Do you see what i did there? i made a subtle (but let's face it hilarious!!!!) reference to the fact that this is an american remake of a cult japanese horror story itself based on a cult book, entitled ringu (no not pingu!!) that tells the story of a mysterious videotape that once viewed gives the viewer seven days before they are killed mysteriously their faces contorted in fear their eyes wide open. This is the stuff of urban myth a'la candyman that basically finds journalist, rachel keller (naomi watts-mulholland drive, nicole kidmans best buddy) trying to unravel the secrets of the videotape after her niece is found dead days earlier. At the request of her sister (in law i'm not sure) she investigates the tragedy, first discovering that her niece had been on a dirty weekend away with her secret boyfriend and other friends a week earlier and that they had watched a videotape that, legend has it, kills the viewer. A real video nasty (sorry)
So rachel sets of to the cabin where her niece spent the night and (a little conveniently) finds the same videotape and, you guessed it, decides to watch it. As soon as the tape ends the phone rings
and rachel answers, a childs voice whispers 'seven days' and rachel freaks out. So Rachel has seven days to unravel the mystery of the tape before she dies, however she has help in the form of the father of her son Noah, who decides to watch the tape aswell. Rachels deadline is made the more 'deadlier' because her young son aidan has also watched the tape.
Now Rachels son aidan is from the school of sixth sense, stir of echoes and the others. All psychic and spooky looking, an important if unwelcome addition to the story in my opinion, although he is essential to heighten rachels sense of urgency he really doesn't add much except look spooky and unveil the films startling (and totally awesome) revelation.
But more of that later, after the set up rachel embarks on the standard detective style investigation' This portion of the film lags a little, merely following the formula of dozens of chillers before it, yes the atmosphere is cranked up and the style is suitably dark, but some parts are wholly unnecessary including the horse bit. The aforementioned horse sequence entertained me (although horse lovers beware, it may be upsetting but hey every other animal bites the bullet in these kind of films it's time for horses to take one for the team) but felt like it was there merely to pad out the rest of the film and director gore verbinski (mouse hunt) needs to stop watching seven.
Once rachel has (kind of) unravelled the mystery, which includes visiting Brian Cox (the original hannibal lecter) in excellent if totally pointless form, she sets to straighten things out settling things once and for all, uncovering what the ring is (very well done aswell) and putting things right. At this point i squirmed in my seat at hollywoods blatant assault on a classic and cursed their stupid suits for insulting me.
Minutes later i was eating my hat!
I'm not going to give it away but for fans of the original (hands up at the back).
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
You know that bit in the original, the really spooky bit, the bit that made you stop sitting so close to your tv and put terror in your heart at the merest glimpse of 'snowscreen'?
well they did it.
But it's not as good
But it's really good anyway
The final unveiling of the evil that inhabits this tale is the best moment of the year until neos' car chase in the new matrix movies or frodos shit fit at the end of lord of the rings. This time i was sat chilled to the bone as 'she' came to kick ass
SPOILER ENDS SPOILER ENDS SPOILER ENDS
So a fine ending to a film that had lost it's way in my opinion.
The performances in this film do suffer because of the need for the main character to be central to most scenes. Naomi watts is good as the career woman forced to fight for her sons life and does draw enough sympathy from the audience without blubbery scenes, also she doesn't make you hate her by doing really stupid things, apart from watching the tape initially and then leaving it lying around so her son can watch it maybe thinking it's the simpsons or something. But these are minor quibbles on points essential to the story. The score is suitably sppoky and the sound effects on the videotape, shot in the style of a bizarre student film filled with images of dead animals, spooky women and a glimpse of scary child, are excellent.
The explanation that the film tries to feed us is okay, a little too spelled out really but it does leave gaps and allows certain points to be debated on, which they no doubt will. I can guarantee though that people will see this film expecting to be scared out of their minds and will come back saying they hated it,as they did with the blair witch. This could partly be fault of the lull in the film that takes place in the middle, some people may have switched off by the end and miss an absolute doozy.
So i have got most of the way through my opinion without comparing this to the vastly superior original, DOH!. Truth be told it's a different beast, of course it can't come close but as a hollywood remake it's not too bad, maybe i'll do an opinion of the original soon and give it five stars, till the this will get three, mostly for the ending.
p.s next time i see a well i'm running in the opposite direction, jeeeesh!!!!
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Yes, I loved your op - it was/is a great story and sort of addictive in that you think you know what is going to happen... and even the end is open-ended!
QueenAngella 13.03.2003 17:24
Saw a pirate copy of this, and it was excellent. Admittedly the best bit was the hilarious made up subtitles. They helped me not get so scared! There were some annoying bits and the acting was dearly lacking, but one of the best premises I've seen. I'd better watch Ringu hadn't I?
karizma 01.03.2003 23:02
I love the the way you write your opinions, all very witty and interesting, makes it more exciting to read, i will watch this when it comes out on video! thx! ......karizma.
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Feb 23rd, 2003
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