Much Ado About Nothing

Rating: Null/10 (26 January 2003)

As I watched this film, it became apparent that I was watching some form of H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds. That novel is a skeletal frame for the alien part of the film. Aliens come to Earth. The farmhouse is very much like the one seen in the 50's picture of that name. There are many other similar things. But the alien aspect of the movie, while very integral to the plot, is but one facet of the story, the major thrust of the story deals with a man having recently lost his wife lose his faith in God. Now, having seen The Sixth Sense a few times and loving it for its ending, I went into Signs expecting something of the same. In that regard I was disappointed. The ending can be seen almost at the beginning of the film. So, I had to put that aside and think about the story. The story is pretty good if you look at its philosophical roots about how you look at what you are given in life. The movie is really about perception and how each of us is to perceive what we are given in life. We can always focus on what we don't have and have not accomplished, OR we can look at what we do have and have accomplished. Do we see the glass as half empty or half full? This aspect of the film makes Signs a compelling picture. Mel Gibson does a very good job playing a man torn by his feelings. The rest of the acting is good as well (with the exception of M. Night Shymalan in a fairly big role). The story is laden down with too many contrivances and for that reason Signs will not appeal to many. It has a silly ending if you don't see the man struggling with his faith as the major focus of the film. The director does infuse many taught, suspenseful scenes, and although I believe this film lacks the the power of The Sixth Sense, it does pack a few punches.