The NZA Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 Alright, so my previous reviews of asian horror films, like Audition, Ringu and The Eye may be gone, but ima try again. Ju-on (soon to be released stateside as "The Grudge") is a simple ghost story: tragedy happens, and a house is haunted. The fallen takes another living being, which repeats the cycle. There's a lot of discussion on what happens in this made-for-TV japanese series, but its not a whole lot more complicated than that, at heart. Thing is, its not told in a linear fashion, and charcters do seem similar, so its mildly tricky at first. Plus, its made for TV, so the affects are nothing big at all. However...its sublte when it needs to be, and builds this tension & sense of inevitability that's intense. Personally, i found this one scarier than the others mentioned above, and its sure not without its distrubing scenes, too. If Spiffytee sees this, he might comment. Just wanted to throw this one out there...it spawned a number of sequels, and again, is on its way stateside. The only awkward bit is that part one ends on an odd note, and part 2 (as im tryin to watch now) starts off with the first half hour being the last half hour of part 1, so you have to get past that. After that...ill post back when i see how it goes down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted August 28, 2004 Author Share Posted August 28, 2004 Ok, so...part 2 wasnt as good, and yeah, the first half hour was just the last half hour or so, with an added scene or two for measure. It wasnt that 2 was bad, by any means, but it didnt give much in the way of resolution; if you enjoyed the horror of part 1, its cool to see it continue, but by the end, it mighta been a bit much...this one really had its scary-ass moments, too, tho. Some say the subtletly of Ringu was wrecked by American effects; i thought the girl in the TV was done really well (tho that whole "horse jumping overboard" was odd); but Ringu was a bit scarier to a (largely) superstitious japanese culture, who thinks that ghosts are vengeful spirits. Given that, this should be scary as hell. It just got me thinking...i think the US version of this one could be pretty good, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deacon Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 It was out in the cinema where I work as we are having an Asian Extreme film festival of some kind. It got very mixed reviews, some said it was amazing, some not so amazing. The remake with Sarah Michelle Gellar can only be a piece of trash in my humble opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JunkerSeed Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 I really liked this one. The scares are really fucking creepy and stuck with me for quite a while. Even the plot I thought was pretty cool. The way things overlapped and such was really interesting, even if it offered abslutely no resolution. I can see the remake of this one working because it's by the same director... He's just gonna reshoot his movie with american actors apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deacon Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 Why fucking bother. Thats ridiculous, if people aren't bothered to watch one with subtitles and need the comfort of knowing Buffys in it, then fuck them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deacon Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 Is it not called The Grudge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted August 29, 2004 Author Share Posted August 29, 2004 Hah...Deac, i didnt know it was gonna be Buffy, hope they dont fuck up what was a pretty basic, but well-done horror story...but if its the same director & all, that gives a bit of hope. So, what's it being called stateside, then? Who picked it up, Lion Gate or Artistan or wha? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalHeart Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 I really liked the Original. I saw the two non-theater released ones before this one, and I thought they were good for low budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Line Nightmare Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Someone recommended Ju-On, so I watched it a few months back with some of the LO-FI crew. I think there might've been a problem with the DVD, since it was a bootleg, but what we did see wasn't scary or creepy at all. It takes a lot more than a little Japanese kid in white makeup to induce any kind of fear. The one good sequence was the "girl" walking down the stairs. Apart from that, the movie was sub-par, and I don't know how Sarah Michelle Gellar is going to improve the situation in the American "re-telling." She better hope that Joss Whedon's got something written for her, because this "serious actress" business is going to go over like a lead balloon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yahve Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 Thanks to Nick I got a chance to see Ju On last night. Pretty good. Very solid horror movie, its been a long time since ive seen a movie use basic eerie music so well. I thought it was hillarious to see a trailer for The Grudge today as one of the previews before Suspect Zero ( fun movie, could have had a bit more development for an ending). Check out the trailer, it looks exactly like Ju On. Hopefully it'll be like Vanilla Sky, a good american version of a foriegn film by the same director. We wouldn't want the public to suffer