Customer Reviews

Ringu

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(53)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I loved The Ring, and I had been looking forward to seeing the original Japanese adaptation of the film, based on the novel by Koji Suzuki, for some time. I was especially pleased to see the Japanese film released with English subtitles rather than voice dubbing, since this helps preserve the original atmosphere of the film. Both Ringu and The Ring are superb, dark, creepy films, very similar yet very different from one another. Inevitably, whichever film you watch first will probably be your favorite of the two. Ringu starts out very much like its American counterpart, with two young girls alone in a house discussing the rumors going around about a video that somehow kills you seven days after you watch it. The aunt of the first victim is a reporter who begins to investigate the story of the tape, soliciting the help of her somewhat inscrutable ex-husband, and soon finding herself in an incredible fight to save the lives of herself, her ex, and her creepy little boy. At this point, Ringu begins to distinguish itself from The Ring, although both follow the same general plot through to the end.

Perhaps the biggest difference between Ringu and The Ring is the contents of the mysterious videotape. In Ringu, the cursed tape is much shorter and far less symbolic, although its grainy appearance and comparative simplicity add a greater dash of realism to it. The tape presented in The Ring is much more frightening and visceral; subtlety rules the day in the Japanese film. Another significant difference concerns the character of the reporter's ex-husband; in Ringu, he (as well as his son, to some degree) possesses a gift that distinguishes him from his American counterpart. This aids the plot along, but it deprives the viewer of some of the mystery and insight gained from watching the mystery unfold in The Ring. Ringu's storyline is much more compact and straightforward, providing us with much less insight into the forces at play in explaining the existence of the cursed video. There is one jolting plot twist in the later stages of The Ring that is not found in Ringu, and I think this takes a little something away from the concluding drama, but Ringu definitely delivers a much more frightening, completely unforgettable climax. The big scene with the little girl climbing out of the well is pretty darned creepy in The Ring, but Ringu's presentation of this seminal event is many times more impressive and frightening; I only wish I could have seen the scene from Ringu before I saw The Ring. It is spooky enough as it is, but I can only dream about the impact the scene might have on those with no previous knowledge of what is about to happen. What The Ring accomplishes pretty impressively with a type of trick photography is expressed naturally in Ringu, making it much more eerie and unsettling.

If you did see and enjoy The Ring, I would definitely recommend getting a copy of Ringu. The knowledge you already have will diminish the impact Ringu has on you, but there are enough differences between the two films to guarantee you a thoroughly enjoyable return trip into this most special world of fear. If you are debating which version to see first, I would recommend starting out with Ringu, if for no other reason than for the power of the much creepier ending. I prefer The Ring's more elaborate and symbolic presentation, more in-depth background into the story of the tape, and added plot twists to the less elaborate presentation of Ringu, but the fact that the American film adds new elements to the plot makes The Ring more engaging for those having already seen Ringu than Ringu is for those having already seen The Ring.

'Ringu' tells the tale of a video tape that, for reasons unknown, that kills you seven days after you watch it.

Reiko, a journalist, is greeted by a death in the family one day. Her teenage niece died mysteriously one day, leaving no trace as to why. She soon discovers that three other of her niece's close friends died on the same day as her. Upon further investigation, she finds that the four teenagers had something in common: they had all seen a cryptic video tape. The trail leads her to the tape itself and, out of curiosity, watches it. The urban legend is proven to be a lot more real than she ever expected and soon, Reiko is on a race against time to decipher the mysteries of the tape.

'Ringu' (viewed at home) achieves a sense of fear throughout the movie in the way it 'connects' with the viewer. How obvious can it get? Though not a tape, you're watching the DVD on a TV. This paranoia adds to the scares constantly.
With sparse use of any real 'special effects,' the film is able to ground its otherworldly story to reality, something few modern horror films are able to do.
The acting is great and the dialogue, or at least the translated script for the subtitles, never got repetitive. The actress for Reiko does a good job as the tense heroine, while the male lead actor (sorry, his name escapes me) contrasts very well with her as her often cool and relaxed ex-husband.
The music chills to the bone, particularly the main theme (plays on the DVD main menu), which is just a creepy concoction of strummed guitar strings. I sat there, letting the whole menu run its course as the ambience it gave off made my blood run ice cold. 'Ringu's great utilization of sound astounded me as well, using bursts of utter cacophony to add new layers of fright to already surprsingly horrifying scenes.
Quite simply, this movie impressed me in every way possible.

Now, on to 'Ringu'/'The Ring' comparisons...

