Amazon.com

You won't need a bottle of rum to enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, especially if you've experienced the Disneyland theme-park ride that inspired it. There's a galleon's worth of fun in watching Johnny Depp's androgynous performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, a roguish pirate who could pass for the illegitimate spawn of rockers Keith Richards and Chrissie Hynde. Depp gets all the good lines and steals the show, recruiting Orlando Bloom (a blacksmith and expert swordsman) and Keira Knightley (a lovely governor's daughter) on an adventurous quest to recapture the notorious Black Pearl, a ghost ship commandeered by Jack's nemesis Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), a mutineer desperate to reverse the curse that left him and his (literally) skeleton crew in a state of eternal, undead damnation. Director Gore Verbinski (The Ring) repeats the redundant mayhem that marred his debut film Mouse Hunt, but with the writers of Shrek he's made Pirates into a special-effects thrill-ride that plays like a Halloween party on the open seas. Aye, matey, we've come a long way since Jason and the Argonauts! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (1787)

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!
Any one who has not seen this moive or dosen't like it has poor taste in movies!! This is a MUST see! This is my new all time favorite movie! I can't waite till they make the next one! Jonny Depp is PERFECT to play Captain Jake Sparrow! If you like the ride, you will love the movie. It will make you want to sing Yo HO Yo Ho A Pirate's Life for Me.

Leave 'yer Disbelief behind, Matey!
Disney went on a new marketing binge a few years ago and decided to commission feature films loosely based on attractions at their amusement parks.There were a couple made based on the Haunted Mansion and the Country Bear Jamboree that were not well-received, but Pirates of the Caribbean hit a lot of people in their "lets-have-fun-at-the-movies" bones and won Johnny Depp a well-deserved Oscar nomination as a pirate captain named Jack Sparrow who teeters constantly at the edge of over-the-top.As Roger Ebert observes - there's a scene where Captain Jack gets drunk as a skunk on rum on a deserted island, and his personna really doesn't change at all.Captain Jack has lost his beloved pirate ship, The Black Pearl, to his rival Captain Barbossa, played in an equally fun and over-the-top performance by Geoffrey Rush.Barbossa is the yang to Sparrows ying and he gets absolutely fantastic lines like "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request - that means NO!"

Barbossa and the remainder of the Black Pearl crew are also inflicted with a curse that makes them undead, and when hit with moonlight they turn into skeletons - which makes for some fun and convincing special effects.Keira Knightly plays the beautiful governor's daughter in the damsel-in-distress role and Orlando Bloom is rather bland as her intended.

As long as you can accept pirate curses and fighting skeletons - suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride.... er movie.Keep your hands and feet inside the boat at all times and absolutely NO flash photography....

Heeeeeeer's Johnny!
Yep, Johnny Depp has priate blood in him for sure otherwise how could he play this role so magnificiently?He's lovable, serious and funny and I think his best role ever. Just his actions, and much black mascara, convince you he is a true pirate. Orlando Bloom and him make the perfect duo. We loved the ghost pirates and the excitement of the curse and how it played out in the movie, kept you on the edge of your seat.This is a definite "have to own" DVD just because you can watch it over and over without getting tired of it.

A Fun Pirate and Ghost Adventure
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Warning: NOT FOR THE VERY YOUNG!!!
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Summary:

An enjoyable, interesting and fun pirate adventure with lots of good humor, great scenery, solid script supported by excellent acting all around.

WARNING :

ONLY for older kids and possibly teenagers and not too squeamish adults.The "Living Dead" pirates (shown 2/3's of the way through the film) can bother more sensitive viewers!!

With that said, my young son - the pirate lover -was able to differentiate between the story's realism and the "Living Dead" make believe - but, his older sister was not able to.

Review:

Fun movie with a great script, great filming, great editing, great special effects, great story, great acting, good humor, great scenery, lot's great story evolution, of fun. (this review is just too easy).

But, too scary for some people and not appropriate for the very young.I really wish this had not been so well pursued, because I think this would otherwise be a fun movie for my young son.

Story:
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is an affected pirate Captain in port in search of a ship in the 18th century Caribbean who finds the "leverage" (blacksmith and expert swordsman Will Turner played by Orlando Bloom) to re-acquire "his" "Black Pearl" ship that was taken from him by his mutinous crew and the infamous Captain Barbossa (expertly played by Geoffrey Rush).Sparrow and Turner's adventure is propelled forward by Turner's love for Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley - in a very talented role as the Governor's daughter) who has been kidnaped by Captain Barbossa by mistake in her identity.

DVD's Extra's

Commentary is good, not great.I wished for more.Other DVD extra's are plentiful and excellent:like making of the film, deleted scenes, etc. and well worth the time and investment for the DVD.

Brilliant family entertainment
This book is based on the Disneyland ride of the same name, not something that would inspire you to watch it....however, suspend any preconceptions because this is a terrific film. Starring Johnny Depp as the pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow, Orlando Bloom as Will, the young blacksmith and Keira Knightly as Elizabeth, the governor's daughter, this movie couldn't fail.
The story is a simple one. There is a ship, the Black Pearl, formerly owned by Captain Sparrow and now led by an evil captain (Simon Callow) and crewed by pirates cursed never to die until a final piece of stolen gold is returned to its rightful place. Elizabeth has been in possession of this missing gold since she was a girl but never known its significance. When the Black Pearl discovers the whereabouts of this missing treasure they set forth to Elizabeth's home and kidnap her. Soon Will and Jack are in hot pursuit, Will because he loves Elizabeth and Jack because he wants revenge on the pirates who stole his beloved ship from him.
Johnny Depp is brilliant as the camp, funny Captain Sparrow (whom he based on Keith Richards of Rolling Stones fame) and he certainly steals the show in spite of worthy performances from the rest of the cast. This, alongside excellent special effects and a myriad of extras (some hidden) on disc 2 make this a DVD well worth purchasing.
... Read more

Reviews (1660)

Pirates Treasure
Whenever I found myself on a family vacation at a Disney theme park, one of my favorite attractions, was always Pirates of the Caribbean. When I heard that mega producer Jerry Bruckheimer was going to make a film, based on the ride, I was more than a bit skeptical. It's hard enough sitting through some movies, based on TV shows, Comics, or books, let alone one born out of a ride. How would Brucheimer and director Gore Verbinski pull off the seemingly impossible. Things turned out better than I, or most folks for that matter, figured that they would.

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)loves living on the high seas as a pirate. His world is turned inside out, when his mortal enemy, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) steals his ship, later using it to attack the town of Port Royal. During the onslaught, Barbossa decides to kidnap Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), the daughter of the town's Governor. Her childhood friend Will (Orlando Bloom) is determined to save her--he and and Jack team up--to reclaim both the ship and get the girl.

