Paj! Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 (edited) So the other day I watched Ringu (i.e the original Japanese film, from 1998). I hadn't seen The Ring. My knowledge of the series was from Scary Movie 3. And I thought it was one of the ones people like cried if you said you preferred the remake, it's untouchable etc. So yes, watched it. --- I thought it was boring, completely unscary, and lacking in it's famed creepy atmosphere. As well as badly acted (from what I could tell). I'm all for unconventional films, anything that doesn't fall into the cliches, but this just seemed like a supernatural murder mystery. All the reviews being like "SEE IT IF YOU DARE" and "I SHAT MYSELF" - wut. There are not conceivably scary parts in it. While that could be interesting (not just having JUMP scares) it felt like the forget to actually make it scary at all. --- So I watched The Ring today. I think I prefer it. Sure they put in more typical scares at a few points, but I think it helps. Not sure I like the new origin of the tape, but then the original one wasn't elaborated on very well. The video tape itself was shit. Much vomming at the fact it was all HD and had special effects. The Japanese version's cursed tape was the scariest thing about the film. Visually it was mostly much nicer. Lovely colour pallette and cinematography. Naomi Watts is radiant, but I think struggles in this very blah role. But it's fine. But yes, basically, it really horrible of me to prefer the slightly more typical American remake? I'm gonna watch Ringu 2/Ring 2 at some point too. Thoughts/musings/shits? Here're the cursed videos from both versions. Japanese, then American. EDIT: another thing - if I remember correctly, in the original, the phone call is JUST A phone call, there's no voice on the other end. I think preferred that. Again Scary Movie 3 may have affected my views for both films. :p I love so much. "Cindy the news is on! Another little white girl done fell down a well." Edited May 29, 2011 by Paj!
EddieColeslaw Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 I preferred the American remake too. The pacing of the original is way too slow, which makes it boring and unscary as you said. I was genuinely scared after watching The Ring. I think Naomi Watts does ok. The sequels (of the remake) are meant to be terrible though.
Daft Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 The Ring is an excellent remake. But Ringu is better, at the very least for its soundtrack.
jayseven Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Remakes are usually more edible but they lose kudos immediately by merely existing. Point is that Ringu is now nearly 15 years old - horror rarely ages well because the initial impact is largely to do with the novelty of the premise. The concept becomes ingrained in culture in one way or another. But anyway - You should see The Eye. Similar vein as Ring/grudge (also got hollywoodised) - formulaic in the sense that it takes a preposterous scenario and nightmarifies it. Japanese horror is typically good because it's gruesome. Not known for cinematic subtleties, but you'll enjoy each movie as you sponge up the atmosphere and the essence of how you're meant to watch them. If you get me. I made up a few words.
EddieColeslaw Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 But anyway - You should see The Eye. Similar vein as Ring/grudge (also got hollywoodised) - formulaic in the sense that it takes a preposterous scenario and nightmarifies it. Japanese horror is typically good because it's gruesome. Not known for cinematic subtleties, but you'll enjoy each movie as you sponge up the atmosphere and the essence of how you're meant to watch them. If you get me. You've reminded me, I've always meant to watch it but somehow keep forgetting. I really hope you're talking about the Hong Kong original, not the awful/stupid/boring/predictable remake with Jessica Alba.
Paj! Posted May 29, 2011 Author Posted May 29, 2011 I'm gonna try and watch the Japanese originals first of course. Grudge is next on my list (library only had the remake when I looked). And didn't know The Eye was based on a prior film. The remake is the one with Jessica Alba right?
EddieColeslaw Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 I'm gonna try and watch the Japanese originals first of course. Grudge is next on my list (library only had the remake when I looked). And didn't know The Eye was based on a prior film. The remake is the one with Jessica Alba right? I love the Japanese Grudge series! My favourite is Ju-on: The Grudge 2, I've watched it way too many times. Ju-on: The Grudge is good too. I've never watched the remake with Sarah Michelle Gellar because then it would just be like...Buffy. VS a hair ghost. The Eye original is by the Pang Brothers, there are two Indian remakes and the American one with Jessica Alba, yes!
jayseven Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 You've reminded me, I've always meant to watch it but somehow keep forgetting. I really hope you're talking about the Hong Kong original, not the awful/stupid/boring/predictable remake with Jessica Alba. Yes I was referring to the original -- I apologise for saying it was Japanese - It's been nearly a decade since I saw it! I went through a phase of renting anything that had a Tartan Film label on it. Damn, I miss renting movies. Doing it online isn't the same as going into the video store and just... perusing.
EddieColeslaw Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Yes I was referring to the original -- I apologise for saying it was Japanese - It's been nearly a decade since I saw it! I went through a phase of renting anything that had a Tartan Film label on it. Damn, I miss renting movies. Doing it online isn't the same as going into the video store and just... perusing. It's ok, Japanese horror is really great anyway Yeah, I feel the same with ebooks...they're free, and all, but it's just not the same. Something to do with easy spontaneous access.
jayseven Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 When I was a kid and let loose in a library, I'd always bring home two books - one that I had gone to the library to get, and another 'random' one picked based on the cover, the author's name or whatever. It's how I discovered Pratchett, paul jennings, Hardy Boys (lol), adrian mole, and many more.