'Ringu' operates on a single word: subtlety.
It delivers the scares without convoluting the process. Fear without frills, as I say. They scare you moreso on a mental level, forever burning in (some cases only) a dread of TV's.
Take, for example, the tape itself. In 'Ringu,' it really is just a bunch of forboding images, adding only clues to plot. Short and sweet.

In comparison, 'The Ring' goes for the throat. It does try to scare you at a mental level as well, but it is somewhat bogged down by its own attempt of quick shocks.
The tape, in this version, is much longer and thought it is adapted for plot purposes, certain parts were unnecessary and served only to provide more reasons fo disturbing imagery later on.

Most importantly, one character in particular was altered in a way I didn't like, but which take is better really just depends on personal taste.
That would be the journalist's son. In 'Ringu,' he had this creepy robotic feel, speaking only when needed and showing a frightening air of maturity.
However, in 'The Ring,' though well-acted, he is portrayed as the 'cliche' horror film child. He spouts out insightful but scary things that he should know nothing about at his age (ie the little boy in 'Signs'). This take removes the vulnerablity his counterpart had in 'Ringu,' causing you to care less whether or not he dies.

Ending my comparison, I believe 'Ringu' is the superior film, though both in and of themselves are great.

Now to end with the DVD package:
The main menu keeps in line with the film's simple way of fright, using the main theme as its backgroud music. The scene division is well-done. The 5.1 remaster of the film looks great as well. My only complaint is the disappointing lack of the 'Ringu' trailers.

I say 'Ringu' is a sure buy and I guarantee (to most people) that you will not be disappointed. Just don't come crying to me when you develop an unhealthy fear of televisions!

When a young girl dies mysteriously, presumably without cause, her aunt, a reporter, deems it necessary to investigate further. Reiko questions her niece's friends only to find that another student who attended the same school, and a couple of their friends, died on the same day, also without known cause. The link between these mysterious deaths appears to be a videotape that all watched together while spending the night away from home. Is this merely an urban legend, or is there actually some substance to the claims of these young students? Reiko ventures out to where the group stayed that fateful night when they watched this purportedly cursed video tape and finds exactly what she's looking for. A creepy, grainy videotape with bizarre images. Shortly after viewing the tape, she receives a phone call letting her know that death awaits her in exactly a week's time.

Reiko enlists the aid of her ex-husband and psychic Ryuji to help her unravel this mystery. Together they analyze the video in hopes of discerning its maker and lifting the curse. Their task becomes more imperative when their son, Yoichi, comes across the video and watches it himself. Will Reiko and Ryuji be able to find a way to lift the curse in time to save themselves and their son?

After having watched "The Ring" and been thoroughly scared by that movie, I simply had to watch the movie that "started it all," so to speak ("The Ring" and its upcoming sequel and prequel). Several people had told me that they felt this film was scarier than its American counter-part, while others felt the opposite. I don't exactly feel as though one is scarier than another. Rather, they are merely different kinds of "scary." This version is far subtler in its scare-tactics than is the American version. Rather than use extreme make-up and visual effects, this version takes advantage of a creepy score, good acting, and a great plot to make its audience squirm.

At first, the Americanized version of the film appears to be almost a shot-for-shot remake of this film. However, as the movie progresses it becomes clear that there are several note-worthy differences between the two.

Aside from the make-up and effects, one difference between the two was that "Ringu" was far less detailed than was "The Ring." In "The Ring," much of the plot gets spoon-fed to the viewers, while "Ringu" allows for one's own "filling in of the gaps." Some people may appreciate this more than others. I feel that this tactic allowed for more use of one's imagination, which can be far scarier than the alternative at times. Part of this difference in detail involves the videotape itself. In "Ringu," the tape is much shorter and seems to give less insight to the viewer. Both versions of the creepy video are equally unsettling, merely in different ways. Both create an incredible sense of elusive foreboding. Yet another difference is the role the young boy plays in both films. In "Ringu," he is merely a minor actor, while in "The Ring" the reporter's son plays a much more potent and crucial role. Either way, however, this doesn't really detract from the main plot of the film.

Both of these films are wonderfully scary and shockingly disturbing in their own way. Neither version should be over-looked by any fan of the horror/thriller genre(s). If you haven't watched either of these films yet, then I would recommend this one first, as it's subtleties might not be as easily appreciated after having been treated to the pricey, hollywood-ified effects and make-up prevalent in the American counter-part.

I'll admit it, I saw this movie before watching the American version, BUT I did see them within the same weekend, so I have a fairly decent conception of both. It helps that my friends and I spent hours discussing the two movies after watching The Ring.

