepy, 'The Ring Two' falls flat "The Ring Two" DreamWorks Pictures, 2005 Directed by Hideo Nakata Written by Ehren Kruger Starring Naomi Watts, David Dorfman, Simon Baker, Sissy Spacek Opened March 18, 2005 Rated PG-13,107 minutes Three stars out of four stars Jennl Koehler A&E Writer Japanese horror—a distinctive style of scary movie that focuses more on story and character than on special effects and carnage—first debuted in major American cinema in 2002 with "The Ring." Now, thanks to Hideo Nakata, director of the original "Ringu," it's back. "The Ring Two" follows "The Ring's" characters on another chilling, almost supernatural adventure, in which Samara, the Americanized version of Japan's creepiest villainess, Sadako, pops her head out of the well for one more horrific ride. The story picks up six months after Samara was purged from our heroes' lives at the end of the first film. Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) and her son Aidan (David Dorfman) have moved from Seattle, Wash., to Astoria, Ore., with hopes of beginning anew—minus any creepy, long-haired demonic little girls. However, via a suspiciously familiar crime scene in their once-happy little town—complete with a spooky unlabeled videotape—it becomes apparent to Rachel that Samara is back. There aren't many clues as to what Samara is after this time (surely it can't be death and terror again) until Aidan becomes unexplainably hypothermic and undergoes bizarre behavioral changes. Just what kind of kid suddenly starts calling his mother "Mommy," anyway? Rachel deduces that all Samara really wants is a mommy to love her, and as a result of the events in the first film, Rachel herself has become a loving, devoted, role-modelesque mother for her child: exactly what Samara wants. So pretty much, this crazy dead girl from the bottom of a well, who somehow has supernatural powers, has decided to take over Aidan's body, to become him. This is obviously the best way to have the perfect mommy she's always craved—or at least one who, with any luck, won't throw her down a well. However, Rachel has something to say about that (literally). She must nowfigureout how to rid her son's body of Notice to all U students "Why the hell did you just call me 'Mommy?' That's evil." this evil presence. This means returning to the Morgan farm (where Samara's adopted parents raised her), paying a visit to Samara's birth mother (played outstandingly by Sissy Spacek) and battling that wicked demon of a girl one last time. Watts plays Keller flawlessly, skillfully conveying the complexity of her character, as well as adding a distinctive strength to the role. She genuinely has the audience on her side from the beginning, and easily keeps them there throughout the film. Dorfman (Haley Joel Osment's best protege thus far) is creepy as ever, and his transformation from the quiet, slightly haunted, precocious Aidan to the intense, malicious, eerily powerful Samara is enthralling. In her first return to the horror genre since "Carrie" in 1973, Spacek carries with her an undeniably disturbing presence. As Samara's not-completely-with-it birth mother, she answers some of the questions fans have been asking for years now, includ- ing where Samara came from and why she was adopted. Hints are given as to why Samara is so morbidly twisted, but Spacek's main purpose is to provide Rachel with cryptic, moderately useful information and unsettle the audience even more. The film's special effects are excellent, but they can't quite obliterate a few lingering questions about where certain premises came from. Not all American audience members know that in Japan retching in water equals power to control it—that logically follows, right? Sort of. These are the flaws that keep "The Ring Two" from becoming the solid film it had the potential to be. Though undeniably creepy, and thankfully character-based, the movie has a handful of logical fallacies that make it difficult for viewers to really immerse themselves in the world of "The Ring." Thefilmmakersmaintain the suspenseful mood throughout the film, throwing in bits of action and macabre images only when necessary. The actors and effects help us to overlook significant plot holes and a few illogical twists, but in the end, "Ring Two" is a letdown. The eerie music, disturbing details and darkly unfolding plot lead us to believe that the film is building toward something huge, something unbelievably, bone-chillingly scary. Though undeniably creepy, and thankfully character-based, the movie has a handful of logical fallacies... Give your favorite professor a pat on the backl Nominations for the 2004-2005 deer are considered divine messengers that can sense evil—an important fact in the film. Also, they must have forgotten to mention in the first However, "Ring Two" fails film that Samara somehow to deliver any such mindacquired the ability to repel blowing fright. Instead, it water when she spent all that leaves us with questions time in the well. Time spent about how it ah1 makes sense and what exactly the point of this second edition was. "The Ring Two" provides Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks in Utah?! a slower pace than most horror movies and a far creepier Only at: mood, but its lack of a substantial twist leads us to ultimate disappointment. If Minutes they ever release "The Ring fromU! Fresh Italian lake-out Three" in the United States, Easy they're gonna have some serious questions to answer. Parking! 