SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

atinder This is the South Korean remake of the Japanese movie Ringu.This is no were near as good or even as scary, as the original it creepy moments,I liked the new things adied, that were not in the Ringu.Added a lot from the book, might sound good, sometimes I think less is better, as I felt some scenes, drag for way too long, i was nodding off for few seconds.The acting was decent, from the whole castI would say the US remake is better then this movie but Ringu will always be the scariest of them all!.4 OUT OF OF 10

refresh daemon This film is the first remake of the Japanese film Ringu, which was later remade into the Hollywood film, The Ring. If you measure it alone or in comparison with the novel, it stands a passable affair, but you can't really leave aside some comparisons with Ringu as The Ring Virus takes several key elements from Ringu while also re-incorporating a few elements of the novel back into the movie. In the end, some of this gets all jumbled and it leaves a couple plot holes as well as weakens believability at times.I noticed right away that The Ring Virus generally takes a different aesthetic approach. While Ringu had a lot more natural/fluorescent lighting, generally casting the film in whites, greens and blues, The Ring Virus accepts warmer tones from incandescent lights and thus adds more yellows and oranges to the palette. Furthermore, the camera takes more dynamic movements and positions in The Ring Virus, although this is not necessarily a good thing. In some way, the Corean remake looks a little busier than the Japanese version and the overall look doesn't seem as oppressive as the original. Nonetheless, some of the shots are still taken directly from its predecessor.The story itself is primarily like Ringu. A female reporter finds a tape, which upon playing, curses her with seven days to live and she begins a desperate search for a way out of the curse. While the overarching story is essentially the same, the details and characters have changed. The partner in crime in this instance more closely follows the novel, as we find a medical researcher with no relation to the protagonist joins the case. Furthermore, the story of the ghostly villain has changed as well and thus her reasons for her vengeful ways have also changed. The story is infused with more sexuality and less paranormal science than Ringu.Unfortunately, many of these changes, even if more closely following the book, fail to work. First of all, the supporting character of the researcher doesn't come across nearly as brilliant as he is presented as being and there appears to be some remnant of Ringu's ex-husband in him as he has some unexplained bouts of clairvoyance. Also, because he has no relationship to the protagonist, its hard to believe that he would bother to join in her quest and endanger himself. In the book, he is at least a friend of the male protagonist (the sex of the protagonist got swapped in Ringu). I do have to admit that expansion of the ghost's story does lead her to be a more interesting character, but it doesn't save The Ring Viruses from the weaknesses in the details of the story. Add in a couple plot holes and a lack of attention to detail and The Ring Virus fails to impress.I found myself yelling at the screen during the course of this film and slapping my head in disbelief. Maybe if I hadn't seen Ringu first, this effort would seem less curmudgeon and while it does bring some interesting elements to the story, overall, the weaknesses in the direction and the story make it a slightly less than adequate affair. It might be an interesting first watch of the various Ring movies or an interesting comparison viewing, but otherwise, I think you'd be better served trying one of the other versions of the Ring story. Problematic. 5/10.

Matthew Berard This movie, a joint production between Korea and Japan, can be summarized in two words - try again. The director of this movie sought a more mysterious feel to the movie. That makes sense... Ringu was sort of mysterious and it scared us all half to death. However, nothing in this movie will scare you, creep you out, or even make you flinch. Because this wasn't what the director was going for. They even failed at the mystery part, because it can be so confusing for most viewers that they won't even care to wonder what the heck is going on.However, I insist you watch this movie to know exactly what I'm talking about. I bought this movie at a Blockbuster, hooked by the tag line on the cover... "The scariest Ring of all!". I really wanted to enjoy this movie. Indeed, I spent more time trying to enjoy the film rather than enjoying the scarce bits in the film that will entertain few. The characters seem completely unmotivated, doing things or saying things that we would otherwise have no idea why they would do or say such things. There is also no darkness... we do not fear for Eun Suh (Sadako/Samara), rather, we wonder about her. This movie is bright and colorful. It may make the film seem more realistic, but it doesn't. It was a ridiculous move. This movie will not scare you, I guarantee. The characters are bland and it sounds cruel, but you probably want the Ryuji Takayama of this movie to die, because he is just so annoying! Also, if you're wondering, the TV scene sucks. Really, no suspense at all. No cringing, no heart racing tension, nothing.We all know what the story is about, anyway. But, if you don't (and shame on you!), it's about journalist Sun-Ju, who is suspicious of her niece's death. After she realizes that three of her friends died the exact same time as her, she is quickly hooked onto the idea of an urban legend. Choe Yol, Sun-Ju's drunken friend, performs an autopsy on their bodies and deducts that their deaths were supernatural. No kidding. Sun-Ju discovers the video tape that she believes killed her niece and decides she will solve the mystery with Choe Yol.*1/2 - ***** !!!SPOILERS!!! BELOW IS SPOILERS. EVERYTHING YOU HAVE READ UP UNTIL NOW SHOULD BE SATISFACTORY ENOUGH. HOWEVER, BELOW SHOWS MORE OF MY CONCERNS Which movie is more dedicated to Koji Suzuki's novel - Ring or The Ring Virus? Well, Ring was made first, and shares some similarity to the novel. The Ring Virus is obviously a remake of Ring, copying the idea of the TV scene, as well as some other events and miscellaneous stuff in the movie.Some examples of The Ring Virus ripping off Ring is when Eun-Suh climbs out of the well, through the television, and then murders Choe Yol, as well as when Choe smashes through the floorboards of the hotel to find the well. Both of these events did not happen in the novel. Aside from that, you will notice other events that are eerily similar to the original film. Coincidence? Yeah right.Even though this film rips off the original, it does add some new stuff from the novel never seen in a Ring movie. An example is how they changed Eun-Suh's death from the film. Instead of being brutally attacked by her father, she is raped by the Nagao Jotaro of the book, but then throws her down the well after discovering that she has both male and female reproductive organs - something never made clear in the film. Something else burrowed from the novel is how Sun-Ju's senior reporter and close friend is included in the investigation. This was in the novel as well. While this movie may be something you've already seen, by ripping off the original film, it also contains things from the novel, and that should be the only reason to want to watch this film.

Danny_G13 The problem with modern horror is that instead of genuinely scaring the viewer, Hollywood seems to have decided that fog and gore is enough. Well this effort from Japan (Which was made in 1998 btw) shows how utterly magnificent and scary a movie can be with the most minimalist budget. It's based on the idea of a disturbing video, which seems to be having strange effects on those who view it. Indeed, 4 of those who watch it die a week later. Coincidence?To be honest, I really don't want to give any more plot away as this is the sort of story, like Sixth Sense, that frankly one should see knowing as little about as possible.It is genuinely chilling throughout, and uses suggestion and psychological manipulation to achieve the terror. A known trick with moviemakers and games makers (To a lesser extent) is that it is not what the viewer sees that terrifies them, it's what they can't see. It's what they imagine and believe is happening which can so effectively scare them.And this movie does that outstandingly well. A word of warning; just when you think it's over and the chills have stopped, think again. The ending is the epitome of fear, and if you're not tempted to cover your eyes you're a braver man than I.