The Happening - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

VANFLAMESFAN · 06-14-2008, 12:25 PM

I went and saw this movie last night. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either. But I have to give credit to M. Night Shyamalan for trying something diffrent. Everyone keeps waiting for his next "Sixth Sense" with the creepy storyline and the big shocking twist than no one expects and he keeps saying, "screw you, I'm gonna make the film that I want to do!"

The Happening was definitely different, had a very strong first half, but lacked in the end because of some poor character devolopment. Would I reccomend it?? Maybe, it's not for everyone. In the elevator back to the parking lot, I heard a guy say it was one of the worst movies he had ever seen, I can definitely say, it wasn't that bad.

I'm a pretty big Shyamalan fan, but hate always resorting comparing his movies to his previous work because they're different movies with different storyline, tone and theme. I mean, would you compare Jaws to Schindler's List because they were directed by Spielberg?? Probably not, but I guess when Shyamalan has only done 6 major films, and they all seemed to be marketed the same way, I can do it. So, in my opinion, this is how I would rank his flicks.

Sixth Sense, Signs, Unbreakable, Happening, Village, Lady in the Water.

6.5/10......Anyone else see it??

troutman · 06-14-2008, 12:28 PM

I have this theory about Signs. It's not about aliens at all, but it was all a dream, about Mel's loss of faith. Did anyone else think that? As an alien movie it is lame - on the other level, it was interesting.

VANFLAMESFAN · 06-14-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I have this theory about Signs. It's not about aliens at all, but it was all a dream, about Mel's loss of faith. Did anyone else think that? As an alien movie it is lame - on the other level, it was interesting.

Oh totally, it was never a black and white Alien flick.

fatso · 06-14-2008, 12:39 PM

M. Night Shymalan is certainly an interesting director. He seems to be set up to fail. I don't know what people are expecting from him anymore, but at least he's trying different things.

I hadn't thought that about 'Signs' but it certainly works. It was a good movie (not great), and it certainly wasn't really about aliens.

I really loved 'the Village' and while I know some people found it hokey I thought the cinematography and framing was nothing short of masterful. I also thought as an allegory about U.S. isolationism following 9/11 it was damn near brilliant. I think a big reason people didn't like it was because it hit a little too close to home...

'Lady in the Water'... hm... not sure about that one. Tonnes of interesting things going on, but it was a mess. I think with a little more editing it could have been a much better film.

I want to see the new one.

fatso · 06-14-2008, 12:44 PM

oh, I'll rank them as:

The Village, Sixth Sense, Signs, Lady in the Water, Unbreakable.

(I found Unbreakable really unwatchable, though I appreciated much of what he was doing... the pacing just wasn't my stuff).

FlamesAddiction · 06-14-2008, 12:47 PM

I've never really liked any of his movies that much. Signs was the only one that I found somewhat interesting. I can see what he is going for, but I always end up feeling like my intelligence is being insulted.

I thought The Village was very predictable. I had it figured out in the 1st half hour. I didn't even watch Lady in the Water. The previews looked awful...

I think the previews for The Happening (worst movie title ever?) look alright, but I'm prepared to be disappointed.

SportsJunky · 06-14-2008, 12:53 PM

The Sixth Sense is one of my favourite movies of all time. Unbreakable was certainly a drop off but it still holds my attention when I come across it on t.v. Signs isn't as bad as The Village but I didn't like either one even though I wanted to. Lady in the Water I haven't seen and don't plan to.

I had high hopes for The Happening but based on a brutal RT rating it seems as bad as I feared.

simonsays · 06-14-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatso

M. Night Shymalan is certainly a director. But he seems to fail. I don't know what people are expecting from him anymore, but at least he's different.

I hadn't thought that about 'Signs' but it certainly sucks. It was a bad movie (not good), and it certainly wasn't good.

Nobody loved 'the Village' and while I know some everyone found it hokey I thought the cinematography and framing was nothing short of masterful. I also thought as an allegory about U.S. isolationism following 9/11 it was still really crappy. I think a big reason people didn't like it was because it was worse than Spidey 3.

'Lady in the Water'... hm... I won't watch another one of his movies until someone tells me that it isn't a mess. I think with a little more substance he could have been a much better director.

I don't know anyone who wants to see the new one.

I think everyone can agree with you there fatso.

Dion · 06-14-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I have this theory about Signs. It's not about aliens at all, but it was all a dream, about Mel's loss of faith. Did anyone else think that? As an alien movie it is lame - on the other level, it was interesting.

I would agree fully. It's one of the things i love about Shyamalan and his movies. There's always hidden meanings in his movies and makes for great discussion.

Got Miikka? · 06-14-2008, 01:07 PM

If Shamallama's recent track record is an indication of what I should expect, than I expect I should be calling this movie "The Crappening" after I see it. I'll stop short of getting into a rant about his movies; I'll just say that the only one I actually like is Unbreakable - I think the way it plays with the comic-book formula is truly clever, and who couldn't love Sam Jackson as the man of glass? Signs is definitely a faith-themed allegory.

