As good as original but in a different way

Rating: 9/10 (1 March 2003)

I watched both this newer version and the japanese original in the same day. Thus, the japanese version was not as frightening, as I knew what to expect and when to expect it. If I had seen the japanese version first, though, I think I would've found that one better.
One notorious difference between the two Rings is that the japanese is just about 95 minutes while the american one runs for almost 2 hours. It becomes clear why when they are compared in the same day as I did - the japanese main characters seem to have some kind of psychometric powers, i.e. the ability to see past events related to an object or a person that they touch. The american version is more true to scientific method and lets the characters find out more for themselves in a "logical" manner. The quote-marks I just used are of course there since there isn't much logic to be expected in this movie.
I definitely love both versions, I am giving both 9 out of 10, perhaps I would give the japanese a 9 and the american an 8.5 if possible, but they are good in so different ways that they're almost two different horror movies, although you recognize most scenes and often even the camera angles and architecture of the rooms and the steps inside the houses where the action takes place! This is a Blair Witch Project for the 00's, let's just hope that the sequel isn't as bad as in the Blair Witch case.