The Films of M. Night Shymalamadingdong

innerSpaceman · 07-21-2006, 11:37 PM

Lady in the Water opened tonight, and I was one of the first to see it (in fact, sitting in the front row of the Cinerama Dome meant that, of that audience, the light from the screen hit my eyes first ... and I saw the movie milliseconds before anyone else there!)

This is not your typical M. Night film. It's not very scary (though the sprinklers may make you wet yourself with fright), it doesn't have a twist (the bizarreness is given away at the begining) and M. Night does not have a cameo appearance (he has a full-on role in the film).

I knew nothing about this movie going in. I like M. Night's films so much that I wanted zero spoilers. This is the film of the season that, when the trailer came on screen, I would leave the auditorium. (Jeez, one night it was playing so loud at Grauman's Chinese that leaving the auditorium and heading downstairs to the restroom was not enough ... I had to turn on ALL the waterfaucets to literally drown out the sound.)

And so, I didn't know that this movie was derived from a bedtime story M. Night told his daughters. It's a surprisingly sweet film, a surprisingly funny film. I enjoyed it very much, but I'm not sure if I loved it the way I love most of his others. It surely left me with lots to think about. And I like the fact that it's not "typical" M. Night, whatever that is.

It's not getting good reviews, and I think most audiences expecting the twists and the frights of Mr. M. Night's will be sorely disappointed. People who thought The Village failed because it wasn't scary enough or because its twist was not a big deal with likely loathe this movie.

But it's a fairy tale. And just because it was made by M. Night Shyamalan is no reason not to let it charm you.

scaeagles · 07-22-2006, 06:20 AM

I'm encouraged by that positive review.

I didn't dislike The Village because of a lack of twists or scariness....I disliked it because I thought it was obvious and predictable and the only acting I enjoyed it in was Bryce Howard.

I've liked his films because I thought they were good stories. I'm glad this is a good story.

Chernabog · 07-22-2006, 08:38 AM

*yawn* sorry, not seeing this one. It's in my "I'm sort of thinking of putting it on my netflix, but not really" category.

I sort of liked Sixth Sense. Then I saw Unbreakable, which was horrible. Signs was worse (though it would have been worlds better if not for the talentless Mel Gibson). The Village.... do we really need to talk about that?

I am done with M. Night Shyamalan, unless he put out a movie that got overwhelmingly positive reviews on the good ol tomatometer.

Gemini Cricket · 07-22-2006, 09:05 AM

"Narf!"

scaeagles · 07-22-2006, 09:15 AM

I enjoyed the first three immensely. The Village didn't do it for me. I'll probably see the new one.

Talentless Mel Gibson? Interesting.....

Gemini Cricket · 07-22-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Talentless Mel Gibson?

I second that. I've always felt that way. Pre-'Passion', Pre-'Braveheart'...

His last good film was 'Gallipoli'.

Freaky Tiki · 07-22-2006, 09:24 AM

I actually want to see Lady in the Water as I'm a Paul Giamatti fan.

However M. Night has never really impressed me. In my opinion, Signs was horrible. I was bored out of my mind. Village was ok as was Sixth Sense, but nothing has really hit it out of the park.

Hopefully this one's different.

innerSpaceman · 07-22-2006, 09:54 AM

Heheh, I think non-M. Night fans have a shot at liking this one.

Eh, maybe not. It's really got some serious problems. But since it's really difficult for me to comprehend the tastes of people who dislike Unbreakable or Signs, I can't even fathom how such folks would react to Shy's latest ... or any film, for that matter.

It's getting a critical drubbing, that's for sure. And I really can't disagree with most of the criticism.

Alex · 07-22-2006, 10:47 AM

I was going to go see Lady in the Water last night but Lani is waffling about whether she wants to see it and until she decides definitely no, I can't go see it.

Though what I can't comprehend is how you can watch a movie from the front row (unless the front row at Cinerama Dome is much farther back than your typical theater).

And just to be physics geeky, for a person behind you to see it a millisecond later they would have to be sitting about 186 miles behind you.

flippyshark · 07-22-2006, 12:42 PM

My response to the films of MNS have so far been a study in mixed emotions.

The Sixth Sense - Great performances, a nice chilly atmosphere, but, I was able to guess the big secret from the 30 second TV spot. (Of course, I wasn't SURE I knew until about five minutes into the movie, and then, I sighed to myself and thought, "damn, I was right.") I'd watch it again, thanks to the excellent acting, especially from Toni Colette, and some really nice scary moments.

Unbreakable - Actually, this is the one I've enjoyed most on first viewing, though its deliberate pace may prevent me from re-watching very often. But, really, this may be my favorite of his films thus far.

Signs - I would need to write a really long post to describe how much I was out of sympathy with Signs. I didn't think it was a bad film, I just disagree with its worldview. It felt preachy, and the way in which all the story elements came together at the end seemed to me ridiculously contrived, not life or faith affirming. Still, I liked the cinematography, I had no problem with Mel's performance, and I thought the birthday party video sequence was great.

The Village - There was so much discussion of the secret behind this one that there was no way I could avoid knowing about it, short of taking the steps iSm mentioned above. I thought the whole thing incredibly silly, especially in hindsight, and yet, I can't say I didn't like it. I found myself caught up in a goofy sort of way, and I really liked Bryce Dallas Howard. I would watch it again, but I would have a hard time defending it.

So, I guess that means I like M. Night's style, I'm unimpressed with the gimmicky twists, and Night and I would probably have very different views on life, the universe and everything. I'll probably go see Lady In The Water in a week or two when the seats are cheap and there's no one else around.

