Movie FReview--The Village

vanity | July 31, 2004 | grellis

[grellis]

There are movies with a twist, and then there are movies with a twist and a turn. Occasionally, a movie is written with a twist, a turn, and something else...a twang? Whatever you choose to call it, the device is generally to the movie's detriment. M. Night Shyamalan's The Village has a twist, a turn, a twang, and sadly rounds the corner into absurdity.

Roger Friedman, movie critic for Fox News Channel, referred to The Village as being anti-Bush. Its not. His assertion, based primarily on a character named "Walker" and the use of the color red, is just plain silly. I cannot understand why a movie critic would stretch the truth and criticize a movie for being politically biased when he easily could have criticized the work for being, well, not that great. Just one gal's opinion, but there you have it. The Village is, simply, not a good movie.

That's not to say that the movie is all bad, however. The cast is excellent. The basic premise is good--a village is suddenly besieged by the mysterious creatures which inhabit the surrounding woods. There are some genuinely suspenseful moments. Two or three times I jumped, in spite of myself. I particularly liked the score, which is sublimely unobtrusive--as every score should be. I do not like having to bring a map and a compass to the theater with me, in the hope that I may be able to stay on the trail of the plot. The movie is convoluted. Its as if Shyamalan, recalling the plot twist in The Sixth Sense (which made the movie so wildly popular) thought to himself, "So they like twists? I'll show them!!!" I find myself wondering who had the final cut of the film. That person should be looking for alternate means of employment.

Five out of ten stars.

[anniegetyourgun]

Thanks, though wasn't planning on it anyway.

[My2Cents]

Just returned. The movie was a gloried episode of "Twilight Zone." Not a great movie, but I thought a good one. It was worth seeing. I'll likely see it again.

[HairOfTheDog]

I did think the Fox Reviewer sounded plain nuts in his review and I am glad to hear you say it too after seeing it.

I plan to see it, but hate the theater so I'll wait.

This guy's films are always a bit on the supernatural spiritual side, and I like him. Did you like his other films like Signs, the Sixth Sense and Unbreakable?

[grellis]

I ignored Friedman's review and saw it anyway!

[grellis]

ping

[grellis]

My rating of five out of ten might be a bit too low. The acting was outstanding. I've seen all of his films except for that first one he did--I can't even recall the name--and he always has incredibly talented actors to work with. Or, quite possibly, he is a good enough director to illicit strong performances. Perhaps illicit is not the word I'm thinking of...its awfully hot in this house!!!

[grellis]

I don't think you'll miss out on anything by waiting to see it at home. Its not a grand movie. In a way, I think suspense films are better seen at home, especially if they are GOOD suspense films...you have that feeling of security, then you are huddled on the couch with an afghan pulled up to your ears, and you go to bed with every light in the house blazing.

Well, that's me, anyway!

[HairOfTheDog]

I agree! I made very rare exceptions for LoTR and went to theaters. Most other stuff I wait.

[My2Cents]

Yes. Ron Howard's daughter carried the movie. She was tremendous.

[My2Cents]

I think the word is "elicit." :-)

I actually think M. Night is a darn good director. The cinematography in this film bordered on brilliant.

[grellis]

So that's who that was! She was superb, as was Joaquin Phoenix. I wish that Adrien Brody's character hadn't been so far gone, mentally...maybe if he were disturbed in a different way. He's one of my favorite actors. What's Howard's dughter's name, Bryce? If she doesn't get an Oscar nomination out of that, there's no justice in tinseltown. Has she ever been in anything before this?

[My2Cents]

Yeah, she looked a bit like "Opie". :-)

[hispanarepublicana]

Before i follow your ping.....are there any *spoilers* int he FReview?

[Jalapeno]

Saw it the other day. I think you're about right on all points.

Someone really called it "Anti-Bush". Oh come on...

[DoctorMichael]

Thanks for the review! After the previous comments about Bush I was wondering whether this was going to be MNS's 'Animal Farm, ie. political allegory.

Maybe I'll see it at a matinee this afternoon.

[grellis]

I was careful in not giving anything away, which is why the review is a bit sketchy. So far I haven't seen any spoilers in the comments, just talking about the movie in general.

[grellis]

Roger Friedman is a nitwit. He sees conspiracies in everything...kinda like how some kids are always seeing "dead people."

[nuffsenuff]

Checking it out tonight. 8:30 pm

I'll let you know.

[parcel_of_rogues]

Once I noticed the microphone repeatedly hanging in the top of the frame it became a real distraction. The whole effort appeared amateurish at that point.

Me and the missus went on HNS past efforts and were a bit disappointed.

The Friday night crowd was packed with high-schoolers. Surprisingly they did not heckle during the movie but afterword's, ones loud comment of "I want my $8.00 back" was met with much supportive laughter.