There'll probably be nothing new to you in "The Eye" if you've seen "Ringu", "Tale of Two Sisters", "The Sixth Sense" and all other movies of this kind. The story itself also is not original - we've read and seen plenty of those where different transplants start to behave strange and don't obey their "owner". So if you want some revelation you won't find it here. But somehow this film attracts you. First it's how "The Eye" is done. And it's done almost perfect considering the cinematography. It's beautiful and stylish like many recent Asian horror flicks (just recall the above-mentioned "Tale of Two Sisters"). You will really be enjoying aesthetically what you see. And the second thing - "The Eye" contains some truly chilling scenes - I mean REALLY chilling. You won't regret watching it in headphones late at night :)
"The Eye" is not a masterpiece of horror, it's not in any way innovative, but if you like shivers down your spine from time to time it's a good choice. And if you are a big connoisseur of Asian cinema and horror in particular, I'd say it's a must for you.
Derivative but Absolutely Stunning
Many people lump this in with Ringu and Ju-On, but in my opinion the Eye eviscerates them both. In every conceivable category, the Eye is a masterpiece of Psychic Horror. The Pang brothers draw heavily on American films (most notably the Sixth Sense and Mothman Prophecies) but add a delicious Asian lyricism and mysticism. The film's star, Angelica Lee is not only jaw-droppingly beautiful but she brings a carthartic yet paradoxical blend of strength and vulnerability to the role. The cinematography is breath-taking and the climax of the fim- while clearly derivative- is so brilliantly staged and rendered that it reaches just the right balance of beauty and terror. I've heard that an American remake of this is planned and I plan on skipping it. I know I'll catch hell for this, but I thought the American version of the Ring was far superior to Ringu but I can't see the Eye being improved on.
I'm not a huge fan of Hong Kong cinema, so my adoration of this film is not colored by a predisposition to Asian films. While I appreciate the nightmarish incoherence of Asian horror, I don't have an unlimited amount of patience for it. I'm an American and appreciate linear storytelling and narrative logic.
You don't need to be a fan of any particular sub-genre to appreciate this film. An appreciation for quality movie-making and genuine chills are all you need to love this amazing movie.
Are YOU in my CHAIR?!!!!???!!???!!!
Very well written and performed, The Eye stands out from Ring-U And Ju-On. Were as those two films were good and creepy, they lacked logic and flow. They Eye is a very evenly presented film. And the ghosts here are a little more creepy. Not all the ghosts are violent, which kind of ads to a "realism" to the film. Even the nice ghosts are presented in a frightening way.Truly original and fully satisfying, it will be hard for Tom "couch hopper" Cruise to top this.
Following in the footsteps of The Ring cycle, the Ju-On series of horror films has taken Japan by the throat. According to this movie, the title refers to a curse placed upon a house where violence occurred. Sure enough, we see a string of unhappy encounters in a seemingly ordinary home, where ghosts have settled in the aftermath of murder. Director Takashi Shimizu (who also directed the Hollywood remake, The Grudge) constructs the picture out of separate fragments, not told in chronological order; the haunted house is the main character, not any one of the unsuspecting human characters. Cult mavens might suggest that Shimizu uses devices and images that have already worked well in films by Hideo Nakata and Kiyoshi Kurosawa--the Japanese horror film does have its... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Megumi Okina - Misaki Ito - Misa Uehara (II) Director(s): Takashi Shimizu DVD Release Date: Released the 09 November 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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A grainy, enigmatic videotape has the power to kill people seven days after they watch it. This brilliant premise fueled the 2002 Hollywood hit The Ring, but before that it conquered Japan in Ringu, Hideo Nakata's quietly unsettling study in terror. Fans of the U.S. version will find a less elaborate storyline and more primal fear in the original; the basic plot, however, still has a worried reporter (Nanako Matsushima) tracking down the meaning of the video--and, having watched it herself, she has only a week to work. The film's calm, economical style actually adds to the creeping sense of dread throughout, and the hair-curling set-pieces stand out in contrast. Like an old photograph of something evil, Ringu has the strange-but-familiar power to unnerve. Guaranteed,... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Hideo Nakata DVD Release Date: Released the 04 March 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Two young sisters recovering from an unnamed trauma must face a mysterious past in this excellent South Korean shocker. A worldwide hit upon its release and based on an old Korean fairy tale; two sisters (wonderfully played by Su-jeong Lim and Geun-yeong Mun) come to live with their cold and distant father and turn-on-a-dime stepmother in a house where nothing is as it seems. A wonderfully haunting score, starkly beautiful imagery, and a labyrinthine plot that twists and turns at every dark corner all set the stage for a riveting and often terrifying guessing game of a movie. Equal parts drama, mystery, and ghost story, A Tale of Two Sisters is a richly complex and challenging cinematic treat that may very well demand repeat viewings. --Matt WoldMore Info about this DVD Director(s): Ji-woon Kim DVD Release Date: Released the 29 March 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Dark Water is Japanese horror auteur Hideo Nakata's return to the genre after his Ring cycle made you too scared to watch television ever again. Where Ringu dealt with a supernatural force wreaking revenge via technology, this film is a much more traditional ghost story. After winning a custody battle for her daughter, single mother Yoshimi moves into what she thinks is the perfect apartment with her daughter Hitomi. No sooner have they unpacked than strange things begin to disturb their new life. A water leak from the supposedly abandoned apartment above gets bigger and bigger, a child's satchel reappears even though Yoshimi throws it away several times, and she is haunted by the image of a child wearing a yellow mackintosh who bears a striking resemblance to a young... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Hideo Nakata DVD Release Date: Released the 21 June 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The storyline was rather bland and maybe it's just me, but the whole concept of people being scared when their phone is ringing has been highly played out. There was one part that made me jump, but other than that, there isn't anything too scary and/or gory. The child actress in this movie, was not very convincing. Everytime she was "going crazy", I couldn't help but laugh at the poor acting.
The DVD title screen for this movie is my favorite part. I kept thinking my own cell phone was interfering with the DVD player. haha. Anyhow, I wouldn't recommend this movie, unless you have nothing better to do. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Byeong-Ki Ahn DVD Release Date: Released the 25 January 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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