07-21-2006, 11:37 PM	#1
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	The Films of M. Night Shymalamadingdong Lady in the Water opened tonight, and I was one of the first to see it (in fact, sitting in the front row of the Cinerama Dome meant that, of that audience, the light from the screen hit my eyes first ... and I saw the movie milliseconds before anyone else there!) This is not your typical M. Night film. It's not very scary (though the sprinklers may make you wet yourself with fright), it doesn't have a twist (the bizarreness is given away at the begining) and M. Night does not have a cameo appearance (he has a full-on role in the film). I knew nothing about this movie going in. I like M. Night's films so much that I wanted zero spoilers. This is the film of the season that, when the trailer came on screen, I would leave the auditorium. (Jeez, one night it was playing so loud at Grauman's Chinese that leaving the auditorium and heading downstairs to the restroom was not enough ... I had to turn on ALL the waterfaucets to literally drown out the sound.) And so, I didn't know that this movie was derived from a bedtime story M. Night told his daughters. It's a surprisingly sweet film, a surprisingly funny film. I enjoyed it very much, but I'm not sure if I loved it the way I love most of his others. It surely left me with lots to think about. And I like the fact that it's not "typical" M. Night, whatever that is. It's not getting good reviews, and I think most audiences expecting the twists and the frights of Mr. M. Night's will be sorely disappointed. People who thought The Village failed because it wasn't scary enough or because its twist was not a big deal with likely loathe this movie. But it's a fairy tale. And just because it was made by M. Night Shyamalan is no reason not to let it charm you.
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 06:20 AM	#2
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I'm encouraged by that positive review. I didn't dislike The Village because of a lack of twists or scariness....I disliked it because I thought it was obvious and predictable and the only acting I enjoyed it in was Bryce Howard. I've liked his films because I thought they were good stories. I'm glad this is a good story.
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 08:38 AM	#3
Chernabog Biophage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Moon Posts: 2,679	yawn sorry, not seeing this one. It's in my "I'm sort of thinking of putting it on my netflix, but not really" category. I sort of liked Sixth Sense. Then I saw Unbreakable, which was horrible. Signs was worse (though it would have been worlds better if not for the talentless Mel Gibson). The Village.... do we really need to talk about that? I am done with M. Night Shyamalan, unless he put out a movie that got overwhelmingly positive reviews on the good ol tomatometer. __________________ And they say back then our universe Was a coal black egg Until the god inside Burst out and from its shattered shell He made what became the world we know ~ Bjork (Cosmogony)
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 09:05 AM	#4
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	"Narf!"
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 09:15 AM	#5
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I enjoyed the first three immensely. The Village didn't do it for me. I'll probably see the new one. Talentless Mel Gibson? Interesting.....
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 09:24 AM	#7
Freaky Tiki Super Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 176	I actually want to see Lady in the Water as I'm a Paul Giamatti fan. However M. Night has never really impressed me. In my opinion, Signs was horrible. I was bored out of my mind. Village was ok as was Sixth Sense, but nothing has really hit it out of the park. Hopefully this one's different. __________________ This is nothing.
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 09:54 AM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Heheh, I think non-M. Night fans have a shot at liking this one. Eh, maybe not. It's really got some serious problems. But since it's really difficult for me to comprehend the tastes of people who dislike Unbreakable or Signs, I can't even fathom how such folks would react to Shy's latest ... or any film, for that matter. It's getting a critical drubbing, that's for sure. And I really can't disagree with most of the criticism.
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 10:47 AM	#9
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I was going to go see Lady in the Water last night but Lani is waffling about whether she wants to see it and until she decides definitely no, I can't go see it. Though what I can't comprehend is how you can watch a movie from the front row (unless the front row at Cinerama Dome is much farther back than your typical theater). And just to be physics geeky, for a person behind you to see it a millisecond later they would have to be sitting about 186 miles behind you. Last edited by Alex : 07-22-2006 at 10:52 AM.
	Submit to Quotes

07-22-2006, 12:42 PM	#10
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	My response to the films of MNS have so far been a study in mixed emotions. The Sixth Sense - Great performances, a nice chilly atmosphere, but, I was able to guess the big secret from the 30 second TV spot. (Of course, I wasn't SURE I knew until about five minutes into the movie, and then, I sighed to myself and thought, "damn, I was right.") I'd watch it again, thanks to the excellent acting, especially from Toni Colette, and some really nice scary moments. Unbreakable - Actually, this is the one I've enjoyed most on first viewing, though its deliberate pace may prevent me from re-watching very often. But, really, this may be my favorite of his films thus far. Signs - I would need to write a really long post to describe how much I was out of sympathy with Signs. I didn't think it was a bad film, I just disagree with its worldview. It felt preachy, and the way in which all the story elements came together at the end seemed to me ridiculously contrived, not life or faith affirming. Still, I liked the cinematography, I had no problem with Mel's performance, and I thought the birthday party video sequence was great. The Village - There was so much discussion of the secret behind this one that there was no way I could avoid knowing about it, short of taking the steps iSm mentioned above. I thought the whole thing incredibly silly, especially in hindsight, and yet, I can't say I didn't like it. I found myself caught up in a goofy sort of way, and I really liked Bryce Dallas Howard. I would watch it again, but I would have a hard time defending it. So, I guess that means I like M. Night's style, I'm unimpressed with the gimmicky twists, and Night and I would probably have very different views on life, the universe and everything. I'll probably go see Lady In The Water in a week or two when the seats are cheap and there's no one else around.
	Submit to Quotes