EddieColeslaw Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 I LOVED the Hardy Boys books!! /goes to look for ebooks /derails thread
jayseven Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Haha brilliant! Did you know that Franklin W. Dixon never actually existed? Pen name for a whole bunch of authors over the years. It made me revert to a foetal state when I first learnt.
Beast Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 I thought The Ring was a decent enough remake and I thought Ringu was decent as well but if I had to pick which was scarier, I'd probably go for Ringu. Like, with every horror movie I watch, I see it in the dark with my headphones on and there were one or two scenes that did actually make me feel a little uneasy, such as... I just loved the suspense and the music of that scene and that look Samara gives was proper creepy. I liked The Ring as well to an extent. I didn't think it was shit but I thought it was a worthy remake. I just beg that you do not watch The Ring 2 because it's not good at all. Strangely enough, I haven't seen Ringu 2 or Ringu 0 though. It's better to watch when you're by yourself in a darkened room in my opinion. I love The Grudge but that's mainly because I have love for Sarah Michelle Gellar. I still think it's good anyway but I like Ju-On: The Grudge better. I think both versions of the sequel weren't as they were just repeats of the first movie and the scares weren't great either. The Grudge 3....well, let's not go there, shall we! But yeah, I see what you mean but I do think they're good horror movies for their time. I especially love horror movies that manage to give the audience that creepy feeling without the use of gore and blood and guts. I also think the fact that there's a creepy girl that comes out of a television that can kill you by looking at you is quite a scary thought as well. However, the one that beats all of these movie is...Brenda from Scary Movie 3. It's literally one of my favourite scenes from a comedy movie ever.
ReZourceman Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 I massively love The Ring. Cool design, Naomi Watts, good kid actor, awesome awesome story, scary, really cool locations, great visual tone and an awesome poster/cover/logo. The Ring Two is enjoyable in a "I liked the first film sense". As for The Grudge (American).....fucking dreadful. Literally not remotely special in any way.
Beast Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 As for The Grudge (American).....fucking dreadful. Literally not remotely special in any way. ...Sarah...Michelle...Gellar?
Beast Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Overrated...steaming....pile... Wait, are you on about Sarah Michelle Gellar or the movie? Because Sarah Michelle Gellar is amazing, haha.
Daft Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 The Grudge is piss poor. SMG is dire in it. Just so so bad.
Beast Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 The Grudge is piss poor. SMG is dire in it. Just so so bad. But she's pretty to look at...
Mokong Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 I loved Ringu, I thought The Ring was ok, but I always found the original to be much better, atmosphere and soundtrack just added so much tension. Watched it for the first time late night alone lights off... really helps add to these things. Ringu 2 was good too.... think I watched it right after the first (I got both dvds together so I'm sure I did), and there is one hell of a scare moment near the end that did make me jump The Ring 2 though was very forgetable... in fact I can't remember it at all... I do know I saw it in the cinema, I do remember not liking it. Ringu 0, haven't seen it in a long time but I do remember it not really being a scary film or having the same atmosphere as the first two but it was a decent prequel/origin story. Random fact. Ringu was based off a book, that book had a sequel called "Spiral". When Ringu was being filmed in Japan the studio was also filming "Spiral" at the same time intending to release one after the other. There was a 3rd book called "Loop" which never made it to film (think it was dependant on success of Spiral), Ringu as we know was a success.... The Spiral.... well spiraled into failure.... so much so that it was decided to ignore Spiral pretend it never happened and make Ringu 2 an original work seperate from the books. I always found that funny. I did find Spiral on DVD years ago, bought it out of curiousity... yeah it was not good There was a 4th book "Birthday" which was a prequel which I think Ringu 0 borrowed a bit from. Slightly offtopic Like Jayseven, I too would recomend (the original Hong Kong) The Eye, that was a great one and The Eye 2 also (starring Qi Shu :love:) There is The Eye 3 but that was shit
Daft Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 But she's pretty to look at... Pretty loses its shine when it's smeared with shit.
Beast Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Pretty loses its shine when it's smeared with shit. She's like the hottest thing about that movie. She makes any movie hot! :p
Paj! Posted May 29, 2011 Author Posted May 29, 2011 Just for clarification - I did watch Ringu alone in a dark room. I appreciated what it tried to do, but yes, I think Daft (? Can't be bothered scrolling to check) has a point about context. The fact is, I saw Scary Movie 3 first, and Sadako/Samara is a bit of a cultural icon/less than icon but known entity. I was intrigued to find out that the "coming out the tv" scene was really meant to be a final horrific scare thing. Think it would have had more effect on me if I wasn't aware of it. Her lack of fingernails is horrific though, I have a fear of fingernail loss. SMG post-Buffy is just naff. She blows my stun in Southland Tales.
Beast Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Ah, I think that's your problem right there. See, I saw Ringu when it wasn't as well known as it was today. I think I was about 10 or 11 or something. I didn't scare easy when I was younger but I specifically remember the scene I posted in my first post and just remember not sleeping properly because of it. It was kind of one of those scenes where, no matter what you did, nothing could stop this evil force from killing you and that creeped me right out.
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