I have decided that I don't like the current format of my reviews. I sat here and tried to think about what sets this blog apart from other movie review sites. I came up with A: it's a blog and B: it's me! But, that's not going to be good enough to make this puppy take off. Sure, I could add more reviews, but that's going to take time and it will grow eventually.
Initialy, I thought that by dividing each review by category (i.e. plot, action, visual, etc.) would give me a skeleton to work from; a structure to build around and keep my thoughts in order. Now, I think that the very frame I set out to use as a tool is confining and I don't often have much to say about a certain category. It's making the whole post dull and sluggish.
So, I'm going to try a freeform method and add a little bit more of a personal touch to my reviews. After all, I'm not Ebert or Greg Moody here. I don't need a clinical dissection of each movie and I'm not a scholor who's qualified to make judgements as to technique etc.
I will still enter a score and I'll try my best not to have spoilers. I think this new method of reviewing will leave me more freedom to really express how I felt about the movies.
So, hang on for a makeover!
Movie Reviews With Flavor!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
The Ring Two (2005)
Director: Hideo Nakata
Format: DVD
DVD Features: standard audio and subtitle options
Starring: Naomi Watts, David Dorfman
Trailer
The Ring series is continued here in the U.S. by the director of both of the Japanese films (Ringu, Ringu 2). Although the first Ring movie stateside was directed by Gore Verbinski, it mirrored Ringu almost exactly. The Ring holds a special place in my heart (long story) and I was hoping that its sequel would be as creepy and intriguing as the first. The Ring Two is not a movie to walk into without having seen its predecessor, because there is no rehashing of the old storyline, no flashback scenes (except for a few clips from the deadly video), and picks up very nearly where it left off. The plot also relies heavily on references from the prequel.
Since we last left Rachel (Naomi Watts) and Aiden (David Dorfman), they have moved to a new town, a new job, and a new group of potential victims. Rachel has found work with the local newspaper and learns of a mysterious death in the neighborhood. After some minimal investigation, she finds the unmarked video tape and discovers that Samara is back to haunt her and her son. As with the last movie, Rachel has to follow clues to discover what the ghoulish undead girl wants. The Ring Two could have easily been just another string of victims with VCRs. Instead, it focuses more on Aiden’s character and Samara’s attempts to steal Rachel away from him. In that regard, it was nice to see a change. However, toward the middle of the film, the plot seems to lose some focus. Aiden is in the hospital and Rachel isn’t allowed to visit him because the authorities feel that he may be a victim of child abuse. She doesn’t seem more than momentarily upset by this and runs off to look for Samara’s original mother. When she finds the woman, the scene is anti-climactic. The Ring Two lacks the cohesion that the first movie had and doesn’t feature any spine-tingling moments that weren’t already spoiled by the trailer.
Plot: 2 stars
I always appreciate it when the sequel to a movie retains its original stars. Watts and Dorfman maintain their respective roles, Samara isn’t the same girl, but it’s not easy to tell and everyone else from the first movie didn’t make it to the sequel. Not being a big fan of child actors to begin with, I was especially tormented by David Dorfman. My enjoyment of the movie was hindered by a constant burning desire to slap him senseless or ring his neck (smart-ass little brat).
Cast: 3 stars
I don’t know that I’d say this movie has any action, per se. Most of the scary parts come when they’re expected, or are already spoiled by the trailer. The final confrontation between Rachel and Samara is what you might call “tense” and a bit creepy, but not really action.
Action: 2 stars
The bathtub scene, which is one that the trailer spoils, is perhaps the most visually complex effect in the film. The majority of the movie has a washed-out blue-grey tint and nothing really seems to stand out. At the same time, it works to set the gloomy atmosphere. A few shots of Samara are kind of cheesy looking, and I think that the filmmakers should have either put more effort into them, or left them out altogether.
Visual: 2 stars
I thought the tag line, “Fear Comes Full Circle” was clever, if a little corny. Once again, no memorable dialogue. There was a bit about Aiden addressing his mother as “Rachel”, rather than “Mommy”, but I couldn’t recap that situation without spoiling something.
