Change Your Image
esnow1
Reviews
White Lady (2006)
Not a bad movie - better than US Horror movies
If you are going to watch this movie, be prepared. Of late, many of the Pinoy movies have been trying to be more Americanized. This equals lots of fake scares and clichéd characters. That being said, White Lady is still a good film. If you get past the clichés, there is a high degree of subtle cleverness to it.
Each protagonist loses the thing most precious to them. An artist loses her arm, a singer loses his voice, etc. But it is the way that they lose these things that is superb, by the things they fear the most. The repetition of the Filipino folk song in verse and instrumentally helps to include the audience in the tension shared by all.
The ending is a bit too tidy, and again falls back on US clichés. Overall a good movie to see, and worth repeat viewings, but sadly missing the high mark. It could have been a 10 with tighter direction and more traditional Asian horror plotting. It's a pity that the cleverness in this movie was overshadowed by a director trying to be like a US director, not considering that US movies have been sub-standard remakes for decades.
The Eye (2008)
Cookie cutter rip-off with unneeded changes
If you watch this movie, be aware that Gin-Gwai (The Eye)came first. There have even been two sequels. The third one was called The Eye 10 as a marketing ploy by the US director. It is truly awful, so avoid it like the plague.
That being said, the thing that both US influenced versions have are a total lack of creativity, suspense, or originality. It is a pity that Ms. Alba chose this role, as it was merely a shell of the original film. Every scene was reproduced in a typical US-dumbed down format, with typical cheap Friday the 13th scares thrown in. This version ironically lost sight of the original vision of the Pang Brother's classic. Instead, they change key plot elements to "add to" the suspense, IE: American audiences can't think, so we have to hold up a sign that says "SCREAM".
Do yourself and others a favor and rent, or even better buy a copy of the original. You will not be disappointed. Sadly, the same cannot be said for yet another cheap, unimaginative, 80's camp pile of garbage rip-off in the mold of The Grudge, Hide and Seek, and Dark Water. Don't even waste your time downloading this tripe.