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Flashback Favorite ‘Graduate’ ignites a classic affair
BY NOURA AL ANBAR
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Daily Titan Staff
As a timeless refl ection of affl uent and aristocratic society, the 1967 fi lm, “The Graduate,” starring Dustin Hoffman, takes you through the story of a confused young man growing into an adult.
Based on a novel by Charles Webb, it is a brilliant tale of a world fi lled with fast cars, hot girls and cocktails. The humorous and fascinating fi lm techniques helped launch Dustin Hoffman’s career and shape an entire generation.
The movie features a young graduate named Benjamin Braddock (Hoffman) who struggles to fi nd himself and what he values most in life.
He is swept into a fi ery affair involving a family friend by the name of Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft).
The affair soon turns sour after Benjamin is introduced to Mrs. Robinson’s daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross).
Out of jealousy, Mrs. Robinson threatens to reveal their affair to her husband and daughter. After being forced by his parents, and pressured by Mr. Robinson (Murray Hamilton), Benjamin takes Elaine out for the night and realizes his love for the young and vibrant Miss Robinson. When Elaine fi nds out from her mother a warped version of their dirty secret, she escapes to graduate school to forget about Benjamin.
Heartbroken, Benjamin drives in circles in hopes of fi nding his lover and marrying her despite Mrs. Robinson’s threats.
Benjamin fi nally fi nds the location of the wedding and in screams awaits his lover’s reply.
The uniquely funny classic with its awkward form of satire has humored generations for more than 30 years.
The confused young boy in “The Graduate” represents the confused, anxious and experimental attitude some people exhibit on the road to adulthood. The movie took its audience through the eyes of a young boy walking the road to manhood, love and self-discovery.
Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” continues to be a classic hit coupled to the exceptional movie that was meant to portray the changing American values, “The Graduate.”
Dreamworks Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) tries to protect her son Aidan (David Dorfman from the vengeful Samara in DreamWorks Pictures’ horror thriller “The Ring 2.”
BY ANNA LOUSTAUNAU
For the Titan
“No one could escape the power of the ring.” Rachel Keller thought it was over, but little did she know that the worst horror was yet to come.
DreamWorks’ “Ring 2” frightened numerous audiences this past weekend with its familiar eerie television fuzz effects, an in-depth look into Samara’s well, a shocking reindeer scene, more grotesque deaths and a large identity crisis transforming good into pure evil. But in truth, it does not quite compare to the imaginative and fearful quality of the fi rst fl ick.
For example, there is only one introductory scene involving the well-known nightmarish video that kills within seven days.
The rest of the fi lm follows an entirely new path of family trauma, adoption, possibilities of abuse and Samara’s early background. Any further discussion of the tape is nonexistent to the audience.
Nevertheless, “Ring 2” is a fantastic scary story to indulge in for the chilling fi nale of the story of Samara’s life.
Horror-fl ick icon Sissy Spacek and Simon Baker add to the already talented cast of Naomi Watts, young David Dorfman and the wicked one herself, Daveigh Chase.
Although the plot is quite intelligent and unique in its own perspective of horror, director Hideo Nakata’s (also director of the original Japanese film “Ringu”) filming techniques assume more of a Japanese artistic point of view rather than the American version we all know and fear.
In short, “Ring 2” was confusing and a bit choppy at times, but not bad for Nakata’s American film debut.
The film takes place just six short months after the tragic consequences of Samara’s tape, with investigative reporter Rachel Keller (Watts) and her son Aidan (Dorfman) moving away from Seattle to the small coastal town of Astoria, Ore. for a fresh start.
Too soon after their arrival, Rachel discovers a few peculiar clues about how a local young teen’s death in front of his television very closely resembles her own haunting experiences of the young girl in the well.
She does the only thing she should not do: she burns the tape.
Shortly afterward, Aidan begins to adopt bizarre temperaments and unexplainable symptoms that can only be Samara’s way of telling Rachel she wants to live again, and that she has chosen Aidan’s body for her merciless commands.
It’s up to Rachel to save the day (again) and to see if it is truly possible to stop Samara from returning from beyond the grave once and for all.
Though Watts gives yet another excellent performance as the emotional mother/reporter, it’s Dorfman who shines in the fi lm with his ability to transform from one character to another in the blink of an eye, and talented Spacek who sets the stage for a night of uncanny coincidence and terror.
“Ring 2” is guaranteed to scare the hell out of you with its new eye-popping action, shocking twists, jittery jumping scenes, loud music and the classic favorite: Samara climbing out of her well to get you. (A side note: Her climbing techniques may leave you wishing to have a nightlight in your room for the next two weeks).
“Ring 2” is a great source of fun for any day of the week, perhaps better to be seen in broad daylight by some, but overall, it is a great sequel of electrifying spookiness and much intelligence.
