Is Jessica Alba seeing things? (The Eye (Blu-ray))

Member Name: marymoose

Product:	The Eye (Blu-ray)
Date:	28/10/09 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I think it's a good film (I haven't seen the original)

Disadvantages: I imagine that it is a pointless remake, but I haven't seen the original

---Intro---
Having not been impressed in the slightest with "Eden Lake" I was not desperately optimistic about the second of the Blu-ray DVDs that hubby had picked up in Blockbuster's 3 for £25 Pre-owned Blu-ray DVD offer - "The Eye". It turns out that we also have a normal (unwatched) copy of the DVD on our shelf as well for some unknown reason. I must remember to give that to someone for Christmas!

I had read some not too promising reviews of the film, saying that it was a poor remake of a Chinese film (well actually I'm sure I'd read it was a remake of a Japanese film, but it's not, it's definitely a remake of a Hong Kong made film called "Jian Gui") However, I didn't let this put me off too much - although I much prefer the original Japanese film versions of the Ring (or Ringu), the Grudge, and their sequels, I still did enjoy the American remakes, even if I couldn't really see the point in them since they were so similar in storyline - I suppose some people just can't get to grips with reading subtitles, in which case they're missing out!

Anyway, I haven't seen the original version of "The Eye" (although I might well in the future), and I had thought that the trailers looked good when it was first out, in 2008.


---The Story---
Sydney Wells (played by the very attractive Jessica Alba) has been blind since the age of 5 when she lost her sight in an accident. Her older sister (Helen, played by Parker Posey) blames herself for the accident, and is eager for Sydney to have a cornea transplant to get her sight back. She did have an operation back when she was 12, but the corneas were rejected.

Sydney is happy with her life, and is used to being blind. She is an exceptional violinist, and gets along just fine - even stopping someone from walking in front of a car (he didn't see it). As her other senses are heightened to compensate in some ways she sees more than non-blind people do.

However, she goes ahead with the operation despite her fears, and although very blurred at first, her sight begins to come back, and she has to adjust to life with eyes, with the help of a doctor (Paul , played by Alessandro Nivola) who clearly fancies her.

Sydney struggles to come to terms with having her sight back, especially when it comes to playing the violin, and everything is really quite overwhelming. I suppose that we can't really begin to imagine having sight come back after so long without it, bearing in mind how young she was when she lost it. It's virtually impossible for someone who has their sight to imagine that it isn't necessarily a wonderful thing to get their sight back, and this is a theme which runs through the film.

Things are complicated further as Sydney is seeing some strange things....shadows, people who shouldn't be there, fires, and rooms changing into different rooms. Is it just the stress of getting her sight back playing tricks on her mind, or is there something more sinister happening? Could it be that Sydney is seeing things from the eyes of the person who had her eyes before her? And will anyone believe Sydney (i.e. the doctor), or will they think she's going completely mad? Or is she in fact going completely mad?! Whatever is happening, Sydney knows that something has to be done.


---More about the film---
The film is directed by David Moreau and Xavier Palud, and made by Lions Gate Films Inc and Paramount Vantage. For more boring details then visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406759/ but beware, they don't talk as highly of the film as I do!


---My Thoughts---
Initially I was a bit worried about this film as I can get quite squeamish where eyes are concerned. However, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, and there was only one part where I had to close my eyes/hide behind cushion! I would imagine that the original is far more scary, which is fine when watching with hubby, not when on my own!

I also had some reservations due to the film's bad reviews. However, I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised. Perhaps if I'd seen the original first then I would think otherwise, but for what it is I think it's a very good film.

I enjoyed the story, and without giving anything away I thought that the ending was good (although I imagine that the ending in the original would be darker). Jessica Alba's acting has been criticised, but I felt that she played the part very convincingly (although actually thinking about it, I think that I'd be far more hysterical if I had to go through what Sydney goes through), and since she has by far the largest part in the film, it was not an easy role to play. Acting by the supporting cast was all fine as well (although no performances really stand out). I found the story thought-provoking (although not too much so), especially the issues of sight and senses.

The background music built up just the right amount of suspense (and of course the classical violin music was fantastic), and the filming and special effects were all very well done.


---The Blu-Ray experience---
With a title of "The Eye" one would expect that this is quite a visual film, and it is! Since we only have a 32 inch TV it's never going to be amazing, but the blu-ray disc does make the difference that it makes between watching House on Sky 1 to watching it on Sky 1 HD! I don't think it's worth paying any more for, but if you are going to get a blu-ray film then this isn't a bad one to get. The clarity of the image makes the contrast between Sydney's blurred vision and our normal vision even greater.


---More about the DVD---
The film is rated a 15 (which is fair, as there's nothing too gruesome) and lasts 93 minutes. The film is available with French and Spanish audio (as well as English obviously), and Spanish subtitles. There is also the usual scene selection option.


---Extras---
For the purposes of review writing I actually sat down to watch the extras on the DVD.

Deleted Scenes - Eight of these, and they're worth a watch, although the third is pretty horrible!

Birth of the Shadowman - a very short film about the 'death' character in the film, which I was interested to learn was actually played by a person rather than being just a CGI.

Becoming Sydney - another short film. Jessica Alba talks about the challenges of getting into her role, being blind and being a violinist. In fact she took violin lessons for 6 months in order to get the look of playing (not the sound!) right, and spent time with a blind woman.

Shadow World: Seeing the Dead - a slightly longer film about the transplanting of organs and how memories can also be transplanted. Interesting, but a bit repetitive.

The Eye: An Explosive Finale - talking about the explosion scene at the end and how it was made.

Theatrical Trailer - just that!


---Finally---
Before critics jump down my throat as I've said already I haven't seen the original so am reviewing the film on that basis.

Personally I think this is a really good film, could be a bit scarier or with a little bit more suspense perhaps, but otherwise I can't really think of anything to criticise it for, although I'm sure your comments on this review will soon put me in my place!

Give it a go if you like this sort of film, or if you're too tired or drunk to watch what I'd imagine is a much better original and therefore unable to cope with subtitles!

Summary: I like it, but I imagine the original is a million times better!