A big reason, that the film exceeded my expectations, was due to the inspired performance from Depp. Once again, he proves his versatility, and becomes the character. The role allows him to show off his rare comedic side and he really runs with it. The rest of the cast is up to the challange as well...but clearly having lots of fun in the process. Verbinski fills the screen with plenty of action and great effects, but at no time do these elements overtake this pirate tale. Everything falls into place very nicely. I was a bit surprised by the film's running time though, at 2 hours and 23 minutes, I thought some of the pacing could have been just a tad tighter--just a minor quibble if I may...

The folks at Disney and Bruckheimer must have known what they had in the film. The 2 disc DVD set is loaded with some fine extras, for both the technical film buff and the casual viewer. For me, the three audio commentary tracks, are the highlights of the the entire set. The commentary by Verbinski and Star Depp is the most interesting though. Depp seems relaxed and not as one demensional, as I've seen him in the past, doing interviews for his other work. For the second track, actors Keira Knightley And Jack Davenport, have the most fun. Davenport is very witty and keep things light. Recorded separtely and added in on this track are comments from Bruckheimer to balance it out. The final track brings together writers Stuart Beattie, Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio and Jay Wolpert (Wolpert adapted the 2002 version of The Count Of Monte Cristo also recommended) for a look at the writing process.

Disc two starts out with a lively 37 minute look behind the scenes called aptly enough "An Epic At Sea: The Making of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl". I mentioned the film's running time before--so to my surprise there are no less than 19 deleted and alternate scenes that were wisely trimmed or cut altogether.5 addtitional featurettes explore filming and life behind the scences--"Moonlight Saranade" scene progression, "Fly on the Set" looks at some of the specific scences as they were being shot, "Diary of a Pirate" is a behind-the-scenes look with cast member Lee Arenberg (best known for playing a alien Ferengi on the Star Trek spinoffs The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine), a Producer's Diary with Bruckheimer as your guide, and the
"Diary of a Ship" Video Journal. Some of these work better than others, in terms of content, but are still worth a look. Next up there is the well researched primer "Below Deck" - An interactive and fun History Of Pirates. An 18 minute segment from January 1968, as part of the TV show "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color", where Walt himself gives us a tour of the ride that inspired the film. It is very cool to have something like this as part of the set. A very extensive still gallery and a 3 minute blooper reelthat works once but not beyond that are here too. Finally, there are some really cool DVD-ROM Features for your PC: "Moonlight Becomes Ye" is an Effects Studio that allows you to create some magic of your own,there's even more history on the ride, a Virtual Reality Viewer, Scriptscanner & Storyboard Viewing Modes.

Who knew that a film, based on a ride, could be this much fun and entertaining? Pirates...is recommended with **** and a half stars

Blockbuster of the Summer DVD of the Winter
THE MOVIE
Movies about cursed pirates died out and flopped decades ago but this movie is brings new enthusiasm the pirate genre has been looking forward to. This is a great popcorn flick that has really put the Swash back into Buckling
This action/ adventure/comedy is loosely based on the ride at Disneyland. Although the similarities are somewhat few and far between this is probably a good thing as it escapes the Disney marketing attempt feel.
The extremely well chosen cast could never be better with Johnny Depp brilliantly playing the light-hearted mostly-drunk pirate Jack Sparrow (sorry Captain Jack Sparrow). He provides most of the comedy in his one-liners, lucky escapes and defiant bragging. The romance is between the kidnapped Governors daughter Elizabeth Swann, (Kiera Knightly) and Will Turner (played wonderfully by man-of-the-moment Orlando Bloom) who comes to her rescue. The typical cursed pirate, Captain Barbossa of the titular 'Black Pearl' (played by Geoffery Rush) is the all round bad guy shouting traditional pirate phrases.
The CG (done by Industrial Light and Magic) is literally ground breaking with cursed pirates turning from skeletal to flesh as they battle in and out of moonlight. This gives both an eerie and astonishing effect.
To round off there are action scenes galore with numerous sword fights and canon fire which are amazing and really keep the film up to speed.
THE EXTRAS
No DVD is complete nowadays without extras. With a full extra disc there is quite a lot to keep one amused for hours. There are three commentaries, which really depend on what you want to get out of a commentary the first is with Gore Verbinski (director) and Johnny Depp, which is surprisingly quite dull mainly thanking various people for hard work. If you are looking for trivia then the partial commentary with Jerry Bruckheimer (producer) or commentary with scriptwriters is for you, but the one I found the best is the commentary with actors Kiera Knightly and Jack Davenport (who plays Commodore Norrington) This commentary is also partial but is the funniest. The partial commentary is something I have never come across before but is quite an advantage, as you don't have to watch the whole film again and listen to people drone on about scenes that weren't really important to them.
The downfall I felt to this DVD is the interactive menus which if you just want to get the film to play means time is lost waiting for menus to load.
Back to positive and the second disc holds loads of good stuff. The first I checked out was the blooper real with the actors messing up, which you don't quite often get to see. The bad thing about this is that it was only 3mins. There are 19 deleted scenes, which I didn't really feel were very interesting so it just as well they stayed deleted.
There are many different featurettes on this disc. The ones I'm liking the most is the Epic at Sea, Diary of a Pirate and Fly on the set which are all on the set interviewing actors etc. which prove very interesting and in depth. There is also "Walt Disney Wonderful World of Color" which shows a bit about the ride for all who haven't been on it.
The last line is I think this is a wonderful movie and the DVD really compliments it well.

Incredibly entertaining
Johnny Depp plays Cap. Jack Sparrow, a pirate on a mission to get his ship back. Orlando Bloom plays Will Turner, a sword crafter out to save his secret love Elizabeth Swann played by Keira Knightley. With the help of a crew of misfits, they embark on an adventure that they won't soon forget.

Hilarious moments with incredible special effects, this movie will not disappoint you.

And then they made me their cheif...
This film shines like aztec gold! Johnny mad a superb Captain Jack Sparrow! It is my favorite movie EVER!!!!! Keira and Orlando made a cute couple, Geoffrey was cool, and Jack (the monkey ^-^) was adorable, but I must say, Depp stole the movie! Influenced by Keith Richards and Pepe Le Pew, he made a hilarious (and slightly drunken) Sparrow! 5 stars, MUST see! If you don't like it you need a medication.

