flawed but worthy

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 2002)

Anyone going to see a Shyamalan movie expecting over the top silliness is not going to get it. But its because of the slow pace and almost bland ordinary aspect that is the backdrop for this flik that it makes it all the more likely to believe it.
At some points the movie gets to heavy handed with its subplots and the resolution was a little disappointing. But what i really dig about Shyamalan is that he takes movie stereotypes (superheroes, alien invasions) and plays them straight.
From a pure storytelling standpoint this is pretty smart as it makes it more believable. But may I dare to say that MNS' real genius (and the main purpose behind the low key style) is his works assertion that average people have much greater powers and purposes than they are lead to believe. Its pretty heavy when you think about.
To some extent many hollywood films play on this idea. But because they go so over the top it is taken as mere escapism. After watching Unbreakable or Signs it felt like more than escapism.