Saturday, October 8, 2011

26. The Ring (2002)


Title:        The Ring
Year:        2002
Genre:      Supernatural Thriller

Type:        A-Movie
Run Time: 115

         Brian Cox
Director: Gore Verbinski 
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Watch Movie



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Trailer


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Synopsis

The Ring is the critically acclaimed, smash hit thriller David Ansen of Newsweek says "raises some serious goosebumps!" This cinematic thrill ride will keep you on the edge of your seat from the stunning opening to the astonishing conclusion! 

It begins as just another urban legend - the whispered tale of a nightmarish videotape that causes anyone who watches it to die seven days later. But when four teenagers all meet with mysterious deaths exactly one week after watching just such a tape, investigative reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) tracks down the video...and watches it. Now, the legend is coming true, the clock is ticking and Rachel has just seven days to unravel the mystery of The Ring.

Detailed Synopsis
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Personal Thoughts

If you're into scary movies that keep you constantly on the edge of your seat and constantly in a state of panic ... If you're into horror flicks that provide one scare after another .... if you need a scary movie that has someone being killed every fifteen minutes ... if you crave gruesome death scenes topped with blood, guts and gore, then The Ring's probably not the movie for you ... I should probably say, it's definitely not the movie for you!

But if you don't mind scary movies that combine mystery with suspense -- cheep thrills with genuine terror, and teen horror concepts with adult "mature" thriller style storytelling, then The Ring just may be the right movie for you!

Whether it is or isn't for you, won't change the fact that it was and will continue to be for me!

The Ring, starring Naomi WattsMartin Henderson, and David Dorfman, is a 2002 American remake of the 1998 Japanese film Ringu, also called "Ring" (directed my Hideo Nakata). The American version was directed by Gore Verbinskiwho's probably best known for The Pirates of the CaribbeanRingu, besides obviously inspiring the American remake, also spawned a few sequels, as well as, was responsible for a string of ripoffs and copycat films. 

I've seen both versions, and I enjoyed both versions. Even though I liked the original version, the edge for me, goes to the American remake. (though I won't argue with those who feel Sadako is creepier than Samara ... it's definitely too close to call). 

The Plot: As you all must know by now, The Ring (in a nutshell) is about a tape that kills you when you watch it. So I guess the quick solution is ... DON'T WATCH THE FREAKIN' TAPE!!!




Although many people seem to hate on this movie (something that's not uncommon when a movie gets the kind of buzz and hype The Ring got), I personally loved it ... to the point where it became the inspiration for this blog. From beginning to end, I found myself completely entertained, totally engulfed in the ominous story of a tape that (when watched) gives you seven days to unravel its mystery before meeting your demise and succumbing to the horrors of it!

The Ring may move at a pace too slow for most true horror fans, but its story, suspense and pacing proved to be perfect for a guy like me.

I saw this movie for the first time in theaters back in 2002, per the request of my sister who had already seen it twice and was scared out of her mind. I ended up waiting to the very last night it was showing to see it -- the sign for The Ring had already been replaced with the sign for the movie They. Well thank goodness I decided to get out of the house, because I definitely had a blast that night, just as I have each time I've seen this movie since.




Is The Ring Scary?

To some people, probably not. To other people, definitely so! To me, it was more disturbing then it was outright scary. But to my mom, sister and wife, it was absolutely terrifying (to this day, they're still scared of Samara Morgan)! What I'm getting at is, different things scare different people. So with that in mind, The Ring (just like any other movie considered scary) obviously will not scare everyone. 

In closing: The Ring had and still has all of the ingredients I typically look for in a movie ... dark, eerie, creepy, suspenseful, good ending ... which is why I'm making it my 23rd (26th overall) movie recommendation. It's definitely a good one to watch if you missed it, haven't seen it in a while, or if you're simply a supernatural thriller junky like me.



Review
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What I liked:

- The Acting
- The Atmosphere and Ambience
- The Creepiness
- The movies back story
- The ending

What I didn't like:

- The movie does feel as though it can drag at times
- People may be disappointed over the fact that The Ring's (for the person who needs to be continuously scared) scary scenes occur too infrequently and are too far apart from each other 
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My Ratings

How good was it:             
 

 How scary was it:        


How much did I enjoy it: 


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The Ring Extras:

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