Mike Enslin works as a paranormal writer that features Haunted Places. Ironically, he never believed in any paranormal activities. For him, it’s just a job that provides people with cheap thrills. He was doing his usual routines such as picking up mails from the post office and sorts out mails. After keeping the fan mails and throwing away the spam mails, he came across a strange postcard. It had a photo of “The Dolphin” hotel, written on it was the number 1408. He took a pencil and made a mathematical equation on the number,

1+4+0+8 =13

He searched for the information about the hotel, he was intrigued about the haunted room. Then he called up his publisher and asked for help with his booking to “The Dolphin” hotel. The publisher complied and managed to get the booking for the room 1408. He finally arrived at the hotel and meet up with the hotel manager Gerald Olin. The manager tried to convince Enslin to avoid room 1408 at all cost. Thinking that he could persuade Enslin, he showed the private files and photos of people who met their doom at room 1408. But still, Enslin insisted that he would check in the room 1408. Olin reluctantly gave him the key to room and showed him the way to the room.

The moment he entered the room, he starts recording and documenting his stay. During his first few minutes of stay, everything seems in place. Then, something strange happened. Few of the items were misplaced. He first thought that the hotel staff were playing a prank on him. Then began to see things. He finally realized that something’s wrong with the room. When he tried to open the door, it was shut firmly. He was trapped in this nightmarish ordeal. How long can he survive the room? Will he finally find the way out this nightmare?

Sadako Ramblings:
I’ve seen this film featured in an HBO filler. I just assumed that it’s a typical run-of-the-mill hollywood flick. Someone I know, insisted that we should watch the film. Too bad I had a flight to catch, I end up watching it with my friend. However, my friend wasn’t interested since she had an encounter with ghosts. Watching a film about it gives her the chills. That leaves me no choice but to drag her in the cinema by the hair despite her kicking and screaming (I’m being theatrical here).

This movie was based on Stephen King’s short story with the same title. For me, this is one the best film adaptation of Stephen King’s works. Don’t get me started with “Sometimes they come back part 2” film *shudders*. If there’s one thing that best describes this film, it’s helluva roller coaster ride. The director was generous to make the movie almost 70% whooping thrills and chills. There was this part where I screamed and thankfully only few people are present in the cinema. I just couldn’t get over with Samuel Jackson’s trademark F-bomb dialogue, “It’s an evil F*cking room” and “Dammit to hell”. Of course there’s a lighter part of the story. This quotes really cracks me up.

Gerald Olin: There was one instance in which a guest drowned in his chicken soup.
Mike Enslin: That’s… hard to do, how did he manage that?
Gerald Olin: That’s a very good question. I’ll ask him.
(I LOLED..ehehe)
———
Mike Enslin: Eight dollars for Beer Nuts? This room *is* evil!
(ROFL on this one)

Anyway, I find it hard to sleep that night since I have all sorts of macabre thoughts swirling in my mind. What if there’s a ghost lurking outside the window? What if these imaginary thoughts were the side effects of too much popcorn?

Rating:
Fear Factor: 9 out of 10 – I actually screamed at certain part of the movie. Then had hard time sleeping at sleeping at night.
Violence and Gore: 7 out 10 – Earth shattering!
Nudity and Sex: 0 – Obviously what can you expect from a guy in solitary confinement.
Replay value : Great to watch over and over again.

SCREENSHOTS

You find yourself waking up in an unfamiliar place. Around you, are classmates and friends waking up from their unconsciousness. There’s a cold metal collar on your neck and you wonder why it’s there. Before you can even move a muscle, suddenly the doom slams open. The fluorescent light reveals the mysterious figure as Kitano, your much abhorred teacher. That’s the ordeal Nanahara and the entire 3-B class are facing.

The teacher gave a pep talk about the Battle Royale program. The government imposed the program to eliminate delinquency among the youth. The rule is simple. You can only go home when everyone else is dead. The survival program will run for 3 days on the isolated island. To spicen up the game, some areas become a danger zone. The students needs to keep moving or their collars on their neck will explode.

Each of the students were given a bag with randomly selected weapons. The fortunate ones gets kick ass firearms while the rest gets mundane objects. Seriously, can you kill anyone with a pot lid? Psssh..
The moment they step out from the classroom, they have two choices to make. To kill or be killed. Who will be the ultimate survivor?

Sadako’s Ramblings:
I’ve read an article about Battle Royale when it was featured in “Time” magazine. The movie was tagged as one of the controversial films in 21st century. In the film, Japan is on the brink of economic crisis with unemployement on the rise. The government conveniently blamed the delinquent youths responsible for crisis. Like a typical totalitarian, their solution to problem is to obliterate what they perceive as threat.
Some may perceive the film as too violent. If you watched the film from beginning, you will understand why it is necessary. Violence determines how the characters will interact with each other. You can feel the frustrations of the characters as they face a difficult dilemma. The choice between your life or your friends’ life.
I heard there’s an American remake since New line cinema has acquired the rights for it. Wait, isn’t this the same production company that ripped off Peter Jackson on royalties. I can already envision slutty cheerleader chicks making out and kills the horny geeks. I would love to see how the nerds will take out the football jocks. Imagine Emo kids on a grand slam battle royale fest against the goth. My bad, how can those two groups kill each other? The emo will be preoccupied slashing their own wrists. The goths will happily or depressingly drinks up the emo’s blood.

Rating:
Fear Factor: 8 out of 10 – Enough to make you bite your nails.
Violence and Gore: 10 out 10 – “Kill Bill” movie pales in comparison to the violence.
Nudity and Sex: 0 – Gotta give ‘em some slack. They’re too busy killing each other off.
Replay value : Makes you click replay button gazillions of times.

Screenshots:

Two friends were having girly talk about their romantic shindigs. Sadly not much mention of her sexcapades. However, one girl talked about watching a cursed videotape a week ago. Whoever watches the tape will die in 7 days. Then that night, one girl died while the other has lost her mind.Reiko Asakawa, learns about her niece’s mysterious death. Her investigation led her to IZU inn where other people who stayed there met similar fate to that of her niece. Upon checking out the room, she came across an unlabeled videotape. After watching the tape, she conclude that this was the cursed video. So she gave a copy to her ex-husband for him to check out. Together, they investigate the mystery behind the cursed tape.

Unfortunately, her son Yoichi also happened to watch the cursed tape. Fearing for her life and her son’s life (and her ex husband too). She embarked on a trip, hoping to find answers to save her loved ones and an ex-loved one. Will Reiko solve the mystery behind the cursed tape before her time is up?

Sadako’s Ramblings:
I first heard about the movie when my sister raved about how her friend’s friend’s cousin’s friend got hold of the bootlegged version and almost “died” watching it. However, only the Hollywood version was shown at the cinema that time. I did managed to find a bootlegged copy of “Ringu” and watched it in an instant. The movie has this raw feel to it. Like all psychological thrillers, the start of the movie is slow. Then as the protagonist digs further on the mystery behind the cursed tape, that’s when the tension starts.
This movie unleashed a wave of Asian horror films. It redefines a new kind of horror, the kind of fear that is only found in your mind.

Rating:
Fear Factor: 8 out 10- If you’re Ringu virgin and have hair-phobia
Violence and Gore: 2 out of 10- Does bloodied fingernails count?
Nudity and Sex: 0 – Horror and sex don’t mix. Imagine having a boner then fall into ice cold pool.
Replay value : Great to watch when it’s raining and with the lights out.