Unbreakable

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Unbreakable

I saw it for the first time earlier this year as well. I swear, some of M. Night's movies would be just fine if he didn't direct them. He can write them, I really don't care about the storylines (I mean, I care... but I think that they are fine the way that they are). The Sixth Sense and Signs worked with his direction. But to me, Unbreakable and The Village did not (I never saw Lady in the Water).

Actually, I loved the direction in Unbreakable. I thought the cinematography was terrific as some of the shots actually felt like I was looking at a comic book artist's illustration. Also, I thought both Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce gave wonderful performances in their respective roles. Throughout the movie I thought Samuel was cold in his delivery and look, but the ending explained that to me.

I don't understand how the ending was cliche however. It came to a logical conclusion, and fit neatly within the narrative structure. It wasn't really innovative, but that doesn't make the ending a cliche.

Admittedly, I was looking for some type of twist at the end, and although I wasn't expecting that particular twist, I still thought it was cliche, but not because many film makers have done it. The entire movie is based on comic book cliches - all the "hints" Samuel L. gives before the reveal are obvious trademarks in comic books. I guess I shouldn't have expected any different from the ending, but I thought that would have been the twist that the ending wasn't going to go in-line with the other comic book traditions. I still enjoyed the ending (I probably should have said that in my original post) and looking back it all makes sense.

[CMH]

Re: Unbreakable

Are you serious or pulling my leg here, cause i thought the twist was pretty unpreditcible in The Village.

I'll back him up here as I figured it out about 30 minutes into the film.

The line that confirmed my thinking was when one of the founders of the Village mentioned an apartment in one of her lines.

It was really quick and was said in a conversation that was well-written. You hear the word but you don't think much of it because it fit so well in the dialogue.

****

As for "Signs." I think that movie is underrated. Shymalan is a special director to me because he can do a lot of different types of stories.

I wouldn't recommened "Lady in the Water" but I thought the idea was interesting. It was a bit of a stretch with how the group forms but I liked how it took a childhood story and made it real for adults.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Unbreakable

I'll back him up here as I figured it out about 30 minutes into the film.

The line that confirmed my thinking was when one of the founders of the Village mentioned an apartment in one of her lines.

It was really quick and was said in a conversation that was well-written. You hear the word but you don't think much of it because it fit so well in the dialogue.

****

As for "Signs." I think that movie is underrated. Shymalan is a special director to me because he can do a lot of different types of stories.

I wouldn't recommened "Lady in the Water" but I thought the idea was interesting. It was a bit of a stretch with how the group forms but I liked how it took a childhood story and made it real for adults.

The apartment, and color picture they pulled out of a box is what gave it away for me. I'm still wondering how a plane never, ever flew over head. Not even a 747 type plane flying, way, way overhead. But whatever..LOL

That did however have one of the best scenes ever filmed IMO. As much as I hated the movie, the scene where the one guy stabs the other guy (LOL, no clue on anyone's name from that movie) was genius. The way it was shot, and seeing it in a sold out theater, everyone gasped. We see a thousand stabbings in every movie, but that stabbing, the way it was shot, had everyone going "OH MY GOD!". Very cool scene.

[Blzer]

Re: Unbreakable

That did however have one of the best scenes ever filmed IMO. As much as I hated the movie, the scene where the one guy stabs the other guy (LOL, no clue on anyone's name from that movie) was genius. The way it was shot, and seeing it in a sold out theater, everyone gasped. We see a thousand stabbings in every movie, but that stabbing, the way it was shot, had everyone going "OH MY GOD!". Very cool scene.

I believe it was Adrian Brodi and Joaquin Phoenix.

But I have to agree. That was hands down of the best scenes in the movie. I guess I gotta love the cinematography there.

[Money99]

Re: Unbreakable

'Unbreakable' is easily my favorite M. Night film. My wife and I both really enjoyed it.

Me too. Out of all his movies, this is the one I can watch over and over again.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Unbreakable

I guess I'm in the minority in saying that I've liked all of M. Night's movies ('Lady in the Water' was surprisingly entertaining) but I have to say that upon re-watching, some fall flat due to the big "surprise".

Case in point, I LOVED 'The Sixth Sense' when it was in theaters, took some dates to it, big discussions over coffee that led places, but man...a few year later with the SE DVD, the surprise is so blatant that the movie loses some of it's entertainment value.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Unbreakable

I guess I'm in the minority in saying that I've liked all of M. Night's movies ('Lady in the Water' was surprisingly entertaining) but I have to say that upon re-watching, some fall flat due to the big "surprise".

