Not the original, but not bad

Rating: 7/10 (26 October 2002)

Many reviews I've read have put this down SERIOUSLY in comparison to it's original. Harsh reviews make this out to seem like a movie the likes of Blood Lake, The Sandman, or Jack-O (sad to say I've seen). It's NOT at all that bad, in fact, I rather enjoyed it. Let's go over a few things, shall we? Be prepared for lite spoilers.
Okay, it's true, this has more shock value and less suspense than the original, yes, it's an American remake, but that doesn't make it absolute and total crap (one person suggested waiting till it went to the dollar movies... what the hell were they watching?). There is still a good deal of suspense. The shocks even, I venture to say, add some scare value during the movie that the original lacked, yet it still builds suspense (though not as much as the original, as said).
Fine performances are put on by all, and the little boy didn't annoy me as much as I thought he would have. However, the character of Noah (played by someone I don't remember) was a weak link in the chain. He had no specific personality, in fact, he was rather dull, and wished for Takayama Ryuji to suddenly appear and help Rachel. Rachel, Naomi Watts, it shows that the chick in the movie CAN do something other than look up a few things (okay, okay, Reiko went in the well in the end, but she did little else). She I prefered to the original Asakawa Reiko. If only Noah were more like Ryuji... Our two children are interesting and creepy. But why did they cut Samara's greatest line ("Everyone will suffer.")? Sigh.
Contrary to popular belief, not EVERYTHING is explained from the video (fingers in box, maggots) and not all is explained regarding the little girl (Why DID the horses die? WAS it her?) among other things (why were they at the mountain place with the horses, and when? We KNOW Ikuma took Sadako there after the suicide. Wait... something explained in RING but not in THE RING. AGH!).
The ending... okay, the very end was SO much better in the original. However, the tv ending... well, certain things are creepier in the remake. And also, the deaths are much more interesting (and easier to explain, it's not a virus here... ugh, the virus idea... a point where THE RING is better).
Overall, see this movie, it's really damn good. Watch the original too. Sure, it's better, but this is not bad.