The Eye

Name: Gin Gwai (Cantonese Title)
The Eye

Director: Pang Brothers

Release Date: May 9, 2002 (Hong Kong)

Tagline: What if the reflection you see is not your own...

Introduction:
I would say that the Pang Brothers have probably made some of the most well known contributions to the horror genre from Hong Kong. The Eye may very well be their most successful, with its eight awards and five nominations. It has been successful, in fact, that America decided to make a remake of it starring the beautiful Jessica Alba (though I'm not sure what this says about the quality of this film...). The Chinese title literally translates to "Seeing Ghosts," which I personally believe to be a far better description of the content of the movie. This film has spawned two sequels: The Eye 2, and The Eye 10.

Synopsis:
Angelica Wu portrays the blind Mun, a well-adjusted concert pianist. She is about to receive a corneal transplant surgery that would restore her sight. Though she is at first quite pleased with her newfound vision, this gift soon proves to be a curse when she is visited upon by strange and disturbing visions of those who have died. Even more troubling is the fact that the reflection she sees in the mirror is not her own. Troubled by these images, Mun enlists the help of her doctor's nephew in learning about the history of her extraordinary corneas. This journey takes her to Thailand and into the tragic history of Ling, the original owner of the corneas.

Review:
This film moves at a good pace and does a nice job of utilizing atmosphere. Though I've always been wary of films that span across different nations, I would say that the Pang Brothers did not overdo it in this case. Angelica Wu does a wonderful job of portraying Mun (She did win the Hong Kong Film Award for best actress in this role). While The Eye is first and foremost a horror film that is meant to frighten its audience, it also gives a moral lesson about listening to those who are trying to help you, being kinder to those who only have your best interests at heart, and ultimately, learning to be happy with who you are and what you possess.

I enjoyed this movie enough to actually buy it, which is definitely saying something for me. It was very involving, and heart-wrenching at times. Though I didn't come away from it as shaken as other films often make me, I would say that the horror employed by this particular film is that type that takes a while to sneak up on you. It does not contain the usual cheap scares, and I believe that not a single "pale Asian woman hiding behind her curtain of black hair" was exploited in its making. In conclusion, I urge you all to see this movie. It's a wonderful example of Chinese cinema, which often neglects this genre. And please try to do so before seeing the American remake. Originals are mostly better than their dressed-up, Americanized versions.

Ratings:
Entertainment: 9
Scares: 7 (burned/crispy people don't really scare me all that much...)
Gore: 5 (really just for the chard bodies at the end)

Highly Recommended!

Video:
Online Videos by Veoh.com

Suicide Club

Name: Jisatsu Saakuru (Japanese)

Suicide Club/Suicide Circle (Intl)

Director: Sion Sono (also the writer)

Release Date: 2002

Tagline: Well then, goodbye everybody.

Introduction:

Suicide Club was both written and directed by Sion Sono as part of a trilogy of three independent films. Deemed the “most groundbreaking film” at the Fant-Asia film festival, Suicide Club lives up to this lofty expectation. Painted in the somewhat questionable media of cult-horror, Suicide Club evokes a message of identity, alienation, and connection between individuals, their families (related, or not related) and themselves.

Synopsis:

This movie opens to fifty-four school girls, with the average age of fifteen, who gleefully leap to their deaths in front of a speeding train. As you can imagine, the ensuing scenes are gory and horrific. The only clue to their mass suicide is a small white bag left behind at the scene. Meanwhile, another small white bag is left behind at a hospital, where a nurse commits suicide. The police are baffled; these two incidents seem to have no connection to the other, and the fifty-four school girls are from eighteen separate schools.

Among the sinister contents of these two white bags; the increasing suicide epidemic; a strangely perturbing website; and a band composed of preteen girls who seem to have the nation under their spell lies a troubled nation and a sinister plot.

Review:

This movie can be rather confusing at times, you have to keep in mind that this is the first movie in a series of three. The next movie, Noriko’s Dinner Table, sheds more light onto mystery created in the first. Suicide Club keeps you guessing, and in the end, leaves you haunted and troubled. I, for one, did not know what to think after viewing this movie. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the series is complete!

Some of the gory scenes in this movie are incredibly shocking. For instance, the daikon chopping scene almost made me lose my dinner. Just as a warning, try to not eat before or during the viewing of this movie!

Above all, this is a movie about relationships: relationships with your family, relationship with your friends, and most importantly, relationships with yourself. “Are you connected with yourself?” the movie continually asks. Is life worth living without these relationships? This movie stays with you long after you finish watching it, forcing you to evaluate your society. While Suicide Club is more suitable for a Japanese audience, I’m sure you can identify with some of the issues is brings us.

Regardless, don’t be scared off by all the heavy societal questions that I have just posed. This movie is wonderful, and everyone should watch it, if only for the gory suicides and the cute Asian chicks. Enjoy!

Ratings:

Entertainment: 10
Scares: 8
Gore: 10 (just you wait…)

*GO WATCH THIS AS SOON AS YOU CAN*

Video:

Online Videos by Veoh.com