Rating: Summary: This is what happens when directors have nothing to do!... Review: I saw this movie with a friend and I apologized to that friend for wasting their time. I gave this movie one star only becuase... wouldn't let me give it lower. But don't get me wrong, the trailer was awesome. My friends were all raving about how scary this was and the first twenty minutes I was hooked. But if nothing more, this movie proves that neat camera tricks, creepy music and an unbelievable ficitonal urban legend just aren't enough. The idea of this movie is very cool. A tape that when watched results in its viewers death (7 days later.) Sounds good, buy me a ticket. But once you start to investigate the source of the tape you could tell they were running on fumes of the opening scene. They simply tried to do too much with very little material. All throughout we're learning things about our main character and things we should have been told in the beginning like who the father of her son is and that she used to be married. Which really takes away from the whole creepy effect that the opening scene established well. The point were I knew I'd bought a lemon; when she had to go all the way back to the cabin in which she see's the tape. It was if you had been through all this and you didn't have to. And as far as the people who are on the tape? you never really get a feel for them, even when the ultimate resolution is revealed. Her son's revalation at the end could've been predicted from the beginning. He was kind of creepy with the whole 'sixth sense' thing happening but but ulitimately he was just one more thing that could've been left out or at least greatly reduced. Mecifully this movie ended. And we're left to make our own conclusion. My conclusion? I should've made it a blockbuster night.
Rating: Summary: Awesome movie Review: I came on to Amazon hoping to find the book. This is based on a Japanese book and movie called Ringu. There is just so much more you want to know and the movie only gets your appetite going. I love horror movies and this is definitely one of my new faves.
Rating: Summary: The BOO factor is way up there! Review: I was really looking forward to seeing The Ring because it looked like a movie that would provide some scares and suspense without relying on tired horror film conventions. On one hand, the film didn't disappoint. There were some creepy moments. And I truly enjoyed the mystery behind the videotape. However, the scares weren't so much from terror as from being startled. Loud noises and flashing images were used too often. It was like someone sneaking up and yelling BOO in your ear. Sure, you're scared. But it's fleeting and artificial. I liked that the writer added a little twist at the end, just when you thought everything was tied up in a nice little bow. However, the twist, along with the rest of the movie, leaves you with many unanswered questions. Where did the videotape come from? What happened with the horses? What was the deal with Noah's assistant? Where will the tape go after Rachel makes the copy? Too much was left up in the air for me to feel entirely satisfied with this film. It's mediocre at best.
Rating: Summary: Like "Stir of Echos" Review: Great visuals, some spooky & disturbing moments, and keeps your interest. If you liked Sir of Echos, you'll LOVE The Ring.
Rating: Summary: The Kid's Review Form is Easier to fill out Review: For some reason, Amazon.com's reviewer says this movie makes no sense, and it isn't scary. He is wrong. This is one of the freakiest movie I've ever seen (besides Eraserhead), and every one who respects horror to see it. If you want to see the original, people may says it's "out of print" but a little looking around the comic covention will get you a bootleg copy. If you want a more official way, go to the UK version of this site. Oh dear, I'm getting off subject again.
Rating: Summary: An absolute disappointment Review: After all the hype about this movie, i expected it to be as good as the Japanese one, but sadly, it is not. The original version (the Japanese one) is the most terrifying movie i've ever seen. The american remake is not even half as good as it. Why? Even though the general idea's more or less the same, the few changes made to the plot seem to make the movie coagulated and silly. The acting's over-dramatized and music/sound effects aren't as good. The plot build-up is too slow and tries a little too hard in explaining itself, 'cos at the end it just created more loopholes. Did anyone notice that Samara's mother was wearing a dress from the 1800s when she pushed Samara into the well? And that was supposed to have taken place only 20 years ago! Must give them some credit for making the faces scary.. Go catch this show if you wanna draw a comparison between the two versions. If not, then you're better off hunting down the original version and watching it instead.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Scary Movie, But... Review: As a scary movie, The Ring delivers, but be prepared for a storyline with a lot of spaghetti mixed in. Much of the unanswered questions the story leaves for you are a result of thoughtless planning by the writer of the remake's script. The rest are carry-overs from the original(Japanese). If plot consistency is of less importance to you than the visual impact of high-tension moments in a story, The Ring is certainly worth seeing. All I can say is, well, you're gonna have a lot of questions about the story when you leave the theater. Other than that, have fun!
