Maybe in a few years time, free of the marketing and so on, when folks pick up The Village just cause they liked Unbreakable or something, maybe then it'll be given a fair shot. But folks who, understandably, expect a monster-movie are gonna puke their guts over the seat, and there's no-one but Touchstone to blame.
Why in the hell does everyone expect the "twist" by the way? Of the six films Shyamalan has crafted, from 1992's Praying With Anger until now, only one had anything resembling the slap-in-the-chops reveal what folks for some reason associate with his entire filmography.
The Village panders to those unfounded expectations, and it sucks as a result.
The Duke is a fan of the Shyamalan fella, let it be stated for some kind of record. I adored every frame of his previous trio of filmic excursions. I even adored Signs for crying out noisy. This goes some way to explaining why The Village left me reeling with frustration. It's not because it didn't do what The Duke wanted it to. It's because it did what I expected it to, and did it with all the elegance of a man coughing up a lungful of cum onto a passing Alsatian.
I'm just shaking my head like you wouldn't believe right now.
I'm off to figure out why The Duchess hasn't been talking to me ever since that night when the naked fella showed up in the bathroom. I didn't even know him, man. Maybe this little robot kid knows something about it.
Thanks folks.
The Duke resides at Mondo Irlando
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
If only Praying With Anger was available on DVD to mock mercilessly!
Thanks, Duke. Your stuff always makes me laugh -- and turn green with envy. I couldn't really hope to duplicate your style, on account of I'm not into swearing and such, and plus it's your style, not mine. But that doesn't stop me from wishing. Wishing I was a better writer, is what.
Anyway, keep up the fine work.
2 - Jim Carruthers
While Charles M. Shultz made a decades long career out of Lucy yanking the football away from Charlie Brown, I can only think M. Mightbe Shalmalangadingdong is only delusional.
I hated with passion only the really cheated can feel, whatever that dumbass Bruce Willis movie was, no, not that one, the other one.
There's no way this charlatan will ever get his hands on any of my money for his Hollywood three-card monte.
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Phil, that kinda compliment slinging means a lot to me, is what, although i think you're selling yourself short. I enjoy your writing immensley.
Jim, harsh words, man. I actually really liked m night's last three flicks. Unbreakable, i think, is a brilliant work. Everyone yacks on about the twist, tho, and i gotta admit it didnt feel like much of a revelation, really. just a natural develoment type deal. Unlike this nonsense right here. Insulted is the word, man.
4 - Jim Carruthers
It has come to my attention that Bruce Willis, while having worked on "projects" classified as "crap", "bullshit", "monkey-poo-flingingly awful" and "paycheques" in IMDB, he was granted clemency for his key role in bringing Pauly Shore and Andrew "Dice" Clay to justice in a carefully coordinated takedown in their West Hollywood "love-pad".
5 - Eric Olsen
woe to the filmmaker who conjures the wrath of the Duke from within the gentle pool of favorable predisposition
6 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
eric, if i ever die (which, granted, is pretty far-fetched), i will ask that your comment be etched on mine tomb stone.
Actually, i'd better ask before i die.
7 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
time check
8 - Jim Carruthers
"time check", is this some sort of Belfast Cowboy version of "Marco Polo"?
Just wondering, or did M. Shite Manfulobogusbastard put some sort wierd hex on your fevered imagination?
Blink once for yes, twice for no.