The Eye (2008)

Directors:

David Moreau
Xavier Palud

Writers (WGA):

Sebastian Gutierrez (screenplay)
Jo Jo Yuet-chun Hui (2002 screenplay "Jian gui") ...

Release Date:

1 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

How can you believe your eyes when they're not yours?

Plot:

The remake of the Hong Kong film "Jian Gui", a woman who receives an eye transplant that allows her to see into the supernatural world.

Plot Keywords:

Eye | Violinist | Eye Transplant | Mexico | Seeing Dead People

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jessica Alba	...	Sydney Wells
Alessandro Nivola	...	Dr. Paul Faulkner
Parker Posey	...	Helen Wells
Rade Serbedzija	...	Simon McCullough
Fernanda Romero	...	Ana Christina Martinez
Rachel Ticotin	...	Rosa Martinez
Obba Babatundé	...	Dr. Haskins
Danny Mora	...	Miguel
Chloe Moretz	...	Alicia (as Chloë Grace Moretz)
Brett A. Haworth	...	Shadowman
Kevin K.	...	Tomi Cheung
Tamlyn Tomita	...	Mrs. Cheung
Esodie Geiger	...	Nurse
Karen Austin	...	Mrs. Hillman
Ryan J. Pezdirc	...	Nurse Room Attendant

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence/terror and disturbing content.

Runtime:

98 min | Turkey:92 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44048) | Singapore:PG | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Malaysia:U | Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Hong Kong:IIB | Finland:K-15 | Taiwan:R-12 | Italy:T | Norway:15 | South Korea:15 | Germany:16 | Brazil:14 | France:U (with warning)

Filming Locations:

7th Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lionsgate

Trivia:

To prepare for her role, Jessica Alba took violin lessons for 6 months, which she started while filming 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). She also learned basic Braille.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: The music from Sidney's violin does not match her arm movement at all.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Teen on Skateboard: Oh shit! Thanks, I didn't see that.
Sydney Wells: Neither did I.
Sydney Wells: [voice-over while Sydney walks in the street and settles in a café] People say seeing is believing, but for me, that's not entirely true. I lost my sight when I was five years old. Those memories of what I have seen have faded so much that I doubt I'd even recognize myself anymore. Now I see using my other senses. I can smell the rain before it drops, but I can't watch it fall. I can feel the sun on my face, but I can't see it rise or set. I want to see the world like everyone else, to see the sun, the rain, the music. Oh I bet music looks beautiful.

Movie Connections:

References Ghost (1990)

Soundtrack:

Purple Bamboo

Another blinking remake!

With virtually every successful Asian horror movie of the last few years having already been remade by Hollywood, it was only a matter of time before Gin gwai (AKA The Eye) got the treatment, despite the original not really being all that great (I found it fairly entertaining, but unexceptional—my rating: 6/10).

Jessica Alba plays Sydney Wells, a blind violinist who receives a cornea transplant only to discover that her new set of peepers allow her to see much more than she had originally bargained for: Sydney can see dead people!! Aided by her doctor, she attempts to unravel the terrible secret behind her scary supernatural power.

Directed by David Moreau and Xavier Palud, The Eye is a totally unnecessary and dreary remake that copies parts of original verbatim, alters scenes that should have been left well alone (the creepy cafe meat-licking scene has gone, and the downbeat ending has been swapped for a typical Hollywood crowd pleaser), and totally botches what should be the scariest bit of the whole film (the lift scene is VERY disappointing).

Take my advice: If you've already seen Gin gwai, then stay away from The Eye.