Meh…

Last night watched Ringu the j-horror film that was remade as The Ring over here. I have to say I was underwhelmed. I tried hard to replicate the movie house experience: lights out in the aprtment, sound turned up, but even so I suspect that it takes the additional knowledge that you are stuck in the room with no where to go for the underplayed creepiness to really get a grip on you. The undercurrent also seems to be about the toxicity of shame and some sort of guilt about about breaking down traditional family life. Anyway, back to netflix it goes.

TV reduction: 26 days and counting.

My hunger for distraction now drives me to LJ -so all of you need to post a whole lot more dammit!! It’s too easy fro me to get through everyone’s posts with time to spare.

Of course I could kick my own ass and comment once in a while.

0 Comments +

  1. I saw Ringhu when I was living in London in the late 90’s. I thought it was creepy and the sense of dislocation I felt at the time certainly contributed but I wasn’t left with the ongoing sense of dread I’ve gotten from films like Repulsion.

  2. I saw Ringhu when I was living in London in the late 90’s. I thought it was creepy and the sense of dislocation I felt at the time certainly contributed but I wasn’t left with the ongoing sense of dread I’ve gotten from films like Repulsion.

  3. Was mildly curious to see that after watching the U.S. remake, which I hadn’t had any real desire to see. The Ring couldn’t have possibly lived up to the hype I heard anyway about how scary it was; oh well. Although I will say one particular scene did creep the hell out of me; so maybe it was worth watching for that alone.

  4. Was mildly curious to see that after watching the U.S. remake, which I hadn’t had any real desire to see. The Ring couldn’t have possibly lived up to the hype I heard anyway about how scary it was; oh well. Although I will say one particular scene did creep the hell out of me; so maybe it was worth watching for that alone.

  5. I’m with you on this one; Jeff and I both liked The Ring (me a bit less so) but were underwhelmed by Ringu. I hear The Grudge (our version) is pretty good, though. Either way, I’m glad to see the J-invasion is coming along nicely. Even if we’re reduced to simply remaking other cultures’ films, Hollywood is in dire need of a style infusion.

  6. I’m with you on this one; Jeff and I both liked The Ring (me a bit less so) but were underwhelmed by Ringu. I hear The Grudge (our version) is pretty good, though. Either way, I’m glad to see the J-invasion is coming along nicely. Even if we’re reduced to simply remaking other cultures’ films, Hollywood is in dire need of a style infusion.

  7. Dear Nayland – go to Barnes and Noble – pick up a copy of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon . Pour yourself a giant sized glass of red wine – start a fire in the fireplace and be lost. 🙂 you’ll forget the television was ever there.

  8. Dear Nayland – go to Barnes and Noble – pick up a copy of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon . Pour yourself a giant sized glass of red wine – start a fire in the fireplace and be lost. 🙂 you’ll forget the television was ever there.

  9. i saw the Ringu while i was in Italy. They dubbed the Japanese into Italian and it made it *far* more interesting. i was pretty underwhelmed by the horror of it.

  10. i saw the Ringu while i was in Italy. They dubbed the Japanese into Italian and it made it *far* more interesting. i was pretty underwhelmed by the horror of it.

  11. Compare and contrast with the American Ring. I was pretty surprised when I looked up what it cost to make at imdb after seeing it, it’s a very expensive synthetic film made to look natural and grubby. And as lengthy as it was, there were all these unused scenes on the DVD, as if it was one of those movies they were creating and writing for as they made it, rather than one that’s storyboarded as tightly as Hitchcock/Kubrick/Lucas films. I still liked it, though.

  12. Compare and contrast with the American Ring. I was pretty surprised when I looked up what it cost to make at imdb after seeing it, it’s a very expensive synthetic film made to look natural and grubby. And as lengthy as it was, there were all these unused scenes on the DVD, as if it was one of those movies they were creating and writing for as they made it, rather than one that’s storyboarded as tightly as Hitchcock/Kubrick/Lucas films. I still liked it, though.

