Posted on 08/02/2004 6:04:08 AM PDT by BluegrassScholar
I just saw it this weekend. What a bore.
Every time I think about the Village I get this desire to warn people off.
There was something about the ads for the Village that just didn't impress me - so I stayed away from it. -- Maybe it was a 6th sense!
Paranoid greenhorn with money. Lives like a little prince surrounded by bodyguards and those who sweep up behind him. Real P.O.S.
Are you talking about M. Night? I don't doubt it, but how do you know this? Personal experience, trusted observer, what? Again, not a challenge, just a clarificaiton.
Thanks.
I loved unbreakable better than sixth sense and signs. I'm probably the only one.
The village was okay.
I go in this order best to worst.
Unbreakable.
Signs.
sixth sense.
the village.
It would've been better if the stories of the mythical creatures turned out to be real and many of them showed up at the end.
I think Roger Friedman's theory about this movie being anti-Bush was too far-fetched. I actually think this movie can be better interpreted to criticize the isolationist stand of conservatism. The cinematography, the scenery (the movie was filmed in the "neck of the woods," ;-)where I grew up, in northern Delaware/extreme southeastern Pennsylvania), and the score were all great. The featured violin soloist was Hilary Hahn, who I saw in concert earlier this year. She's a great musician.
I think the author of the article at the beginning of the thread hates Shymalan because he isn't a "player" in Hollywood, and because he makes in an old-fashioned sense.
Didn't have that much trouble w/ your "logic fault #1" since she had already demonstrated her capability in the film, and it was also verbally reinforced by a statement from Hurt's character. It is also reasonable to assume that the road is a cord within the circular border, so either way would have brought her to the wall. Her selection was also somewhat reasonable since blindness increased the chance that she would not come back with "problem" information (at least from a script standpoint).
The greater idiocy is why the "elders" would go to the trouble of funding and establishing such a thing and not structure provision for this very problem. Further, why did the "preserve" have the supplies needed in such quantity if they were meant only for "first aid"? Why did the elders hide the red outfits, yet not hide a modern change of clothes for reentry into "town" for this very situation? The stupid logic problems in this film go on and on.
A few more of my concerns... Two of the three "rules" made some sense - if one does not go into the woods one never finds out the truth, and running for cover when the bell rings gives the elders an effective way to "quarantine" the town in the event of an airplane or a group of curious teens. But what is with the red and yellow color crap? Can't see any reason. Why on earth didn't one of the elders go to town? Wouldn't modern medicines be easier to conceal and explain than the elaborate charade that was being propped up to maintain isolation? Seems to me that the "elders" traded the arbitrary violent deaths of loved ones in the "towns" for arbitrary deaths in the village due to their poor planning and stubbornness under the guise of "principle".
In The Sixth Sense the viewer inevitably goes over the story reconstructing the reality of Willis being a ghost. In The Village I found myself going over the story thinking of all the ways it was one big lame shaggy-dog story that just didn't add up.
Last comment, Howards' daughter was one of the few bright spots in a movie that is barely worth a DVD rental fee.
The movie was as bad as all that. Only one twist and all sorts of improbable plot assumptions. Reminded me of the Blair Witch Project.
I saw it last week. A good film. I'm not sure why all the critical carping by (so called) critics ...
He is young. If he is serious about his craft he will learn from his mistakes. I guess I won't be seeing it though, everyone so far hates it. Oh well, better luck next time.
How awful! The man wants to shoot his movies where he can go home to his family each day. [SARCASM OFF]
And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the sole reason for this hit-piece.
Bryce Howard is Ron Howard's daughter. I read a lot of reviews of this film and they are all over the place. I decided it is a matter of individual taste. If you like this director's work, you will probably like it, it not, you won't.
However, every review whether good or bad, did agree that Bryce Howard was terrific. Perhaps there is a supporting actress nomination in her future.
I saw The Village yesterday. I thought the first few minutes were quite, almost lulling (then again, I was on medication). Overall the movie was good. I agree with your comment on living with fear. I also appreciated the story element of the elder (William Hurt) struggling with the choice of defending the village at the expense of innocence or risking discovery for the sake of his daughter's love. I really enjoyed the movie. Then again... I was on meds.
Friedman hates Pres. Bush and makes every effort to bash him. This lead to the convoluted reasoning in his review- What a jerk!
Thanks, I'm going to rent it. Anyone have other suggestions, please let me know. I never heard of stir of Echoes until reccommended, and I loved it.
I am going to rend Session 9-thanks any more suggestions would be welcomed.
Wow, this critic really dislikes Shyamalan.
I read two critiques from slate on this movie. Without giving away too much, both critics seemed to wonder why certain things were done (as in, why didn't they just do this ___, wouldn't that have been easier?).
Both critics overlooked the notion that perhaps the path of least resistance is not necessarily the right path to follow. Truth, justice, honor, and faith are not just slogans. To many people even today, honoring a vow, though it may cost them everything, still holds meaning. And for me, that is a large part of what this movie was about. But again (as noted in another post), I'm still on meds so what do I know. : )
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