Movie: The Ring

[Wabbit]

Watched the ring awhile back ( American version ) and really liked it a lot. Don't think that it's actually scary but it is creepy with wonderful use of images!

I was really curious and so managed to get to watch the Japanese version of The Ring ( Ringu ). My expectation was that it would be a lot better because of being the origonal and being Japanese... but it was not! The American one was far better, for me.

The American one was much better paced and plotted. The Japanese one was far slower. The sense of tension was much better with the American version. Instead of flashing a date on the screen they have the days counting down and that was much better. A small thing but it makes a difference.

The actual tape images was far better in the American one. Lots of surreal and nightmareish images. The girl looked far better. She

Spoiler

far more like a coprse

than in the Japanse version.

The images was much better in the American version. Like for instance the tree with red leaves that looked as if it was on fire as the sun set though it. Also thought that the American version has greater emotional impact. The Japanse version seemed colder, to me.

I was just really surprised. I expected the origonal to be far better and did not find it so. Found the American version to be better on just about every level.

Anybody else seen both and what do you think???

 

[Litany]

I've only seen the Japanese one and I thought it was pretty poor. Not in the slightest bit scary, mostly dull and certainly not worth watching. I've got the American version on my selection list with my DVD club, but it's pretty far down. Just want to see it to see if it's better, it couldn't be much worse. My bf has the book but he's only read a little.

 

[Wabbit]

Yeah, I noticed that the movie was based on a book and was wondering about that. So he didn't think much of the book?

You should see the American one, as I said, thought it was so much better. Just as a work of film making, I thought it was really good.

 

[Litany]

So he didn't think much of the book?

He hasn't really read enough to form an opinion. He bought it because BOL kept hassling him to buy something and it was cheap, but it's in hardback and he doesn't much like taking hardbacks to work to read on the train.

 

[Martin]

Never seen the Japanese version, but I did catch the American one. I liked it, but it was nothing spectacular.

Cheers

 

[liv]

I saw the American one. It actually kind of scared me, but considering the fact that I scare pretty easily and that I watched it Halloween night at around 2 A.M., that makes sense. I enjoyed it.

 

[headpodd]

I preferred the Japanese one. It was more rooted in mythology and although slower I liked this as it built up the tension more. I watched it at night on my own and that one scene (you know which one I'm talking about) scared the beejesus out of me.


If anyone has read the book I would be interested in knowing their opinion.

 

[Wabbit]

lol Glad somebody else has seen them both!!

I think the only part that I liked better in the Japanese version is the part where

Spoiler

she crawls out of the TV set. I liked the way she crawled out in a slow disjointed way as if she was crawling from the grave. The American version just has her walk out. But she looked a like she was actually undead rather than ( Jap version ) just pale!

Other than that, I just thought the American one was better in every way. Which... must be a first

 

[tartan_skirt]

I've watched the first American one and the first and second Japanese ones, none of them were scary for me, they all made me laugh. I loved the Japanese ones, maybe its just because I love Japanese movies though... lol

 

[Wabbit]

So you saw them both and you liked the Japanese version better? What did you like better about it?

No, I didn't think it was scary either but it was creepy

 

[tartan_skirt]

So you saw them both and you liked the Japanese version better? What did you like better about it?

No, I didn't think it was scary either but it was creepy

I don't know, the special effects may have made the American one look better but I have an interest in just about anything Japanese...


I hear the Second American one is in production... I don't know how they're going to change a couple of things because of the different storylines...

 

[Darren]

I've seen the American version and thought it was OK. I tend to get quite jumpy watching these types of films as I get totally absorbed in them.

There's a sequel due out next year.