Ringu and The Ring are scary for entirely different reasons. To someone like me, who rarely enjoys horror/suspense flicks, I found myself enjoying both, though I did prefer Ringu's subtle, yet terrifying, building tension to the Hollywood frights of The Ring.

As has been stated in previous reviews, Ringu relies on the fear of the unknown. What aren't they telling us? What horrible truth is lurking just out of sight, around the corner, or just seven days from now? The entire movie is a quiet, creeping kind of horror. It's lack of bright colors and soundtrack of mood music allow the viewer to focus of the events and drag the viewer deep into the story as we try to unravel the mystery on our own, along with the characters.

Be warned, there ARE some cultural perculiarities that, if one has little to no knowledge of Japanese culture, may be confusing (such as the figure in the video with the white cloth over their head). However, these are few in number and in no way detract from the story in any way. On the contrary, considering the subtle, questing air of the entire film, the unfamiliar elements only add to unsettling experiance.

If you're a diehard fan of Hollywood horrow flicks with their FX and straight-forward storylines, this may not be the movie for you, though you should find The Ring a thoroughly enjoyable movie. However, if you want to try a different perspective on the horror genre, or are already a fan of Japanese film, this is definately a must see.

A story of a terrible legacy that will haunt you for days, or, if you're like me, months...

As a side note, if you enjoy either movie, but find yourself with too many unanswered questions, buy the book the inspired them all: "Ring" by Koji Suzuki.

Premise(As displayed on Ringu Box":

"Within a week of watching a mysterious videotape, a group of teenagers are dead. The bodies are found gruesomely contorted, their eyes frozen as if they had seen something more terrifying than any physical threat. The video becomes an urban myth. Insidiously, an unseen force is pointing its deadly finger at those poor souls unable to resist their curiosity. One of those people is the cynical journalist, Reiko, who soon finds herself unwillingly drawn into a spiralling nightmare from an unseen, omnipresent threat. The most unsettling film since the Exorcist, with an unnatural presence that touches every nerve in your body, Ringu is a beast of an entirely different order. Critically acclaimed as one of the most frightening horror films in years, Ringu delivers a tense spine-chilling atmosphere, filled with an overwhelming sense of dread and a potent presence of unworldly evil. Dark, sinister and genuinely horrifying, this is a film you will never forget."- Ringu cover

My Review:

For those who have seen the ring, and really liked it, this movie is a real treat! While The Ring was a more "Real" movie(meaning that it is almost a possibilty of something that is not too far off from real life) Ringu is very "Unreal"(It goes very ESP style pshycic) it is overall scarier than the ring however not as enjoyable once you have already seen it. This movie is based on the book: Ringu by Koji Suzuki.

Both movies however are good, and entertaing, and both have the same moral to the story:

Curiosity killed the Cat.

The core difference between Koji Suzuki's book and this film is the decision to use a woman lead - Nanako Matsushima as Reiko Asakawa, a newspaper woman. Screenplay writer Hiroshi Takahashi then introduces her ex-husband, Koichi (Katsimi Muramatsu) as the other lead. The film gains considerable intensity as a result of the relationship between the two in their efforts to save themselves and their young son Yoichi (Takashi Yamamura).

The primary plot device, a video tape which contains a series of mystical sequences and clues. Watching it brings on a mysterious curse that kills in exactly seven days. Reiko and Koichi must peel back layer after layer of mystery in an effort to discover why a resort hotel always seems to have a copy of this tape on hand. And why a volcanic eruption 40 years before has triggered a string of horrible deaths.

While the film differs in many places from the book it has an immediacy and vividness that the book, with its procedural narration, seemed to lack. This happens slowly, and the initial scenes of the film after the opening death of the first high school student drag a bit. Director Hideo Nakata uses a light touch, depending on expressions and lighting to create horror rather than violence and gore. There are still plenty of jarring moments, though.

The book, however, does better with the motivations behind the tape, which the film leaves somewhat vague. Of course, the story depends on the somewhat arbitrary nature of the evil behind the tape for its uneasiness. The acting, by the way, completely overcomes the dubbing. You often will know what is going on without any reference to the text.

This is as close to an artistic Japanese horror film as I've seen. The cinematography is subtle in effect, but with powerful use of shadow in a variety of settings. Quite by accident, I'm following this story from book to Japanese film (and next the US film), and the way Hideo Nakata chose to capture the book is quite eye opening. Definitely a must see.