232 East 800 South / SLC jkoehler@ Inside Circle Pottery chronicle.utah.edu Moochie's are currently being accepted! Pick up an application from ASUU (Union room 234) and turn It in by noon Wednesday, March 23togive your professor the ultimate Thank-You" "Just call me Ice, ice baby." Michelle Trachtenberg spins her stuff In Disney's "Ice Princess." Meatballs and More! 898-1350 OPEN MON-SAT 11am -7pm >I.LiLSnLV"ElJ-Hi:J1ILLir.-i[fi_MMl : Hours: »\ I umlay-Friday 10:00-5:30 Saturday 10:00-4:00 Semester at Nauvoo We are currently accepting applications for Fall Semester 2005 (August 30-December 10) and Winter Semester 2006 (January 9-April 21). • Mkantl ifikgnlJ • While & Yellow Gold • PliUiniun •Titanium • TlHlR'-Iull • Bridal & Winding Kings • Curium Di'siRns • Anniversary Uamk •CVi lifted Slum.** J BENNYON EWELERS STUDENTS!! 364-3667 I 59 S M*in • Sail Lake Cit> I Admission Requirements High school graduate 2.5 GPA minimum Ecclesiastical endorsement BYU Honor Code and Dress and Grooming Standards Personal interview Special Features Classes in religion, art, American history, music, pioneer life, etc. Great faculty 'J^LKXJ\SU U . eat fresh- 221S. 1300 E. Salt Lake City Many field trips to Church and American history sites throughout the semester Room and board in the t Joseph Smith Academy, books, field trips—and more—included in tuition \}\..i:. Monday - Savory Turkey Breast & Ham Tuesday - Meatball Marinara Wednesday - Savory Turkey Breast Thursday - Italian B.M.T.* Friday - Classic Tuna Saturday - Roast Beef Sunday - Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Valid At: 221 s. 1300 E. Tweens will warm right up to 'Ice Princess' "Ice Princess" Walt Disney Pictures Directed by Tim Fywell Written by Hadley Davis Starring Michelle Trachtenberg, Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall and Hayden Panettiere Rated G/92 min **+ Two and a half out offour stars Aaron Allen A&E Writer You've seen it done a thousand times before: A young protagonist, up on stage, performs against seemingly insurmountable odds. The outcome looks grim—but wait! Right on cue, Mom/Dad/Grandpa walks through the backdoor of the gymnasium/theater/concert hall, still dressed for work after that mad dash from some very important meeting downtown. Their eyes meet, and Mom/Dad/Grandpa smiles and nods, as if to say, "Yeah, I was an ass, but now I'm here to love and support you." Newly empowered, our protagonist goes on to wow the audience as the music swells, etc. etc. You could make a weeklong marathon out of such scenes, including one from "Ice Princess," a movie that will thrill io-year-old girls in white-picket-fenced suburbs nationwide. Parents, however, take note: It's not much better than the average Disney Channel movie, and it's filled with about as many cliches. Cliches are a funny thing though—they're as good or as bad as the performances and the writing makes them. "Ice Princess" has Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall and Michelle Trachtenberg—all very appealing. It also has a script with enough teeny-boppin' charm to, well, not quite raise it above the formula, but at least to make it bearable for anyone who doesn't have a Michelle Branch CD spinning in his or her (probably her) stereo. Trachtenberg plays Casey Carlyle, a brainy high school girl who brings her knowledge of physics to the ice-skating rink—she creates a program on her lap-top that calculates the fallacies of her fellow skaters. Geeky but cute, no? If you'd just tuck your legs in a little more...Voila! Nailed it! Indeed, Casey's computer program is so slick and so precise, it would take a group of programmers, or better yet, a whole team of movie-effects people, many months to design. However, Casey must be smarter than all of them put together because she creates it in what seems like a matter of days. That's almost impossibly impressive, isn't it? Plucky doesn't even begin to describe this girl. Over the course of her project, Casey discovers she's quite the talented skater. However, obstacles abound: A jealous co-ed (Hayden Panettiere), a win-at-all-costs coach (Cattrall) and Casey's mom (Cusack), who thinks her daughter should be going to Harvard, not wearing skimpy skating outfits. Oh, and there's a boy! Teehee! Like I said, io-year-old girls * will eat this up. For adults, there are some "genuinely touching moments" between Cattrall and the daughter she's pushed too hard. The alwaysentertaining Cusack brings her own, eccentric brand of kookiness to the fist-pumping feminist mother. Oh, and Trachten- Not good with any other offer. Good at participating stores only. No cash value. Not for sale. C 2004 Doctor1! AsudntM he. SEEICE PAGE 5 |