How about the next Ed Wood?

Shyamalan is a joke. The Happening is terrible.

I was super-disappointed with The Happening. I honestly thought the idea was really interesting and there really were a few moments that were extremely effective. But then there were SO many "WTF?" moments as well. The main thing I think that ruined the film however was the GOD-AWFUL acting by Wahlberg and pretty much everyone else except for the old lady. The main characters were so poorly acted, I didn't really give a **** whether they lived or died... not exactly a good quality for a movie to have. Just a really bad film in my opinion.

And this is coming from a guy who liked The Village and actually enjoyed Lady in the Water...

I wholeheartedly disagree. I really liked this film. Walhberg was only bad because he was always talking in a high pictched teacher voice.

I know it's the "in thing" now to hate on Shalamalalaling long - but I really liked it. I though the mood of the film was great. The old lady was terrific.

I think people go into the film thinking that they're not going to like it because they hate him and are already biased against it.

I wouldn't say that "i loved it" - but I enjoyed it.

ALL YOU NYU ALUMS.....AND SOON TO BE BETTER CHIME IN HERE BEFORE THIS GETS OUTTA HAND

I actually liked his films except for the Village, so I'm not in the "in-crowd" per-se.

But this movie was absolutely, inexcusably, awful. The best acting came from the little girl.

Wahlberg and whats her face had NO chemistry at all. And through dialogue and examples, they tried to paint walhberg as a fighter, someone who doesn't give up, but his character always came across as whiny, and it seemed he delivered his lines with "Hey, look at me! I'm acting!" demeanor.

The movie, like all his movies, did have its moments. But a few moments cannot compensate for the whole movie being shoddily put together.

I think I'm more upset because i've seen three bad movies in a row (The Strangers, Indiana Jones, and now this).

Well I stand by my feelings of it - I thought it was great.

Maybe people don't like the explanation of why "it's happening" but I don't know...

He did bill it as a good B movie remember?

To each his own

I do recall him saying something like that, but still.

I guess we are still waiting for him to outdo sixth sense, which probably isn't a fair expectation to place on him.

I haven't seen The Happening yet, but I think The Sixth Sense is on the bottom of his list. I would consider it his worst, not that it was bad, because it wasn't.

And I'm one of the few who loved Lady in the Water, I think it's that narcissistic film student int me

Looking forward to judging this one for myself.....

I think deep down inside I like all his films, but I don't think I'll ever admit that.

I do think Unbreakable is his best work. Closely followed by Lady in the Water. Such non-commercial stories.

quote:

Originally posted by braininabox:
I do think Unbreakable is his best work. Closely followed by Lady in the Water. Such non-commercial stories.

I did like Unbreakable alot. I thought it was ok when I first saw it... but it's one of those films that gets better when you think back on it and watch it again.

I read this article recently that made me realize that M. Night Shyamalan thinks of himself as an independent, auteur director, who rebels against the studio system. I find this funny, like almost really funny. I love the logic here. Shyamalan's films flop at the box office, therefor studios don't like him, therefor he's not a studio director, therefor he's suddenly Jean Luc Godard. Brilliant.

And what's this "...BETTER CHIME IN HERE BEFORE THIS GETS OUTTA HAND"? No, honestly, I don't understand. Because he's a Tisch graduate?

quote:

Originally posted by Forsakenproductions:
To each his own

I do recall him saying something like that, but still.

I guess we are still waiting for him to outdo sixth sense, which probably isn't a fair expectation to place on him.

You really place the sixth sense below the Villiage?

I could understand liking Signs more, or even Lady in the Water. Interesting.

I've seen all his films except "The Happening," "Praying With Anger," and "Wide Awake" and think he is a very good director. I loved "The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable," "Signs," and "The Village." Very well done.

Though I've heard stories that he is very egotistical and read a few things from him that felt a bit pretentious. I remember seeing something he said that went like this,"[When it comes to making money] I'm the best bet you got."

I don't know. I think people expect him to outdo "The Sixth Sense." Who knows, he might suprise us.

I know he was set to write and direct "Life of Pi" but he pulled out. Which would have been such a beautiful film had he done it.

I'm looking forward to seeing "The Happening" despite all the **** I've heard.

quote:

Originally posted by Studentfilms.com:

I know it's the "in thing" now to hate on Shalamalalaling long

I think people go into the film thinking that they're not going to like it because they hate him and are already biased against it.

Both of those statements are true, but they certainly don't apply to me. I typically love Shyamalan's stuff (like I said, even the ones that are almost universally hated like the Village and Lady in the Water) That's why I found the Happening so disappointing.

how could he "out do the sixth sense" ? that was the dumbest movie, for one it says "1 year later" and ur expected to believe this idiot has been roaming around for 1 year looking at his silent wife and not realizing he's dead. Then the whole helping the kid things...oh man, talk about someone PRETENDING to know about necromancy.

would you prefer he looked like a world of warcraft chracter?

I do not hate Shyamalan but he does do a lot of recycling the same movie. I heard the happening had a great pitch, premise, logline and the execution left something to be desired. Thanks to all the poor reviews I decided I won't see it unless I don't have to pay for it.

He's in the midst of writing The Avatar. The Nickelodeon cartoon. I heard its going well... maybe it's time he start turning to more structured adaptations. Unbreakable was good. Other than that and Sixth Sense, I haven't really liked any of his films. They all seem too formulaic.

The concept was great, and there were a few moments that trully sent chills down my spine, but the writing was just SO bad. I mean, REALLY bad. That's Shyamalan's biggest weakness, and it showed in spades in this film. Mark Wahlberg is a good actor, but he simply couldn't pull off the role with the terrible script. Sounded like he choked on half the lines.

I'm watching the Sixth Sense right now after having not seen it for a long time and am enjoying it for the most part. Once you know the ending, you realize how much a lot of the story really doesn't make sense.
An example would be the "Anniversary" dinner seen between Malcolm and his wife. Kinda awkward.

But honestly, a lot of it doesn't matter because the first time you see it and don't expect the ending it really does hit you. Th movie is well done and very moving... especially the scenes between Cole and his mother, played by Toni Collette who did wonderful.

M. Night Shyamalan is a very talented filmmaker.

What I think happened is he got huge sucess with his first films and that sort of "spoiled" the director... he became somewhat cocky. I could be wrong but despite all the negativity surrounding M. Night Shyamalan, he is a great director. I think he just needs to direct different types of movies.

He really should do "Life of Pi" but I have a feeling that won't happen.

Meh I guess I'm just not as excited about "twist endings" as some people are.