[EricSchulz]

I didn't see a thread already started for this title, just the ones about if/when it was getting released here.

I got interested in this after seeing both The Ring and Ringu. I read that Tom Cruise's production company has the rights to make an American version of this. (I'm sure it will be nowhere near as good, IMHO.)

I thought that while some parts of the movie were a little predictable, overall it was an excellent piece of filmmaking. The special effects did a great job of enhancing the story instead of BEING the story (are you listening Hollywood?!?) The movie was creepy in parts; kudos to the sound editor for creating some great sound effects that are just as effective as the visual effects.

The story, very briefly, is about a young woman, Mun, who lost her sight at age two. Now in her twenties, she receives a cornea transplant which is too successful. She regains her sight, but also 'sees' things that are not real. Or are they?

The cinematography is artful without ever being pretentious. The Pang Brothers don't waste one frame of film in the entire movie. Every shot counts. The use of focus plays a big part in getting us to feel what Mun is experiencing.

There's a nice "making of" feature (appr. 15 mins.) that is also included. The movie is presented in 5.1 Cantonese with English subtitles. (The translation is excellent...too often foreign movies use syntax that is awkward but this film just flows...)

Anyone have any other views on this?

[Garrett Lundy]

Sorry, but I have to disagree. The Eye is nothing more than a knock-off of The Sixth Sense. I'll give you a summary of the film:

Spoiler:

Girl gets eyesight restored, girl sees dead people, girl loses eyesight in an accident, movie ends

Was it well-done and creepy? yes! But the entire "I see dead people" experience is getting old.

But not without it's highlight, there is a violin practice/exorcism scene that makes for excellant surround sound demo material.

[Tom Tsai]

^

Spoiler:

seeing dead people

has been used in Asian ghost stories for centuries. That idea was not new to The Sixth Sense. Saying that the idea of

Spoiler:

people being able to see ghosts

is an over-used idea in an Asian movie is like saying people turning into vampires is an over-used idea in western horror movies.

[Clint]

I love the freaky visuals (elevator scene, restaurant, and school scene).

All in all a so-so movie, could have ended better. Reminded me of Six Sense meets Mothman Prophecies.

[David_Blackwell]

Well, the climatic scene was inspired by a true incident (according to teh making of feature on the DVD).

I say THE EYE is better and THE SIXTH SENSE is rather boring after one viewing.

Be Seeing You,
David Blackwell

[Garrett Lundy]

Quote:

^ seeing dead people has been used in Asian ghost stories for centuries. That idea was not new to The Sixth Sense.

No, seeing ghosts is not a new movie invention. I'm sure right this minute there is a show on the Travel channel about haunted houses where anyone can see ghosts. But to american audiences (of whom the bulk of the HTF membership is composed of) any film about "seeing dead people" is going to cause an immediate comparison to The Sixth Sense.

Quote:

Saying that the idea of people being able to see ghosts is an over-used idea in an Asian movie is like saying people turning into vampires is an over-used idea in western horror movies

I won't give you an arguement there. The "vampire" film is horribly played out and hasn't seen any real variation in decades. If I see another two hundred year old ghoul that looks a helluva lot better than myself, I'm going to be sick.

But on the subject of vampire movies, can anyone explain to me the history behind "jumping/hopping vampires" in Asian cinema? (This may be a Japan-specific cultural oddity however, I'm not too familiar with every countries horror-movie variables).

[Tom Tsai]

^ Hopping zombies/vampires is a Chinese thing I believe. I don't know the history behind it but I just remember watching a lot of those movies growing up

While we're on that topic, are there any good hopping zombie movies out on DVD?

[Rolando]

oh no, more spoiler tags please. I know some were used but just from post 2 and 3 I got too much.

is this out on Region 1 DVD?

[Tom Tsai]

^ ok, spoiler tagged it...but there's nothing in these posts that were not already given away from the back of the dvd box, trailers, movie reviews...

[EricSchulz]

is this out on Region 1 DVD?

Yes, I rented it from Netflix. Already sent it back, so I don't remember what company issued it.

[EricSchulz]

It's from Lion's Gate. Available on Amazon.com for $21.43.