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Product Description
The complete trilogy of Hideo Nakata's dark and chilling tales of a deadly virus that can be caught simply by watching a cursed videotape, which prompted a US remake starring Naomi Watts in 2002. In 'Ring 1' (1998), fear spreads among the students of a local high school when news circulates of a mysterious videotape which brings death to those who watch it. TV reporter Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) sets out to investigate, finds a copy of the tape in a deserted cabin and falls victim to its awful curse. With only one week left to live, her only hope is to uncover the story behind the tape, to find out where it came from and why it wields such terrible powers. In the sequel, 'Ring 2' (1998), journalist Mai Takano (Miki Nakatani) begins her own investigation into the mysterious haunted videotape that kills all those who see it. Along the way she discovers that Youichi, the son of tape victim Ryiji, has begun to develop many of the same supernatural powers that Sadako had when she was still alive. Now Mai must do her best to protect both herself and Youichi from the evil undead Sadako as the tape's curse continues to exert its terrifying power. In 'Ring 0' (2002), the final part of the trilogy and a prequel to the original film, it's the 1950s and Sadako, the evil spirit who wreaks havoc in the later stories, is a young woman and aspiring actress around whom strange things happen. Under suspicion from her peers she eventually takes part in a paranormal demonstration in front of the media. One by one the journalists present start to die as the fiancée of one of the dead tries to unlock the mystery of the tape-recording of Sadako's voice.
Synopsis
This edition collects the original Japanese RING Trilogy:
Exactly one week after staying at a remote cabin, a group of Japanese teenagers all meet sudden inexplicable deaths. A cousin of one of the victims, reporter Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima), begins an investigation that leads to the discovery of a videotape containing hauntingly bizarre footage. Upon viewing the tape, Reiko receives a phone call stating that she, too, will die in one week. As the clock ticks away, Reiko enlists the help of her estranged husband, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), who possesses limited psychic abilities. Together they attempt to discover the meaning behind the cryptic film and break the supernatural curse.
Hideo Nakata's RING, based on a novel by Koji Suzuki, was such a hit in Japan that it spawned both a sequel and prequel, along with a huge cult following. Like a horrific version of an X-FILES episode, the dark, moody film makes the most out of the mysterious and the unknown. As any viewer will admit, the surreal, death-inducing video presented within the movie is extremely effective. And as RING's tension builds, so does its sense of mounting doom. One of the creepiest motion pictures ever made, RING culminates in an unbelievably chilling finale. Do not watch this film alone...and make sure the phone ringer is off.
Exactly one week after staying at a remote cabin, a group of Japanese teenagers all meet sudden inexplicable deaths. A cousin of one of the victims, reporter Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima), begins an investigation that leads to the discovery of a videotape containing hauntingly bizarre footage. Upon viewing the tape, Reiko receives a phone call stating that she, too, will die in one week. As the clock ticks away, Reiko enlists the help of her estranged husband, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), who possesses limited psychic abilities. Together they attempt to discover the meaning behind the cryptic film and break the supernatural curse.
Hideo Nakata's RING, based on a novel by Koji Suzuki, was such a hit in Japan that it spawned both a sequel and prequel, along with a huge cult following. Like a horrific version of an X-FILES episode, the dark, moody film makes the most out of the mysterious and the unknown. As any viewer will admit, the surreal, death-inducing video presented within the movie is extremely effective. And as RING's tension builds, so does its sense of mounting doom. One of the creepiest motion pictures ever made, RING culminates in an unbelievably chilling finale. Do not watch this film alone...and make sure the phone ringer is off.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By "satans_son"
Format:DVD
I watched Gore Verbinski's Ring prior to watching the jap versions, but I have to say that japanese horror is far more horrifying than the western one. They don't worry about our sanity, they just want to scare the hell out of you. Ring 1 is absolutely great, fear in its most pure form, Ring 2 is probably the weakest of the trilogy, yet quite good, and Ring 0, wich explanis how the evil Sadako was born, is pure panic. Forget Jason, Freddy, Myers or Leatherface; Sadako has got to be the most horrifying character that ever appeared on a TV screen. Those eyes are the vision of Satan itself. Hideo Nakata, who is also directing the american version of Ring 2, is an absolute genius. If you like these masterpieces, then watch Dark Water. J-HORROR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I guess I've been waiting for this set ever since I was introduced to the Ringu phenomenon at the Edinburgh Film Festival back in 2000. Didn't bother buying the earlier UK Region 2 DVDs, which were universally panned on technical grounds, and hoped something like this would come along eventually to curb the enthusiasm surrounding the overambitious American remake. Now, after seeing the 'canonical' Ringu movies en masse, I guess it is possible for anyone to see why Hideo Nakata is directing the American remake!
