Ring vs. The Ring little spoiler

Author	Comment
LSLarry64 Sadako slave (11/5/02 12:16:51 am) Reply	Ring vs. The Ring little spoiler Well I just saw tha American version of Ring... I got to say that the Japanese version (including Ring 2 and 0) is definitely much better than this remake. I thought the number of other scenes in the "death" video that was on the remake was just too unneccessary, Jap one had big meanings behind each scene, This American version just overdid it. I mean that scene in the video oh something coming out of someone's mouth just looked disturbing (typical of american horror) not chillin like Jap version. I also liked the plot behind the Jap version rather than the remake, I prefer ESP/Other world stuff over stupid parents and horses. What did you all think?
SSJPabs Sadako slave (11/5/02 2:39:16 am) Reply	well.... I disagree with just about all of your points except that the original was better. It was, but only slightly.
mutagene further down the Spiral (11/5/02 2:47:26 am) Reply	Re: well.... Yeah, I preferred the original, though the remake is interesting for how it interprets the story and adds to the mythology. It also has nicer lighting, I think On the subject of the ESP, I also thought it was better in the original. I've read some viewer's comments that they were happy that the ESP was toned down in the remake, but to my view by toning it down they've made Samara stand out even more -- at least in the original Sadako's existence seems plausible in a world of the paranormal, but in the remake she's more of an abnormality and therefore requires more suspension of disbelief, I think. Then again, I live in Japan and I have to say that I find a world of spirits much more believable than a monotheistic single spirit. Main beef with the remake is that I didn't find it scary. I'm not quite sure why that is, but I think it's mostly a combination of the fact that Samara doesn't interest me much as a character, doesn't look all that scary and that the direction of the movie was too omnipotent. It's cool to have the camera fly over the island to the Morgan's ranch, but it distances the viewer from the immediate threat, imo. Same with all the overhead shots of Rachel's car. Should God really be scared of Samara? Finally, on the subject of the death faces, I also found the original to be much more frightening. Maybe it's because it's more insidious that people would die with no sign of external injury or maybe those gaping mouths just work really well on me, but the original really frightened me everytime the closet opened whereas the remake does nothing for me. I tried to think of an analogy, and I think the following illustrates the difference (in my eyes): What's more frightening? Driving into the city and finding it completely empty or driving into the city and finding it completely destroyed? One fear is existential/ontological and the other is more material, and I find the existential one to be the much more powerful of the two. Edited by: mutagene at: 11/5/02 2:55:30 am
NumbTheo shambler (11/5/02 6:19:49 am) Reply	!! sorry to say, but i think again all the overtly obvious hints and shocking additions are essentially a dumbing down for a market full of youths who need their information spoonfed to them, and anything that is not HERE and NOW is not worth it. The screwed up corpses, the incredible amount of explanation given... first time i saw ringu, the sadako coming out of tv bit scared me like nothing before- i had NO IDEA it would happen. The Fly bit in the remake just makes the scare so much less powerful, and the fact that there's nothing really visually shocking except the dead faces in all of ringu , up until sadako's scene, means it it the coup de gras- it just works. ahh sod it ,let's just say i am a bitter sod and hate the idea that the USA has to subsume everything into a homogenised, mollified version of it's former glory
mutagene further down the Spiral (11/5/02 6:25:36 am) Reply	Re: !! yeah, and they weren't even real blondes! err, well.. i wouldn't call the remake homogenised. it's clearly american, but if it wasn't then what would the point of the remake be (or is that the answer right there?)
rachel further down the Spiral (11/5/02 7:21:12 am) Reply	remake Well, I don't think that just because you prefer a story about ESP, that makes it "better." And American Horror may be disturbing, but what about the "guinea pig" series? Is that not disturbing? I think there are personal preferences for what we like, but I don't think that constitutes a better film.
LSLarry64 Sadako slave (11/5/02 8:15:08 am) Reply	Re: remake oh well of course the eso factor and stuff is not what completely constitute a better film than the remake, I just made a couple example off the top of my head. there are other examples that I would feel make it better than the american version.
