This movie, a joint production between Korea and Japan, can be summarized in two words - try again. The director of this movie sought a more mysterious feel to the movie. That makes sense... Ringu was sort of mysterious and it scared us all half to death. However, nothing in this movie will scare you, creep you out, or even make you flinch. Because this wasn't what the director was going for. They even failed at the mystery part, because it can be so confusing for most viewers that they won't even care to wonder what the heck is going on.
However, I insist you watch this movie to know exactly what I'm talking about. I bought this movie at a Blockbuster, hooked by the tag line on the cover... "The scariest Ring of all!". I really wanted to enjoy this movie. Indeed, I spent more time trying to enjoy the film rather than enjoying the scarce bits in the film that will entertain few. The characters seem completely unmotivated, doing things or saying things that we would otherwise have no idea why they would do or say such things. There is also no darkness... we do not fear for Eun Suh (Sadako/Samara), rather, we wonder about her. This movie is bright and colorful. It may make the film seem more realistic, but it doesn't. It was a ridiculous move. This movie will not scare you, I guarantee. The characters are bland and it sounds cruel, but you probably want the Ryuji Takayama of this movie to die, because he is just so annoying! Also, if you're wondering, the TV scene sucks. Really, no suspense at all. No cringing, no heart racing tension, nothing.
We all know what the story is about, anyway. But, if you don't (and shame on you!), it's about journalist Sun-Ju, who is suspicious of her niece's death. After she realizes that three of her friends died the exact same time as her, she is quickly hooked onto the idea of an urban legend. Choe Yol, Sun-Ju's drunken friend, performs an autopsy on their bodies and deducts that their deaths were supernatural. No kidding. Sun-Ju discovers the video tape that she believes killed her niece and decides she will solve the mystery with Choe Yol.
*1/2 - *****
!!!SPOILERS!!! BELOW IS SPOILERS. EVERYTHING YOU HAVE READ UP UNTIL NOW SHOULD BE SATISFACTORY ENOUGH. HOWEVER, BELOW SHOWS MORE OF MY CONCERNS
Which movie is more dedicated to Koji Suzuki's novel - Ring or The Ring Virus? Well, Ring was made first, and shares some similarity to the novel. The Ring Virus is obviously a remake of Ring, copying the idea of the TV scene, as well as some other events and miscellaneous stuff in the movie.
Some examples of The Ring Virus ripping off Ring is when Eun-Suh climbs out of the well, through the television, and then murders Choe Yol, as well as when Choe smashes through the floorboards of the hotel to find the well. Both of these events did not happen in the novel. Aside from that, you will notice other events that are eerily similar to the original film. Coincidence? Yeah right.
Even though this film rips off the original, it does add some new stuff from the novel never seen in a Ring movie. An example is how they changed Eun-Suh's death from the film. Instead of being brutally attacked by her father, she is raped by the Nagao Jotaro of the book, but then throws her down the well after discovering that she has both male and female reproductive organs - something never made clear in the film. Something else burrowed from the novel is how Sun-Ju's senior reporter and close friend is included in the investigation. This was in the novel as well. While this movie may be something you've already seen, by ripping off the original film, it also contains things from the novel, and that should be the only reason to want to watch this film.
However, I insist you watch this movie to know exactly what I'm talking about. I bought this movie at a Blockbuster, hooked by the tag line on the cover... "The scariest Ring of all!". I really wanted to enjoy this movie. Indeed, I spent more time trying to enjoy the film rather than enjoying the scarce bits in the film that will entertain few. The characters seem completely unmotivated, doing things or saying things that we would otherwise have no idea why they would do or say such things. There is also no darkness... we do not fear for Eun Suh (Sadako/Samara), rather, we wonder about her. This movie is bright and colorful. It may make the film seem more realistic, but it doesn't. It was a ridiculous move. This movie will not scare you, I guarantee. The characters are bland and it sounds cruel, but you probably want the Ryuji Takayama of this movie to die, because he is just so annoying! Also, if you're wondering, the TV scene sucks. Really, no suspense at all. No cringing, no heart racing tension, nothing.
We all know what the story is about, anyway. But, if you don't (and shame on you!), it's about journalist Sun-Ju, who is suspicious of her niece's death. After she realizes that three of her friends died the exact same time as her, she is quickly hooked onto the idea of an urban legend. Choe Yol, Sun-Ju's drunken friend, performs an autopsy on their bodies and deducts that their deaths were supernatural. No kidding. Sun-Ju discovers the video tape that she believes killed her niece and decides she will solve the mystery with Choe Yol.
*1/2 - *****
!!!SPOILERS!!! BELOW IS SPOILERS. EVERYTHING YOU HAVE READ UP UNTIL NOW SHOULD BE SATISFACTORY ENOUGH. HOWEVER, BELOW SHOWS MORE OF MY CONCERNS
Which movie is more dedicated to Koji Suzuki's novel - Ring or The Ring Virus? Well, Ring was made first, and shares some similarity to the novel. The Ring Virus is obviously a remake of Ring, copying the idea of the TV scene, as well as some other events and miscellaneous stuff in the movie.
Some examples of The Ring Virus ripping off Ring is when Eun-Suh climbs out of the well, through the television, and then murders Choe Yol, as well as when Choe smashes through the floorboards of the hotel to find the well. Both of these events did not happen in the novel. Aside from that, you will notice other events that are eerily similar to the original film. Coincidence? Yeah right.
Even though this film rips off the original, it does add some new stuff from the novel never seen in a Ring movie. An example is how they changed Eun-Suh's death from the film. Instead of being brutally attacked by her father, she is raped by the Nagao Jotaro of the book, but then throws her down the well after discovering that she has both male and female reproductive organs - something never made clear in the film. Something else burrowed from the novel is how Sun-Ju's senior reporter and close friend is included in the investigation. This was in the novel as well. While this movie may be something you've already seen, by ripping off the original film, it also contains things from the novel, and that should be the only reason to want to watch this film.