refresh daemon This film is the first remake of the Japanese film Ringu, which was later remade into the Hollywood film, The Ring. If you measure it alone or in comparison with the novel, it stands a passable affair, but you can't really leave aside some comparisons with Ringu as The Ring Virus takes several key elements from Ringu while also re-incorporating a few elements of the novel back into the movie. In the end, some of this gets all jumbled and it leaves a couple plot holes as well as weakens believability at times.I noticed right away that The Ring Virus generally takes a different aesthetic approach. While Ringu had a lot more natural/fluorescent lighting, generally casting the film in whites, greens and blues, The Ring Virus accepts warmer tones from incandescent lights and thus adds more yellows and oranges to the palette. Furthermore, the camera takes more dynamic movements and positions in The Ring Virus, although this is not necessarily a good thing. In some way, the Corean remake looks a little busier than the Japanese version and the overall look doesn't seem as oppressive as the original. Nonetheless, some of the shots are still taken directly from its predecessor.The story itself is primarily like Ringu. A female reporter finds a tape, which upon playing, curses her with seven days to live and she begins a desperate search for a way out of the curse. While the overarching story is essentially the same, the details and characters have changed. The partner in crime in this instance more closely follows the novel, as we find a medical researcher with no relation to the protagonist joins the case. Furthermore, the story of the ghostly villain has changed as well and thus her reasons for her vengeful ways have also changed. The story is infused with more sexuality and less paranormal science than Ringu.Unfortunately, many of these changes, even if more closely following the book, fail to work. First of all, the supporting character of the researcher doesn't come across nearly as brilliant as he is presented as being and there appears to be some remnant of Ringu's ex-husband in him as he has some unexplained bouts of clairvoyance. Also, because he has no relationship to the protagonist, its hard to believe that he would bother to join in her quest and endanger himself. In the book, he is at least a friend of the male protagonist (the sex of the protagonist got swapped in Ringu). I do have to admit that expansion of the ghost's story does lead her to be a more interesting character, but it doesn't save The Ring Viruses from the weaknesses in the details of the story. Add in a couple plot holes and a lack of attention to detail and The Ring Virus fails to impress.I found myself yelling at the screen during the course of this film and slapping my head in disbelief. Maybe if I hadn't seen Ringu first, this effort would seem less curmudgeon and while it does bring some interesting elements to the story, overall, the weaknesses in the direction and the story make it a slightly less than adequate affair. It might be an interesting first watch of the various Ring movies or an interesting comparison viewing, but otherwise, I think you'd be better served trying one of the other versions of the Ring story. Problematic. 5/10.

mojomunkey I own Ringu the book, and Ringu on DVD, I also own The Ring, the American version. Ring Virus, is all three mixed together but still changed to much to be excellent. It was not a better movie than Ringu or The Ring, but it was a slight bit more true to the book Ringu than the other two films. Personally The Ring being the first one of the entire series which includes over 5 films that I have seen is my favorite, followed by the book Ringu. The book is totally different. The hero is a man, there is no evil child. there isn't even a female lead. But the movies always have to change that. For some reason the rule in horror is that the woman has to save the man. But in the book there is no woman to save. But Ring Virus tries to keep true to the plot of the book. Sadako, Samara, or Eun-suh, they are all the same character, which ever you prefer to call her is most like her book counter part in Ring Virus. They keep very true to her and her story, also the title Ring Virus is very true to the book Ringu, because in the book the author refers to the Ring mystery as a virus that must be spread. It's a good movie if you are into the whole Ring view of horror, running against the clock, that you already beat because you are to stupid to just except your death.

grizlas To all of you who feel let down by this film, I'd like to point out that every one of you have had great anticipations about how it would be. Films like Blair Witch and Ringu are in my oppinion the very best the horror genre has to offer, but they require your immersion to have any effect.Just knowing too much about a film like this can be enough to ruin it for someone who's not a regular horror film fanatic. How many of us have a friend who went to see Blair Witch in the Cinema during the height of the hype, and came back dissapoined not understanding what all the fuss was about?. How can you immerse yourself in a movie with no real special effects, no tempo, no humor and no sex?. The only thing these movies have to offer is horror and that horror in turn more than makes up for other shortcommings, but in order to be frightened you have to play along with the movie, that is accept the absence of all the things you usually find in hollywood blockbusters. If you can't do that, the movie will not be frightening and if it's not frightening, there is nothing else to keep you interested.So my suggestion is, if you want to see Ring, Blair Witch (or films like space odyssey 2001) make sure you know why. If you want popcorn horror dont rent this movie, cause you'll hate it. Watching a movie just because someone said it was the best movie ever, severely reduces the chances of you enjoying it. If you want to watch a movie that has a great albeit slow story, no special effects or anything else you'd expect in a high profile film, you will be mortally terrified by the Ring.

mob61uk After all the ecstatic reviews for this film, I was rather disappointed by this film. Supernatural horror films are not usually my sort of thing, but I'm always willing to give something a try. The film was, though, certainly better made than many others of this genre that I've seen, but I still didn't find it very frightening, or, in the end, very convincing.Perhaps I'm missing something.