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Homepage > Joss Whedon Cast > Sarah Michelle Gellar > Reviews > Sarah Michelle Gellar - "The Grudge 2" Movie - Mangled plot ruins (...)
Themaneater.com Sarah Michelle GellarSarah Michelle Gellar - "The Grudge 2" Movie - Mangled plot ruins ‘Grudge 2’Brandon Celaya Monday 30 October 2006, 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. A great horror film builds suspense and keeps the audience focused on the characters’ plights as they move toward the climactic fright at the end of the film. Much like its predecessor, “The Grudge 2” can’t make this climax satisfying. “The Grudge” franchise is based on the highly successful “Ju-On” series from Japanese director Takashi Shimizu. Coupling this with the producing talents of Sam Raimi, it would seem this film has the potential to be quite successful. 2004’s “The Grudge” made more than $100 million on a $10 million budget. The even lower budget Japanese films indulge more in the darkness and macabre of the curse whereas the American films seem more character driven. Sadly, there is little fright in this sequel, and the film itself starts to meander listlessly towards the finale, making it even more difficult to endure. This sequel takes place immediately after the events of “The Grudge,” where nurse Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is in a Japanese hospital under guard after attempting to burn down the haunted house. Her sister, Aubrey Davis (Amber Tamblyn) is dispatched from the U.S. to retrieve Karen and settle matters back in Japan. She is met by eager journalist Eason (Edison Chen) who helped Karen escape the fire and is eager to speak with her. “The Grudge 2” has several other crossing vignettes including a group of high school students that is overly interested in exploring the haunted house and a flash-forward to a Chicago family that begins to deteriorate mysteriously. The other stories don’t contribute much to the story and obfuscate the main story about Aubrey. “The Grudge” succeeded in large part because Gellar makes a convincing protagonist by leaning on her experience from the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” TV series and her other cinematic horror roles in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Scream 2.” In this film, Tamblyn’s Aubrey is not nearly so compelling and comes off as irritating and whiney. The high school girls trespassing into the house start interestingly enough, but the story becomes very choppy and almost an after-thought until the end of the film. The Chicago storyline is told in a stream of consciousness starting at the beginning of the film and interspersed throughout with an ending that opens the possibility for an obvious sequel. The special effects are largely reminiscent of “The Grudge,” though this film lacks the bone-chilling frights of watching a ghost emerge from Karen’s hair in one scene from the original. The eeriness is minimal here, and the audience viewing the film hardly expressed any surprise at the appearance of the ghost throughout the showing. In the end, my only grudge was with wasting another 90 minutes and $6. Movie: ’The Grudge 2’ Director: Takashi Shimizu Featuring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amber Tamblyn, Edison Chen Rating: PG-13 Running time: 1 hour, 31 minutes Reviewer’s Rating: 1.5 out of 5 Ms Keywords1 Message |
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