MovieChat Forums > Ringu (1998) Discussion > Here's why i preferred the remake to thi...

Here's why i preferred the remake to this one


I don't say that very often, but as far as this movie is concerned, i really enjoyed the remake i.e. the American version much more than this version for several reasons. Haven't seen it for maybe 2 years and have just watched Ringu for the first and only time 15min ago. Here are my reasons in no particular order as they pop into my demented mind:

- The American version is full of poetry and has a very unique mood that is absent from the original. Verbinski really did a number on this one. For instance, the various shots where you can see time passing with the light of day rising and declining, all those shots are pure beauty and this is what i mean by poetry. Many other movies did it too in the past, Blade being one of them. Sometimes it works, sometimes, it doesn't. As for me those are 2 prime examples of where it does.

- Some other interesting shots/scenes seems to have been original Verbinski additions, such as the shots where Naomie Watts has a look at the other building facing hers, and we get to see all those other people leading their day-to-day lives and in every flat, you see a TV on. I think the American version tells more explicitly the social commentary Ringu only hints at.

- The haunting scene with the horse on the boat loosing its grip was so powerful, creepy and almost out of this world, i was surprised to see that there is no equivalent in the Japanese version. Another original Verbinski addition. The whole horse dimension is absent from the original and it's a shame because it only somehow added to the creepiness of it i think, in the US version.

- The nightmarish scene where Naomie Watts is analyzing the video and when she pauses it, the fly keeps moving around and eventually flies off of the screen, then her nose starts bleeding. Very haunting. There is also the scene with the centipede on the tape recorder. Overall the insect theme is more pronounced in the US version.

- The postmortem faces of the victims in the US version are a real scare to look at in and of themselves, even if a bit far-fetched/exaggerated. I was expecting something similar in the Jap. version and was surprised to see it was "just" screaming faces, with no make up or effects whatsoever.

- The audio work and score are more pronounced in the US version which, in my view, only increases the level of immersion of the viewer, but that point is rather (more) subjective.

- I prefer the discovery of the well in the US version, we see the breathtaking view of the hill with the tree in declining light, she or he then throws marbles across the room out of frustration and they all join in the middle of the room on the rug. They quickly take the rug away and start hacking the wooden floor with an ax. Love it.

- Having the main character involuntarily fall into the well is more terrifying than having them climb into it on their own volition. When Watts fell in it i was horrified and on the edge of my seat. In this version, not so much, the well scene wasn't frightening at all.

- There's a big deal of imagery and symbolism Verbinski went to town on in his opus; as mentioned the horse and insect imagery, but there's also a strong tree imagery for some reason, and i like it. There's also a strong mental hospital/mental illness imagery and feeling to it which adds to the creepy nauseating atmosphere of the movie.

- Brian Cox's/The dad's death was really disturbing in the US version. No such thing in Jap. version.

- As for the vids themselves, i would say that the US version is slightly more creepy, there's for instance this footage of a girl getting a nail through her finger lifting/piercing her nail in the process and every time i see that i go "Ugh! God, why??". There's no equivalent in the Jap version.

- Naomie Watts is mesmerizing in the role and i prefer her to Nanako Matsushima, but she pulls off a nice performance too in this.

- The kid was much more creepy in the US version! There's something about David Orfmans gaze and attitude in this movie as this pic can show: http://favim.com/orig/201105/09/david-dorfman-medo-o-chamado-samara-the-ring-Favim.com-38206.jpg The kid in Ringu was not cast as well and his whole character and behavior was more like a robot in my view. He wasn't as convincing, I almost didn't care for him.

- As for the story itself and the characters, i found it silly that in the Jap. version, the guy has "abilities" too. It's a good thing they removed it in the US one. It makes more sense that the universe is considered rationally understandable and behaves according to the laws of physics and then throw a completely impossible and surreal element in the mix, rather than starting with a universe within which the supranatural explanation is already not that unexpectable. The former is much more effective and scary for the viewers i think.

Now there are a few things that i do prefer in the Jap version, such as:

- First of all the concept; that has to go to this version. The whole idea is really cool and really got me from the first time i saw The Ring in 2002, so the credit has to go to the original on this one. From the concept of the creepy video, to the well location, passing by the unusual way the killer-girl moves in this "reverse stop-motion" kinda a way, all the credit goes to the original.

- The ending is more sadistic in this version. In the US one, she only shows her son how to make a copy and that's it, if my recollection is correct. In this one, the fact that she has to find somebody to watch it and spread the curse is kinda worse, more shocking and twisted i would say.

- While i said before that Watts did a better job in the role, i also think Hiroyuki Sanada on the other hand was much more compelling than the blank Martin Henderson. Sanada has serious gravitas and charisma that Henderson unfortunately lacks.

All in all, Ringu 6/10 and The Ring 9/10. The Ring is one of my all-time favorite horror movies, alongside The Exorcist (1973) and The Thing (1982).

Thoughts?

PS: Posted this on The Ring's board too http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298130/board/nest/264119534?d=264119534#264119534


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You make some good points that really help show your point of view. I personally prefer the original Ringu, but I did enjoy the US remake as well. I have noticed that a lot of fans of these movies seem to prefer the version they saw first, and that's not a bad thing seeing how both films were pretty enjoyable. Have you seen any of the sequels (Japanese or American)?

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Yeah. There were some good points in the OP, but I definitely disagree about the little kid - he was far too unnatural in the American version and took me out of the film.

In any case, I have seen the Japanese sequels/prequels and I enjoyed Ringu O: Birthday the most (outside of the original, of course).

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I didn't like the kid in the American version much, but I can understand some people would like him. Ringu 0 is pretty great, and my second favorite after the original. I'm pretty interested to see the new one, Rings. It looks kinda like it may be taking some inspiration from Sadako 3D.

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You make some valid points and the remake does add some elements that are effective, but it lacks one key element. Sadako is infinitely more mysterious and outright creepy than Samara.

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