The Eye [2002]

RRP £19.99
Lowest New Price
£8.99

Suitable for 15 years and over

Tartan Video

Release date: Monday 27th of January 2003

Starring:
Chutcha Rujinanon, Angelica Lee, Lawrence Chou,

Director(s):

Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Running time: 99 minutes
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Cantonese Chinese (Original Language)
Language: Mandarin Chinese (Original Language)

RRP: £19.99
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The Eye ("Jian gui") incorporates a very old suspicion that has prevented many people from ticking the "cornea" section on their Donor card. From the age of two, Mun (Angelica Lee) has been blind and has learnt to live her life through her other four senses, but after a cornea operation she discovers she has a "sixth sense". As her sight slowly returns she notices shadowy figures prowling around her that are definitely not normal human beings. So begins a quest for the eye donor, during which Mun discovers that people's superstitions still remain as strong as ever.

Hong Kong directors Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang have not made another generic horror in the wake of Ring, nor an ultra-violent picture in the style of Battle Royale. A clearer comparison is with The Sixth Sense, but unlike M Night Shyamalan's film The Eye uses stunning visual effects to evoke a deeper sense of the unknown and a deeper understanding of death without the trappings of Christianity (here suicide does not lead to eternal damnation). Ultimately, The Eye is a supernatural suspense story, with Mun turning detective and learning a little more than she bargained for about her own mortality.

On the DVD:The Eye offers a short (eight-minute) "making of" documentary which is extended further in the Pang Brothers documentary. As with all Tartan products the disc is full of trailers, but has some added value with Justin Bowyer's film notes. There is the option to play the film without English subtitles, and the subtitles have been improved in contrast to earlier Tartan releases by the addition of a black rim around the italics. Sound and vision are exceptional and will certainly add to any jumpy reactions. Let's hope this one also gets the two-disc special edition treatment in the future. --Nikki Disney

Hit and miss
Review date: 2008-07-23 Rating: 6 out of 10

As concepts go, this is a pretty interesting one - sure, there have been a few "malfunctioning transplant" movies and stories, but they don't come around very often. I like the idea of body parts retaining their previous owner's characteristics...pure nonsense, of course, but it makes for an entertaining tale.

The story works quite well, and will keep you fairly interested throughout. The film succeeds as a drama, but sadly fails as a horror.

I like creepy, unsettling films and I have been impressed with the last decade or so of Far Eastern horror...but The Eye falls short of its scarier cousins. It simply isn't scary, in the slightest. There's no sense of danger or threat, no air of menace, and the ghosts are either plain or pitiful. You feel sorry for some of them, but they don't scare you.

I was very disappointed, having picked up a film billed as being absolutely pants-wettingly terrifying and finding it to be so tame. While I do wonder what other people found so frightening about it, I can't call it a bad film overall. By all means, watch it if you get a chance, but don't go looking for it, or expect to have any sleepless nights.

Reviews

Why does everyone think this film is scary?!
Review date: 2008-04-07 Rating: 2 out of 10

I bought this after reading lots of reviews about how scary this film is. I have seen lots of asian horrors and this is one of the worst i have seen. It really isn't scary at all, and the elevator scene is embarrassing! How people find this scary i don't know. Try A Tale Of Two Sisters if you want a scary film.

No shortage of ghosts here
Review date: 2008-03-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

You've read the reviews, you know the plot but are there enough ghosts in it? YES!
Many of my favourite ghost movies only feature one ghost, 'tis popular and easy to get to the bottom of it all and save everyone...well sometimes.....anyway, this movie has many ghosts and they are exhibited thoughtfully. What I mean is the scenes allow your brain to subtly work out the how and why they became ghosts. I hate movies that explain everything and patronise it's audience. This movie lets you figure out the incidents and cleverly allows you to 'learn to use your eyes' like Mun, the main character. The Pang Brothers have got an unmistakable talent for this type of movie.
It's a classy film with a decent budget, excellent effects and a great conclusion. This is an all round classic ghost movie.

5.1 and the dark
Review date: 2008-03-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film should really be watched with surround sound and in the dark, on your own. I watched it that way an I loved it. I borrowed the film first not really knowing much about it and it was just the most suspenseful film I've seen in years. A must own film for the fans of the eastern horror/thrillers.

A truly outstanding horror film
Review date: 2007-06-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

I will just make one thing clear before I continue, just so I don't mislead anybody into thinking that this is a gory blood and guts type of horror movie because it most certainly isn't, it is a ghost story but it has as much right to be classed as a horror film as any other type of horror film.

I have seen as many horror films as most people. I grew up with them as a child in the early 1980's and this is one of the scariest I have have ever seen, which is a huge compliment from me as most (not all of them) horror films that have been made over the last ten years at least, have been one over hyped disappointment after the other. I first saw this on channel 4 in 2006 and at the time I had never heard of it, but after seeing it once I will never forget it.

This for me along with the japanese version of The Grudge, is a modern horror film at it's most scary and most beautiful. I agree with the person below about the main character being really likeable, I genuinely cared about her. If they were to remake this in America for the trendy brigade, then I am guessing that they will have the ususal irritating teen attitude type to play the lead role. I saw a review of this film somewhere that said this was just a rip off of The Sixth Sense, all I will say about that comment is that the only thing that this has in common with that film is that the main character can see ghosts and that is where the similarity ends.

I won't go into the story as I am guessing you will already have some idea as to what it is all about. Although there are a lot of scary scenes, there a few in particular that I have listed below which I personally found the scariest, but don't worry as I am not going into too much detail so won't spoil it for you.

1) The scene in the cafe, which I found really creepy but beautifully filmed.

2) The scene on the train (look very carefully at the reflection through the windows when it goes under a tunnel as you could easily miss it). If you don't notice it then I shall be very worried.

3) The your sitting in my chair scene (you will understand what I mean when you watch it). I know it is just a saying but this scene really did almost make me jump out of my skin and made me go cold and pale, it is absolutely timed to perfection.

To cut a long story short, if you like ghost stories or horror movies in general then this is an absolute must see.

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Chutcha Rujinanon
Angelica Lee
Lawrence Chou

Creators:
Angelica Lee (Primary Contributor)
Lawrence Chou (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Tartan Video
Manufacturer: Tartan Video
EAN: 5023965340726
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-01-27
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running time: 99 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2002
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Cantonese Chinese (Original Language)
Language: Mandarin Chinese (Original Language)

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The Eye [2002]

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