He Said/She Said re: The Happening
(This first section is my husband's reviw of M. Night Shyamalan's new film, "The Happening." What follows is my humble response to him.)
Hey you kids, keep off the grass!!!!
Ok, I don't want to give too much away, but once you've seen "The Happening" you'll understand. That is, IF you see "The Happening." My recommendation is that you save your 8 bucks and find something constructive to do with that hour and a half. But, you're a free, autonomous sentient being... do what you will.
So yes, I thought the movie bit the big one. Understand, though, that I'm not an M. Knight-hater, although I do believe his first movie was his best, and they have steadily declined in quality since "The Sixth Sense." Occasionally, a Shyamalan joint surprises and rises above the pack - "Signs" for example (though it definitely had its weak moments too). I felt robbed by "The Village," and wanted to like it, but found too many reasons not to.
So it was with "Happening." I wanted to like it. I wanted to be surprised and delighted by Shyamalan again. But the acting, the dialog, and the general storyline itself just proved disappointing. Cardboard characters muttering inexplicable lines while Shy-man tries to create suspense out of wind and shrubs. It just wasn't... er... happening. Speaking of which, if the characters and extras used the word "happening" one more time, I was prepared to shoot myself. I fully expected someone to turn on a TV and see Fred "Rerun" Berry scream "What's Happenin,' Dewayne!" at any moment (70's pop culture reference. If you don't get it, you're too young).
You think you know someone after 18 years, but walking out of the theater with my wife was like walking out with a stranger. She loved it. I couldn't believe it. She, however, belongs to the "M. Knight's Poop Smells Like Roses" club, so in her eyes, Shy-man can do no wrong. In this guy's opinion, however, the poopy which M. Knight made for us all to spend our hard-earned dollars on was just that: a steaming, smelly pile of feces. And he did it in the long grass, where we couldn't see it before we stepped in it!
Oh my sad and dreary-eyed hubby...what you have failed to appreciate, once again, with M. Night's latest WONDERFUL offering, is that movies don't have to shoot laser beams or blow stuff up real good to entertain us. Sometimes it's enough to just be in the moment...to just let the film cast its spell over you. Plain and simple. Does there always have to be a twist that knocks your socks off? What about just making a beautiful film that allows the viewer to think about the world around them?
The movie's overall message was reflective; so that's what the characters did--reflect. I thought they were believable. No Oscar material here, though. I'll give you that. How would you react if this "happening" was happening around you? And you didn't even mention the news coverage in the movie. I thought those segments added to the suspense and realism of it all. Totally creepy!
And for the record, yes, I am a fan of the Shy-man. But I am discrening enough to realize that some of his films work better than others. Therefore, I'll save my KUDOS for "The Happening" and not for your review.
Love you!
Hey you kids, keep off the grass!!!!
Ok, I don't want to give too much away, but once you've seen "The Happening" you'll understand. That is, IF you see "The Happening." My recommendation is that you save your 8 bucks and find something constructive to do with that hour and a half. But, you're a free, autonomous sentient being... do what you will.
So yes, I thought the movie bit the big one. Understand, though, that I'm not an M. Knight-hater, although I do believe his first movie was his best, and they have steadily declined in quality since "The Sixth Sense." Occasionally, a Shyamalan joint surprises and rises above the pack - "Signs" for example (though it definitely had its weak moments too). I felt robbed by "The Village," and wanted to like it, but found too many reasons not to.
So it was with "Happening." I wanted to like it. I wanted to be surprised and delighted by Shyamalan again. But the acting, the dialog, and the general storyline itself just proved disappointing. Cardboard characters muttering inexplicable lines while Shy-man tries to create suspense out of wind and shrubs. It just wasn't... er... happening. Speaking of which, if the characters and extras used the word "happening" one more time, I was prepared to shoot myself. I fully expected someone to turn on a TV and see Fred "Rerun" Berry scream "What's Happenin,' Dewayne!" at any moment (70's pop culture reference. If you don't get it, you're too young).
You think you know someone after 18 years, but walking out of the theater with my wife was like walking out with a stranger. She loved it. I couldn't believe it. She, however, belongs to the "M. Knight's Poop Smells Like Roses" club, so in her eyes, Shy-man can do no wrong. In this guy's opinion, however, the poopy which M. Knight made for us all to spend our hard-earned dollars on was just that: a steaming, smelly pile of feces. And he did it in the long grass, where we couldn't see it before we stepped in it!
Oh my sad and dreary-eyed hubby...what you have failed to appreciate, once again, with M. Night's latest WONDERFUL offering, is that movies don't have to shoot laser beams or blow stuff up real good to entertain us. Sometimes it's enough to just be in the moment...to just let the film cast its spell over you. Plain and simple. Does there always have to be a twist that knocks your socks off? What about just making a beautiful film that allows the viewer to think about the world around them?
The movie's overall message was reflective; so that's what the characters did--reflect. I thought they were believable. No Oscar material here, though. I'll give you that. How would you react if this "happening" was happening around you? And you didn't even mention the news coverage in the movie. I thought those segments added to the suspense and realism of it all. Totally creepy!
And for the record, yes, I am a fan of the Shy-man. But I am discrening enough to realize that some of his films work better than others. Therefore, I'll save my KUDOS for "The Happening" and not for your review.
Love you!
Labels: movies
posted by Patti W. at 12:54 PM
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