  13. I feel you on the reaction to Ringu. I watch a lot of Japanese cinema, in particular horror, and Ringu was the rare original that I saw after the American remake. I thought The Ring was effectively creepy and that feeling lingered with me for days afterwards. I’m used to Japanese horror, and Japanese cinema in general, not explaining everything away and leaving questions unanswered so I thought it was odd that the characters in Ringu went to great lengths to explain what was going on. It was almost as if they were thinking out loud. The Ring created a greater sense of mystery and dread. I thought Ringu was extremely flat and boring. Oh…and check out Ju-On before you see The Grudge

  14. I feel you on the reaction to Ringu. I watch a lot of Japanese cinema, in particular horror, and Ringu was the rare original that I saw after the American remake. I thought The Ring was effectively creepy and that feeling lingered with me for days afterwards. I’m used to Japanese horror, and Japanese cinema in general, not explaining everything away and leaving questions unanswered so I thought it was odd that the characters in Ringu went to great lengths to explain what was going on. It was almost as if they were thinking out loud. The Ring created a greater sense of mystery and dread. I thought Ringu was extremely flat and boring. Oh…and check out Ju-On before you see The Grudge

  15. the interesting thing

    is to compare the differences between all the Rings:

    The book: two male protagonists, the crazy professor and the reporter trying to protect his family. The professor isn’t psychic, but did profess to be a serial rapist in college. Sadako’s history is twisted and bizarre, focus on her as vengeful spirit manipulating events.

    Ringu: professor is psychic, much more sympathetic, and the reporter is a woman, desperate to save her child. Professor has visions that advance the plot.

    The Ring: the female reporter is much more active, and her kid more of a spooky 6th Sense type. The “professor” is now an ex-boyfriend, and a bad father, none-to-bright. Themes of childhood abuse abound, as Sadako is some sort of changeling baby kept in the barn by her adoptive family. The focus is on the heroine, not the ghost.

    I’m very intrigued by what they’re going to do with the sequel. The Japanese sequel to the book introduced new characters and evolved the threat from ghost to infection/contagion. The male reporter didn’t make it. But the American Ring 2 is using Naomi Watts again.

  16. the interesting thing

    is to compare the differences between all the Rings:

    The book: two male protagonists, the crazy professor and the reporter trying to protect his family. The professor isn’t psychic, but did profess to be a serial rapist in college. Sadako’s history is twisted and bizarre, focus on her as vengeful spirit manipulating events.

    Ringu: professor is psychic, much more sympathetic, and the reporter is a woman, desperate to save her child. Professor has visions that advance the plot.

    The Ring: the female reporter is much more active, and her kid more of a spooky 6th Sense type. The “professor” is now an ex-boyfriend, and a bad father, none-to-bright. Themes of childhood abuse abound, as Sadako is some sort of changeling baby kept in the barn by her adoptive family. The focus is on the heroine, not the ghost.

    I’m very intrigued by what they’re going to do with the sequel. The Japanese sequel to the book introduced new characters and evolved the threat from ghost to infection/contagion. The male reporter didn’t make it. But the American Ring 2 is using Naomi Watts again.

  17. I’ll kick your ass

    just come over sometime, I’d be GLAD to kick your ass.

    I mean… you never write you never call you never say hello, it’s like you don’t even live in the same boro anymore!

  18. I’ll kick your ass

    just come over sometime, I’d be GLAD to kick your ass.

    I mean… you never write you never call you never say hello, it’s like you don’t even live in the same boro anymore!

  19. Hmmm like watching a Fulci film in Osaka! BTW -you guys still need a designer? and excellent one is who is also looking for an excuse to get back to the Bay Area….

  20. I watched RINGU after seeing the US adaptation, and was very underwhelmed. The US version is more engaging and more emotional. The ending could ALMOST choke you up, if you can identify with a certain character.

    I recommend that you watch the US version, in any case, and please let us know what you think!

  21. I watched RINGU after seeing the US adaptation, and was very underwhelmed. The US version is more engaging and more emotional. The ending could ALMOST choke you up, if you can identify with a certain character.

    I recommend that you watch the US version, in any case, and please let us know what you think!

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