Ring Trilogy, The
It was back in 1998 that little known (at least in the UK) Japanese director Hideo Nakata made Ringu (Ring). Based on a story by Koji Suzuki Ring tells the story of Reiko Asakawa, a newspaper reporter who is investigating a rumour of a 'cursed' video that, when watched, will result in the viewers’ death in seven days....
Ring Trilogy and Sleeping Bride has been released as a 4 disk box set by Tartan in the UK.
Movies
Ring (Ringu)
It was back in 1998 that little known (at least in the UK) Japanese director Hideo Nakata made Ringu (Ring). Based on a story by Koji Suzuki, Ring tells the story of Reiko Asakawa, a newspaper reporter who is investigating a rumour of a 'cursed' video that, when watched, will result in the viewers’ death in seven days.
Reiko investigates the case further when her niece and three of her friends were killed recently, all at the same time, after allegedly watching the video. Spurred on by this knowledge she finds the videotape and watches it herself, which results in her being cursed (silly woman). So, along with the help of her ex-husband, she then tries to unravel the mysteries of the video to see if they can break the curse before they become the next victims.
Ring 2 (Ringu 2)
In the same year that Ring was put on general release there was a sequel called Rasen. The sequel did not involve Nakata and it had a totally different cast and did not do that well at the box office. Nakata then decided to do the sequel as he saw it and so Ring 2 was released the year after initial movie graced the screens.
This film is set about one week after the events of Ring, Sadako’s body has been discovered in the well, Yoichi (The little boy) and his mother Reiko are missing and Takano Mai (Girlfriend of Ryuji) conducts her own investigation into the lethal video tape.
Along the way she meets various people including some of Reiko’s colleagues at the newspaper, and Masami who was the friend of the first victim that was killed at the beginning of the first film. Mai’s investigation leads to Reiko and Yoichi and ends up with her back to the island and delving deeper into the pitiful world of Sadako.
Ring 0 (Ringu 0)
I was really looking forward to seeing this film, finally I get to see Sadako, the sadistic she devil who comes out of the TV and curses everyone who watches a grainy video.
The last film in the Ring series is in fact a prequel going way back in time and looks at Sadako and her tormented mind. Sadako is a vulnerable, shy, almost friendless aspiring access, who is involved in the production of a play. None of the cast like Sadako and think that she is a freak and creepy, all accept Tôyama (the sound man) who likes Sadako and protects her on more than one occasion.
Then some strange deaths occur within the theatre, Sadako is blamed and the surviving members of the troupe and a reporter who has been investigating the story of Sadako’s mother take their revenge.
Sleeping Bride
Disk would not work in my player.
Review (Ring)
It was not until after watching the Hollywood movie (The Ring) that I had discovered that it was a remake of this Japanese film. After looking into it further I was told, that the Japanese version was much better and really scary. On pressing further the people that had enlightened me with this news had not actually seen it themselves but had gained the knowledge through someone who had, or a friend or a friend. The way that this news of how great or bad a film is filters down through the public lends a lot to the “urban Legend” status that a number of films have received (after all how many people can remember how brilliant Blair Witch Project was supposed to be, until they saw it).
The opening scenes ooze with suspense with 2 school friends in a house talking, there are no adults around, they are talking about the cursed video. This opening sets the scene and we find out a little more about what is supposed to happen when the video is watched. It is within this opening that one of the kids is killed by something unseen, the tension and suspense that had been built up was released, but whilst I am a great fan of the “suggestive death” without blood and gore I was disappointed with the ending to the opening sequence, and that was pretty much the story throughout the film.
To be brutally frank the film is not that scary (accept maybe to small children), although there is the suspense of what may happen in abundance, then again perhaps I am immune as I the last time I was actually scared when watching a movie was Evil Dead when I was 16, however after watching that same film recently its actually quite funny. I think as adults (and this is an adult film) we don’t get scared at films, we may jump at certain points and get a little anxious when the incidental music starts, but to actually say your scared when watching a film, almost sounds as bad as thinking there are monsters under your bed, at 38 years old.
