Movie Review: The Ring (DVD)The Story: Based on an urban myth, The Ring tells the story of a video tape that contains the captured images of a nightmare. If you watch it, you will receive a phone call from a low scary voice informing you that in exactly 7 days, you will die. Sounds like a good time right?
The Good: Well, let me first say that I’m not easily scared of horror movies, but the classic remake of the 1998 Japanese hit Ringu scared the shit out of me in some parts. Call me a pussy, but the last time I got scared watching a movie was “The Exorcist”. In my opinion no movie will ever come close to that, but The Ring is pretty freaky. Infact just like a true urban legend it will have you thinking afterwards and make you afraid to even look at a TV let alone a video tape. I know that’s what it did to me after I watched it.
The coolest thing about The Ring DVD is the feature to actually see the video footage that everyone in the movie saw before they died. Don’t worry, your phone wont ring after seeing the footage, although coincidentally my phone DID ring, but it was just my moms. Thank God. :o) Also the movie itself is very suspenseful. The Ring is perfectly paced, stylishly twisting and turning towards a terrible mystery and an unexpected plot twist that even the most genius won't expect. At the same time, I found watching the movie a second time around much better since you may not have caught everything the first time.
The Bad: The DVD has no directors commentary. No theatrical trailer. Although they do have a trailer of the Japanese version called Ringu. Infact I recently found out if you head over to Amazon.co.uk you can purchase all 3 different Ring titles originally made in Japan. Here are the box sets:
They even have one made in Korea called “The Ring Virus” and another called, “Rasen” (Not sure where it was made)
With that said I’m sure we here in the U.S will be seeing a sequel to The Ring very soon. Anyway, back to what I was saying because I’m totally losing track here….the DVD has no alternate ending. No Urban Legend type explanation of the myth of The Ring and ability to explain where the tape came from etc. Infact the DVD is missing a lot that I believe WILL be in a Special Collectors edition in the near future.