Lee Fiora Solus Sadako slave (11/5/02 9:26:52 am) Reply	Remake... Dispite the fact that the remake was truly americanized over the original it still ended up freaking me out even more so. I think the reason why they added some of the more disturbing scenes is so that the people who have seen the original can expect something a little bit different and unexpected. Granted I did not like what they took out from Ringu to compensate for what they added (Such as losing the ESP aspect. And if you have read the comics or the books, people would know how important that was.). As for that last scene in the movie where Samara comes out of the tv, I liked that a whole lot better than when Sadako comes out of the TV. It was well done, however I was dissapointed in how uncreepy she looked. To me she just looked cool as opposed to Sadakos one eye thing. shudder
McDuce Sadako slave (11/6/02 12:04:51 am) Reply	Re: Ring vs. The Ring little spoiler I just got done watching the original ( downloaded from Kazaa and VERY good quality I must say). So here is my synopsis: Original: Great idea for a movie!! It is that plain and simple. The only thing I have to say bad is that it didn't keep you wondering after the movie was over. The special effects were not as good as the remake. But they tell you more of the story than the remake. It explained a lot that I had not been able to reason within myself. However by telling you the whole story it left little to the imagination and when they tried to do sequels they were not as effective. (or so I am told I still need to see them). Remake: If your gonna not be original and do someone else's idea...this is the one to do it! I think the remake was a lot spookier and definitely left more to the imagination, as well. Think about how many of us online trying to figure things out right now. The US version left open the possibility of quality sequels because everything is not explained. Also special effects were ten times better in the remake. I like the story of the Morgan Ranch better than the psychic on the beach. Also in the original it Sadaka just seems to scare you to death while Samara seems to actually invoke her spirit in you. Of course there is no proof to this but that is why the sequels should be better. All In All: Two very good movies that will scare the shyt out of you, if you let them. I was surprised to learn how different they really are. Originally I had thought that the remake had followed the original very closely and in terms of vidography they did but two very different story lines and I believe that the makers of the original were going for more of a suspense while the remake was going for more of a visual fright. For those of you who prefer the original, I tend to think you are just the type who like to think they are artful type people. The remake was CLEARLY more frightening as well as disturbing. Its ability to stick with you long term is what make it so frightening. Had I not wanted to see the original I doubt I could have even sat thru it.
McDuce Sadako slave (11/6/02 12:18:22 am) Reply	Re: Ring vs. The Ring little spoiler You guys are wannabe art critics and nothing else. You have to analyze everything down till there is nothing left. BTW if the original didn't "dumb down" everything for the american audience the why is everyone asking questions about what really happened? The original left nothing to the imagination. It was straight foward and explained EVERYTHING! No questions about Ringu on here did you notice that?
Turtle God Kame moderator (11/6/02 12:22:49 am) Reply	um probably because most of the new people here havent seen the japanese version and that all the old folk here have already beaten it to death. (note, of the 5k posts on this forum, most of them are about the original) Go to Kame's House for assorted junk! Last upd8: 10/10/02
Gokurakumaru Sadako slave (11/6/02 12:55:46 am) Reply	Re: Ring vs. The Ring little spoiler *Quote:* For those of you who prefer the original, I tend to think you are just the type who like to think they are artful type people. The remake was CLEARLY more frightening as well as disturbing. What? If you'll allow me to paraphrase, all you just said was "I think people who disagree with me are pretentious. The remake was (in my opinion) clearly better." You don't think suspense can enhance fear? Fine, think that. But save the lame personal attacks. They don't do your argument any favors.
