User:VictorRocks/sandbox/The Grudge (2-3)

The Grudge is an American/Japanese horror film series released by Sony Pictures, based on, and a part of the larger Japanese Ju-On franchise. The first installment is a remake of Ju-On: The Grudge and follows a similar storyline to the Japanese film. The sequel, The Grudge 2, is not a remake and follows a unique storyline, albeit still borrowing some plot elements from several Japanese predecessors. Another sequel, The Grudge 3, picks up shortly after the events of the second film.

While the first film recieved mixed-to-positive reviews from fans and critics alike, the remaining two received mixed-to-negative reactions from fans and critics.

Overall

 * 1) Apparently, they have no connection to the first film at all.
 * 2) These films made the film series go downhill.
 * 3) Poor-to-mediocre acting.
 * 4) Several plot-holes.
 * 5) Some of the films try way to hard to copy one of the Ju-On movies, as well as bring way too be dramatic.
 * 6) The chronologically in these films are very confusing.
 * 7) Mean-spirited scenes and moments.

The Second Film

 * 1) The beginning of the scene is very mean-spirited whereas the man was criticizing her wife's cooking, and the wife pours hot oil on him and hits him very hard with a pan, causing him to bleed.
 * 2) Vanessa and Miyuki are very unlikable in the film whereas they trick Allison by closing the door, and they even make fun of her in later scenes of the movie.
 * 3) The infamous scene where Allison gets freaked out by an invisible cat, and ever laughs at her.
 * 4) The screaming in this film is pretty annoying and it can get on your last nerve.
 * 5) Cheap-looking and sub-par effects such as Karen Davis falling.
 * 6) The story-line while it decent, can be pretty mediocre at times (depending on your view).
 * 7) As usual, the film is pretty scary and creepy.
 * 8) The short-suspense and scary music in various scenes are overused.
 * 9) Disturbing and gross-out scenes such as Sally drinking a gallon of milk, and pouring it back into the gallon. This is disturbing to look at.
 * 10) The country of Japan scene is only used a few times in the movie.

The Third Film

 * 1) Unlike the other Grudge movies where it was multiple stories and timelines, this one’s just one linear story that doesn’t stay true to it’s predecessors.
 * 2) The actor who play’s Toshio in this movie looks nothing like Yuya Ozeki (the original Toshio Saeki) and looks a few years too old to play the ghost of a 7-year-old boy.
 * 3) *Also the Toshio here is shown to wear black underpants when the original Toshio wore white.
 * 4) There are a few plot holes, like how Jake managed to survive the last movie when it was shown at the end of The Grudge 2 that he was being grabbed and attacked by Kayako.
 * 5) Some of the characters are pointless, like Renee’s daughter, Brenda, who’s there for no other reason but to add another person on the body count.
 * 6) At the last minute, they decided to give Kayako a sister just for the sake of trying to find a way to the end the curse.
 * 7) Max can be quite an unlikable character during the final half of the movie, even before he gets possessed.
 * 8) When Dr. Sullivan and a security guard come across Jake’s body, you can clearly tell it’s a dummy in fake blood.
 * 9) Kayako looks laughably unconvincing in this movie. While Kayako (played by Takako Fuji) appeared to have grayish white appearance while also playing a convincing onryo/ghost in the other films, here Kayako looks way too white and her appearance is more of a woman dressed like Kayako for Halloween.

Overall

 * 1) The effects while they are somewhat cheap-looking are decent.
 * 2) Some characters are likable.
 * 3) At least they aren't as bad as the 2020 version of the Grudge.

The Second Film

 * 1) Some characters are likable such as, Max and Lacey.
 * 2) The plot despite being mediocre, is pretty interesting.

The Third Film

 * 1) Though he’s no longer the director, Takashi Shimizu (the creator of The Grudge series) was involved in making the film.
 * 2) Even though Takako Fuji (the original Kayako Saeki) doesn’t return, the woman who replaces her (Aiko Horiuchi) in this movie gives a creepy and almost matching performance to hers.
 * 3) We get treated to a couple death scenes that happen on screen, like Dr. Sullivan’s death or Naoko’s death (who later on becomes on onryo/ghost).
 * 4) The thought of bringing the Saeki curse to America is a pretty good idea to say the least.

The Second Film
he film opened in 3,211 theaters and was expected to generate $27 million across the October 13–15 weekend but generated $10,018,039 on its opening day and $20.8 million on its opening weekend. It placed number one at the box office, beating out The Departed. The film showed poor staying power and earned $39.1 million in North America, making it the first ever film to open over $20 million yet gross less than 50% of its earnings after opening weekend. It also easily set the record for lowest gross of a $20 million opener. It earned an additional $30 million internationally. The movie made $70 million worldwide.

Critical response
The film was one of three films not shown to critics on the release date (the other two being The Marine and One Night with the King). It received notably worse reviews from critics than its predecessor, with an approval rating of 11% on Rotten Tomatoes (76 reviews) compared to The Grudge's 39%. The site's consensus simply labels the film as "A diminished sequel that makes even less sense than The Grudge 1". Metacritic gave the film a score of 33/100 based on reviews from 16 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". The film was criticized by several critics for its confusing plot. Keith Phipps from The A.V. Club wrote, "While The Grudge 2 deserves some credit for creating and sustaining a creepy atmosphere, it doesn't matter much when the plot doesn't go anywhere." Pete Vonder Haar from Film Threat found "the same problems that plagued the original are on display here. Most notably, the lack of any coherent plot." Paul Debrudge from Variety stated, "The story is incidental, as auds merely anticipate the scares." Tim Goernert from Joblo "found it really hard to follow the story as well, as there were three of them happening at the same time." The film has also been criticized as being eye candy. Terry Lawson from the Detroit Free Press judged, "The Grudge 2 is just a mélange of images, some mildly disturbing, but mostly just variations on a theme."

The Third Film
Bloody Disgusting awarded the film two and a half skulls, feeling it lackluster, and saying "watching The Grudge 3 is like eating the generic brand of your favorite cereal, you can try to tell yourself all day that its just as good as the real thing, but inside, deep inside, you know it tastes different." Comingsoon.net found the film "dull" and complained that even the ending offered no answers.