Note: I'm not a professional so these reviews are strictly my personal thoughts only. There might be spoilers, so read with caution.
Ringu
Director: Nakata Hideo
Screenplay: Takahashi Hiroshi
Running Time: 95 minutes
Country: Japan
Year:1998
Cast:
Asakawa Reiko.......... Matsushima Nanako
Takayama Ryuji......... Sanada Hiroyuki
Takano Mai............. Nakatana Miki
Yamamura Sadako........ Inou Rie
Oishi Tomoko........... Takeuchi Yuuko
Heihachiro Ikuma....... Ban Daisuke
Yamamura Shizuko....... Masako
Yamamura Takashi....... Numata Youichi
Kurahashi Masami....... Satou Hitomi
Asakawa Yoichi......... Otaka Rikiya
Sypnosis:
Following the deaths of her niece Tomoko and 3 other teenagers, local journalist Asakawa Reiko decides to investigate on a controversial urban legend - a cursed videotape that kills whoever watches it after 7 days. Her investigation eventually brings her to Izu Peninsula. After viewing the tape and realizing that the curse might in fact be real, she turns to her ex-husband and college professor Takayama Ryuji. Together, the two of them must find a way to break the curse in order to save themselves and son Yoichi, who also watched the tape, before time runs out....
Review:
The Good:
- The movie's genuinely creepy and very unnerving; psychological horror at its best.
- Good transition of events. Though a little slow-paced, it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
- Sadako is such a badass, she'll scare you out of your wits. ; )
- The sheer brilliancy of director Hideo Nakata. Being able to turn a normal tv into an object of pure terror is just amazing. The effect of this movie to its viewer can sometimes be devastating.
The Bad:
- If you're expecting this to be a jump-out-of-seat scary scenes galore fest, i'm afraid you're gonna be disappointed. It's more of chills.
The Ugly:
- Having trouble sleeping? Traumatized because of dear Sadako? Don't worry, it will go away soon. ; )
Rating: 
/5
Ringu 2
Director: Nakata Hideo
Screenplay: Takahashi Hiroshi
Running Time: 95 minutes
Country: Japan
Year: 1999
Cast:
Takano Mai............. Nakatani Miki
Asakawa Reiko.......... Matsushima Nanako
Takayama Ryuji......... Sanada Hiroyuki
Sawaguchi Kanae........ Fukada Kyoko
Asakawa Yoichi......... Otaka Rikiya
Kurahashi Masami....... Satou Hitomi
Yamamura Sadako........ Inou Rie
Okazaki................ Yanagi Yuurei
Yamamura Shizuko....... Masako
Dr. Kawajiri........... Fumiyo Kohinata
Yamamura Takashi....... Numata Youichi
Detective Omuta........ Kenjirou Ishimaru
Sypnosis:
Desperate to reveal the truth behind the mysterious death of her professor and lover Takayama Ryuji, teaching assistant Takano Mai must first find the missing Asakawa Reiko, who's with her son Yoichi, in order to get some answers. In the midst of her search, Mai stumbles across the information about a cursed videotape that kills its viewer within a week. Doubting that this might have a connection with her professor's death, Mai eventually catches up with Reiko; only to find Yoichi and herself developing somekind of psychic powers similar to that of the late Ryuji and of Yamamura Sadako....
Review:
The Good:
- This film offers a LOT of good chills. Perfect for those people who are looking for some action.
- <3 Kyoko Fukada <3 is so cute, she'll make your heart melt. ; )
- Unlike Rasen, the story of Ringu 2 is more straight forward; it appeals more to the general audience.
The Bad:
- tv monitors + wires + some weird head fishnet + a pool of water + a couple of psychics + one crazy scientist = a pile of confusing mess
The Ugly:
- Never fool and mess with a cute schoolgirl. ; )
Rating: 
/5
Ringu 0: Baasudei
Director: Tsuruta Norio
Screenplay: Takahashi Hiroshi
Running Time: 103 minutes
Country: Japan
Year: 2000
Cast:
Yamamura Sadako........ Nakama Yukie
Toyama Hiroshi......... Tanabe Seiichi
Tachihara Etsuko....... Asou Kumiko
Heihachiro Ikuma....... Ban Daisuke
Yamamura Shizuko....... Masako
Evil Sadako............ Furuya Chinami
Miyaji Akiko........... Tanaka Yoshiko
Shigemori.............. Wakamatsu Takeshi
Kuno Wataru............ Mizukami Ryuushi
Sypnosis:
Yamamura Sadako is sent to Tokyo by his father to live a normal life. There, she finds herself joining a local-based acting troupe; but being the strange and timid type she is, Sadako was a cast off to her fellow troupe members.... all except for one, soundman Toyama Hiroshi, who eventually Sadako fell in love with. Meanwhile, reporter Miyaji Akiko wants to hunt down Sadako; hoping to seek revenge for she believed the girl was responsible for the death of her fiance years ago during a public ESP demonstration by Yamamura Shizuko. Back in the theater, bizzare things has started happening. What it seems like an evil counter-part of Sadako, it threatens to wipe out all members of the troupe....
Review:
The Good:
- The film's touching and tragic at the same time.
- <3 Yukie Nakama <3 is hot. You'd be glad to meet this version of Sadako in person. ; )
- I'm afraid to say that this is more of a drama than a horror, but nonetheless it's still very good. Any audience should very well enjoy this movie.
The Bad:
- It really lacks a good amount of chills.
The Ugly:
- Obsessed with Yukie? Well, a lot of people are. (Not me) ; )
Rating: 
/5