I Want to be Saved by These Pirates!
Awesome movie filled with action, adventure, and romance! ... Read more

Reviews (160)

Very weird but has its moments
Very odd but often entertaining comedy that features humorous performances from its stars, Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. A disappointing factor for those hoping to watch these two lovelies together is the fact that they hardly share any screen time together. After a very shaky start of watching this odd couple fight over a trip to Las Vegas (which are terribly acted, revealing either too little rehearsing or actors not actually performing scenes on the set together), the film gets going when Pitt is forced by a group of gangsters to whom he owes a favour to retrieve a supposedly cursed handcrafted gun from Mexico. While he is gone Roberts is kidnapped by a hitman (James Gandolfini) who is possibly one of her boyfriend's enemies. Most of the film is funny, but some twists and turns will feel so odd as to not actually be quirky but actually be very uncomfortable. Considering the mean tone the film has, it seems like a real let-down when the ending turns out to be much sappier then expected, and director Gore Verbinski can't seem to decide if he wants to actually make a grungy movie or show his actors up as gorgeous icons. A worthwhile, if halfhearted, effort.

The Mexican a very flawed film with Pitt and Roberts
Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts star in this dark comedy/low budget action movie. ''The Mexican'' is about a guy named Jerry (Pitt) who works for a crime boss. One day the crime boss, asks Jerry for one last ''job'' before Jerry decides to quit working for him and pay of his debts. The ''job'' though isn't as easy as Jerry thinks it is. He is asked to find a rare gun that is worth alot of money in Mexico.

Jerry's girlfriend , a nieve and spoiled brat named Samantha (Roberts fits the role perfectly ) reacts to Jerry last job like a bat out of hell. She immediately tells Jerry that if he goes to this job that she will never take him back, and to not both coming to her. The character of Samantha is as shallow and mean as a woman can get, I almost get shivers down my spine when I think that women like Samantha exist, because they aren't worth fighting for.

What Samantha doesn't realize is that Jerry is doing this job for her out of love. Jerry wants to pay his debts , and to pay of this debts requires doing this job in Mexico.
Pitt while not being the charasmatic actor, does at least add some depth and character to Jerry.

Anyhow once Jerry arrives in Mexico (a pretty dangerous place in some areas, but enjoyable in others) meets his contact who is going to give the rare gun to him.

However, things go horribly wrong when the contact Jerry is with literally dies
in front of him during a midnight celebration in Mexico. Jerry at first does not know the guy is dead, until he notices the bloody headshot on the car seat where he places the body in!!! Uggh.

This is only the start of a bad situation for Jerry. Once Jerry's crime boss finds out that he has fowled things up (although it's not his fault this guy is dead) sends in a psychopath killer named Leroy (James Gandolfini ) to hold his girlfriend Sam as hostage, while Jerry tries to come back to his boss with the antique gun.

One of the big problems the Mexican is the load of unlikeable characters in the
film. Brad Pitt's character of Jerry is probably the only somewhat likeable character in the film. Julia Roberts (again in her usual uncharasmatic self) as Sam, doesn't really
show any love or compassion only up to the point where she herself becomes involved in Jerry's situation. She only really cares about herself.

Then there's Gandolifini's character who can be best characterized as self hypocriting homosexual, hitman. which in fact he is if you watch the whole film. Gandolfini is best known for playing the paranoid , lovable, and evil Tony Soprano in the Sopranos but his role in that overrated, and his role in this film is forgettable.

The Mexican is not a total waste of a film, although much of it is.

I loved the twists in the film that the Mexican's in the film, from the villages to the cops were smarter than the dumb gringo (Jerry) who comes to look for the ancient gun for his boss. In fact, the Mexican's gave me such a good laugh, that I thought they were probably the best actors in the film. Every stereotype that Jerry and his white crime buddies put on them is eventually thrown back in their face with big laughs.

That's all I can say, I won't spoil it though by going into the exact dialogue. The film also has a couple of good twists in the middle, and near the end. However, the Mexican though has so many problems with it, that keep it from leaving a lasting impression and making it a likeable film that I can't recommend buying.

Renting it though is a different matter, you'll probably get some good laughs from it like I did, but that's it.

As Roger Ebert would say ''Two Thumbs Down'' but give it a viewing however don't expect to be blown away by this low budget film because you wont.

Good, Convuluted Story
I liked it. Lot's of people didn't, but for a Brad Pitt movie with my least favorite actress Julia Roberts, I found it highly entertaining. Some violence, some edge of the seat moments and some dark humor. Quite a tale.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico
This movie got some attention since it has two big Hollywood stars in it, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. However, it`s not too enticing or convincing, just a merely entertaining mix with bits of romantic comedy, thriller, road movie, action and an offbeat feel that tries to reach cult status. It`s a decent effort, but the characters aren`t very intriguing (Pitt plays a dumb pretty boy, Roberts is in another bland role and only James Gandolfini, the best element here, truly convinces as an interesting gay hitman), the plot is full of ups and downs and it runs for way too long. At parts it even comes close to Tarantino/ Robert Rodriguez territory, yet as a whole it`s too muddled and uneven to suceed. Director Gore Verbinski offers a couple of nice shots of Mexico with good atmosphere and an appropriatte soundtrack, making for a mildly enjoyable cinematic experience. Still, this is just fast-food cinema overall. Not memmorable, but worth watching once.
A decent rental.

Can't believe what everyone tells you
I heard from so many people that this movie was horrible. Well I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I really liked the flashbacks to the legend of the gun and it was just a very fun movie to watch. I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With its disturbing images and a few good shocks, The Ring is the kind of frightfest you'll watch to set a chilling mood or spook your susceptible friends, but when you try to sort it out, this well-mounted American remake (of the 1998 Japanese hit Ringu, based on Koji Suzuki's popular novel) becomes a batch of incoherent parts. The negligible plot follows a Seattle reporter (Naomi Watts) as she investigates the death of her niece, the victim of a mysterious videotape that, according to urban legend, causes the viewer's death seven days later. (Fear Dot Com borrowed the same idea while avoiding this film's lofty pretensions.) The countdown structure follows the reporter, her son, and her estranged boyfriend into deepening layers of terror--all quite effective until the movie attempts to explain itself. At that you're better off shutting down your brain and letting the creepy visuals take over. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (893)

The Curse of 'The Ring'
Gore Verbinski's American remake of the Japanese modern horror masterpiece replaces the original's raw horror and nightmarish intensity with elegant atmosphere and elegiac, contemplative pacing.

'The Ring' is a vivid, menacing, and somber mood film.

Naomi Watts carries the film as a emotionally detached journalist and mother whose niece dies from a supposed cursed videotape that allegedly kills whoever watches it seven days after its viewing. Watts gets her hands on it, watches it, shows it to some loved ones, and goes on an investigation, racing to cure herself from the curse before her seventh day deadline (pun intended).

Verbinski shows weaknesses (but still succeeds) with the character drama and emotion, but excels with the film's haunting visuals and atmosphere. Ehren Kruger's thoughtful and grim screenplay is a masterful adaptation of the original Japanese film.