The movies are uniformly excellent -- up to and including Sleeping Bride, which is a kind of a tangent here, really -- and a great lesson in the 'less is more' school of creeping the bejesus out of anyone. My favorite scenes are scattered throughout the tryptich -- not trilogy, as Kim Newman smartly points out in his liner notes -- so it's totally convenient to have them packaged in one box. And what a box it is! Tartan should win some awards for the packaging alone -- this is by far the best usage of a lenticular image I've seen on a DVD yet. Also, having the whole thing encased in a clear plastic sleeve makes it look both classy and durable on the shelf.
Audio presentation is immaculate across the board -- your choice of DD 5.1, DTS, or Dolby Surround (not just stereo!) -- with no dubs in sight. Visually, Ringu 2 and Bride fare better than the other two, but just barely -- all the movies are very sharp, and the subdued color schemes are rendered even more accurately than on the R1 DreamWorks DVD of the first Ringu (which is also slightly cropped). There is evidence of NTSC/PAL conversion, though, but it could prove bothersome only to those with certain types of DVD-ROM drives. On a widescreen TV this goes by pretty much unnoticed.
Extras are a bit light, but the deleted scenes on Ringu 0 are in full widescreen and look the same as the regular movie (this is so rare!), while the behind-the-scenes footage is raw and compelling -- the Sadako Mime Class in particular. And every bit of it is competently subtitled (even though the rhyme from the tape is rendered differently in Ringu and Ringu 2).
Those minor issues aside, this set is (and will be for a long time) an essential purchase for any fan of horror and Asian cinema in general.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Forget any remake nonsense there is floating about - join the world cinema revolution and get your hands on these DVDS.
This was the set that gave me my new love for world horror - I have never in my life been as afraid as I was when Sedako came crawling crab style out of the telly, from her blackened stumps of nails to the rolling eye that could stop a bus at 2o feet she is terror personified.
Tastefully done and artfully crafted these are tales ultimately of woe and horror that beget all who come across the 'cursed video', in true asian style you will see lots of dark hair and half seen shadows in what became I think the gateway for many more world horror films to come through - welcome Sedako into your house - but beware, you have 7 days left to live!
This was the set that gave me my new love for world horror - I have never in my life been as afraid as I was when Sedako came crawling crab style out of the telly, from her blackened stumps of nails to the rolling eye that could stop a bus at 2o feet she is terror personified.
Tastefully done and artfully crafted these are tales ultimately of woe and horror that beget all who come across the 'cursed video', in true asian style you will see lots of dark hair and half seen shadows in what became I think the gateway for many more world horror films to come through - welcome Sedako into your house - but beware, you have 7 days left to live!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Japanese horror trilogy at a bargain price
For the current price, this is a great box set of one bona fide classic and outright terrifying movie (Ringu), a highly interesting sequel which goes more into the direction of... Read more
Published 4 hours ago by aXXon N
2.0 out of 5 stars
You Gotta Be Kidding?
I bought this set after reading all the rave reviews and wonder if I have purchased the same DVD's. I have watched 1 and 2 and so far, and found it not at all horrific. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. Simms
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ringu - in a word: seminal!
The J-horror trend (which encompasses all Asian horror, mostly Japanese and Korean movies) was a very neatly defined and particular time in horror movie history. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. V. F. R. Niekerk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great horror films
An absoultly wonderful collection of horror movies and a very Romantic movie of the Sleeping Bride, many hours of enjoyable film making. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Princess Emily
4.0 out of 5 stars
A little disappointed...
I've loved this series of films for a time. When I saw this triple pack of Ring at such a good price I couldn't resist. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. S. Adams
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bad Version - Dont Buy - Get The Other 4 Disc Version Instead
I purchased this box set and was pleased with the new lower price. When it arrived I played the first film and the sound track was awful! Read more
Published 22 months ago by milesfb
1.0 out of 5 stars
Great films but cheap, shoddy DVDs
Unfortunately, the viewing experience is somewhat ruined by the awful picture quality and the white English subtitles which cannot be read on scenes that have white or light... Read more
Published on 25 May 2011 by Applegirl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lousy treatment of 3 great movies.
This new collection of the three original movies is very poor. Not only have Tartan gone back to the original DVD masters from around 2000 rather than use the newer ones from 2004,... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2011 by Paul Watters
5.0 out of 5 stars
disc labelling
my review isn't for the films - which are all excellent, 5 stars.
this is just to warn people that the set i received, 2 of the discs were labelled the wrong way around... Read more
this is just to warn people that the set i received, 2 of the discs were labelled the wrong way around... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2011 by Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars
A ring of ordinary alienation
It has been quite interesting seeing the trilogy, although perhaps it would have been even more profitable adding the lost "Rasen", second episode that having not being welcomed,... Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2010 by Anna Spinelli
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