7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
A journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone one week to the day after they view it.
Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman (I), Brian Cox, Jane AlexanderHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 38% |
Thriller | 31% |
Mystery | 27% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1 @640 kbps
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Have you heard about this videotape that kills you when you watch it?
Somewhere in The Ring lies symbolism for the rotting of the mind by way of watching far too much TV. In fact, it comes right at the
beginning of
the movie, talk between a couple of characters of brain cell loss and unhealthy waves and whatnot floating through the air. Oh for Heaven's sake.
Does everything have to mean a death sentence anymore? The horror, the horror. If the mere act of watching TV isn't bad enough, try it
while breathing poisoned air and consuming
a coke float to chase down some fried chicken. That there's a recipe for disaster. Oh, don't forget brushing with fluoride-laced toothpaste before
going to bed. Chances are
that poor soul won't even wake up. Moral of the story: don't eat in front of the TV, or is it don't brush while eating? The silver
lining of the whole thing is that The Ring wasn't made for TV, because everyone knows it's only TV signals that kill,
not 35mm film -- the theaters get people with all that ooey-gooey butter on the popcorn. But death-by-television is the ok sort of death,
the
kind that comes slowly over time and that nobody ever really sees coming unless someone gets a 20" CRT smashed over his or her head, not the
type that's nice enough to give
victims
seven days and a phone call to get their affairs in order. The Ring, or at least the material recorded onto the video cassette as seen in
The
Ring, is literally "Death-o-Vision." No, the tape doesn't jump off the heads and out of the Hi-Fi VHS to strangle victims, and no, it doesn't
supernaturally cause the boob tube to fall on someone's mellon, but it sure does something that scares the heck of the people who watch it.
Their
noses bleed, their faces become all blurry-like in photographs, and they croak just as the phone call promises. That is unless they can solve the
mystery
behind the images on the tape or figure out another way to cheat the system, even if it comes at someone else's expense.
Big mistake.
The Ring looks marvelous on Blu-ray. It's one of the nicest recent catalogue titles out there. The image is naturally and consistently filmic. Light grain accentuates picture-perfect detailing. The image is naturally sharp and well defined. Facial and clothing textures are strong, and the image captures the intricacies of a wood floor and other manmade elements with precision and ease. The color palette is heavily influenced by a blue-green tint that gives the image an almost sickly appearance. Bright hues rarely get past the filter, the oddball blue peanut butter lid or blood-red water exceptions to the rule. Flesh tones, of course, are influenced by the tint but appear natural in the brightest of lighting conditions. Blacks are splendid, deep and true but never crushing out fine details. The only real trouble spot comes in the form of very infrequent pops which aren't present in enough quantity to justify a reduction in score. On the whole, however, this is an incredibly handsome, steady, and film-like presentation and a top-notch catalogue transfer.
The Ring encircles listeners with a high quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track makes mostly seamless use of the entire soundstage. Phones ring off to the side with wonderful clarity and a true sense of space and pinpoint location. Gentle rain saturates the listening area. A train rumbles through the soundstage with fine clarity -- even considering the heavy, jumbled sound effect -- and a powerful low end. Music plays with a crispness and clarity across the entire range, whether heavier beats or the lightest, most delicate notes. Like the sound effects, music seems to float just so about the listening area, playing a critical part in seamlessly transporting the audience into the entire movie experience. The video tape plays with a strong and deep and but clear low end supporting both the visuals and the total heart-beating vibe. Dialogue is steady and accurate, remaining focused in the middle of the stage. This is a fine, high quality, nearly seamless presentation that suits the movie extraordinary well through its subtleties and heaviness alike.
The Ring contains a handful of extras, including a short film and deleted scenes.
The Ring pulls away the safety net of cinema and throws its audience down a deep and dark hole that leads to a place the movies had never gone before, at least on U.S. shores. The very premise of a killer video is enough to at least give every potential viewer pause and wonder what if? The movie doesn't disappoint, even if the plot proves a little more convoluted than necessary. It clears up nicely at the end, an end that's one of the better, juicier, more thought-provoking finales in genre memory. The direction is steady, the performances fine, and the movie a prime example of the thinking man's Mystery/Thriller/Horror picture. Paramount's Blu-ray release of The Ring features outstanding video and audio. The disc also comes with a few extras. Highly recommended.
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
20th Anniversary Limited Edition
2002
2002
2012
2005
Ring 2
1999
Unrated
2004
2015
2013
1980
1973
2013
2015
25th Anniversary
1999
1986
Theatrical + Unrated Alternate Cut
2007
2014
Profondo rosso
1975
2001
2017
2019
Ring
1998
2000