By Christian Dimartino and Bryce Romig
There is a vicious cycle when it comes to scary movies. The original is released, it becomes an instant classic with a large fanbase; however, most of the time, the filmmakers do not leave the original alone. Instead, the director brings along a new form of terror: a sequel. About 99.99 percent of the time, the sequel never lives up to the original. So, going into James Wan’s Insidious: Chapter 2, the burning question on the viewers’ mind is this: Can it top the original?
Insidious, Wan’s 2011 movie that slowly gathered a cult like following, was one of the more effective scary movies in recent history. Wan hit another slam-dunk back in July with The Conjuring, an even better movie (and very successful and even critically acclaimed) which is among the year’s best. So, there is a lot of hype to live up to. But did he do it?
The sequel takes place directly after the events of the original. The Lambert family is trying to move on with their lives and recover from the events they had previously been through. But of course, since this is a sequel to a scary movie, the recovering doesn’t last very long. The wife Renai (the always terrific Rose Bryne) starts to notice strange occurrences again, including the behavior of her husband Josh (Patrick Wilson, the most overlooked actor in Hollywood), who she doesn’t reallytrust, due to events of the previous film.
Warning: Do not see this movie without seeing the original. It is not worth it. For confusion sake, just sit down and watch the original. The sequel will not be completely confusing, but either way the original is worth seeing. The original has a solid plot that is crucial to the second.
It’s always nice to see good acting in a scary movie. Like in the original, Wilson and Byrne nail it. The statement about Wilson being the most overlooked actor in Hollywood is true. This guy is great in Hard Candy, Little Children, Lakeview Terrace, among others, and he is still not a household name. Neither is the gorgeous Byrne, who is known for FX’s Damages and Bridesmaids. These two are in top form here. Everyone’s acting is solid, and it is nice to have almost everyone from the original (even Lin Shaye’s deceased character Elise).
At the end of the day, Insidious: Chapter 2 is not quite as captivating as the original. For Wan, this is a step down from the original Insidious and The Conjuring. Jumping out of your skin is guaranteed, yet the movie needed something more chilling. It needed more of Tiny Tim’s “Tiptoe through the Tulips” or the freaky demon that had a close resemblance to Darth Maul.
It is a good movie, but some of it is uneven. Not quite all of it adds up. Also, the twist, while good, is out there, even for this movie. Insidious: Chapter 2, though flawed, is a consistently entertaining movie that is worth seeing. It works, just not as well as the original. But Insidious: Chapter 3, if it happens, is pushing it.
Regardless of a hard to follow plot and somewhat confusing storyline, Insidious: Chapter 2 is definitely going to leave you paranoid at night.
Rating: 7.5/10
By Bryce Romig and Peter Hyle
Each morning outside FC, the car rider line grows longer the closer time draws to first period. Due to recent congested traffic spilling onto Vincennes Road in the mornings, students and parents arriving in cars will have a new drop-off and pick-up point beginning next Tuesday.
“It will make things much easier before and after school for everyone involved,” said principal Janie Whaley.
Currently, car-riders line up in front of the school and the buses stop on the Galena side of the school. The day after Labor Day, this will be switched around. Car-riders will turn onto Edwardsville-Galena Road and use the entrance near the football field. This will take them to the side of the building across from Galena.
“I expect there will be some people on the first day wondering where to go, but that will all be cleared up,” said Whaley.
The buses will then line up in the front of the school. This way, traffic will not build up along Old Vincennes Road each morning and afternoon.
“I had to speak with the transportation director to get it approved, and then the supervisor of facilities after that. Everyone agreed that this was the right thing to do,” said Whaley, “Now everyone will be more relaxed.”
Click here to find the perfect tank top
By Bryce Romig
This year has seen more unique trends than ever before. From neon colors to darker undertones, the trends have varied greatly. Summers latest trend has seemed to have taken teenage girls by storm. Tribal tank tops have become popular with girls everywhere, and it seems like every store you go too has a multitude of them just waiting to be bought. The question is why is something so simple hitting major fashion markets everywhere?
The answer is simple; take something plain and comfortable like a tank top, add some colorful touches and designs, now fashion can be easy and flexible.
“They are more comfortable than some other shirts. I really like the bright colored ones, such as orange, pink, or purple,” said junior Hannah Andres.
Sophomore Olivia Nguyen is also up to date with today’s fashion.
“I like tank tops because they flatter most body types, and look good with shorts. I wear a lot of black, so I like to wear pastel pink colored ones because it can make your outfit look vintage and girly,” said Nguyen.
Tank tops also work as a great addition to summer because of the thin fabric and weightlessness they provide. This way, you can keep cool and look sharp all at once.
“I like wearing tank tops because they are comfortable and in summer you don’t have to wear a heavy shirt. You can just put on a tank top and not worry about being hot all day,” said freshman Colleen Fitzgerald.
Tank tops are also very wallet friendly. For fashionistas on a budget, these are calling your name. Almost every store has them on their racks, and the prices tend to range anywhere from ten to thirty dollars. This makes for a great way to save money and add a great addition to your closet.
“I shop at many places such as American Eagle, Forever 21, and Body Central. They have great prices, and tank tops are cheap anyways,” said Andres.
School rules may interfere with your choice of tank top, so steer clear of any thin strapped ones. If you are absolutely set on a tank top that you may feel will cause a problem, trying adding a light jacket or light see through shirt over it. This way, you can look fierce and still cooperate with school dress code.
Girls, if you are looking to try out some of these tank tops yourself, try matching it with a mini skirt. These really add a glamorous effect to the outfit, and take out the lazy tank top stereotype.
For the guys, tank tops are always in. Try sticking to darker colors. These are easier to match with colored shorts, and make you look a little bit manlier. While girls have many different styles of tank tops, men don’t have very many. Try to steer clear of wearing tank tops and jeans, this combination may confuse others about what season it is, and won’t compliment your awesome fashion sense.
Tank tops seem to go with everything, so don’t be afraid to try something daring. You might surprise yourself, and come out with a rocking outfit. And before you know it, you’ll be the school trendsetter.