I was in a hunt for "The Ring"(with Naomi Watts) on DVD today. We've been discussing about this movie at work, I've always liked it, but I never owned a copy because I'm afraid of it(I'm so manly to admit that!).
I didn't find a copy of Ring, but I find "Dark Water" for $2.50(!), which is in the same genre. I saw the original Japanese one, but not this one with Jennifer Connelly because of the couple of bad reviews I read. I bought it, watched it, and I really enjoyed this movie.
I just finished watching the Japanese version. As long as you know that it's a sloooooooooooow moving movie, it's an A+ IMO. It is a lot about the divorced mother fighting for the custody of her daughter, while battling many obstacles, including a supernatural one. If I remember correctly, this is the only horror movie ever to have made me genuinely sad. Acting were superb as well. I love Jennifer Connely, but I already know that she couldn't match the performance of her Japanese counterpart, and I haven't even seen the American version yet. Earlier, someone said that writer of Ring should stop making anymore movies, and I agreed with him. This movie completely changed my mind. It's easily one of the best films I've seen this year, and is a horror flick with genuine substance. Again, as long as you know this movie is going to be very slow, grown ups should enjoy it. It gets an A+ from me. 👍
I just watched the Hollywood version, and I was wrong.
Jennifer Connely still might not have matched the performance of the actress in the Japanese version(it was so long ago, I don't remember to be honest), but she did an outstanding job.
And the film as a whole get a "A" from me. 👍
Casting is pretty important to me, and this movie does not dissapoint you. Jennifer Connelly(!), Pete Postlethwaite, Dougray Scott, John C. Reilly, Tim Roth. With the exception of Scott, I thought they were amazing. As far as acting goes, A+. Scott wasn't bad, and he did pick it up in the end, but couldn't quite reach the level of the other stars. Best actor in this movie? None of those veterans(though Jennifer comes close). Little girl who played the daughter, Ariel Gade, she is just amazing. Where do these amazing child actors come from? Her performance blew me away.
Story is just like the Japanese one. Nice touching story of single parent mom restarting life with her daughter, after the very ugly separation from her husband. It is not a Ring-type horror at all. It is slow. It's a drama. But if you can deal with that, you will be in for a very special treat of great cast, and they definitely deliver IMO. 👍👍
VE Jennifer Connelly, so I was hoping this movie would be a good one. I saw the original JPN version DVD at the used record shop, I wonder if that was any good.