I slag Shamalama's movies off but I'm a hypocrite: I'll end up seeing this new one even though I know I'll probably dislike it and spend time making fun of it later.

Got Miikka? · 06-14-2008, 01:09 PM

PS I liked Spiderman 3.

fatso · 06-14-2008, 01:12 PM

Simonsays, I know you were just goofing around but I'd appreciate it if you didn't mis-quote me like that. I don't mind if you disagree with me, take me to task, or whatever... I just don't like being massively re-worded like that.

Sorry to be a dink about it, but it's a pet peeve of mine.

simonsays · 06-14-2008, 01:21 PM

I did try to emphasize the massive misquotes, but I understand if that pisses you off. To actually be on topic though, Shayamalan frustrates me to no ends. He's like the Derek Morris of film making. Has all the tools but can't seem to put it all together for more than a stretch. I still like Unbreakable, but like FlamesAddiction, I feel like he's insulting my intelligence with his other films.

fatso · 06-14-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonsays

I did try to emphasize the massive misquotes, but I understand if that pisses you off. To actually be on topic though, Shayamalan frustrates me to no ends. He's like the Derek Morris of film making. Has all the tools but can't seem to put it all together for more than a stretch. I still like Unbreakable, but like FlamesAddiction, I feel like he's insulting my intelligence with his other films.

lol...

Ya, again, sorry for being a dink about it. I know you didn't mean anything by it. I've been misunderstood a few times on this board, especially the OT forum, and so maybe I'm paranoid about having my meanings misconstrued. Sorry if I took that out on you.

Anyway, I know what you mean. I think maybe I'm trying to hard to find something redeeming in his work, because the alternative is too frightening: namely how a film-maker who showed so much talent at such a young age could drop off so drastically so quickly.

I do stand by 'The Village' though as a very under-rated film. While the plot may have been predictable (I didn't think so, but I'm kind of dense), I really thought there was some amazing imagery going on. The red flags at the edge of town, the wolf/beast costume in the closet, the photographs William Hurt was keeping... all that stuff was pretty cool imo.

Aeneas · 06-14-2008, 02:04 PM

I like all his films including Village, and Lady In The Water.

I will see the Happening, tonight in fact.

SportsJunky · 06-14-2008, 02:15 PM

Let me know if you like it more than this guy:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37073

Quote:

"Is this movie actually being released?" Those were my first words when the lights came up after seeing M. Night Shyamalan's latest, THE HAPPENING. And the question was in no way rhetorical. I truly could not conceive of a world where anyone would allow a film this poorly made to be released. I know that Shyamalan is everybody's favorite punching bag of late; the writer-director had the misfortune of having his first three films (THE SIXTH SENSE; UNBREAKABLE; SIGNS) be very popular and varying degrees of great. How dare he. And while I'm far from a Shyamalan apologist (I liked THE VILLAGE; I tried and failed to appreciate LADY IN THE WATER), I think the man has talent. That being said, the man who made THE HAPPENING is a stranger to me. There's no way this can be the same guy who skillfully creeped me out time and time again with his work. I am truly and without exaggeration baffled by THE HAPPENING in ways that I'll attempt to explain, but I may simply fall forward from exhaustion trying.

Quote:

Around the world, critics will be preparing their "Worst of 2008" lists a little early this year. This is the film by which other bad movies will set their standard by. In the not-too-distant future, this is a film that college students will rent, get drunk watching and spend the film's blessedly short 90 minutes mocking it without mercy.

SportsJunky · 06-14-2008, 02:27 PM

Or this guy:

http://chud.com/articles/articles/15...ING/Page1.html

Quote:

1 out of 10

Quote:

Apologists have long since conceded that Shyamalan isn't much of a writer even as they insist upon his directorial skills. The only way anyone will be able to uphold his directorial after The Happening is to not see it; the movie plays like the product of a man who never saw the script. Great swaths are incoherent and flaccid.

By the way I didn't look hard for these two reviews. They were the first two review sites I went to. Ugh.

fatso · 06-14-2008, 02:34 PM

lol.. those are harsh!

For some balance, here are some more positive reviews by some respected film critics:

Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times 3/5 stars)
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...IEWS/545929629

Manola Dargis (New York Times):
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/06/13...happ.html?8dpc

FlamesAddiction · 06-14-2008, 02:35 PM

I read one review that said the only saving grace was that Mark Wahlberg did a decent job with a very bad script.

I actually like Mark Wahlberg, but he is probably not an academy award calibre actor. If his acting is the saving grace of a movie, then ouch.

photon · 06-14-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I have this theory about Signs. It's not about aliens at all, but it was all a dream, about Mel's loss of faith. Did anyone else think that? As an alien movie it is lame - on the other level, it was interesting.

Which is even more interesting because Shyamalan is very religious (the reason why he picked Whalberg is because he's a fundamentalist Christian).

With The Happening, one of the things that Shyamalan said inspired him was reading Einstein's biography and how he thinks Einstein became very religious

Reviews aren't that good, and there's some pretty preachy themes in the movie from what read, probably worth a pass.