The Eye 2
I have to admit that before I saw this sequel I had been awaiting it with great anticipation, as the first film scared the bejesus out of me. However, as with so much of the Asian horror films coming out at present, this one fell down with many of the same problems as those films that have come before it. On the ‘Making of…” included on this DVD, one of the Pang brothers indicates how....
I have to admit that before I saw this sequel I had been awaiting it with great anticipation, as the first film scared the bejesus out of me. However, as with so much of the Asian horror films coming out at present, this one fell down with many of the same problems as those films that have come before it. On the ‘Making of…” included on this DVD, one of the Pang brothers indicates how expectations were so high after the first EYE film that he “knew very clearly what the audience wanted”. His brother chips in and says that they didn’t want to just do a remake of the first film either, that they wanted to make a drama that was mixed with horror elements. And most importantly for anyone wanting to see this sequel, the only thing carried over from the first film is the fact that ghosts are also central to this film. Gone are the spine tingling, Hitchcockian, play with what the main character can see and what the audience already know, and gone is most of the suspense and atmosphere, gone is also the originality and mystery of the ‘ghosts’. In, is a preposterous story, immediate shocks, as well as too many sightings of the ghosts, and also in is a quite ridiculous happy ending. Infact it is more BANGKOK DANGEROUS than THE EYE
Like most reviews I don’t want to give too much of the plot details away but THE EYE 2 centers around a young woman, highly attractive, who is having boyfriend trouble and decides to commit suicide. After this fails, she start seeing the ghosts (and like with most Asian horror films) she ultimately has to find out who is following her around and for what reason. With some very basic Buddhist philosophy thrown into the story to legitimise it, she goes on a search ‘that will change her life forever’. The story is split up with inter-titles that make us aware how long certain things are happening after the initial suicide bid, so we don’t get lost and think everything is happening too fast
However, the film is not also total tosh. It has some strong stylistic elements and similarities in the way that it delivers the same kind of shocks as the first film. The same kind of ‘in-focus foreground’ and ‘out of focus background’ (where ghosts slide by in the camera) that was successful in limiting what the audience saw in the first film is back again, however to limited effect, as we have already been shown all the information we need. There are also some pretty scary moments that occur right in the middle of some of the more successful tense sequences. Look out for the suicidal jumpers, they are 100% touch cloth moments. Another plus, is that even though I thought the story was flawed, it does intend to play around with audience expectations. The aforementioned mix of drama and horror is by no means original, as it could be argued that very few films are pure horror and that horror does in fact arise from heightened drama, but THE EYE 2 does intend to play around with people’s real world views and their perspectives of what the after life may be, according to certain world views.
Technically, the use of sound is quite effective in isolating certain psychological moments. The main character is frequently in a situation where the real sound will fade out and be taken over by a deep rumble and the distant sounds of the location where the character finds herself. These are the times when this film was most successful for this reviewer, although when it starts to happen to frequently it is very easy to become aware of something that is about to happen, instead of being unaware and oblivious to the technique being used. Even so, a greater use of these kinds of moments is in the recent French film SWITCHBLADE ROMANCE, which although you should turn it off after 72 minutes exactly (due to a truly pathetic ‘explanation ending’) has one of the most intense opening hours probably filmed.
EXTRA
MAKING OF THE EYE 2 (14 mins)
Here, in this short section of soundbites, Danny and Oxide Pang, the films directors, provide us with some of their intentions and responsibilities towards making this film. They also do the old classic, which has lost them credence points in this viewers mind, which was the unadulterated kiss assness towards the main female lead Shu Qi, who they believe to have been at the top of her game just at the time she was making their film. Under their comments, and ones from 2 of the Producers as well, we see certain sequences being filmed but this is all take it or leave it stuff. It is short enough to be embarrassing to all involved but not long enough to provide anything of substance.
There is also a stack of trailers as well. Interestingly the trailer for the upcoming film SKY BLUE, looks like it could be a potential classic.
Anyway, THE EYE 2 comes with a nice clear picture and 3 choices of sound. I listened to the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround this time and found it good enough to not have any quality problems at all. The menu screens and all that also appeared adequate enough and had had some thought put in to them. The one thing that was annoying and I think this is again due to the type of Widescreen TV I have, is when the subtitles appear underneath the film. It means I can’t get the picture to fully fill out my TV, which means the picture I end up watching is about the size of a small portable. I am also aware that it is probably a better decision to not have the subtitles covering part of the image as well, but it is really annoying I have to say.
All in all, if you want to see this film don’t be put off by this review, I have been having a bad run with these Asian horror films of late, in fact to give you my perspective I didn’t like the original THE RING. In fact my favourite of this Tartan Asia Extreme strand is still BAD GUY by Kim Ki Duk, a film that eclipses this one in virtually every way, most importantly by having a strong story that is horrifying in itself. The DVD has a short Making Of, which may open the way for a 2 disc edition some time in the future, so maybe you should dip your toe in the water for this one and rent it out before you buy it. One thing is for sure, it certainly isn’t even in the same territory as the first film.
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