I really wanted to like this, but....

Rating: 5/10 (12 August 2002)

SPOILERS GALORE--SPOILERS GALORE---LOTS AND LOTS OF SPOILERS HERE!!
Ok, I really like M.Night Shymalan. I loved "the Sixth Sense", I loved "Unbreakable" and I really wanted to like "Signs".
Unfortunately, too many utter implausabilities and failings of internal logic piled up for me to be able to do so. A brief list of them reads like this: How did the aliens, advanced enough to have mastered interstellar travel, NOT realize that the element covering 75% of our planet was so violently toxic to them? Why are they walking around stark naked? I mean, even a simple raincoat would have gone a long way towards facilitating their missions success, a full environment suit would have ensured it. For that matter, why crop circles? Again, they master interstellar travel but this is the most efficient navigational aid they come up with? The aliens must surely have realized that we have (and are inclined to use) weapons far deadlier than the baseball bat that causes them such trouble, why walk around unarmed? And speaking of being unarmed, Mel Gibsons rural Pennsylvania farmhouse doesn't have so much as a single shot 12 guage in it? Come on now! I really could go on but I'm sure you get the point.
Now, I fully understand that at it's heart this isn't a sci-fi movie, or even a horror movie. I know he's trying to make a point about the nature of God and faith and what have you. But the total of the glaring errors simply created too much disbelief to suspend.
On the upside, "Signs" IS perfectly directed, with good performances turned in by everyone (even that Culkin kid). Overall though, I'd say Mr. Shymalan dropped his batting average to .660 with this one.