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February 9, 2005
RING around the roses
I just watched the prequel and sequel to the Japanese version of THE RING, a.k.a. RINGU. All this in preparation for part 2 of the American version, which will not specifically be based on either. But if you're wondering if you should rent them, read on (no major spoilers, unless you haven't seen the first one)...
Firstly, you may want to know where I stand on RINGU and its Hollywood remake. While on balance I think THE RING has a slight edge, in that it's more consistently scary, I believe both movies complement each other well. THE RING has a cooler look to it, more shocks, and also cribs liberally from DARK WATER. RINGU, on the other hand, has a better explained plot (with some elements like psychic powers that play better in Japan than here), and doesn't make the mistake of ever showing us Sadako's face, save for that one fucked-up eye. THE RING's Samara is a lot less scary once you know that she used to be cute li'l Daveigh Chase.
As for the spin-offs: I'd say don't waste your time with RINGU 2. All the cool stuff is at the very end, but until then you're stuck with lots of talk, as a bunch of new characters figure out all the same stuff that was already deduced in the first film. The coolest sequence in this sequel appears, judging by the trailers, to be duplicated in the U.S. sequel. The opening sequence, set in a mortuary, was more or less ripped off for the ending of the American version of THE GRUDGE (whose poster also ripped off RINGU's).
RINGU 0, on the other hand, is well worth your time. I'd advocate an American remake if it weren't already so similar to movies like CARRIE and MAY. It achieves the near impossible, first by taking a character you've learned to fear and making her sympathetic and poignant; second, by twisting that around and walloping you with something you really didn't expect, which is especially hard given that it's a prequel and you ostensibly know how things turn out. It's both moving and scary, with characters the viewer can genuinely care about. LYT sez check it out.
Posted by LYT at February 9, 2005 1:16 AM [Message Board]
Comments
They used plot elements from ring 2 (japanese version) in the U.S. version so they can't reuse them in the U.S. sequal
Posted by: Selana at February 9, 2005 9:16 AM
what about rasen/spiral, the original ring sequel, based off the second book? everything i've read says that i'ts a good adaptation of the second book, but since neither ringu nor the ring were particularly accurate to their book, it makes a shoddy sequel to the first movie.
sort of like how jurassic park 2 book vs movie is COMPLETELY different because they're sequels to two different versions of the story.
anyways, ring 0 sounded dumb, but i should give it a rent sometime along with ringu.
Posted by: sean (connery) at February 9, 2005 10:04 PM
i literally just watched the ring on saturday for the first time, so samara is still lurking in the shadowy corners of my house.
Posted by: sean (connery) at February 9, 2005 10:05 PM
seriously the ring has an eerie movie throughout and keeps u on the edge of u r seat anticipating "whats next?" its really intresting and i have to admit the first night after i watched it took really long toi get over man the spooks linger on.................cant wait for part 2 and the mystery to get solved..............................................
Posted by: elisabeth at February 19, 2005 3:19 AM