I've long been a fan of Asian cinema, and I'd heard about RINGU for a few years but hadn't seen it until recently. In fact, I deliberately avoided the US remake until I'd seen the original. Anyway, I ordered the original trilogy (RING, RING 2 and RING 0) and watched them all over the course of a few nights.

While not exactly living up to the breathless hype that I've found all over the internet, RINGU nonetheless succeeds greatly in its ability to draw you in and keep you feeling awfully uncomfortable as you wait for unpleasant things to befall the cast. The antagonist (protagonist?) Sadako is one of the most memorable and terrifying characters that I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. I've always been a fan of the "ambiguous" storyline, and the fact that there's a lot to RINGU that isn't easily explained was very refreshing. Too many Hollywood movies hold your hand and explain every little thing, which only insults my intelligence. I'm glad that there's a sense of mystery mixed in with the dread, which RINGU delivers in spades. Highly recommended.

The first sequel, RING 2, picks up where the first one left off. We see some familiar characters, and there's an emphasis on the scientific study and explanation of Sadako's supernatural power. Not quite as creepy as the first film, but it does have its unsettling moments; one in particular that involves the appearance of Sadako's mother Shizuko. A fine continuation of the story, but not exactly essential.

Which brings us to RING 0, which is actually a prequel to the first film. It has a slightly different style to it (different director) and the focus is on character development and interaction. It's more or less Sadako's story (complete with one of the most gut wrenching tragic endings I've ever seen) and it sheds light on who (and what) she was while painting her in a very sympathetic light. The actress who plays Sadako was riveting and draws you into her world from the moment you see her. It's a very emotional film, and by the time the end credits came up I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. No overt gore, no sex, no nudity, just an attention to subtleties that works magnificently. The first time we see the Sadako that we know from the first film was one of the creepiest sequences I've ever sat through. I literally had chills. Essential viewing.

Therefore, my recommendation is to watch RINGU, then RING 0, and then RING 2. At least that's how I'd have done it had I known better. In that order, the narrative is better and the viewer's relationship with the characters (especially Sadako) is much more enhanced. Unforgettable characters, highly imaginative story, expertly crafted filmmaking. Wish there were more like these.

Ringu is a very well made movie with an original idea. It is based on Koji Suzuki's novel (although it's plot deviates quite a bit). This, the original Japanese version, works on a completely different level than the US remake, The Ring. Ringu is more of a suspense film that succeeds in being sinister and very creepy. The Ring succeeds in being a well made Horror/mystery BUT it is important to remember that it is based on all three of the Japanese movies (Ring 0, Ring, and Ring 2) as well as the earlier Korean remake, not just on the original Ring (aka Ringu). Thus, it is not logical to compare 'The Ring' to 'Ringu', when it comes to deciding which one is better. While it is true that The Ring does consistently explain itself it must be said that for an American audience, this is often necessary because most of us are not accustomed to open-ended plot lines. In fact, many people had to see it a second time to fully understand it, including myself, despite complaints of "spoon-feeding" from some. In contrast to 'The Ring', Ringu is able to ground this fantastical story into a realistic setting. The Ring however is much more implausible, though that hardly detracts from the horror. If you are looking for an entertaining Horror/mystery that is visually stunning, not just in it's special effects, but also in it's cinematography, I recommend you watch 'The Ring' first. If you are looking for a dark, moody suspense film, and don't mind/enjoy cultural differences or reading subtitles, I recommend you watch 'Ringu' first. However it is important to remember that the movie you see first will detract from the effect of the movie you view second. Both are highly recommended. My personal preference, however, being more of a horror fan, is 'The Ring'.

I think it's difficult to write a review for this movie without comparing and contrasting it with the US remake, but I will do my best. In my opinion, neither film is perfect. Some things worked better in Ringu, and some things worked better in The Ring. But what I loved about both films is the way that both stories are different from each other, so that you can watch both and get something out of each one.

The new trend of remaking Asian horror films seems to come from this movie. I can't understand why people get so upset about it, though. For one thing, before the remake, it was impossible to get the original in America. If you think this is such a great movie, why wouldn't you want more people to see it? Also, with all the films Hideo Nakata has made, this is by no means his best work. Most people I hear complaining about the American remake have never even seen anything else he's ever done. Most importantly, with this film in particular, a remake is a very fitting choice, because it actually fits into the context of the story. I can't elaborate on that, but when you see it, you'll understand what I mean.

