Rings

Rings" shines on Blu-ray with a digital-to-film texture that's almost indistinguishable from actual film, showcasing a level of detail that enhances the viewing experience. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode delivers a crisp image across its 1.78:1 aspect ratio, bolstered by a BD-50 layer that preserves the movie's intended bleak aesthetic without compromising clarity. Noise mimics a grain-like quality that never overwhelms, serving instead to add depth to the picture. The color palette, dominated by drab greens and vomit tones, faithfully adheres to the filmmakers' vision, even as it flirts with a deliberately stylized, dark atmosphere. Skin tones and textures appear natural despite the pervasive filter effects, contributing to an intimately detailed visual experience.

The Blu-ray's technical prowess extends to its handling of blacks and shadows, presenting them with lush, opulent depth that maintains detail without succumbing to crush. This allows for a significant separation between characters and their environments, ensuring smoother camera movements and clear background imagery. The color reproduction leans heavily toward the cooler end of the spectrum with occasional pops of color, like a striking red lampshade, effectively breaking up the monotony. The overall color balance maintains the film's natural essence, with skin tones adjusting slightly based on the prevailing filter but remaining consistent throughout.

Detail is a standout feature of this release, from the texture of clothing and furniture to the intricate distortions of the "VHS video" scenes, all rendered with impressive clarity. Facial details are particularly noteworthy, with every pore, stubble, and blemish visible, enhancing the realism of the actors' performances. Despite the movie's inherent darkness, both in tone and aesthetic, this Blu-ray presentation manages to navigate these challenges adeptly, providing a clean, artifact-free viewing experience that fans and newcomers alike will appreciate for its technical achievements.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack for "Rings" is a technical tour de force, showcasing an enviable level of sonic expertise that will not fail to impress. Right from the get-go, the audio sets a high bar with its full-stage saturation and precisely located sound effects, ranging from the unsettling rattle and rumble of an airplane's cabin to the more terrifying clanks, crashes, and thuds that horror aficionados will appreciate. The soundtrack's finesse in balancing nuanced clarity with a sturdy low-end rumble ensures that each moment is not just heard but felt. Ambient sounds, such as falling rain, are rendered with a convincing naturalism, contributing to an immersive audio experience. The dialogue remains clear and well-focused amidst the sonic onslaught, despite occasional muffled lines.

The expansive soundstage and exceptional detail extend to the well-engineered dynamics and subtleties of background sounds and music, provided by Matthew Margeson's orchestration, which showcases both rich detailing and warm fidelity. Vocals are given due priority, sitting comfortably in the mix and ensuring that every word is distinct. The subwoofer adds significant heft to numerous scenes with its authoritative bass, while the innovative use of rear channels brings an added dimension to the terror with voices and sounds that seem to whisper directly in the audience's ear. This immersive use of the full 7.1 channel setup creates an engaging and occasionally spine-chilling environment.

Moreover, the soundtrack excels in its dynamic range, from the eerie quietude to the jarring bursts of sound designed to startle and engage. The mix is both loud and articulate, allowing for significant jumps that startle without overwhelming the dialogue or finer sound elements. The layering of effects is particularly commendable, creating a fully realized auditory space where each component maintains its integrity without overshadowing others. The balance between loud and subtle, presence and ambiance, is meticulously managed, making "Rings'" audio presentation a benchmark for horror films, delivering an experience that is as engaging as it is terrifying.

The Blu-ray release of "Rings" is supplemented with several insightful extras that enrich the viewing experience, providing a deeper dive into the film's creation and evolution. Key featurettes include "Terror Comes Full Circle," offering a retrospective on the original film and insight into the sequel's production, emphasizing the use of digital technology, visual style, and the directorial approach of Javier Gutiérrez. "Resurrecting the Dead: Bringing Samara Back" explores the meticulous effort behind Samara's return through makeup, prosthetics, and physical performance, shedding light on the artistic decisions that shaped her presence. Additionally, "Scary Scenes" allows the cast to share their experiences and reflections on horror cinema, specifically what elements they found most unsettling in "Rings." The package is rounded off with a comprehensive collection of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes, providing viewers with an alternative perspective on the film's narrative and character development. This selection of extras, combined with the inclusion of a DVD copy and UV/iTunes digital voucher — plus a limited-time offer featuring the two preceding films in the saga — makes this release a must-have for fans aiming to explore beyond the surface of this chilling franchise.

