Pajiba

Did anyone actually go see this besides hapless reviewers? I certainly don't know a single soul that would want to. J-horror can suck my balls.

Oh, I don't know, I really liked the Thai film a lot. It wasn't just the ghost aspects that made that film--the entire backstory and finding out your protagonist wasn't such a great guy after all, that was good stuff. And also the pace was great. I personally like a lot of the movies that are coming out in Asia. There's some crap, but there's some gems, and there's the undismissable Takashi Miike, not to mention the diamond in the rough Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure has none of the ropes you've mentioned, and is rare in allowing its horror to culminate in the performances more than anything else). Just because Hollywood has made crap remakes is no reason to dismiss a "genre" with so many great movies. If you're backlashed out, that's your own doing. Life is more enjoyable if you don't succumb to it.

ropes=tropes

I think that the apathy for J-Horror is best personified by the fact that almost no 'jibans can be arsed to comment here.

As for me, I read the review only because I didn't even know this movie existed. I'm going back to eating my microwavable bacon.

Is it just me, or does this look like a bad J-Horror rip off of "What Lies Beneath"?

I agree with Pill. There are a lot of great Asian horror films that have nothing to do with the cheap scares that we seem to find in abundance in American horror films. For Asian horror films, it's about the thrill behind the interaction between the characters (and the ghosts or whatever the scare is supposed to be). The audience observes that actions of the characters, and you end up thinking to yourself, "Would I do that?" And the fact that you most probably would when put in their situation is the thrill behind Asian horror films. Like the Japanese horror film Battle Royale, where the characters (high school students) are forced to kill each other in order to survive. There are no cheap scares of slaming doors, ghosts, or whatever else. The thrill is that you can imagine yourself in their position: that you would most likely kill your classmates in order to maintain your own survival, in order to live.

I agree with Pill. There are a lot of great Asian horror films that have nothing to do with the cheap scares that we seem to find in abundance in American horror films. For Asian horror films, it's about the thrill behind the interaction between the characters (and the ghosts or whatever the scare is supposed to be). The audience observes that actions of the characters, and you end up thinking to yourself, "Would I do that?" And the fact that you most probably would when put in their situation is the thrill behind Asian horror films. Like the Japanese horror film Battle Royale, where the characters (high school students) are forced to kill each other in order to survive. There are no cheap scares of slaming doors, ghosts, or whatever else. The thrill is that you can imagine yourself in their position: that you would most likely kill your classmates in order to maintain your own survival, in order to live.

Tori,
I'm surprised to see Battle Royale mentioned as a horror movie. I just would never have considered it such. I'd no more call it horror than Reservoir Dogs- the combat, pace and tension lead it more toward actiony-thriller than anything I'd qualify as horrific. Am I missing something?

Oh J horror. You had so much potential. The Grudge scared me to the point that I was afraid to go to the bathroom, and the frozen terrified faces from The Ring left me eyeing my television all Poltergeisty. But no more. I am as hungover on you as I am from the beer I drank last night. You make my head throb, my stomach churn, you make me crave ginger ale and french fries, and worst of all you make me forget to put on pants.

Asian horror is great if you're a fan of horror movies. They're usually smart and stylish and no matter how many black-haired dead girls they put in white dresses, I still get scared. But this re-make was so bad! I strongly urge people to see the original without seeing this one. If you then watch the re-make, you'll probably understand why.

I hope J-horror is here to stay, I just don't want anymore American remakes of it.

Bistro, you're not alone. That's exactly what I thought when I saw the trailer.

I bet Phil there screams out "flatulent tardscoop" at the moment of orgasm...alone...with his blistered hand....

and worst of all you make me forget to put on pants.

Julie, at this point, is there anything that doesn't make you somehow lose your pants?

Not that it is a bad thing, mind you. I do not want to incur any male Pajiban wrath for suggesting you shouldn't hang around with no trousers on.

We as Americans should face the fact that we're pretty much the annoying younger sibling to Japan and we always feel the need to take the building blocks of our older sibling and re do it and claim credit.
So please, can we get out of the sandbox, it's humiliating!

Remaking Japanese movies isnt a bad thing. Keep in mind that The Departed was a remake of a japanese movie called Infernal Affairs.

Vermillion, that actually happened to me on Saturday. I was hungover to the point of incapacitation and getting ready to go to the corner store for ginger ale when I realized that something was amiss. Purse? Check. Keys? Check. Pants? Pants?! ...Bueller???!!! Not present.