Turtle God Kame moderator (11/6/02 1:09:40 am) Reply	ok ok folks, I clearly see where this is headed... sir, shape up and lay off those kinds of comments, they typically start the flames and we dont need any of that here. and other ringworms, I eurge you to not take part in the crossfire, continue a useful discussion here or it may need to be closed. thanks, deputy kame Go to Kame's House for assorted junk! Last upd8: 10/10/02
Lee Fiora Solus Sadako slave (11/6/02 9:37:40 am) Reply	Its all a matter of preference There really is no point in arguing over which one was better because when it comes down to it, it all matters on the own persons tastes and what they may find scary. Some people like the original one better because it was indeed the start of it all, therefore deserving the attention. And others just thought it was truly scary. But I really do not think its right for breaking another person down because of which one they think is better. My opinion is they pretty much equal each other out as I mentioned in my last post. I found the american one much more scary, but the story in the original I found intriguing.
forthyoztofreedom shambler (11/6/02 1:39:46 pm) Reply	Huh I don't post here often, but one thing I've noticed is that anyone who prefers the original is automatically considered an artsy film snob who only likes the original because it is in fact the original. I don't get it. I for one, HATE artsy movies, simply because they are usually weird just for the sake of being weird, with no real purpose or meaning save for the viewers personal interpretation, which in turn is then based on nothing. But I did not like the remake. And no matter how many times we post our opinions, like this exellent one posted by mutagene: *Quote:* Main beef with the remake is that I didn't find it scary. I'm not quite sure why that is, but I think it's mostly a combination of the fact that Samara doesn't interest me much as a character, doesn't look all that scary and that the direction of the movie was too omnipotent. We are still looked at as film snobs who never gave the remake a chance. I gave the remake every chance I could. I went in there VERY excited, prepared to finally see an American audience take in some real pyscological horror . . all I got was another Hollywood movie that made a couple teenage girls scream at the oh-so scary make-up. If you like that kind of movie, fine. But please, don't come on here and make insulting, biased, ignorant, and just plain DUMB statements like "Anyone who liked the original is a wannabe art-snob." Believe me, there are lots of things I want to say to fans of the remake, but I know better than to say them. We are all entitled to our opinions. But just to get this out of the way, a poster above watched Ringu on Kazaa, and saw The Ring in a movie theater . . I mean, come on, I think it's impossible to distiguish which one is better when you watch one in the worst possible conditions and one in the best possible conditions. No offense, honestly. Also, I don't get the arguments stating the original left nothing to the imagination, but the remake did . . I'd love to hear the basis behind that. Please, enlighten me. The only things the remake DIDN'T explain was how exactly the tape came to be (which the original didn't either), and why Samara is so evil (which the original didn't either) Everything else in the remake I found so dumbed down and spelled out that I felt like I was watching a 1988 WWF match between Hulk Hogan and the Brooklyn Brawler. Gee, I wonder what's gonna happen . .
Fortyoztofreedom Sadako slave (11/6/02 1:45:58 pm) Reply	whoops The post above was from me, but I somehow mispelled my username . . I'm a smart one, I'll tell ya.
Eliashoi and Ohtis further down the Spiral (11/6/02 5:39:35 pm) Reply	Re: whoops I think it is interesting, though not necessarily meaningful, that those who say they like the original better, saw the original FIRST. Isn't that just human nature? I know I hate movies when I have already read the book. -Eliashoi
SadakoIsEve the chosen infected (11/6/02 5:49:15 pm) Reply	Re: Re: whoops And I hate books based on movies based on books. Just how low can people go?