Case in point, I LOVED 'The Sixth Sense' when it was in theaters, took some dates to it, big discussions over coffee that led places, but man...a few year later with the SE DVD, the surprise is so blatant that the movie loses some of it's entertainment value.

With The Sixth Sense (and to a lesser degree Unbreakable) the hints/clues are only blatant in hind-sight.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Unbreakable

With The Sixth Sense (and to a lesser degree Unbreakable) the hints/clues are only blatant in hind-sight.

That's what I'm saying...the fondness I feel for the movies is dampened by knowing the "secret". Still good, and upon re-watching I play along and examine other parts of the film (story, dialogue, cinematography, etc.) but it's just not timeless.

Then again, when my son can watch and understand them for the first time it could be a whole other experience and will bring the nostalgia rushing back!

[jfsolo]

Re: Unbreakable

I haven't seen the Lady in the Water yet so I can't talk about that one.

Sixth Sense: Very good, it being the first "gotcha" puts it in a unique place.

The Village: Solid, loved the start, I would have preferred the "twist" to be something different, thought it fell flat the last 30 minutes.

Unbreakable: Loved it, thought the performances by Bruce and Sam were low key, but among their best work. I didn't see the end coming at all. I actually think it could/should have been longer with a few more scenes contrasting the two leads.

Signs: Easily my personal favorite of Night's films, and it isn't close. People get caught up on the supposed flaw with the aliens and their weakness (Personally I don't think it a flaw myself, but thats another story) but Signs is a movie about love, faith, redemption, destiny, not aliens.

I can't watch any films that have a big twist a second time, "knowing" sucks the life out of every scene.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Unbreakable

I thought it was interesting how the same "weakness" is used in both Unbreakable and Signs, especially since water is mostly used as a symbol for life and sustenance.

[Blzer]

Re: Unbreakable

I can't watch any films that have a big twist a second time, "knowing" sucks the life out of every scene.

For me, it's really to an extent. The ending to Saw still gives me as many goosebumps as it did the first time I saw it, and it still makes me heart begin racing for those last 10 minutes, especially when showing the movie to someone for the first time.

As for other movies that I own, I can most certainly handle a twist, because what is even better is seeing how many clues led up to that twist every time you watch the movie again and again (Lucky Number Slevin, The Prestige, Ocean's Twelve, etc.). Some movies, however, I don't think I could really watch again primarily for the twist ending after seeing the twist once (The Curve, Deceiver, and The Game to name a few), though they still are rewatchable movies. M. Night Shyamalan movies are rewatchable for me, but not necessarily on DVD... I think that they are more of movies on T.V. that I have to watch.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Unbreakable

I definitely think Unbreakable is re-watchable. The "twist" isn't that big, plus I think the lead-up to that point is wonderful. Since I've seen The Sixth Sense when it was first released on video, I haven't felt the need to watch it again.

[neovsmatrix]

Re: Unbreakable

Shyamalan's reputation as a great story teller/director has taken a hit after releasing 3 straight duds (The Village, Signs, Lady In The Water).

I do look forward to The Happening though. Unlike his last film, this storyline appeals to me.

Signs was not a dud.

It actually was pretty good, IMHO, but nowhere near as good as Unbreakable or the Sixth Sense. It did a great job, IMHO of creating suspense. I thought it did its job much better than Spielberg's War of the Worlds for example. I just didn't feel any tension in that movie, and it seemed like Spielberg just ripped himself off by borrowing scenes from his own repertoire of movies that were much better.

As for Unbrekable, I thought it was a great fusion of Eastern philosophy and Western comic books. The movie was about what happens when you turn away from your true purpose in life, when you don't follow your dharma. Basically what would happen if Arjuna never had Krishna to tell him to fight and fulfill his duty on the battlefield in the Bhagavad-Gita. Elijah plays the role of Krishna who is the divine avatar, while David plays the role of Arjuna, however with a twist owing to the comic book formula obviously.

[dkgojackets]

Re: Unbreakable

Been a while since I've seen this, but it was a very good movie from what I remember.

[JayBee74]

Re: Unbreakable

So Glass will be a sequel to Unbreakable and the much more recent Split.

Anyone who watched Split obviously saw the David Dunn

Spoiler

(Bruce Willis) character reappear after 16 years.

Sarah Paulson was just announced as joining the cast.

Looking forward to this although I wish it would be released well before January 2019.