Movie Review - "The Village"

[skahound]

Last night I had the pleasure of being able to watch "The Village" thanks to my lucky fingers. As it happened I was the 11th caller when the local radio DJ on Real Radio 104.1FM sounded the cue. I assure you I will not spoil the movie for you by telling you anything that you haven't already figured out from the trailers and interviews. This promises to be very hard to do but the trailers alone make the movie a must-see for any Shyamalan fan. This film rings with reminiscence of "Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" in its plot twists.

"The Village" definitely leaves the movie-goer slightly dumbfounded by the end much the same way as the revelation of Malcolm Crowe as a ghost did. M. Night Shyamalan remains consistent with the basis of his stories throughout the plot of his fourth feature-length film.

This review has turned into more of an pseudo-explanation of Shyamalan's acclaimed style but nonetheless I would urge you to go see this film.

[IllGrooverseven]

Re:: Movie Review - "The Village"

Dissapointingly, A coworker saw the film last night and was terribly dissapointed. I am glad to see your recommendation and I guess I will have to see it for myself.

It's looking like it is not getting spectacular reviews... at least the ones I have seen

[el presidente Highsteppa]

I'm going to give it a shot. I appreciated Signs when I saw it a second time and paid less attention to expecting a surprise ending, which is probably going to hurt this guy's career more than help it if he keeps this up.

Thanks for the heads up.

[skahound]

This film follows in the same vein...either you will absolutely LOVE it or absolutely HATE it. I've seen mixed reviews, from 3 out of 5 stars to 5 out of 5 stars. CNN.com critic called this film Shyamalan's best yet. The dialogue and underlying methodology are keys to Shyamalan's films. He makes them in such a way that they are very cleverly portrayed and don't get too hokey (ie "Memento"). Hope you enjoy this film as much as I did, but this film will have audiences deeply divided.

[el presidente Highsteppa]

You thought Memento was hokey??!!

[skahound]

You thought Memento was hokey??!!

I understand that my opinion of "Memento" pisses a lot of people off. I felt as though it was a bit of a rip-off of Tarantino style with mediocre acting and writing at best. The only thing "Memento" had going for it was camera work.

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Re:: Movie Review - "The Village"

I find the Tarantino comparison puzzling since really Tarantino is known more for the pop culture banter than anything else. But I guess you're referring to Tarantino's free form time play that he does?

Still, I think of Memento as something of a unique film of its own, as it's a lot more serious, downbeat and not really cut from the same cloth as Tarantino films are. It's handling the situation as a possible tragedy rather than doing something that could have been a one note performance (ie. the Tom Hanks Saturday Night Live Short Term Memory Guy skit), but Guy Ritchie elevated it much higher. But hey, sorry to hear you didn't dig it.

[HoneyBearKelly]

I saw this last night as well.
skahound you didn't like Memento and you liked this?
Wow.
The Village was totally hokey crap.

[HoneyBearKelly]

Re:: Movie Review - "The Village"

but Guy Ritchie elevated it much higher. But hey, sorry to hear you didn't dig it.

btw...it's Christopher Nolan

Guy Ritchie married Mad Donna and his talent was sucked away.

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Re:: Movie Review - "The Village"

but Guy Ritchie elevated it much higher. But hey, sorry to hear you didn't dig it.

btw...it's Christopher Nolan

Guy Ritchie married Mad Donna and his talent was sucked away.

Actually I meant Guy Pearce, but thanks for the correction . Damn, I always get him and Guy Ritchie confused.

Chris Nolan, I expect big things from with Batman Begins next summer. Following, Memento and the remake of Insomnia has proven that to me.

[skahound]

I saw this last night as well.
skahound you didn't like Memento and you liked this?
Wow.
The Village was totally hokey crap.

Opinions are like assholes....everybody's got one. The underlying story of courage and dedication and the lengths we as humas will go to in order to protect the ones we love, to me, is not hokey.

[asdf_admin]

^^^ I like this guy. :wink:

[Jibgolly]

i have high hopes for this one.
hope its better and more suspenseful than Signs was.

[palmer]

I had a buddy that saw it earlier this evening:

jonr93 (2:18:06 AM): it's a fucking pathetic story
jonr93 (2:18:09 AM): I will tell it to you right now
jonr93 (2:18:17 AM): I'm planning on ruining it for everyone that intends on seeing it
jonr93 (2:21:27 AM): I couldn't fucking believe how bad it was.. the whole time I was hoping for something cool to happen, and it just ended, I was like jesus christ.. where do I get my money back

[Jibgolly]

that sounds about how i rate some movies.
not a good sign.