The Eye Movie Review:

Blinded By The Light or "I see Dead Chinese People"

"The Eye" is a psychological thriller out of Hong Kong. It has one of the most creative openings I have ever seen. In fact, I fell for the ruse and ran to alert the manager of the "problem" but he assured me that the technique was part of the film. Once reseated, I enjoyed the establishing scenes and was prepared to be scared. Unfortunately, I was not thrilled by what ensued. The side stories were a bit more interesting to me than the main line, which was slow going. Either the parallel stories could have been better developed or the movie could have been 20 minutes shorter.

The special effects were ok and the surround sound was loud and creepy, but it was so predictable in advertising what was to come, that it took away any chance of surprise. The sets are good and the acting "believable." The story is uneven, yet delivered some astute observations about the human condition and how vision can sometimes obscure reality, as well as the emotional connectedness between the living and the recently deceased. But these insights seem to be oversights rather than foresights. No special spectralvision or 3D glasses were provided.

Besides being medically prepped for the corneal transplant operation, we also learn that most of the doctors and nurses in Southeast Asia are under 18 or at least look like it. The black clad "agents" that assist the dead in their departure to the great beyond might represent the Mainland Chinese reformers after they regained control of Hong Kong, but I'm only guessing. Also on the negative side are holes in the plot and sloppy continuity, which make the visions more believable than "reality" as represented by the filmmakers. This is problematic to say the least.

Drew Barrymore was missing from the climax but the denouement was satisfying as the writers decided that the blind leading the blind cliché was better than a nice girl with a corneal sixth sense. Even Leavittown is architecturally amazing to the vision impaired so let happiness reign.

The buzz on The Ring, a highly successful chiller from last year, was that the Asian original was much better. So this year we have access to the original before Tom Cruise "creates" the "domestic" vision, er, version. Cruise is shrewd and realized he could not bollocks up this one, though he'll probably drop the sweet parts; sorry Yingying. Rather than the Cruise model, I submit the remake should include the original directors, the Pang Brothers, teamed with the Polish Brothers (Twin Falls Idaho, not the Wachowski's of The Matrix) adding a new twist of having the Asian girl fitted with round eyes from Ann Coulter (who dies a horrible death in the opening scene) and begins to see herself through a Republican racists eyes. Think of the possibilities. The reflection in the mirror scenes would take on a whole new dimension. Yikes! If this version is released, all I want is a producer's credit. Maybe I'll catch a Bang Bros. film on the web instead…

In the spirit of full disclosure, the reader must be informed that I was given incorrect directions by a Chinese woman during rush hour today, putting me half an hour off schedule. She then tried to jack up the price of the computer part previously quoted on the phone. On the way back home, I saw mostly Chinese stores and Chinese people all of whom weren't here in previously John Birch Anaheim, California, 20 years ago. A great wall of Asians is overrunning the white devils. I hope this myopic observation didn't skew my review. Of course I'll still get Chinese takeout tomorrow. In fact, try "Better Luck Tomorrow," a far more haunting film made here!

Copyright 2003 by T R Black

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