Extras included in this disc:

• Terror Comes Full Circle: A detailed retrospective on the franchise and an in-depth look into the sequel's production.
• Resurrecting the Dead: Bringing Samara Back: Focuses on the character's return with insights into makeup, prosthetics, and physical performance.
• Scary Scenes: Cast discussions on the horror genre and their personal scares during production.
• Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes: A collection of scenes offering alternative takes and unused moments from the film.

The latest iteration in the Ring saga, "Rings," attempts to reinvigorate the franchise by taking it into the digital age, marking a departure from the eerie intimacy of VHS tapes to the expansive, impersonal realm of the internet. At its core, the film continues to follow the haunting journey of Samara's video curse, now seeking victims through modern technology such as smartphones and flat screen TVs, in an effort to stay relevant in an era where analog is considered vintage. The transition to digital, while conceptually intriguing, unfortunately does not translate into a revitalization of the series' former suspense and terror, instead mirroring the franchise's past without offering new thrills or scares.

The movie centers around Julia and her boyfriend Holt, entangled in a deadly investigation led by a blasé professor seeking to unravel the mystery behind Samara's curse for what feels like a misguided science project. Despite their efforts, "Rings" struggles to engage its audience, often feeling like a rehashed sequence of events that lack originality and depth. The exploration into Samara's world is cluttered with convoluted plotlines and generic horror tropes that fail to elicit genuine interest or empathy for its hollow characters. Moreover, the film's attempt at deepening franchise lore feels underwhelming, leaving viewers detached and yearning for the chilling psychological depth of its predecessors.

Technically, "Rings" displays competence with its cinematography and mood-setting, capturing a baroque atmosphere reflective of the series' dark aesthetic. However, this alone does not salvage the film from its narrative shortcomings and forgettable performances. Even with the inclusion of digital advancements to Samara's curse, the movie succumbs to predictability and tedium. The lackluster execution diminishes what could have been a compelling evolution of the Ring narrative, instead rendering "Rings" as a missed opportunity to effectively bridge the gap between old and new in this iconic horror franchise.

Rings" emerges as the latest attempt to revitalize a once-iconic horror franchise, arriving on Blu-ray amidst mixed feelings from viewers and critics alike. The film itself is broadly criticized for its lack of originality, paucity of scares, and an overall sense that it represents a missed opportunity to successfully update the series for a new generation. Despite transitioning the eerie lore of Samara from analog to digital, director F. Javier Gutiérrez appears to stumble, failing to inject life into the now-familiar premise. The narrative is deemed unremarkable and forgettable, suggesting that the movie, unfortunately, might not linger in the minds of audiences long after viewing.

However, where the film falters, its physical release shines, turning the Blu-ray edition into something of a paradox. Paramount has evidently spared no effort in ensuring that the audio and video quality of the release is nothing short of stellar, providing an auditory and visual feast that surpasses expectations. This high-caliber presentation somewhat mitigates the film's narrative shortcomings, offering a compelling reason for fans and newcomers alike to consider giving it a place in their collection. Additionally, the inclusion of digital copies of the first two films adds value, particularly for completists or aficionados of the franchise seeking to complete their set.

In conclusion, while "Rings" struggles to carve out a memorable niche within the horror genre, its Blu-ray presentation stands as a testament to what can be achieved with technical prowess. The excellence in audio and visual rendering makes it a worthwhile consideration for those who prioritize such aspects or for ardent fans of the series. However, as a standalone entry, its appeal is likely limited, lending more credence to viewing it as part of a comprehensive collection rather than for its standalone merits. The Blu-ray edition of "Rings," thus, presents a peculiar case where the medium momentarily outshines the message, poised to dazzle the senses even if it doesn't quite capture the imagination.