'The Ring' is a bleak, beautiful, and breathtaking horror film with a strong emotional core. It also raises some very powerful and evocative themes about parents and children, compassion and the media's lack thereof, grief, tragedy, and the film goes full circle with them (pun still intended).

Don't forget to watch the original Japanese film 'Ringu,' which is being released simultaneously with the American remake on March 4, 2003.

A new horror classic has been born!
Every year close to the end of October the studios offer at least one film that happens to fall into the genre of movie horror. Last year "From Hell," "13 Ghosts," and "Bones" filled our trick-or-treat bags, and with Dreamworks "The Ring," this year is no exception. From the opening scene, during which my girlfriend grabbed her mouth as she gasped at the horrific image that her eyes had caught a glimpse of (and I have to admit it was a rather shocking sight), "The Ring," based on the novel by Koji Suzuki, kept me entertained as I waited for more chilling moments to arrive. They were moments that weren't overdone with special effects. They scared us because of the atmosphere in which they were presented, which included settings like old barns, run down mountain cabins, and late night living rooms. The film starred Naomi Watts as Rachel Keller, a reporter who became entangled in her own investigation of a mysterious videotape, which after watching lets you know via a phone call that you will die in seven days. The Ring's suspense was heightened after Rachel herself watched the tape out of curiosity, and soon afterward found her young son Aidan (David Dorfman) watching the tape also. Then came an eerie seven-day journey during which Rachel uncovered clue after clue with the help Aidan's father Noah (Martin Henderson) who lived separately from the two of them. Her investigation led her to a remote island horse ranch where a retired widowed horse trainer played by Brian Cox, lived alone. How this and other elements came to make up "The Ring" was as mysterious as it was at times frightening. However, the most mysterious question that the movie posed involved uncovering the tapes origin. This question of how the tape originated and where exactly did it come from was never answered completely. We knew that the retired trainer's deceased daughter was somehow the cause of its existence, but how she exactly brought it to be was never made known. This didn't bother me too much in the end as most of the other lingering questions that I had were answered, but it would have made "The Ring" fit a little tighter. "The Ring" had certain similarities to 1999's "Stir of Echoes," and even this year's less than entertaining "FearDotCom." It involved a spirit of the dead contacting the living in an attempt to make known the mystery of her death. "Stir of Echoes" worked well because the supernatural force of the deceased only brought true harm to those involved in her murder. We sympathized with her and even cared about her in the end while still being frightened throughout. In "The Ring" we sympathized less with the deceased young girl because she seemed to take no liberties in who ended up dead from the videotape through which she reached her victims. This didn't necessarily act to scare us less. It just kept us more emotionally removed from her character who was much more an element of horror than Samantha was from "Stir of Echoes." Would the spirit of the young girl in "The Ring" have worked better having possessed some good? Probably not since the film was more about Rachel trying to save her and her son's life, and beat the cycle that the tape had set in motion. As a result the movie was more frighteningly entertaining than it was emotionally moving. Naomi Watts, who in appearance looks like a cross between Laura Linney and Nicole Kidman, gave a good performance as Rachel. She gave Rachel the right mix of curiosity, strength, and fear, which worked well for the movie.

scariest movie ever
The Ring is about a freaky little girl that kills you seven days after you watch her messed up video.This movie is so screwed up that it'll make you go under your covers with a flashlight and make you want your mommy.P.S. you'll have to find the ending out yourself.

Viscerally creepy, but not a whole lot more than that
Gore Verbinski's THE RING is the classic example of a film that is all style and very little, if any, substance. Verbinski certainly knows how to make a creepy horror film: this film is laced with atmosphere and dread and gray skies. Technically, it is quite impressive. It's too bad that all the skillful visuals are put in the service of a really dumb plot---or, at least, that's the way it turns out. Perhaps the idea of a videotape killing people could make a good horror film---but when the screenplay by Ehren Kruger starts trying to explain how the videotape was made and then how to dilute the videotape's power, this movie just became plain stupid for me. How could anyone be duped into blindly accepting this kind of silliness? I suppose, though, that that is a very subjective reaction and that some people might find its visuals and atmosphere effective enough to accept the film without a second thought. Still, I remember that John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN never really provided an explanation for Michael Myers' motives (except, of course, that "he's crazy"), and I think that perhaps horror movies shouldn't be so burdened with having to explain the horror in them---it should merely be felt, since film is such a visual medium anyway (leave explanations to writers, hehe). In the case of THE RING, we feel the horror, but we also feel a plot that strains to explain itself, and ends up merely being laughable instead (especially that final twist, which I had difficulty swallowing). If Kruger hadn't tried so hard, maybe this would have turned out to be a highly effective horror film instead one that made me wonder what the heck the horse in the middle of the film had to do with anything. I think THE RING is viscerally creepy enough that it earns its three stars here, but all of Verbinski's style cannot hide the fact that, plotwise, this film is a mess, and I certainly don't plan on seeing this film's intended sequel whenever it comes out.

Awesomely Wicked
The first part made me jump. How horrible to see that chick's face disfigure when the girl from the well came out and scared the living daylights out of her. Then when they find out she was in the closet and her face was all zombied out it was too disturbing to look at.

After watching that movie, which I rented in a video store and watched it with my wife. I was having nightmares and sweating because of that little girl from the well.

Her long black hair that covers her face was just too wicked. She reminded me of the girl from the exorcist.

When she came out of the T.V and scared the hell out of that one dude- She zoomed in at him and he jumped off-That part made my heart pump really fast and made my hair turn white.

At first I thought it was a happy ending, but when that little boy said, "She never sleeps!" That made the movie turn its true colors.

It was a depressing story to hear how that little girl died, but she avenges anyone who watches that tape.

I hope the sequel which is coming out in the Fall is pretty wicked as the first one.

I recommend to not watch this movie alone during the night. ... Read more

Reviews (893)

The Curse of 'The Ring'
Gore Verbinski's American remake of the Japanese modern horror masterpiece replaces the original's raw horror and nightmarish intensity with elegant atmosphere and elegiac, contemplative pacing.

'The Ring' is a vivid, menacing, and somber mood film.

Naomi Watts carries the film as a emotionally detached journalist and mother whose niece dies from a supposed cursed videotape that allegedly kills whoever watches it seven days after its viewing. Watts gets her hands on it, watches it, shows it to some loved ones, and goes on an investigation, racing to cure herself from the curse before her seventh day deadline (pun intended).

Verbinski shows weaknesses (but still succeeds) with the character drama and emotion, but excels with the film's haunting visuals and atmosphere. Ehren Kruger's thoughtful and grim screenplay is a masterful adaptation of the original Japanese film.