But is the film a bad movie? No, it is not a bad movie. I did find it entertaining, and there was a good amount of suspense within the film. On top of this the actual story is a good one and stands up well in the “horror” genre. After all Ring is one of the most successful Japanese horror/thrillers ever, Ring has a sequel, a prequel and a Hollywood remake, and has achieved a cult status amongst fans of the genre, And until recently this film was only available through imports and bootlegs, which have only served to raise the tension when watching the film, as the film depicted a story surrounding a video recording of unknown origin.
Ring is a low budget movie, especially when compared with it’s newer Hollywood counterpart ($1.2 Million budget compared to $45 Million) but it still holds a lot of the tension, of it’s big budget relation and by clever use of camera angles and framing Nakata has created a film that can stand up and be counted amongst the big boys.
Overall I found the movie enjoyable, I would recommend it heartily to fans of the genre, however if I were to recommend this or the remake, I think the remake would pip it to the post, everything about the remake is just a little more polished.
Review Ring 2
When sitting down to view the film it was pretty logical to assume that Ring 2 would be quite similar to Ring, but although a lot of the cast are reunited for this sequel the movie is subtly different to the first.
Whereas the first film was a true “horror” film, and the 2 main protagonists are fearing for their lives after watching the video Ring 2 takes a different approach in that Mai has not seen the video when she takes up the investigation. And a lot of the film is spent trying to find a scientific explanation to the goings on, also Mai does seem to have acquired some form of ESP which was not evident or even hinted at in the first film.
Even though these subtle differences make for only a slightly different film I would have to say that overall I actually preferred the second film to the first, I think some of it was more down to understanding it more as well as the cast gave a much better performance this time around, But also I found it more dark and sinister in places, there is a particularly good scene towards the end of the film (but I wont say any more in fear of spoiling it for you).
That said, there is a major plot point at the end which takes place in a swimming pool and to it is very disappointing is an understatement, and this piece although integral to the ending that Nakata filmed, it spoils the film.
Overall a better film than the first one, let down slightly by a below par ending
Review Ring 0
Out of the three films, I enjoyed this one the most. Most of the film is set between the dark confines of a theatre with narrow passageways and nooks and crannys which really lend to the suspense factor. The performances of the actors is much improved over the original film and I found myself really getting into it.
The girl that played Sadako needs to come in for particular praise as I think she emulated a haunted soul, who is overrun by her demons very well, and you can’t help but feel sorry for her at come the end of the film.
If I were to have any criticism it would be at the end, not the ending itself mind you, (I can’t really explain further without giving a major plot point away), but suffice to say there is some “unbelievable” moments toward to end. Also there is nothing to suggest why the curse manifests itself through a video tape.
Sleeping Bride
Disk would not work in my player
Picture & Sound (Ring)
The picture on the disk is not the best you will see, the colour palette never seems particularly strong although the blacks seem good, the film is slightly grainy, even blurred on certain occasions. Also on occasion the acting was a bit insipid and this had the affect of losing some of the impact of the film.
Sound wise we have 3 soundtracks, Dolby 2.0, Dolby 5.1 Surround and a 5.1 DTS. And we also have English subtitles (which I had on) I listened to the DTS soundtrack as was not greatly impressed, there is a some use of the left/right/rears but nothing outstanding. In fact one noticeable absence on this movie is the music, there are periods of silence, and not much in the way of `music` in the scenes, I am not sure if this is something common to Japanese made movies but I found it noticeable and unusual. That said, there is some incidental music, and that does add to the atmosphere and suspense of those scenes.
Picture & Sound (Ring 2)
Very similar outcomes to the ring in terms of picture and sounds, I would say that the picture was a fair bit better though with not much (if anything) in the way of blurry scenes.
Picture & Sound (Ring 0)
Again very similar to the first film.
Picture & Sound (Sleeping Bride)
Disk would not work in my player.
Extras (Ring)
I don’t really class trailers as extras, especially when it is the trailer for the film that is on the disk that you have/are about to watch.
A Japanese Trailer
Extras (Ring 2)
Again, totally disappointing, with just a trailer.
Extras (Ring 0)
Behind the scenes and deleted scenes; whilst better than the other two extra they are ok average quality.
extras (Sleeping Bride)
Disk would not work in my player.
Overall (Entire Box set)
I think the US remakes pip it to the post, but this is a decent boxset which will please fans of the films, a bit light on extras and the transfer is a bit dubious, but overall, above average.
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