from asian-itis. Official Site with trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Line Nightmare Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 We wouldn't want the public to suffer from asian-itis. With our country's growing need for anime, I'd say it's already set in for me. Fucking sick and tired of anime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 ...wait, youre sick of the entire medium? The one no one payed attention to for years, even when it had some amazing series (like Cowboy Bebop, etc), and now its gettin its due attention? Im not sure how one gets sick of a medium...youre an odd one, white line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Lindsay Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 i finally saw the preview for the grudge when i saw hero today (AMAZING!!!) and i think i really want to see the originals first. can you rent them at the video store or are they hard to find? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da Cap'n Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 The remake with Sarah Michelle Gellar can only be a piece of trash in my humble opinion. I just saw Hero and the trailer for The Grunge and it actually looks pretty good! Maybe the next Ring? The fact that it has Buffy in it doesn't really bother me... maybe, she's trying to do something serious for a change (like Ashton Kutcher in Butterfly Effect)!! Oh and it had Sam Raimi's name attached to it so it can't be that bad... (horror's what got him in the bizz, remember)!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 Eh, its hard to find imports at rental places over here. If you have a PC, i can prolly copy the disc, and a few quick codecs for yoru windows media player to read it... if you want, and you & cap'n are down (snce he's big on horror flicks too), i can show it over here...id prolly show the TV one, as its freakier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Lindsay Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 alright, that sounds good. i'm down! just let me know when and maybe i can get ariel to go too (and actually stay for the movie this time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Lindsay Posted September 11, 2004 Share Posted September 11, 2004 Two words: HOLY SHIT. That's my review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da Cap'n Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 I agree!! That movie was awesome... so awesome in fact that I want Oppai to buy me the REAL DVD when he goes to Japan!! What do you say Jon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLeakyBucket Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 This film comes to my independent cinema in a week. I'm so hyped. Scariest Eastern film ive seen so far has been 'The Eye' with the notorious elevator scene, but hoping this might top it. On a related note, I have heard Hollywood is remaking 'The Eye'. Weird little film fashion going on I reckon. What's next 'Audition', 'Battle Royale' remakes?? ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da Cap'n Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Scariest Eastern film ive seen so far has been 'The Eye' Prepare to have a new winner! This movie is awesome!! Wait, you're probably gonna see the movie one, not the TV movie one...! Still it's gonna freak you out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Lindsay Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 yeah, this movie rocked!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 12, 2004 Author Share Posted September 12, 2004 Haha....I hope those 2 dont get remade. And Cap'ns right, Ju-On: The Grudge is a movie based on the TV series, its good, but if you really wannna get fucked up, watch Ju-On: The Curse..it doesnt pull any punches. Can you play Divx files, MLB? If not, i could toss a few codes on a disc with the movie, lemme know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalHeart Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 Eh, its hard to find imports at rental places over here. I know some of them aren't for rent, but there is a place in Addison (near Dallas) called Anime Pop and they sell HK dvd boxsets of anime, rent anime, and also sell Asian/Japanese DVD's. If any of you like, gimme a title and next time CJ and I are there we can take a gander and pick it up for you's. : D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLeakyBucket Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Haha....I hope those 2 dont get remade. And Cap'ns right, Ju-On: The Grudge is a movie based on the TV series, its good, but if you really wannna get fucked up, watch Ju-On: The Curse..it doesnt pull any punches.Can you play Divx files, MLB? If not, i could toss a few codes on a disc with the movie, lemme know. Ah ok, didn't realise there was a difference. Considering my laptop is not very up-to-date I would probably need the codes. Me and technology are like Marvin Gaye and his father, we don't really get along ??? If you were to stick them on a disc IC that would be ever so cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted October 25, 2004 Author Share Posted October 25, 2004 Well, i havent heard much from board members on it, but the US version is apparently doing well...CNN says its already cleared $40 million ( http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/...reut/index.html )...not bad for a low-budget horror flick with buffy...released around halloween. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.