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MOVIE REVIEW Viewers may hold grudge against GellaVs latest flick “The Grudge” Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Bill Pullman ★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By LESLIE DENNIS THE GAMECOCK With teenage slasher flicks “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Scream 2” as her previous attempts, Sarah Michelle Gellar takes another stab at making a decent scary movie in “The Grudge,” a remake of a Japanese film. But the film dies amid cheap scares and an underdeveloped plot, forcing the audience into laughter instead of terror. “The Grudge” clearly mirrors itself on “The Ring,” another highly successful remake of a Japanese flick, with creepy dead people and jerky camera movements. But where “The Ring” frightens and fulfills the audiences with an engaging storyline and intense drama, “The Grudge” attempts to disguise its inferiority with overused and futile scare tactics. The film opens with a disturbing yet intriguing scene of a man (played by Bill Pullman) casually committing suicide while his wife watches from their bed. Although the scene automatically reels the viewer into the movie, the viewer quickly learns that there is little importance to — and an even smaller need for — the man’s role in the film. Pullman is merely an outsider during the rest of the movie and serves no real purpose. Karen (Gellar), an American student training to be a nurse, lives in Tokyo with her boyfriend, Doug (Jason Behr), and works for a care center. Karen unexpectedly gets her first case alone when the regular nurse, Yoko (Yoko Mati), does not show up for work that day. While Karen and her supervisor Alex (Ted Raimi) just think Yoko is sick, the viewer learns there is more going on in the attic. PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Sarah Michelle Gellar continues her trend of starring in horror movies with "The Grudge.” Not long after Karen arrives at the house, Emma, the woman Karen is supposed to take care of, dies from an apparent heart attack. However, Karen knows that Emma was really killed by a ghost that haunts the house. As the film progresses, more people show up dead and the plot flashes back to important events leading up to the house’s haunting. From the beginning of the movie, the viewer already guesses what the ghosts are doing and why they are killing everyone who enters the house. The characters are so frustratingly stupid that the audience applauds their fates. While the film does have some scream-out-loud moments, the scenes only momentarily distract the audience from the absolute horror of the plot. “The Grudge” proves that without a concrete and substantial storyline, no horror film, no matter how terrifying or gruesome, will hold the audience’s interest. Comments on this story ? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu Religious Directom Vburgjide to places of worship in Columbia i i**» m Canterbum lilff of Columb \ 1 D An Episcopal Ministry with young adults I Tuftday* at 6:30 pm. In Kerman Chapel at Trinity Cathedral. I Come as i pu are worship # meaningful discussions fellowship # food ♦ service projects L ' ‘ . Ebenezer Lutheran on the corner of Richland and Sumter Wi((Q be (eft behind? i Simply put, no. God made sure of this 2,000 years ago with the gift of Jesus. Here's the bonus: Believing in God makes a big difference not only in the next life but In this one as well. Come and see. We offer traditional and contemporary 11:00am services. Catch the Ebenezer bus at 10:30am in front of the Russell House. For more Info: 765-9430 or vtsrt www.ebenezerlutheran.org. f college ministry of first baptist church join us Sundays worship @ 10:30 F&£E lunch @11:45 WIDEopen @ 12:15 six biocks from USC at the comer of Hampton and Smttr streets 256,4251 • fbccoiaxom/coliegehtm « wideopen^fbccoUcom f To advartfsa on this paga call 777*5064 People cashing in day jobs, turning to online gambling By ROB KAISER KRT CAMPUS Nate Silver quit his $55,000-a-year ^financial consulting job in April to play poker. So far it’s been a wise career move: The 26-year-old Silver expects to make more than $100,000 this year playing the card game, mainly on the Internet. Silver belongs to a new generation of poker players who feast on the growing number of novices taking up poker after watching televised contests. While few players go to the extreme of quitting their jobs, many spend their evenings stalking sites like PartyPoker.com and PokerStars.com, pocketing an extra $20,000 or $30,000 annually on top of their regular salaries. And as more novices keep appearing, opportunity grows for experienced players. “You’ll see people make terrible plays routinely,” said Silver, who lives in Wrigleyville, 111. “For the most part these people call too much and play too aggressively.” Online poker has exploded along with the recent surge of interest in the game. In January 2003, $11.1 million was wagered on the major poker sites. That number rocketed to $136.1 million in September, according to PokerPulse.com, which tracks activity on 21 of the largest poker sites. Total gambling at poker sites will easily clear $ 1 billion this year, based on PokerPulse’s figures, which likely undercount total betting since they do not include popular online poker tournaments that charge entry fees. People trying to bank quick online profits are reminiscent of another recent Internet phenomena: day traders. Rather than making rapid-fire stock trades online, these gamblers seek profits by leveraging small advantages with their poker experience, discipline and statistical savvy. While their gains and losses vary widely day to day, experienced players say the odds are heavily in their favor in the long run. Still, the easy money could quickly disappear if the current poker fad fades. Mike Kim, who lives in Lincoln Park, Mich., said he plays online poker