Turtle God Kame moderator (11/6/02 5:59:09 pm) Reply	Just how low can people go? movies based on books based on movies based on books! ...then remade in korea... >) Go to Kame's House for assorted junk! Last upd8: 10/10/02
mikejonas moderator (11/6/02 6:22:28 pm) Reply	Re: whoops No, that's definitely meaningful. Having been fully schooled in the original movies, I knew going in to watch the remake that I was not going to enjoy the movie the same way as people who were first time Ring-watchers. You just can't be objective about it, at least not in terms of what was scarier or more satisfying. I agree with Fortyoz on a number of counts. The original didn't "leave nothing to the imagination" and explain everything; I think those of us who viewed it first were more forgiving of it because of its exotic nature and simpler production...if a point was vague or a motivation puzzling, we could go, "oh, it must be a Japanese thing." It wasn't that the original was less vague--we were just more satisfied with it being vague. The placing of the supernatural elements front and center via Ryuji made it easier to attribute the unexplainable to the supernatural, while the remake took a different investigative attitude--that there must be some rational explanation to the events--before surrendering to the supernatural. The remake was more "spelled out" for American audiences, IMO. Everything from making "the Ring" a literal ring of light to having the fly come out of the TV so we could better accept the finale. Harsh as it may seem, I'm of the personal opinion that on many (though not all) issues regarding the remake, the people who have blanks left unfilled are those who just weren't paying attention, or are unwilling to use their imaginations to come up with a reasonable explanation; how could you NOT know how Rachel escaped the curse, when she literally said how onscreen? (I'm not targeting anyone on this forum, but I've seen other discussion boards where some posters don't even get the basic concept of Rachel's salvation). Yes, Verbinski and Kruger left a few dots unconnected--Becca's condition, Samara's adoption--but the dots are there, labeled for your convenience. I wouldn't say that the movie was dumbed down--it was just tailored more to the general American audience who prefer more blanks filled in. Sadly, some are too lazy to pay attention when answers are provided or to use their imaginations when the writer wants them to draw a conclusion for themselves. Edited by: mikejonas at: 11/6/02 6:23:41 pm
pargo the rookie Sadako slave (11/6/02 6:56:57 pm) Reply	Better? Worse? For those worn down by years of Hollywood's reliance on endless shocks and false scares in horror, (not to mention action and gore) the quiet buildup of Ring is a welcome change. Anyone can make you jump out of a chair by suddenly screaming in your ear, but to make you sit through 90 minutes of building tension with no release, and then force you to watch that sucker creepin out tha tv set, just for one l'il money shot...wow, that's some scarin'. Anyway, I liked The Ring a lot, too, and thought it did the first 20 minutes or so as good or better than the original. Just happy to have some good horror again....
thecrimsoncurse Sadako slave (11/6/02 10:01:30 pm) Reply	hello this is my first post on this board. hello all..anyways...I've seen the remake twice in theaters and the original twice on my pc..and yes I saw the remake first...it scrared me to no end..i had nightmares for the first time in like ten years. lol. When I found out it was a japanese remake i grew anxious to view it. I love japanese movies and anime(Battle Royal, Audition, Versus). I didn't really like the original the first time i viewed it, however. The remake stole all the scenes that made the original special and definately altered my viewing of the film. I since have grown quite fond of the original. To the point where I find the remake almost insulting.looks around cautiously...i since have ordered everything japanese having to do with the series..even though this site represents some of them(mostly the tv series) as pieces of trash . But i still threw down the dollars...cause the japanese characters enticed me and i had to experience all i could. To me the biggest difference is not the visuals, or the plot variations(esp) but the characters and i find the remake falling flat. I have since read every word on this site and found myself obssessed especially with the novels. I'm so anxious to read them that it goes without saying. Though what most intrigues me is that the remake is an inturpertation of an inturpertation of a novel. Similar to an urban legend; the story bends and is shaped into something else with every telling, becoming more gruesome( EX. special effects and make up, longer tape). I still think the remake is a fun ride, but its lacks the cult flavor that I grew to enjoy so much in the original.
