Roller-coaster

Rating: 5/10 (18 January 2005)

M. Night Shyamalan seems to be like a train. While he does move on in a steady pace, he doesn't leave the track. Prestenly he has directed four films that are very similar in style, the last of these "The Village".
Graham Hess is a farmer who suddenly discovers huge crop circles in his corn fields. What do these mean? Signs from above? But from who and why? Graham is about to find out along with the rest of humanity.
My summary above was "roller-coaster". And why? Because "Signs" is like a roller-coaster ride? Not really, what i meant was rather that this movie displays an astonishing spectrum of quality. From very good and solid scenes to some elements that are pure garbage. It's very "up and down" you might say. There are two things that i found very disturbing about this movie. First of all the ending (or rather the resolution), which i won't discuss in detail since it would mean spoilers. But one thing to think about is this: if you were an omnipotent being, how hard would it be for you to force your way through a wooden door?! The second thing is Mel Gibson. I don't know what it is about that man. Sometimes he can be great, and sometimes he degrades his acting talent to the level of Christopher Lambert! His attempts at emotional displays here are pathetic to say the least.
With that said this movie has a few strong points that makes it worth watching nevertheless. First of all the almost patented atmosphere of suspense that Shyamalan always manages to create. The effective mood of something bad about to happen. Also the story works pretty well despite some flaws. What i also appreciate is the rather quirky sense of humor that Shyamalan displays in this movie. Some people have interpreted this as the director making fun of his own movie. But rather i see it as his way of not making the movie grave and serious to the point where everything becomes silly.
So, i recommend this to fans of Shyamalan and fans of suspenseful thrillers. But i also raise a flag of warning about Mel Gibson. If you didn't like Mel Gibson to begin with, you will loathe him here. I rate it 5/10.