Dialogue: 1 star
I was terribly disappointed with The Ring Two. Perhaps it is the change of directors that makes the difference, or maybe it’s that the plot isn’t so elastic as to fill two movies without becoming limp. It could have also been the lack of convincing makeup and effects, which didn’t induce the fear that the first one did. I added this one to my personal library, but only because it was on sale for $5.00. At least this video won’t kill you in seven days.
Alternate viewing choice: The Ring
IMDB site
Official site
Rotten Tomatoes Review
Format: DVD
DVD Features: standard audio and subtitle options
Starring: Naomi Watts, David Dorfman
Trailer
The Ring series is continued here in the U.S. by the director of both of the Japanese films (Ringu, Ringu 2). Although the first Ring movie stateside was directed by Gore Verbinski, it mirrored Ringu almost exactly. The Ring holds a special place in my heart (long story) and I was hoping that its sequel would be as creepy and intriguing as the first. The Ring Two is not a movie to walk into without having seen its predecessor, because there is no rehashing of the old storyline, no flashback scenes (except for a few clips from the deadly video), and picks up very nearly where it left off. The plot also relies heavily on references from the prequel.
Since we last left Rachel (Naomi Watts) and Aiden (David Dorfman), they have moved to a new town, a new job, and a new group of potential victims. Rachel has found work with the local newspaper and learns of a mysterious death in the neighborhood. After some minimal investigation, she finds the unmarked video tape and discovers that Samara is back to haunt her and her son. As with the last movie, Rachel has to follow clues to discover what the ghoulish undead girl wants. The Ring Two could have easily been just another string of victims with VCRs. Instead, it focuses more on Aiden’s character and Samara’s attempts to steal Rachel away from him. In that regard, it was nice to see a change. However, toward the middle of the film, the plot seems to lose some focus. Aiden is in the hospital and Rachel isn’t allowed to visit him because the authorities feel that he may be a victim of child abuse. She doesn’t seem more than momentarily upset by this and runs off to look for Samara’s original mother. When she finds the woman, the scene is anti-climactic. The Ring Two lacks the cohesion that the first movie had and doesn’t feature any spine-tingling moments that weren’t already spoiled by the trailer.
Plot: 2 stars
I always appreciate it when the sequel to a movie retains its original stars. Watts and Dorfman maintain their respective roles, Samara isn’t the same girl, but it’s not easy to tell and everyone else from the first movie didn’t make it to the sequel. Not being a big fan of child actors to begin with, I was especially tormented by David Dorfman. My enjoyment of the movie was hindered by a constant burning desire to slap him senseless or ring his neck (smart-ass little brat).
Cast: 3 stars
I don’t know that I’d say this movie has any action, per se. Most of the scary parts come when they’re expected, or are already spoiled by the trailer. The final confrontation between Rachel and Samara is what you might call “tense” and a bit creepy, but not really action.
Action: 2 stars
The bathtub scene, which is one that the trailer spoils, is perhaps the most visually complex effect in the film. The majority of the movie has a washed-out blue-grey tint and nothing really seems to stand out. At the same time, it works to set the gloomy atmosphere. A few shots of Samara are kind of cheesy looking, and I think that the filmmakers should have either put more effort into them, or left them out altogether.
Visual: 2 stars
I thought the tag line, “Fear Comes Full Circle” was clever, if a little corny. Once again, no memorable dialogue. There was a bit about Aiden addressing his mother as “Rachel”, rather than “Mommy”, but I couldn’t recap that situation without spoiling something.
Dialogue: 1 star
I was terribly disappointed with The Ring Two. Perhaps it is the change of directors that makes the difference, or maybe it’s that the plot isn’t so elastic as to fill two movies without becoming limp. It could have also been the lack of convincing makeup and effects, which didn’t induce the fear that the first one did. I added this one to my personal library, but only because it was on sale for $5.00. At least this video won’t kill you in seven days.
Alternate viewing choice: The Ring
IMDB site
Official site
Rotten Tomatoes Review
***Note: If you found this review via IMDB, please let us know by leaving a comment. Thanks!***
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