eyescor

Shyamalan Proves, once again, that a simple, well-written story can be highly effective. He is a master filmmaker with a very clear sense of how he wants to tell his story and unlike so many of the filmmakers we see these days, he starts with a story and a script and proceeds from there. He knows how to use special camera effects and when to leave them alone. (I was delighted to see that there was only one hand-held shot in the film that was well-placed and highly effective. He obviously does not make films for the hordes of imbeciles like comquest who always seem to miss the point. (Attack of the Clones is another example of people not only missing the point, but being perpetually dissatisfied.) The film is about a family trying to function in abnormal circumstances, it is not about aliens or crop circles or the end of the world. Rent Independence Day if that's what you want to see. It is an excellent portrait of a family suffering loss and a man's journey back to his lost faith in himself and God. The context within which Shyamalan chooses to tell his story, with aliens and crop circles and CNN news flashes about the end of the world is what makes him a unique and gifted filmmaker. It's not difficult to enjoy this film. Go in with an open mind and enjoy yourself. If you want the story to be a particular way, go make your own film. Go and enjoy what Mr. Shyamalan has done.

I was at the same screening the previous fellow was at an it was very obvious to me what kind of film we were seeing. It was a classic B-Movie Horror film with all of the camera movements, dialogue, makeup and effects of a good B-movie. This film does not, at any time, present itself as anything other than being an homage to the B-Movie Genre. The trailer preceding the film, which showed horror film trailers by Mario Bava, were an indication of what we were in store for. It's seems to be so easy for people to completely miss the point. (I am not a regular fan of this genre nor did I know who Mario Bava was so I am not a blind loyalist.) It was a fun film, it was entertaining. Actually, there were some very striking underwater shots.There also were moments that were extremely creepy and there was a lot of value for the budget they had. Good gore. I also know that the director, Stuart Gordon, is a guy who is well aware of what the film is and what its intended audience is. After all, it is very easy to pick friday the 13th or any of these films apart if one wants to appear superior. Is that the point? If you want to see a good horror film in the style of "Night of the Living Dead" and that style of film, "Dagon" is worth renting.

The direction was horrible as well including the now-common penchant for "really cool" visuals that take us nowhere and mean absolutely nothing other than they are "really cool." How can we watch 2 hours of a film with not one character with whom we can sympathize? One of the most contrived and idiotic scripts in years. It actually would have made a better film as a French farce. Don't waste the rental.