Finally, the last two movies lack a smart twist. The reason I get off my rear end from blogging or watching DVDs to go to see a Shyamalan movie is because of the two things aforementioned but most especially the twist at the end. Remember these:
- Ivy, the c.1800 pretty, flower-dressed Amish-like blind woman hopping the fence to find a Land Rover blowing its siren at her. (I was like, huh? It was brilliant.)
- When his father says to Merrill, "Swing away." If that didn't make you want to applaud, you were seen as an alien.
Since so many are Shyamalan fans, I won't go on; you know the many twists I am talking about. The question is, why did his last two movies lack these (if they were there they were pale in comparison)? Most fans are aware that with every movie he's done there has been an unprecedented "gag order" on all the actors to not reveal the twist. I'd be surprised to hear that sort of thing was necessary for Lady in the Water or The Happening.
I originally wanted to write a review of The Happening but as I sat down I just couldn't get it started. It is a movie that at best tries to pitch a warning about the environment. At worst, it tries to be as gross as it can be. After all, it is his first R-rated film. This isn't too hard to accomplish since it is about a plant airborne virus that instantly makes people kill themselves. There is an attempt at a twist but I won't honor it with a description. M. Night, please read this article. May the three ingredients I have described be in your next film. If not, this reviewer will likely be spending his afternoons chomping other burgers (even if they aren't so secret).
Article comments
1 - Malcolm
My intro to the work of M. Night was through "Lady In the Water". Because my then girlfriend is a huge fan, we saw it on opening day. To say that I was disappointed is a gross understatement. After all of the great things I had heard about his movies, I was expecting to be dazzled. Shortly thereafter, we watched "Unbreakable", which was much better. Eventually, I will get around to seeing his other pre-Lady In the Water films. The only reason I haven't seen "The Sixth Sense" is become this jerk spoiled the ending for me shortly after it came out. Having said that, I have heard that even if I know the twist, the movie is still well worth seeing.
2 - Damien
Thanks Malcolm. Your comment is very good input because I have often wondered if LITW lacked becaused of the other movies of his I had see. Like if I was comparing too much. Bt you were a newbie to his stuff and you were disappointed. See the other films, they are a blast. Thanks for dropping by.
3 - El Bicho
I am a fan of Night's first three films but "The Village" was terrible. Once the reveal is made the story makes absolutely no sense and falls apart. An adult should have gone instead of Ivy.
4 - Damien
Thanks El. The way I saw it was that they were so afraid of having their lie revealed that they had to send Ivy. But I agree it had holes. Still, you must agree it gave you sociological questions to talk about over coffee. The Lady in the Water Decidedly does not. As I said, I really liked the Village but your points are good ones.
5 - El Bicho
If they were so afraid of having their lie revealed, then why send someone who doesn't know the lie? She's blind, not an idiot, and since was on her way to adulthood and was going to learn the truth anyway, there was no reason for the adults to not tell her. Night had an interesting premise, but couldn't figure out an interesting way to reveal it.
6 - Steve K.
First, wasn't Graham (Mel Gibson's character who said, "Swing away!") the BROTHER to Merrill - not his father?! I get chills when I still watch that scene and wish I was the one with the bat!
Nevertheless, my wife and I are big fans of Shyamalan, but with The Happening, I had to go by myself due to the R-rating and her thinking the gore would be too much (Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th and Halloween were rated R, afterall!) I thought The Happening was good in that it got me "thinking", but I am very tired of the "preachy" movies. I go to the movies to escape that kind of stuff!
7 - Damien
@Steve K.: I just headed over to IMDB where I do most my checking on names and such and found that indeed you are correct sir! Rev. Graham IS indeed Merrill's older brother. I got mixed up on that. Thank you for clarifying that. It has been a few years for me. I also appreciated your sentiment about the bat ... we ALL wanted to be swinging away. Dang that monster was SOOOO scary. Nice to have some empathy in that!
Good for you on the labeling of Happening a "preachy" movie. It seems leftist "green" types are getting more and more like preachers they militate against. Makes the middle look more sane which is good because that is pretty much where I hang out. I agree the end was preachy and the message preached was as boring as a silent move ... well, I take that back ... a silent movie could be much better depending on which one you're talking about.