The Ring (Widescreen Edition)

The Ring (Widescreen Edition)
by Gore Verbinski

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• TESTED OK
• 2003 DATE ON THIS DVD

DVD Reviews of The Ring (Widescreen Edition)

DVD Review: BEFORE YOU SEE ''The Ring'' ... SEE THE ''ORIGINAL''!
Summary: 2 Stars

Just a few months prior to the theatrical release of the American REMAKE of this Japanese horror/suspense sensation, I gave it a ''five star'' rating (based upon my impression of the Japanese Original) and suggested that it was worth a sit-down viewing, since I was basing my suggestion on what others who had seen both versions were saying (...they had claimed that the American ''remake'' remained ''faithful'' to the Japanese Original).

"The Ring" is based on the original Japanese horror sensation, "Lingu," which, when it was originally released in 1998, was Japan's highest grossing horror/suspense film of all time.

The story revolves around a news reporter who learns about an obscure video tape with a gruesome reputation: Anyone who views its brief and incomprehensible contents is guaranteed to die within seven days. Once dismissed as an urban legend circulating among the high school set, the reporter confirms the actual existence of the tape and unwittingly views it herself. She soon comes to the realization that the rumors about the tape's deadly effects are also true, and with the assistance of her ex-husband tries to determine the tape's sinister origins and to see if they can figure out how to break the curse before their remaining week of life reaches its deadline -- literally.

The original Japanese film is dark, eerie and, though not particularly scary, is intense and engaging. Slow paced at times, and yet there's never a dull moment -- you'll not want to leave your seat.

Well... if you've NEVER seen the Japanese Original, I'm about to make a suggestion: DON'T waste your time with the ''American'' remake ... at the very least, not ''UNTIL'' you've seen the Japanese Original! (There seems to be some indication that the original version can expect an official DVD release for the American market sometime in the near future. For the time being, however, it is only available on the Asian market.)

Why and how did I change my recommendation so quickly? Simply because I had the good fortune (or, perhaps, misfortune) to see one of those pesky little things called ''Theatrical Trailers!''

The movie trailer for the American remake reveals MORE THAN ENOUGH to show that far too many significant changes were made to the story to make recommending it virtually impossible! If you still want to see the ''Americanized'' version, regardless, then please be aware of these few important deviations and departures from the Original:

(1): The ''Title'' --
The ''American'' version emphasizes the ''meaning'' of the movie's title by repeatedly slapping us over the head with the phrase, ''Before you die, you see the Ring.'' Uhhh... 'Sorry, Charlie,' but in the Japanese Original NO EXPLANATION OF ANY SORT was ever given as to the meaning of the film's title! The title was DELIBERATELY ambiguous! Does the ''ring'' refer to the image on the cursed video? Does it refer to the ''ring'' of the telephone which the unfortunates receive immediately after viewing said video? Does it refer to the endless cycle of death brought about by the endless recopying and distribution of the cursed tape? Etc., Etc., Etc.

(2): The ''Horses'' --
What the hell did ''dying horses'' have to do with the movie??? ''Horses'' (dead or alive) played absolutely no role in the Original!

(3): The ''Phone Message'' --
There was NO VOICE (little girl's or otherwise) in the phone calls which followed the viewing of the cursed video! What was heard in the Original was an incoherent and indecipherable high-pitched electronic-like ''squeal'' (for lack of a better descriptive term) ... no words were ever uttered!

(4): The Irritating ''Precocious Little Boy'' --
In the Original, the reporter's son was no one spectacular and played no real role in the movie, except by privately viewing the video himself and relating to his mother one or two post-mortem communications he supposedly had with one of the people recently ''killed by the curse'' who happened to be a family friend of sorts. Those mysterious contacts between him and the recently dead girl, though adding to the suspense just a tad, were ultimately meaningless to the plot.

(5): The ''Creepy Girl'' --
Perhaps the most unforgivable overstepping of the American filmmakers. The face of ''Sadako'' (the name of the demon girl in the Original) WAS NEVER REVEALED (save for a solitary blood vessel laden eye), which only added to her creepiness and made her even more scary!

(5b): The ''Squeaky-Clean Creepy Girl'' --
Though not presented as an image on the actual film trailer, I did run across images of the girl's body being found in her watery grave. In the original, Sadako was found very, Very, ...VERY DEAD in the well! Completely decomposed flesh, slimy green goo and all! How did the American filmmakers justify ''uncovering'' her dead body fresh fleshed and fully clothed in a clean cream-colored gown? Anybody?

(6): Those ''Two Old Ladies'' --
The two ''schoolgirls'' at the opening of ''Lingu'' actually LOOKED like schoolgirls, because the Japanese filmmakers actually used real live ''GIRLS'' to portray them! Who were those two old hags ''DreamWorks'' dug up and expected us to relate to as ''school-GIRLS,'' huh?

(7): The 'Film Sets' and The 'Mood' --
In the Original, EVERYTHING about the movie was dark, gloomy and eerie... the set designs, the music, the cinematography, even the actors themselves ...everything had an uneasy, creepy & depressing quality to it, as any good horror/suspense movie should; The American version looks much too upbeat, bright and 'user-friendly.'

Yes, ALL OF THAT is what I was able to decipher from just the American version's ''movie trailer'' ALONE! (...paragraph ''5b'' excepted) -- Which leaves me to wonder just how much MORE damage the American team inflicted upon this movie which the trailer was NOT able to reveal???

I'm not saying don't see this movie. But I indeed AM suggesting that you wait until you get a chance to view the Original Japanese masterpiece first before doing so.

Have I seen the American remake version? No. Am I ''planning'' on seeing the American remake version? Not any more! -- Not since viewing the ''trailer!''

Thanks, DreamWorks and Mr. Verbinski, but no thanks! For myself, personally, I'm sticking with the JAPANESE ORIGINAL!

(I give ''American'' version ''two stars'' here because, judging from the story it was originally adapted from, I'm sure it's probably still a pretty good and nicely done movie ... though I'll never see it personally to know that for certain.)

Dewa mata!
_

Description of The Ring (Widescreen Edition)