'The Ring' is a bleak, beautiful, and breathtaking horror film with a strong emotional core. It also raises some very powerful and evocative themes about parents and children, compassion and the media's lack thereof, grief, tragedy, and the film goes full circle with them (pun still intended).

Don't forget to watch the original Japanese film 'Ringu,' which is being released simultaneously with the American remake on March 4, 2003.

A new horror classic has been born!
Every year close to the end of October the studios offer at least one film that happens to fall into the genre of movie horror. Last year "From Hell," "13 Ghosts," and "Bones" filled our trick-or-treat bags, and with Dreamworks "The Ring," this year is no exception. From the opening scene, during which my girlfriend grabbed her mouth as she gasped at the horrific image that her eyes had caught a glimpse of (and I have to admit it was a rather shocking sight), "The Ring," based on the novel by Koji Suzuki, kept me entertained as I waited for more chilling moments to arrive. They were moments that weren't overdone with special effects. They scared us because of the atmosphere in which they were presented, which included settings like old barns, run down mountain cabins, and late night living rooms. The film starred Naomi Watts as Rachel Keller, a reporter who became entangled in her own investigation of a mysterious videotape, which after watching lets you know via a phone call that you will die in seven days. The Ring's suspense was heightened after Rachel herself watched the tape out of curiosity, and soon afterward found her young son Aidan (David Dorfman) watching the tape also. Then came an eerie seven-day journey during which Rachel uncovered clue after clue with the help Aidan's father Noah (Martin Henderson) who lived separately from the two of them. Her investigation led her to a remote island horse ranch where a retired widowed horse trainer played by Brian Cox, lived alone. How this and other elements came to make up "The Ring" was as mysterious as it was at times frightening. However, the most mysterious question that the movie posed involved uncovering the tapes origin. This question of how the tape originated and where exactly did it come from was never answered completely. We knew that the retired trainer's deceased daughter was somehow the cause of its existence, but how she exactly brought it to be was never made known. This didn't bother me too much in the end as most of the other lingering questions that I had were answered, but it would have made "The Ring" fit a little tighter. "The Ring" had certain similarities to 1999's "Stir of Echoes," and even this year's less than entertaining "FearDotCom." It involved a spirit of the dead contacting the living in an attempt to make known the mystery of her death. "Stir of Echoes" worked well because the supernatural force of the deceased only brought true harm to those involved in her murder. We sympathized with her and even cared about her in the end while still being frightened throughout. In "The Ring" we sympathized less with the deceased young girl because she seemed to take no liberties in who ended up dead from the videotape through which she reached her victims. This didn't necessarily act to scare us less. It just kept us more emotionally removed from her character who was much more an element of horror than Samantha was from "Stir of Echoes." Would the spirit of the young girl in "The Ring" have worked better having possessed some good? Probably not since the film was more about Rachel trying to save her and her son's life, and beat the cycle that the tape had set in motion. As a result the movie was more frighteningly entertaining than it was emotionally moving. Naomi Watts, who in appearance looks like a cross between Laura Linney and Nicole Kidman, gave a good performance as Rachel. She gave Rachel the right mix of curiosity, strength, and fear, which worked well for the movie.

scariest movie ever
The Ring is about a freaky little girl that kills you seven days after you watch her messed up video.This movie is so screwed up that it'll make you go under your covers with a flashlight and make you want your mommy.P.S. you'll have to find the ending out yourself.

Viscerally creepy, but not a whole lot more than that
Gore Verbinski's THE RING is the classic example of a film that is all style and very little, if any, substance. Verbinski certainly knows how to make a creepy horror film: this film is laced with atmosphere and dread and gray skies. Technically, it is quite impressive. It's too bad that all the skillful visuals are put in the service of a really dumb plot---or, at least, that's the way it turns out. Perhaps the idea of a videotape killing people could make a good horror film---but when the screenplay by Ehren Kruger starts trying to explain how the videotape was made and then how to dilute the videotape's power, this movie just became plain stupid for me. How could anyone be duped into blindly accepting this kind of silliness? I suppose, though, that that is a very subjective reaction and that some people might find its visuals and atmosphere effective enough to accept the film without a second thought. Still, I remember that John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN never really provided an explanation for Michael Myers' motives (except, of course, that "he's crazy"), and I think that perhaps horror movies shouldn't be so burdened with having to explain the horror in them---it should merely be felt, since film is such a visual medium anyway (leave explanations to writers, hehe). In the case of THE RING, we feel the horror, but we also feel a plot that strains to explain itself, and ends up merely being laughable instead (especially that final twist, which I had difficulty swallowing). If Kruger hadn't tried so hard, maybe this would have turned out to be a highly effective horror film instead one that made me wonder what the heck the horse in the middle of the film had to do with anything. I think THE RING is viscerally creepy enough that it earns its three stars here, but all of Verbinski's style cannot hide the fact that, plotwise, this film is a mess, and I certainly don't plan on seeing this film's intended sequel whenever it comes out.

Awesomely Wicked
The first part made me jump. How horrible to see that chick's face disfigure when the girl from the well came out and scared the living daylights out of her. Then when they find out she was in the closet and her face was all zombied out it was too disturbing to look at.

After watching that movie, which I rented in a video store and watched it with my wife. I was having nightmares and sweating because of that little girl from the well.

Her long black hair that covers her face was just too wicked. She reminded me of the girl from the exorcist.

When she came out of the T.V and scared the hell out of that one dude- She zoomed in at him and he jumped off-That part made my heart pump really fast and made my hair turn white.

At first I thought it was a happy ending, but when that little boy said, "She never sleeps!" That made the movie turn its true colors.

It was a depressing story to hear how that little girl died, but she avenges anyone who watches that tape.

I hope the sequel which is coming out in the Fall is pretty wicked as the first one.