Rating: Summary: Absolutely terrifying psychological thriller Review: Being a huge fan of horror movies, I've been trying for YEARS to seek out a film that could truly horrify me. I saw Halloween and was a bit scared. I saw the Exorcist and laughed. I'd heard this movie was rather scary, and since the previews looked okay, I went to see it. It took me three hours to get to sleep that night. And three weeks after, I still can't explain what it is about the movie that scared me so badly. I'd never, ever been honestly frightened by a movie until this one, and I can't put my finger on any particular reason. It's more of an all encompassing fear that lies in everything within the film. The cinematography, the direction, the acting, and the plot itself (which I didn't find confusing at all, contrary to most people) were all completely engrossing to me. And the true horror comes from the fact that what scares you the most isn't what you see, it's what you don't see and what you're afraid you're going to see. The opening sequence begins with two teenage girls, Becca and Katie, talking during a sleepover. Becca brings up a videotape that supposedly kills anyone who watches it exactly a week after they've seen it. Katie confesses to have seen the tape a week before and is reasonably scared. Minutes later Katie is dead and Becca has to be institutionalized from the horrible things she has seen. The movie follows a reporter named Rachel Keller (played brilliantly by Naomi Watts, who was equally astounding in Mulholland Drive), Katie's aunt, who is investigating Katie's mysterious death. She is led to the video itself, which she somewhat foolishly watches, and then with her remaining seven days she determinedly attempts to find the origin of the video to stop her terrible fate. Just when you think the movie is over and you're left somewhat disappointed, it picks right back up and the last twenty minutes are just as horrific as the first. People in the theatre I was at screamed too many times to count, and some even started crying (I'm not just talking little kids here) and had to leave the theatre. I'm still afraid to go near TVs at night, and if I see static on one I'm going to run like hell...
Rating: Summary: Satisfyingly, Scintillatingly Horrific! Review: How many movies that come from Hollywood these days fit the above three words fittingly? "The Ring", although not an exceptionally great horror film, manages to be an overtly good horror film - featuring layers and layers of chilling scenes. These scenes will leave one pondering each occurrence with great anticipation throughout the film, which never stops to catch its breath from all the climactic build-ups that occur with virtually each and every scene throughout. "The Ring"'s main theme is a precursor of all the scenarios that follow, so it's important to follow the main theme, or you may not be able to follow the rest of the movie. This is definitely one of the few movies to come out of Hollywood that doesn't feature the glitz and glitter tag line which accompanies a majority of the motion pictures produced in "The Glamor Capital of the World". It always seems that the movies which get very little advertising time, are usually the best ones. "The Ring" is no exception. This "sleeper" motion picture comes highly recommended for those who love their horror flicks to be a little more on the conservative side, even with fewer surprises than normally expected. But, it may be even a little wee bit squeamish for those with less stronger stomachs. A good dose of intrigue, combined with a lesser-known cast, makes "The Ring" a movie worth checking out.
Rating: Summary: One of the best horror films I have ever seen! Review: This movie left a mark on me forever. I have seen many horror movies that could scare me and/or creep me out, but this movie did more. THE RING, surprisingly, has an overall impact. It is one of those movies where you leave the theater thinking what you just saw was real...and in fact, from what I have seen, this is the very first movie like that. The tape that the movie revolves around is the best part of the entire movie. It's nightmarish images gives a quality a horror movie should have, inabling a person to simply look back on all of their nightmares they've had ever since childhood. This movie is a very realistic, very true-to-life movie. I think the entire thing is a possiblity to have occured for some reason. When I left the theater tonight, I felt fulfilled and impressed. This movie left a scar...a deep one. *****+!!
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