Say Cheese

Rating: 1/10 (9 December 2012)

Sentimental Claptrap that is Appalling in its attempt to Lure Audiences with the "Alien Invasion" Sub-Genre and traps them in some sort of Pseudo-Psychological, Emotional, Family Friendly, Manipulative Movie.
There is so much Wrong here that is well, just Wrong. The Absurd Plot, yes the Water as Weapon thing (we do have some on our planet, one could observe), the lack of any Grand Scope that a Premise of this Magnitude Requires and of course the constant Lame Lamenting.
Everything interesting takes place either Off Screen or on a tiny little Television, or even a Transistor Radio. There are many Pretensions such as Hiding the Threat (Val Lewton) to Enhance Suspense, and that Ridiculous Psycho-Babble about Faith, Fate, and Coincidence.
The most Intelligent Dialog comes from the Children. The Adults Talk like they are Reading from a "Dick and Jane" book. Short Sentences with a Staccato that Lacks Emotion or Understanding. The Actors are "placed" Motionless in Front of the Camera like they are Posing for Polaroids. This is Film-Making at its most Self-Conscious.
Finally, it uses the Real-Life Crop-Circle Mystery and Ufology as Exploitation with typical Misunderstanding and Misrepresentation. This is Shyamalan Pretending to be Spielberg while Ripping Off Hitchcock.
He should be Ashamed of this Money Making Slight-of-Hand if He considers himself a Serious Director. If not, then take a bow for Insulting Your Target Audience and Laugh all the way to the Bank. At least William Castle didn't take Himself Seriously and that was His charm. M. Knight Shyamalan has become Charmless.