I recommend to not watch this movie alone during the night. ... Read more

Amazon.com

They've tried Catzilla, a feline so ferocious it can't be euthanized. They've tried booby traps that RubeGoldberg would marvel at. They've even tried Caesar (hilariously played by Christopher Walken), a dementedexterminator whose "Squeak Seeker 2000" mouse-cam will infiltrate even the cleverest rodent's secret lair. But theSmuntz brothers Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars (British comedian Lee Evans) just can't win against the tenacious mousethat wreaks havoc in the vintage home they've inherited from their father. That's the one-note premise of this chaotic,lavishly produced comedy that starts on a high note and never lets up, eventually leaving the viewer exhausted. Thespecial mouse effects (live-action, animatronic, and computer-generated) are delightful, and the slapstick is frequentlyingenious, but the title says it all in a movie that is little more than an elaborate variation of Home Alone. Aprime choice for family fun, but it's really just a live-action cartoon that overstays its welcome. It's harmless fun if allyou're looking for is a marathon of slapstick gags and pratfalls, and it's notable as the final film appearance of veterancharacter actor William Hickey, who died in June of 1997, shortly after filming of Mouse Hunt was completed.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Hilarious!
I think one of the most annoying things about movie critics is that they're supposed to know their stuff, but in the end they come across as just being college guys looking for something dirty to watch! Isn't it funny how they can't help but get down on a hilarious, old fashioned comedy like this and yet show them something like American Pie and it's great intellectual humor! A modern classic! Sickening! This movie was totally hilarious with hardly any sexual humor at all! Allright, just a hint here and there that wasn't necessary. Beyond that this movie was such a perfect comedy for everyone! I absolutely loved this movie! They used every cartoon trick in the book to try and stop that mouse! And wasn't Christopher Walken just incredible?!!! The casting in this was soooo great! It makes me so sad when movies like this come out and hardly get noticed by the public for whatever reason! Probably the lack of sex humor is evident and the previews and it keeps the movie goers away. Anyway I loved it! Do yourself a favor and pick it up! I've got it on VHS but hope to get the DVD eventually!

Mouse Hunt Movie Review
MOUSE HUNT- Movie Review
Critic's Grading
Story: B+
Acting: A-
Artistic Value: B
Entertainment Value: A
Interest Level: A-
Production Value: A

Mouse Hunt, one of the most hilarious movies that DreamWorks produced in 1997 is just fantastic! After Peacemaker (1997), DreamWorks produced another children's movie, this time with a mouse. Even though this movie did not get huge attention like Cinderella or any of the Disney movies, it sure did capture not only the children, but also the adults' attention. It gives children laughter and happiness.
Two greedy brothers, Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars Smuntz (Lee Evans) inherit the string factory and a house, which is worth ten million dollars from their father (William Hickey). Two brothers try to sell this old and scary house for money, but there is an obstacle; a tiny mouse. With the tiny mouse, who is afraid of losing his house, and these two brothers, who think this mouse would reduce the value of the house, they get into big chaos which leaves a big mess at the end.
The story gets intense and hilarious via the effect of the shots and different media. The mouse, which has been shot with CGI, looks pretty realistic and gives extra comedy to it. The setting of the house and its effect permeates the mood to this movie. The sounding of the thunder and lightening, shouting, and all sorts of sounds add to the great amount of intensity. The destruction of the house, also shot with CGI, is great! My heart almost fell down as this gigantic house fell down!
Ernie, acted by Nathan Lane, is great fun both physically as a character of his own. Ernie is the oldest son of the two, and he is greedy and blinded by money. In other hand, Lars, played by Lee Evans is skinny with a very heart warming character. These two opposite characters bring out the conflicts and humorous events that make the story more amusing. The mouse, one of the cleverest characters in this movie, has created lots of brilliant ideas to prevent him from losing his house. They are all very fantastic!
This movie can be entertaining to everyone, including adults. Even though it is rated as PG, some scenes aren't proper for young children. There is a part where Lars's wife suddenly takes off her clothes. Also, some of the black jokes are inappropriate. The way they fight and joke might overwhelm some of the young children. It is likely that youngsters may also follow some of the inappropriate scenes in their daily lives. Mostly, it is very entertaining and everybody should see it!
For this movie, I can rate its overall grade as A-. Even though there are some parts which could have been improved, I think it is an excellent movie which puts a smile and laughter in everyone's mind. I strongly recommend this movie to anybody in any age. Why won't you follow me and adventure into this hilarious world?

Man vs Mouse
Last week, thanks once again to the wonderful Patio theater located on Irving Park at Austin, I caught a delightful fantasy film. It was the Dreamworks production Mouse Hunt.

Two brothers inherit the family string business (Smuntz String) and a run-down old house. Neither is worth anything. Or so it seems at first. The house was designed by an eccentric architect named LaRue and was believed to be only a rumor. Suddenly the house is worth millions. Instead of selling outright, the brothers decide to hold an auction to get a better price. But to reach that point they need to do some restoration and get rid of a very determined mouse.

There are then some scenes of the brothers trying to outwit a mouse that could outwit Einstein. Finally they think they have sent the mouse to Castro and the auction begins. As the price reaches unheard of levels the mouse returns. The brothers are so distraught that they bring about their own ruin and destroy the house. Having nowhere else to go they return to the old string factory. The mouse follows.

Once in the factory the mouse shows some more of its intelligence by starting up the factory line and adding Gouda to the mix. The result is a new form of string cheese that becomes the rage with the mouse hired on as head taster.

This movie is truly hilarious. The mouse is great. I believe the mouse is near immortal as well as a genius. I believe this because there is a tendency for owners of the LaRue house to be found locked in a trunk in the attic. We know for a fact that the mouse defeated Christopher Walken (playing the strangest exterminator you have ever seen) and managed to get him from in front of the house into a trunk in the attic. It is even possible that the mouse was responsible for the architect going mad. Whatever the case, this movie is really worth seeing. If you can not find it in a second-run theater, look for it when it comes out on video.

Great movie, I really enjoyed it !!!
It's the type of movie, you can watch
repeatedly, and enjoy it every time.

It's a must have in anyone's dvd collection.

Great movie, I really enjoyed it !!!
Great movie, I really enjoyed it !!!

It's the type of movie, you can watch
repeatedly, and enjoy it every time.

It's a must have in anyone's dvd collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disturbing images and a few good shocks don't stop The Ring from being a hash of half-baked ideas. It's the kind of frightfest you'll watch to set a chilling mood or spook your susceptible friends, but when you try to sort it out, this well-mounted American remake (of the 1998 Japanese hit Ringu, based on Koji Suzuki's popular novel) collapses into a heap of incoherent parts. The negligible plot follows a Seattle reporter (Naomi Watts) as she investigates the death of her niece, the victim of a mysterious videotape that, according to vague urban legend, causes the viewer's death seven days later. (Fear Dot Com borrowed the same idea while avoiding this film's lofty pretensions.) The reporter, her son, and her estranged boyfriend view the tape, and the film's countdown structure follows them into deepening layers of terror--all quite effective until the movie attempts to explain itself. At that you're better off shutting down your brain and letting the creepy visuals take over. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (1007)

Almost too much!
The scariest or creepiest or whatever you'd call a movie that makes you look over your shoulder even in your own apartment for several days after the first time you've watched it. These movies aren't good for my health, including "The Grudge". And yes, I'm man enough to admit it -and my girlfriend having long black hair didn't exactly help it! Hehe, it's not that bad of course, but "The Ring" indeed is the movie that managed to scare the peace out of me for the rest of that day, and with its' flaws (the tape that's never explained where comes from or how was "produced") -well, the movie managing to do so well what it intends to do I DON'T CARE! A masterpiece of its' genre, "Halloween" or "Nightmare On Elm Street" will never be the same after this!