Turtle God Kame moderator (11/6/02 10:07:54 pm) Reply	comeon you know you liked the shower scene and naomi's wet tshirt! (the inspiration for my "the tit" parody) Go to Kame's House for assorted junk! Last upd8: 10/10/02
Agent Virux Sadako slave (11/6/02 11:31:20 pm) Reply	The Chicken or The Pox? To make a really passionate rant of my own, I have to say that I completely enjoy both Ringu and The Ring. I was utterly spellbound and addicted the very first night i watched a clip from Ringu. I cannot remember at the moment how I came to see it, but it was either that I actually saw here here at Ringworld or Ringworld provided a link to the clip. (Thank you so ~very~ much for infecting me, by the way. :P) I was never ~remotely~ prepared to see Sadako actually come ~through~ the television, and I can recall with a near perfect vividness what came over me the second I realized that my eyes weren't playing tricks on me - that was her head coming through the set. Now, I'm actually pretty difficult indeed to frighten when it comes to movies. I'm a horror genre freak and collect a few of my favorites to always have on hand when in the mood for some entertainment. The result of having such a passion, for me, is that I know exactly what my "buttons" are - what my psyche yawns at and what will completely screw with my head for days on end. To say that my blood instantly ran cold is a laughable understatement. I underwent a physical shock to the system. I think I remember squeaking out something like, "Nooo, woah, WTF?? No, uh-uh, that's not possible! She can't do that! She CAN'T be on TV and suddenly crawl through it!!!" And that eye... YEESH! It wasn't scary. It was disgusting. It was sudden. It was IN MY FACE! The whole experience took me totally off guard. I watch it now and it doesn't bother me. I watched my DVD last night and was more fascinated watching Ryushi's expressions turn from curiousity, to amusement and horror, to outright fear, back to curiousity to pain as he crawled around on the floor - like he was having a heart attack from the shock - to horror at the last moment as his eyes met with Sadako's own. But that first time? I will never forget that as long as I live. When I get that terrorized, it means something to me. It's not easy to do. I value that immensely. I was hopelessly hooked from that moment forward. I broke down and bought Ringu from eBay, having already read everything on this website about "All Things Ring", and I'm definitely buying the remake when it's released. I'll probably end up buying the rest of the media in bits and pieces as time goes on. I'm a loyalist collector like that. The remake also terrorized me. With the remake, it was that @#$%& videotape. I can't recall how many times I would be working on projects late at night, here on the computer, TV turned to Comedy Central in the background. I heard "You see The Ring" the first night, before knowing any real juicy tidbits about the remake, and almost got a whiplash turning around to stare at the TV. This was the first television promo released on CC - the one with nothing more than videotape images. UGH!! It was absolutely disgusting! It was hideous! Why? Strictly because it ~made no sense~ whatsoever. Nothing made sense. Wriggling finger joints? Burning tree? A giant millipede? A spinning chair? What in the @#$% did they have to do with each other? There was no apparent connection between any of them, and the whole thing looked like some very poorly made college-skit-gone-nasty. It became routine for me to be talking to people in instant messages, hear that maddeningly annoying high pitched whine behind me on the TV and just yell "THAT @#$%& PROMO IS ON AGAIN! I HATE IT! UGH! GET IT OFF MY TV!". Oh, I ~had~ to see this movie. If for no other reason than, being in a field related to marketing and advertising, I had a very healthy respect, admiration, and near childlike glee for the technique they chose to employ in order to first begin marketing the movie on television. Simple, bizarre, inexplicable images and nothing else. Not even a clue as to what the friggin' commercial was ~about~, much less any mention of a movie or a release date. I like wicked advertising like that. It finally got here, one week after its premiere. I remember someone here had mentioned sitting in the theatre and being highly entertained and appreciative that the audience he/she was sitting in reacted to the remake in much the same way the audience he/she was sitting in reacted to the original, and that was on my mind the entire time I sat in the theatre. I didn't see the original that way, and I consider it a loss on my part, but I can say that I had an absolute blast just observing the audience I was with. This one woman behind me sounded like she was going to soil her seat and the seat on either side of her. I ended up wandering out to grab a soda, and when I came back in, I accidentally made a teenager freak slap out when I brushed against her shoulder as I scrambled down the aisle back toward my seat. To me, hearing those people go crazy was worth every penny. Good movie or no good movie. So... suffice it to say, I've received experiences that have impacted me in several different ways from both versions. I've yet to watch either one and not find something new to catch my attention, even if it's just studying the actors themselves and how they each choose to play out their character. I think it's great that some feel the original is the masterpiece of the two. I think it's also great that some think the remake improved on the original quite a bit. As for me, I'm going to sit on the fence on this one. I love both. And I want more... MWUAHAHAHA! Agent V Ringaholic