The story centers around Asakawa, her son Yoichi, and her ex-husband Ryuji. Asakawa is a reporter investigating rumors surrounding a mysterious video tape that local youths have been saying will kill the viewer one week after watcing it. The inquiries take on a more personal meaning for her when her niece turns up dead under unexplained circumstances. After a bit of poking around, Asakawa finds herself in the presence of the killer videotape. So what does she do? Of course she watches it! Now that may not sound like the smart thing to do in a situation like this. At least the other unsuspecting victims watched it by mistake. But you know how those snoopy reporters are. If you found a copy of a videotape that killed people, wouldn't you at least want to know what was on it?

Unfortnunately, the payoff isn't that great. The videotape is a mishmash of weird yet boring images, and if I had turned in something like that for my experimental film project in "Film Analysis: Formalist and Feminist" class, I would not have passed. Once Asakawa has gotten over her initial curiosity, she freaks out and calls Ryuji to help her find out what she can do to break that curse.

The main problem I have with this film is the character of Ryuji. He is fascinating, and the actor playing him is very talented. However, his character has had such a great arc from the novel, to the film, to the remake, that it seems that the screenwriter didn't know what to do with him. In the novel, Asakawa is a man, and Ryuji is his detestable friend. He despises humankind, and entertains Asakawa with stories about breaking into women's houses and raping them. I think making Asakawa a female, and Ryuji her ex was a brilliant move. They've got seven days to find the origin of the video tape, which is not nearly long enough to reconcile their personal differences. However, his character had to undergo a great transformation between the novel and the film. If they had him be as reprehensible as he was in the book, a strong female like Asakawa never would have had anything to do with him. However, they had to keep some of his jerkiness in tact, because they were filming the sequel at the same time, and his evil nature played a part in it. (This is "Rasen," not "Ring 2." "Rasen" is based on the second novel, but the movie turned out so crappy that Nakata had to make his own alternate sequel, "Ring 2," which was a completely new idea.)

So Ryuji appears here as somewhat of a contradiction between two selves. And for some reason, they chose to give him psychic powers. His psychic abilities were not in the novel, and I don't think they added anything to the story. His powers allow the villian, a young woman named Sadako, to appear right in front of him when he's sitting on a park bench. He remains calm, and actually speaks to her. Then later, when they want to make him be scared, he is so scared that he can't move. The character is interesting, but disjointed. In the remake, the writer seemed to consider all of this, and made Noah, the ex, a complete flake, and somewhat of a coward. His contribution was his expertise in video equipment, not a staggering intellect.

It is difficult to say too much more about this film, as there is so much more to learn that I don't want to give away too soon. But what works here is that the story makes use of modern technology intertwined with a traditional ghost story. Televisions, VCR's, telephones, these are all modern inventions not usually associated with ghosts. We don't typically put ghosts and technology together because they are otherworldly in death, and it is assumed that they came from a more primitive time in life, before these things were invented. That's why a techno update of the ghost story works, because it scares us with things we never thought of as scary before.

If you are a fan of the recent wave of Japanese horror, or the American version of The Ring, you owe it to yourself to see this film. It should be noted that the famous scene near the end that everyone remembers from The Ring was not in the novel, but was an invention of Hideo Nakata.

After weeks of watching bad films (Pitch Black and Jeepers Creepers), last night I put my foot down and told my BF and his friend we were going to watch a GOOD scary film for a change. I chose Ringu. First, the cover scared me. A closup of Sadako's eye, with the hair around it, is NOT something you want lying around the table. Then we watched the movie.

Now, slasher movies usually scare me to pieces. Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th... all scared me so much I cried. I'm usually not afraid of supernatural thrillers. I liked The Others, but I wasn't scared. The Exorcist didn't even put a dent in me. However, Ringu scared me so much, I was too scared to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! I stayed awake, waiting for the TV to come on by itself, before I couldn't take it anymore and asked my BF to go with me. I admit I'm usually a big chicken, when it comes to scary movies, but this one takes the cake! The acting was great. They didn't need to have any blood-curdling screams or over-drama to show fear. The lack of special effects was even better. I'm tired of ... scary movies of today, that rely on nothing BUT special effects and sound to scare you. Movies like The Others and especially RINGU are a rare breed of great scary movies.

I don't know whether to call them horror or thrillers, but either way, I'm still not sure whether I'm supposed to pass the RING on or not! If you have to choose between the American and the Japanese version, this American says go with the Japanese. There's more suspense in that single film, than almost all of today's American thrillers put together. I would recommend highly, unless you're a big thriller wimp like me. Then I'd say avoid it at all costs, unless you have someone to go to the bathroom with you at night! You don't need special effects or big budgets from other thrillers to get this scared. All you need is Ringu.