Creepy!

DON'T START THE VCR & DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!
The Ring is perhaps one of the best movies of the last 10 years, for the fact that it is a story that starts as a mystery, jumps into drama, gets sucked into the supernatural, and ends with vicious delight and surprising answers.If you have not seen this movie, you must.I cannot say much more except for the breif review below because the surprises will hit you like a ton of black, thick rock!this ones a real shocker!

A disturbing videotape appears to hold the power of life and death over those who view it in this offbeat thriller. A strange videotape begins making the rounds in a town in the Pacific Northwest; it is full of bizarre and haunting images, and after watching it, many viewers receive a telephone call in which they are warned they will die in seven days. A handful of teenagers who watched the tape while spending a weekend at a cabin in the mountains scoff at the threat, but as predicted, they all die suddenly on the same night.

Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), the aunt of one of the ill-fated teens, is a journalist who has decided to investigate the matter and travels West with her young son, Aidan (David Dorfman), a troubled child who has been drawing pictures of strange and ominous visions. Rachel managed to find the cabin in the woods and watches the video herself; afterward, she receives the same phone call, and realizes she must solve the puzzle of the video and the person or persons behind it within a week. Rachel turns to her ex, Noah (Martin Henderson), an expert in video technology, who at first is convinced the story is a hoax until he digs deeper into the mystery

The suckiest scary movie I ever saw
This movie sucked! sucked! sucked! Aside from the creepy subliminal images it was nothing. I didn't get the plot, because there wasn't one. I mean where did the girl come from? Was she something the "voodoo" doctor cooked up on her parents trip they took to try and have a baby? I mean she evidently wasn't theirs because she came back like 9 years old. I thought the story was through in the end when they got her body from the well, it should have been, but alas, the story went on to her boyfriend getting killed by Samara. Somebody please tell me the reason for this little girl doing the things she did and where did she come from and what was the motivation for this dumb movie. I mean even in the "short story" the had on the extras on the DVD it still told you nothing about the story, it just showed clips from the film like you were suppose to get it. I mean how can you get that if you didn't even get the movie. I would have given it no stars but you have to put something in. I'm sorry but this movie was a waste, I'm glad I only rented it from the movie rental store.

Not Scary
This film does not deserve the praise it receives.The story, as would be expected with a 'horror' film, is very weak.Once you get past how simple and stupid the idea is, you realize that the movie just isn't scary.I did not jump or startle during the entire film.It is an interesting idea, to try and not use blood and gore to make it scary, but the film didn't do anything special.It also relies on using very remedial methods to try and scare the viewer, like playing a sound of a closing door very loudly while the screen is still dark.Then, once you get to the end of the film, it feels like a total waste of your time.Just not worth seeing.

Before you die....
... you see the ring. This is such a great, suspenseful, well-thought out piece that I had to watch it twice. This horror movie relies on psychological fear and suspense rather than gore (though there a few bloody, disturbing moments). This movie is great for those who enjoy a movie with a ton of jumpy moments. The viewer is taken on the journey with Rachel in her quest to survive or face the wrath of Samara... I've got six days left... pray for me.... ... Read more

Description

You’ll delight in this hit comedy that critics call “a roaring good time for kids and adults.”
Down-on-their luck brothers Lars and Ernie Smuntz (Nathan Lane and Lee Evans) don’t think much of the crumbling old mansion they inherit… until they discover that their dilapidated estate is actually worth millions.But before they can cash in, they’ve got to rid the house of its single, stubborn occupant: a tiny and tenacious mouse.What might seem like child’s play becomes an epic battle of hysterical proportions. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Hilarious!
I think one of the most annoying things about movie critics is that they're supposed to know their stuff, but in the end they come across as just being college guys looking for something dirty to watch! Isn't it funny how they can't help but get down on a hilarious, old fashioned comedy like this and yet show them something like American Pie and it's great intellectual humor! A modern classic! Sickening! This movie was totally hilarious with hardly any sexual humor at all! Allright, just a hint here and there that wasn't necessary. Beyond that this movie was such a perfect comedy for everyone! I absolutely loved this movie! They used every cartoon trick in the book to try and stop that mouse! And wasn't Christopher Walken just incredible?!!! The casting in this was soooo great! It makes me so sad when movies like this come out and hardly get noticed by the public for whatever reason! Probably the lack of sex humor is evident and the previews and it keeps the movie goers away. Anyway I loved it! Do yourself a favor and pick it up! I've got it on VHS but hope to get the DVD eventually!

Mouse Hunt Movie Review
MOUSE HUNT- Movie Review
Critic's Grading
Story: B+
Acting: A-
Artistic Value: B
Entertainment Value: A
Interest Level: A-
Production Value: A

Mouse Hunt, one of the most hilarious movies that DreamWorks produced in 1997 is just fantastic! After Peacemaker (1997), DreamWorks produced another children's movie, this time with a mouse. Even though this movie did not get huge attention like Cinderella or any of the Disney movies, it sure did capture not only the children, but also the adults' attention. It gives children laughter and happiness.
Two greedy brothers, Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars Smuntz (Lee Evans) inherit the string factory and a house, which is worth ten million dollars from their father (William Hickey). Two brothers try to sell this old and scary house for money, but there is an obstacle; a tiny mouse. With the tiny mouse, who is afraid of losing his house, and these two brothers, who think this mouse would reduce the value of the house, they get into big chaos which leaves a big mess at the end.
The story gets intense and hilarious via the effect of the shots and different media. The mouse, which has been shot with CGI, looks pretty realistic and gives extra comedy to it. The setting of the house and its effect permeates the mood to this movie. The sounding of the thunder and lightening, shouting, and all sorts of sounds add to the great amount of intensity. The destruction of the house, also shot with CGI, is great! My heart almost fell down as this gigantic house fell down!
Ernie, acted by Nathan Lane, is great fun both physically as a character of his own. Ernie is the oldest son of the two, and he is greedy and blinded by money. In other hand, Lars, played by Lee Evans is skinny with a very heart warming character. These two opposite characters bring out the conflicts and humorous events that make the story more amusing. The mouse, one of the cleverest characters in this movie, has created lots of brilliant ideas to prevent him from losing his house. They are all very fantastic!
This movie can be entertaining to everyone, including adults. Even though it is rated as PG, some scenes aren't proper for young children. There is a part where Lars's wife suddenly takes off her clothes. Also, some of the black jokes are inappropriate. The way they fight and joke might overwhelm some of the young children. It is likely that youngsters may also follow some of the inappropriate scenes in their daily lives. Mostly, it is very entertaining and everybody should see it!
For this movie, I can rate its overall grade as A-. Even though there are some parts which could have been improved, I think it is an excellent movie which puts a smile and laughter in everyone's mind. I strongly recommend this movie to anybody in any age. Why won't you follow me and adventure into this hilarious world?

