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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2005)
■ Movie review ‘Ring 2 ’ director lacks original ideas in weak but twisty horror seauel BY RYAN NYBURG PULSE EDITOR When "The Ring" opened in 2002, it came as welcome respite from the hell of crappy ghost movies with idiotic twist endings that "The Sixth Sense" unleashed on America. Unfortunately, the film ended up unleashing a hell of its own in the form of Japanese horror film remakes, i.e. crappy ghost movies with idiotic twist endings. But while the original will probably take its place as one of the few good horror films of the new millennium, the sequel might miss out on the honor roll. Apparently taking the high road and hiring Hideo Nakata, the director of the original Japanese "Ringu" series, may not have been the wisest aesthetic choice, as "The Ring Two" hardly matches its predecessor. Taking place shortly after the original, the film fol lows Rachel Keller and her young son Aidan (Naomi Watts and David Dorf man) as they recoverfrom the events in the original, moving to Astoria (the Hol lywood of Oregon, I swear) and starting a new life. In fact, the film seems very insistent upon the fact that they are starting a new life, so much so that the characters say as much on numerous occasions. This is only the beginning of the script problems that plague the film throughout its running time. The main plotthrusthasthe dreaded Samara and her cursed videotapes showing up, with Samara apparently intent on possessing little Aidan. Cue the standard child-possesed-by demons plot points, with just enough twists to keep things diverting long enough forthe audience to forget about it and not realize how little sense much of the story makes. It's a shame to see such a promising horrorfran chise get bogged down in the most ba sic cliches. (You know you're in trouble when someone says "I know this sounds crazy, but..." and someone replies, "There has to be a rational ex planation for all of this.") Whereas the first film was sparse and managed to move itself beyond some of the usual horror trappings, the sequel gets lazy and falls back on them, depending on ideas from its predeces sor. The film also wastes the first film's inherent creepiness found in the Pacif ic Northwest locations. Despite some beautiful shots, they seem to belong to a different movie. The special effects are no great feats either, with some blandly fake RING TWO, page 10 TRIANGLE G R A T HIC.S SCREEN PRINTING EMBROIDERY 344-7288 521 Market St, Eugene trian gk-hcSi tn-n*fBkains .com 60 ^ DUCKS! T AVPPQ GLEN CORTESE, l^rW l-ilvj ARTISTIC WRKCTOR A Simply Grand Opera Concert Version - NW Premiere - Screamingly Funny! Washington Post The April Fool’s Day Concert of the Century Friday, April 1,8:00 pm Silva Concert Hall Tickets: $34/28/22/ 16 Adults $30 / 24/18/12 College & Seniors (62+) Grades 12 and younger: all seats $12 _ , Hult Center Box Office: (541) 682-5000 Peter Schtckele, composer & narrator or www.oregonmozartplayers.org Concert Sponsors: fcijc Rtjjistfr-(6uarb • The Haugland Foundation • The Hult Endowment Fund :6SmO Qall at iti College students $22 for 18 holes $12 for 9 holes ’ PM DOORS SEAT! NO Detailed Event and Venue Info at www.mcdonaldtheatre.com General Admission WILL CALL Tickets Now ONLINE from mcdonaldtheatre.com All Concert Tickets Available at TlcketsWest outlets (800) 992-TIXX Service charges may apply TUE APRIL AU AGES 7 PM DOORS LIMITED SEATING UNIVERSITY ^RAD FAIR UO Bookstore Main Floor April 3 thru April 6 Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Wednesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Main ceremony information Diploma frames Order your announcements Caps, gowns, tassels & class rings Stole of Gratitude UO Alumni Information UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BOOKSTORE UOBookstore.com
