The Ring Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "The Ring" on Blu-ray is a remarkable improvement over its DVD counterpart, showcasing the film’s haunting visuals with exceptional clarity and detail. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode offers a significant enhancement, presenting the film with a natural sharpness that accentuates textures and fine details with an impressive fidelity. From the intricate patterns of clothing and wood floors to the subtle nuances of facial features, the image is consistently filmic, supported by a steady, light grain that enhances rather than detracts. The color grading leans heavily towards a blue-green tint, a creative choice that contributes to the film's eerie atmosphere. This stylistic tinting affects everything from flesh tones to hues, yet the high-definition transfer handles it with grace, allowing for natural appearances under bright lighting and maintaining a thoughtful balance that respects the original cinematography.

Contrast and black levels in the Blu-ray release are commendable; blacks are deep and true without compromising detail, contributing significantly to the film’s gloomy aesthetic. Whites are slightly subdued, which works in favor of enhancing the movie's mysterious and somber mood without affecting the visibility in darker scenes or diminishing the depth of field. While the palette is predominantly desaturated, favoring greens and blues, occasional bursts of color such as red are cleanly rendered, offering a subtle yet impactful visual contrast.

Despite a few minor shortcomings, such as slightly blurrier sequences attributed to the source material and occasional visual pops, these do not significantly detract from the overall quality of the presentation. The Blu-ray does not only surpass its DVD release but stands out as a superior catalogue title with its excellent definition, clarity, and adherence to a visually stunning yet faithfully reproduced aesthetic. This release should undoubtedly satisfy fans and newcomers alike with its detailed and atmospheric visuals that dramatically enhance the viewing experience of "The Ring".

The Ring's" Blu-ray audio presentation benefits immensely from a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, offering an auditory experience that enhances the film's eerie atmosphere and tension. The soundstage is masterfully utilized, creating an enveloping aura with precise location sounds such as the distinct ringing of phones and the crisp patter of rain all around. The chaos of a train thundering across the scene is delivered with exceptional clarity and a robust low end, adding to the immersive quality of the track. Background music and sound effects are handled with care, ensuring a harmonious blend that contributes to the film's otherworldly feel, with every note and noise meticulously placed to augment the visual story.

Dialogue in "The Ring" shines through with remarkable clarity and accuracy, maintaining a consistent presence at the center of the soundstage. Whispered lines are as intelligible as the louder exchanges, ensuring that viewers never miss a beat. The soundtrack benefits from excellent channel separation, allowing for fluid movement across the space and a dynamic range that sharply defines the highs and mids. Even in the absence of overwhelming bass, the soundtrack provides sufficient depth, particularly in jump scare sequences and with Hans Zimmer’s chilling score, quietly weaving into the rear speakers to encircle the audience with a sinister ambiance.

Overall, Paramount's upgrade to a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack for "The Ring" on Blu-ray significantly elevates the viewing experience. The mix's forethought in balancing volume and sound location, alongside its adept handling of both delicate and heavy audio elements, ensures a top-tier auditory experience. This precise attention to audio detail seamlessly complements the film's visual scares, making for an engrossing horror flick that audibly unsettles and entertains in equal measure.

The Blu-ray edition of "The Ring" brings a satisfying collection of extras that aficionados of the series will appreciate. The offerings include a notable short film serving as a narrative bridge between "The Ring" and its sequel, alongside a compilation of deleted scenes, enriching the main feature's context. Additionally, cast and filmmaker interviews provide insightful discussions on the intricacies of character development, storytelling, and thematic undertones. A piece on urban legends offers an engaging look into the origins of the film's central mythos. These extras, maintaining their original SD and HD formats, cater to those interested in the behind-the-scenes aspects and the creative processes that contributed to the film's haunting atmosphere. The presence of the theatrical trailer adds a nostalgic touch, concluding an overall compelling additional content package.

Extras included in this disc:

• Don't Watch This: A collection of footage excised from the final cut of the film.
• Rings: A short film bridging the gap between The Ring and its sequel.
• Cast and Filmmaker Interviews: Insights from actors Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox, and David Dorfman; Director Gore Verbinski; and Producer Walter Parkes.
• The Origin of Terror: Discussions on favorite urban legends and the plot of The Ring.
• The Ring Theatrical Trailer: The original theatrical previews.

Gore Verbinski's adaptation of "The Ring" continues to stand as a hallmark of the supernatural thriller genre, effectively intertwining traditional horror elements with a mystery-driven narrative. Set against the backdrop of a chilling urban legend, the film opens with a haunted videotape that promises death to its viewers within seven days of watching. This premise serves as a catalyst for a deeper investigation led by Naomi Watts' Rachel, a journalist and mother who finds herself entangled in this macabre puzzle following her niece's mysterious death. Verbinski, alongside cinematographer Bojan Bazelli, employs a creative use of camera work to amplify suspense, mastering the art of anticipation through carefully crafted shots and silence intervals that draw viewers deeper into the film's eerie atmosphere.

What sets "The Ring" apart is not its ability to scare in the conventional sense but its capacity to captivate and disturb through a psychological lens. The script by Ehren Kruger weaves together elements of a psychological mystery with supernatural horror, compelling viewers to question the boundaries between myth and reality. The film's approach to horror is cerebral, poking at the audience's innate fear of the unknown rather than relying on jump scares. Naomi Watts delivers a nuanced performance, portraying Rachel's descent into obsession with gritty determination. Her dynamic with Martin Henderson, who plays her ex-boyfriend, adds layers to the narrative, moving beyond mere supporting roles to integral pieces of the puzzle.

Despite its convolutions, "The Ring" achieves coherence in its exploration of themes—life, death, and the cyclical nature of both—as captured symbolically in the videotape itself. The notion of a 'death sentence' through television is not only a commentary on media consumption but also plays into the film's allure, challenging viewers to confront their mortality. "The Ring" thus remains a compelling watch, its impact undiminished over time, as it explores the depths of human obsession and fear through a meticulously crafted story that leaves audiences pondering long after the credits roll.

The Ring," a cinematic journey that transcends the ordinary boundaries of horror and mystery, achieves a remarkable feat in captivating its audience with a simple yet profoundly disturbing premise—a video that dooms its viewers. This foray into a nightmarish realm where the lines between the real and the surreal blur is brought to life through Gore Verbinski's adept direction and sterling performances, particularly by Naomi Watts and Brian Cox. The film's narrative complexity, which might seem daunting at first, ultimately converges into a finale that is not only satisfying but also stimulates thought, establishing "The Ring" as a staple for aficionados of intellectual horror/mystery/thrillers. Paramount's Blu-ray iteration does justice to this modern classic, presenting it in outstanding video and audio quality that significantly enhances the home viewing experience.

A decade post its initial release, "The Ring" retains its potency to disturb and engage, testament to its enduring quality and relevance. The Blu-ray's exceptional picture quality brings a new dimension to the film's eerie atmosphere, making every scene more immersive and frightening. Though the bonus features may not stand out, they provide an adequate complement to the movie, ensuring fans receive a package that improves upon previous formats in both visuals and sound. This Blu-ray release is recommended for both newcomers to "The Ring's" chilling tale and longtime fans looking for the definitive home theater experience.

In conclusion, Paramount's Blu-ray release of "The Ring" is an essential addition to the collection of any horror or mystery enthusiast. The combination of a gripping narrative, expert direction, compelling performances, and superior technical presentation reaffirms the film’s status as a genre-defining work. Despite the modest selection of extras, the overall quality of this release makes it a compelling upgrade, offering both a visually stunning and audibly rich experience that breathes new life into this iconic film.