Only Gibson makes this worth watching

Rating: Null/10 (26 August 2002)

You know, I thought to myself that maybe I was wrong about M. Night Shyamalan after seeing the Sixth Sense the second time. Once I paid attention to the little details, camerawork, lighting, set design, I realized he has a real touch for suspense, even if the plotting is a little naive and childish. Then came Unbreakable, which again had a couple of cinematically interesting moments but ended with an awful plot twist. And now Signs.
I'm sorry, people: while the cinematography and camerawork are great, somebody needs to teach this guy how to write a good movie. There were maybe one or two somewhat spooky moments, but the last 10 minutes just ruins it, with the idea of an alien invasion that just happens *SPOILER* to fail because "some primitive towns found a way to beat them."

What is this movie really about? Faith? You want to make a movie about faith in God, really MAKE IT! God knows we could use it! But don't have Mel realize his spiritual calling because *SPOILER* his wife was telling him before death to remember to hit the alien standing in his living room with a bat!
Two standout performances by Gibson and Phoenix (who make quite believable brothers), in spite of a limp-ass script, are the only things that make this film bearable. I just hope somebody begins helping Shyamalan out with his scripts: he's got a great sense of timing, pacing, and dread, but his plots and scripts are those of a child with a bankroll.