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Movie Review: The Happening by M. Night Shyamalan
Daniel and I have been eagerly anticipating the release of The Happening. We loved Sixth Sense and Signs. I was disappointed with Lady in the Water and with The Village. The Village reminded me of a Scooby Doo show for grown-ups (though I did think that the actors did a great job and I love Joaquin Phoenix). Lady in the Water was an interesting idea and I felt better about it overall than The Village, but these movies did not draw me in like Signs and Sixth Sense.
Daniel and I had seen the trailers for The Happening and we knew we wanted to see it, hoping that this time would return us to the genius of those earlier flicks. Beware, there are spoilers here...mainly because all the reviews I am reading tell the whole story...such as it is. And partially because I want you to not waste your money. Go see Kung Fu Panda instead. The kids said it was great!
I am sorry to say that M. Night Shyamalan may have been a two hit wonder. This story, much like the stories of Mothra and Godzilla, is a direct reflection of what is most on our minds these days - the destruction of our planet and the life on it. It is not uncommon throughout history that we go through decades of horror movie types. They allow us to face the worst case scenarios and breath a sigh of relief when the end comes and we know we are safe (and sometimes maybe a little wiser).
I did sigh with relief at the end of this movie...relief that the movie was over with. The characters were not that great, maybe different actors could have pulled it off better. Mark Wahlberg did okay, but Zooey Deschanel was the wrong gal to play the lead female. She was just too spacy and unbelievable. The main story line was plausible, the internal storylines not so much. And while it would have been impossible to follow this story the way it was written without the R rating and the disgusting methods of suicide, they detracted from the movie to me. The idea that plants are intelligent as they are portrayed in this movie, that they evolve and adapt so quickly is a new one, but for me it doesn't seem that believable.
Daniel tells me that what M. Night Shyamalan was trying to convey was his fear when he was a child of people dying around him. I would never have gotten that from the movie had Daneil not told me that. Perhaps the concept is too hard to translate into a movie for adults who see these things in a different way. Or perhaps, it would have been better told from the view of a child or through the eyes of a person (kind of like Blair Witch, not that I liked that either). But put us behind the camera seeing all of this going on without a clue as to why. Even then, I am not sure it could be pulled off.
I give this movie one star. Personally, if M. Night Shyamalan can find someone to finance another one of his movies, I will have to be hearing rave reviews before I empty my wallet again....
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I, too was VERY disappointed with The Village. Almost mad at the end. But LOVED Signs. (I'm also a War of the Worlds fan) but The Happening looked interesting :)