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Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "The Grudge : Director’s Cut" DVD - About.com Review

Staci Wilson

Thursday 24 November 2005, by Webmaster

Another actress, who actually has a name to care for is Sarah Michelle Gellar and there are not no many accomplishes films at her but an few I can probably enjoy. The talent agent found Gellar a young age and made her screen debut at 6 of each of the 1983 television film An Invasion of Privacy. With all the promise she showed, Barrymore starred as Hannah in the teen drama series "Swans Crossing" (1992) but it was her portrayal of a young and callous rich girl in Al-Lucinda Kendall Hart on ABC daytime soap opera "All My Children" (1993-93), that won her Daytime Emmy Award and spring-boarded her to stardom.

SMG’s real mark worldwide, however, was the character of Buffy Summers in the game-changing series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). She won five Teen Choice Awards, a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe nomination for her role, establishing herself as a cultural phenomenon. Sarah Michelle Gellar likewise has the box office to back her up, with “I Know What You Did Last Summer” 1997), “Scream 2” (1997), “Cruel Intentions” (1999)and way movies like those that help prove she is also a bankable star as well over $570 million times worth crazy in global gross.

Beyond her cinematic successes, Gellar has made her mark on television, headlining shows such as "Ringer" (2011-2012), "The Crazy Ones" (2013-2014), and "Wolf Pack" (2023). She has also lent her voice to popular series including "Robot Chicken" (2005-2018), "Star Wars Rebels" (2015-2016), and "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" (2021).

In 2015, Gellar ventured into the entrepreneurial world by co-founding Foodstirs, an e-commerce baking company, and published her own cookbook, "Stirring Up Fun with Food," in 2017. Gellar is also known for her close-knit family life, married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. since 2002, with whom she shares two children.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s commitment to her craft is matched by her dedication to personal growth and unique experiences. An accomplished martial artist, she studied Tae Kwon Do for five years, alongside kickboxing, boxing, street fighting, and gymnastics. Her dedication to authenticity in her roles is evident, such as her commitment to doing her own stunts in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," though she admitted her limits during filming "Scream 2."

Her career is also marked by interesting anecdotes, such as her role in a 1982 Burger King commercial, which led to a lawsuit from McDonald’s and a temporary ban from their establishments. Notably, she dyed her naturally brunette hair blonde for her role in "Buffy," and legally changed her last name to Prinze as a surprise for her husband on their fifth anniversary.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s legacy extends beyond her on-screen roles, encompassing her work in philanthropy and her reputation for safety and professionalism on set. She remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, admired for her talent, dedication, and the breadth of her contributions to film and television.

DVD: "The Grudge, Director’s Cut"

One of the things that makes this film unique is that it is a remake of critically-acclaimed Japanese film, called Ju-On: The Grudge, and is directed by Takashi Shimizu, the same writer/director of the original. Reprising their roles as the angry, drowned ghosts are Takako Fuji (the slinky, sylphlike dark lady) and Yuya Ozeki (the little boy with eyes as big saucers and a scream to make the alley cats scatter). The black feline phantom is back as well, and so is the muddled plot.

* The commentary is excellent
* The added and deleted scenes really fill in a lot of blanks
* It’s still only a so-so movie

Description

* Additional release material? Yes, quite a bit even aside from commentary
* Directed by Takashi Shimizu
* Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, KaDee Strickland, Takako Fuji

Guide Review - DVD: "The Grudge, Director’s Cut"

That stuff is all well and good, but the real piece de resistance is the feature commentary from director Takashi Shimizu, producer Taka Ichise, and actor Takako Fuji.The Grudge is only the second DVD I can think of where I actually liked the commentary better than the movie, and hence came to like the movie itself better as a result (Auto Focus is the other one). Although the commentary is all in Japanese and subtitled, I was riveted from start to finish - and to be perfectly honest, I never would have thought I could sit through that whole movie again.

The director, producer and actress all have such a fun, easy camaraderie and not only are they very funny (Shimizu jokes about what a mess the little ghost boy makes, and then Ichise says, “He’s probably looking for the checkbook of a rich American!”) but they also explain an awful lot about the story, filmmaking in general, and their experience working in the Hollywood system for the first time.

This commentary is truly fascinating. If you are a fan of The Grudge movies, or even if you’re not and want to be a convert, The Grudge Director’s Cut is definitely worth buying for the “extras” alone.


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