Awww...poor Pacey needs a better agent.

Shaun-- I liked the Departed, and I think the remakes only work if you actually redo the story rather than a shot-for-shot remake. However, you might be interested to know that I live in Japan and every Japanese person I met HATES the Departed with a passion and loves infernal affairs.

[Infernal Affairs was a Hong Kong film.]

Bistro... that's exactly what I thought. Saw a preview for this in the theatre, and heard at least four people say the same.

Man, I miss Pacey. The dirty things I would do to Joshua Jackson...

That said, I have no intention of seeing this. Well, I may check it out when I can get it for free from the video store I work at (about a month from now, I would assume), because the part in the trailer where the chick's head falls off is pretty rad.

zyr-- I know it's Chinese but its just one of those things where in Japan and Korea I've seen people prefer Asian movies to Hollywood ones, and don't like the remakes. Both Chinese and Korean movies are big all over Asia so I take Japanese reactions as reflective of Asians who dig Asian movies.

I absolutely loved Infernal Affairs. I watched it several years ago when it first came out! I think the Departed is ok, but my boyfriend thinks it is awesome. I would've enjoyed it more hadn't I watched the original.

Yup, Pacey definitely needs a new agent. He keeps starring in movies that nobody would watch. He reminds me of my other crush Paul Rudd. But at least Rudd's got 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and The Object of My Affection. I can't think of a movie that I like Joshua Jackson in.

Ugh. I knew this one was going to be tired. On the other hand, I love disgusting goop movies, so if they made a rip-off of Infection, I'd probably go see it.

What sticks with me in the Asian versions of these movies is single images, rather than the whole thing - stills in my brain that haunt me for ages later - which is something the American versions don't give, being too keen to jump on to the next thing. Asian horror, when it is good, lingers.

J horror? You know this is a Thai horror film, shouldn't you be more specific as in T horror? I do not wish to see the remake but I would like to comment on the following:-

"The Thai film was just as bland and unoriginal, exploiting the folklore of "spirit photography" for empty thrills, but even it had a reasonable tempo"

Unoriginal? It has less to do with spirit photography and more to do with guilt, burden, sins. It may be slow but the ending made sense. All those other horror movies save for The eye usually shows senseless spirits who can kill, strangle but this one is closer to Asian beliefs. There was no exploitation but merely a means to the final message. Watch the original again, better yet learn some asian cultures, then see the movie and then rewrite your opinion or simply quit since you don't seem to bother at all.

I prefer the originals than these american remakes, they try too hard to scare and J-horror is not at all that! All these remakes look the same!

It involves atmosphere, chemistry between characters, development and lot of things that makes such a suspense film. I saw the trailer and it really sucked.

I remember when I saw Ju-on 2 (when it was not in vogue these remakes) and it really got me the implication of how bitter and angry Kayako is to create all that mayhem and then to be alive again... *sigh But to see that thing (Grudge) that buffy made ugh.

Now to see my fav one, The Eye, be trashed by remakes. God knows it will be like a train wreck.

I prefer the originals than these american remakes, they try too hard to scare and J-horror is not at all that! All these remakes look the same!

It involves atmosphere, chemistry between characters, development and lot of things that makes such a suspense film. I saw the trailer and it really sucked.

I remember when I saw Ju-on 2 (when it was not in vogue these remakes) and it really got me the implication of how bitter and angry Kayako is to create all that mayhem and then to be alive again... *sigh But to see that thing (Grudge) that buffy made ugh.

Now to see my fav one, The Eye, be trashed by remakes. God knows it will be like a train wreck.

[b]SF[/b] - That's so true, you have to know at least some basic asian culture to understand the originals. I had to make like a synopsis of asian beliefs to my cousins and siblings so they could understand Shutter, The Eye, Ju-on 2, Last Call.

Right now I can't remember the title but there's an indonesian film that is a satire, very funny flick, about ghost and all these remakes. Beat the hell outta Superhero movie. What the hell is happening with these comedies?! I like to laugh, but I feel my IQ lower ten points every time something atrocious called comedy come by.

Returning to the original theme. What I loved about the thai version is that every seems normal at the start of the movie and I mean he's a nice guy, how can he be that way with the things he done in the past? In the last frame of the original you can see the guy in the hospital looking to the wall, will say no more don't like to spoil the movie to anyone. But the image of him in that last frame will ever be present in my mind. Is one of the few movies that I am glad with what happen in the end. Normally I like when everyone's hope of survival is shot to hell.