Man vs Mouse
Last week, thanks once again to the wonderful Patio theater located on Irving Park at Austin, I caught a delightful fantasy film. It was the Dreamworks production Mouse Hunt.

Two brothers inherit the family string business (Smuntz String) and a run-down old house. Neither is worth anything. Or so it seems at first. The house was designed by an eccentric architect named LaRue and was believed to be only a rumor. Suddenly the house is worth millions. Instead of selling outright, the brothers decide to hold an auction to get a better price. But to reach that point they need to do some restoration and get rid of a very determined mouse.

There are then some scenes of the brothers trying to outwit a mouse that could outwit Einstein. Finally they think they have sent the mouse to Castro and the auction begins. As the price reaches unheard of levels the mouse returns. The brothers are so distraught that they bring about their own ruin and destroy the house. Having nowhere else to go they return to the old string factory. The mouse follows.

Once in the factory the mouse shows some more of its intelligence by starting up the factory line and adding Gouda to the mix. The result is a new form of string cheese that becomes the rage with the mouse hired on as head taster.

This movie is truly hilarious. The mouse is great. I believe the mouse is near immortal as well as a genius. I believe this because there is a tendency for owners of the LaRue house to be found locked in a trunk in the attic. We know for a fact that the mouse defeated Christopher Walken (playing the strangest exterminator you have ever seen) and managed to get him from in front of the house into a trunk in the attic. It is even possible that the mouse was responsible for the architect going mad. Whatever the case, this movie is really worth seeing. If you can not find it in a second-run theater, look for it when it comes out on video.

Great movie, I really enjoyed it !!!
It's the type of movie, you can watch
repeatedly, and enjoy it every time.

It's a must have in anyone's dvd collection.

Great movie, I really enjoyed it !!!
Great movie, I really enjoyed it !!!

It's the type of movie, you can watch
repeatedly, and enjoy it every time.

It's a must have in anyone's dvd collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disturbing images and a few good shocks don't stop The Ring from being a hash of half-baked ideas. It's the kind of frightfest you'll watch to set a chilling mood or spook your susceptible friends, but when you try to sort it out, this well-mounted American remake (of the 1998 Japanese hit Ringu, based on Koji Suzuki's popular novel) collapses into a heap of incoherent parts. The negligible plot follows a Seattle reporter (Naomi Watts) as she investigates the death of her niece, the victim of a mysterious videotape that, according to vague urban legend, causes the viewer's death seven days later. (Fear Dot Com borrowed the same idea while avoiding this film's lofty pretensions.) The reporter, her son, and her estranged boyfriend view the tape, and the film's countdown structure follows them into deepening layers of terror--all quite effective until the movie attempts to explain itself. At that you're better off shutting down your brain and letting the creepy visuals take over. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (1007)

Almost too much!
The scariest or creepiest or whatever you'd call a movie that makes you look over your shoulder even in your own apartment for several days after the first time you've watched it. These movies aren't good for my health, including "The Grudge". And yes, I'm man enough to admit it -and my girlfriend having long black hair didn't exactly help it! Hehe, it's not that bad of course, but "The Ring" indeed is the movie that managed to scare the peace out of me for the rest of that day, and with its' flaws (the tape that's never explained where comes from or how was "produced") -well, the movie managing to do so well what it intends to do I DON'T CARE! A masterpiece of its' genre, "Halloween" or "Nightmare On Elm Street" will never be the same after this!

Creepy!

DON'T START THE VCR & DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!
The Ring is perhaps one of the best movies of the last 10 years, for the fact that it is a story that starts as a mystery, jumps into drama, gets sucked into the supernatural, and ends with vicious delight and surprising answers.If you have not seen this movie, you must.I cannot say much more except for the breif review below because the surprises will hit you like a ton of black, thick rock!this ones a real shocker!

A disturbing videotape appears to hold the power of life and death over those who view it in this offbeat thriller. A strange videotape begins making the rounds in a town in the Pacific Northwest; it is full of bizarre and haunting images, and after watching it, many viewers receive a telephone call in which they are warned they will die in seven days. A handful of teenagers who watched the tape while spending a weekend at a cabin in the mountains scoff at the threat, but as predicted, they all die suddenly on the same night.

Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), the aunt of one of the ill-fated teens, is a journalist who has decided to investigate the matter and travels West with her young son, Aidan (David Dorfman), a troubled child who has been drawing pictures of strange and ominous visions. Rachel managed to find the cabin in the woods and watches the video herself; afterward, she receives the same phone call, and realizes she must solve the puzzle of the video and the person or persons behind it within a week. Rachel turns to her ex, Noah (Martin Henderson), an expert in video technology, who at first is convinced the story is a hoax until he digs deeper into the mystery

The suckiest scary movie I ever saw
This movie sucked! sucked! sucked! Aside from the creepy subliminal images it was nothing. I didn't get the plot, because there wasn't one. I mean where did the girl come from? Was she something the "voodoo" doctor cooked up on her parents trip they took to try and have a baby? I mean she evidently wasn't theirs because she came back like 9 years old. I thought the story was through in the end when they got her body from the well, it should have been, but alas, the story went on to her boyfriend getting killed by Samara. Somebody please tell me the reason for this little girl doing the things she did and where did she come from and what was the motivation for this dumb movie. I mean even in the "short story" the had on the extras on the DVD it still told you nothing about the story, it just showed clips from the film like you were suppose to get it. I mean how can you get that if you didn't even get the movie. I would have given it no stars but you have to put something in. I'm sorry but this movie was a waste, I'm glad I only rented it from the movie rental store.

Not Scary
This film does not deserve the praise it receives.The story, as would be expected with a 'horror' film, is very weak.Once you get past how simple and stupid the idea is, you realize that the movie just isn't scary.I did not jump or startle during the entire film.It is an interesting idea, to try and not use blood and gore to make it scary, but the film didn't do anything special.It also relies on using very remedial methods to try and scare the viewer, like playing a sound of a closing door very loudly while the screen is still dark.Then, once you get to the end of the film, it feels like a total waste of your time.Just not worth seeing.

Before you die....
... you see the ring. This is such a great, suspenseful, well-thought out piece that I had to watch it twice. This horror movie relies on psychological fear and suspense rather than gore (though there a few bloody, disturbing moments). This movie is great for those who enjoy a movie with a ton of jumpy moments. The viewer is taken on the journey with Rachel in her quest to survive or face the wrath of Samara... I've got six days left... pray for me.... ... Read more