every day, sometimes for a couple of hours and sometimes for 12 hours straight. He said his average winnings are $ 15,000 a month. “I had no idea it would become my full-time job,” said Kim, who started playing online nearly a year ago while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois. “I didn’t find a PHOTO COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Chicago resident Nate Silver plays Internet poker as his primary source of income after quiting his job at a large financial firm. job when I graduated so I just kept playing for money.” The 23-year-old Kim is no longer looking for a job, although his family is concerned he will lose money. “At first they didn’t like it because they thought I was gambling,” Kim said. “When I told them how much money I made, they kind of understood I couldn’t go back to a regular job.” Neal Salmen, a 28-year-old Chicago real estate investor who said he has made about $25,000 this year playing online poker, noted the anonymity of Internet games often makes new players more aggressive. In casinos, Salmen said, “You don’t want to look too stupid so people play more conservatively.” Internet poker offers experienced players some advantages, particularly the ability to play at multiple tables at the same time. Online games generally go ) faster than casino games, and by playing ♦ Please see POKER, page 13 WUSC DESK Le Tigre ‘This Island” (StnjmmerAlniversal) Indie credibility versus commercial success is often a quandry for many independent bands. With its third full-length album, “This Island,” Le Tigre has successfully navigated that obstacle. Featuring quintessential riot grrrl, indie music icon and Kill Rock Stars founder Kathleen Hanna, Le Tigre surely had no problem signing to a major record label but its the fact that they’ve held onto every bit of their artistic credibility that makes this album all that more impressive. The band’s brand of electro punk is as spunky as ever, featuring nervy guitars and bumping programmed beats that provide the backdrop for Hanna’s bratty, vitriolic vocals. Conversational lyrics deal with all things social — personal, political and especially sexual issues. “This Island” brims with sounds of liberation preaching optimism through the politics of dance. “TKO” is the album’s standout single, an undeniably catchy romp about dance floor freedom, and the Pointer Sisters cover “I’m So Excited” paints the picture of a band so elated that they just can’t hide it. The only negative point of the record is the £ong “New Kicks,” a tacky collage of “liberal” media celebrating “the World Says No to War” marches of February 2003. But taken as a whole, Le Tigre’s latest record is a great mix of politics and unfettered fun. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists “Shake the Sheets” (Lookout) Ted Leo is one of those artists who has a way of worming his way into your heart. His brand of thinking man’s punk channeled through infectious pop melodies is almost undeniable. In 2003, Mr. Leo charmed us with “Hearts of Oak,” a power pop masterpiece that harkened back to the early ‘80s glory days of Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. Leo’s vocal acrobatics certainly perked the ears of many Costello fans who still swear by thick-glasses and a quirky swagger. But more than simple pop rock aesthetics, Leo resurrects Celtic-tinged hard rockers Thin Lizzy and legendary reggae punks, the Clash. With all these references it would seem Leo’s music is mostly contrived, but the lasting aural aftertaste of his music proves the timelessness of classic pop sensibilities. Here on “Shake the Sheets,” Leo has trimmed his numbers down to streamlined three-minute pop songs, ditching the willingness to produce longer numbers as seen on “Hearts of Oak.” A high point of Leo’s music is his perceptive lyrics, often alluding to past political events and their relevancy to today’s setting. For those interested in intelligent yet rambunctious power pop, “Shake the Sheets” is the album for you. By JORDAN REDMOND WUSC Music Director Isis “Panopticon” (Ipecac) The term “panopticon” alludes to a 17 th century prison designed with an all-seeing watchtower situated sinisterly amongst the inmates so that every aspect of their lives can be monitored and controlled. The French philosopher Michel Foucault adapted the panopticon idea to encompass a highly contrived society in which every moment of daily life is meant to reinforce the nature of power, a set-up specifically fashioned for and exercised in today’s late-capitalist society. Call it foresight or paranoia but this alarmist attitude is what propels “Panopticon” to such lofty heights. Building on the aptly-titled 2002 release “Oceanic,” Los Angeles quintet Isis has crafted a record of astounding breadth and beauty. Like panopticon culture, Isis’ third full length is sixty minutes of sheer aural imprisonment. From the opening bellows of vocalist Aaron Turner on “So Did We” to the closing dirges of “Grinning Mouths,” you will be engrossed by lush, sprawling compositions that visit chills of icy desolation with every patiently-constructed song. Like Godspeed! or Explosions in the Sky, Isis relies on deliberate and rising action until their songs explode into powerful crescendos. With “Panopticon,” Isis has erected one of the most captivating albums of the year. Change of plans? We can help! College can be a challenge, but sometimes you can find success in different ways and at different places. Check out Greenville Tech's University Transfer program. Excel in small classes with expert instructors who are on your side and ready to help you every step of the way! Choose from four convenient campuses and take advantage of lottery funds. Engineering students, we have agreements with several four-year colleges so that you can complete your first two years at GreenvilleTech. 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