The Ring 2

Ich habe damit gerechnet, dass ich enttäuscht sein werde. Ich habe aber nicht damit gerechnet, dass ich keine Lust haben werde, eine Rezension zu schreiben. Am Anfang sieht der Film noch vielversprechend aus. Dann kommen aber klischeehafte und unsinnige Szenen. Das Vertrauen des Zuschauers verschwindet und im Finale ist ihm alles egal. Eine komplett andere Kurve als bei dem ersten Film. Das Drehbuch ist nur ein verlängerter Brei, der um jeden Preis versucht, in dem vorigen Thema etwas zu finden, was er aufgreifen könnte. Die Figur von Samara hat keinen Wert mehr, die Angst funktioniert zu 30 % (in dem ersten Teil waren es 90 %). Der Regisseur verlässt sich zu sehr auf digitale Effekte, die er sich bisher nicht leisten konnte und die leider völlig selbstzweckmäßig sind. Die einzigen positiven Aspekte: das anfängliche "supernatural feeling" mit dem Höhepunkt in der tollen Szene mit den Hirschen, die dezente Kamera, das ausgezeichnete Hauptmotiv von Hans Zimmer und die immer noch schöne Naomi Watts. (12.04.2005)

Technically brilliantly filmed, unatmospheric boredom. The main problem is that it completely lacks the atmosphere of part one. This is mainly due to the incredibly dumb screenplay that is all sixes and sevens, absolutely ignoring the rules laid down last time round. Here “fear" is invoked by randomly located, cheap, non-functional frights. The actors have nothing at all to act, so they are stylized into one common expression, and that unfortunately includes Naomi. It is painfully obvious in her performance that if she weren’t bound by contract, she wouldn’t have played in it, given the choice. Only two scenes of the entire two hours of running time are worthy of mention. One for its incredible dumbness (the scene at the university) and one coolly made scene with the bath and the water on the ceiling. I think that Nakata wanted to put an end to remakes of Asian pictures and so he sacrificed himself, putting his reputation on the line and filmed this pile of codswallop to end up on the shelves at the very back of the video rental stores: I see no other logical explanation... (04.05.2005)

Solidly shot wholes/half-parts clash with utterly incompetently shot details in this aesthetically very uneven work. But the camera impotence and the inability to captivate are nothing compared to the stupidity of the script, which has more logical errors than holes in Swiss cheese. And even the idea itself – if it can be called that at all – is rather laughable. (09.12.2005)

The same cassette, the same Rachel and Aidan, the same gloomy "neither night nor day" atmosphere, the same musical background. And Hideo Nakata didn't pull it off as well. The plot itself is already absurd, and from the trailer, it is more or less clear that the film had to fall apart at some point, which eventually happens with the unnecessary detour to Samara's mother. However, it is precisely the connection to the visual style of the first film that gives it the feeling of a cohesive story. Besides, when I remember the deer or the fateful well, it immediately gives me goosebumps and convinces me that The Ring Too is definitely not the disaster I predicted it to be. However, I wouldn't venture into further experiments because it could split a treacherous crack in the aura of the first film. (08.07.2006)

Overcast, with occasional Samara... Unpleasant Oregon weather, a few scenes where carpets and floors had to be dried out, one missed "Beware of Digital Wildlife" sign, a small role for Sissy Spacek, still haunted by water since The River with Gibson, and a predictable finale in a well with climbing holds. It's worth noting that the screenwriter tossed the director of the Japanese original into the well, but he didn't climb out... Samara and her phenomenon are already decaying; in The Ring 3, the small, pale Igor Chmela would be the only scary thing left. (28.08.2024)