Even though this movie has a high-rating, I still believe it's underappreciated... that, and Gibson and his priestly demeanor are quite hunky

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2003)

I saw this film in the theatre with my older and younger brother, and we loved it. It really hit home with the family storyline. Because there are only 4 central characters, they are all extremely likeable and fleshed-out. The acting is superb, and you really feel a genuine family feeling (particularly at the dinnertable scene, which still makes me emotional). The children in this movie are great (the little girl steals the show whenever she speaks). Gibson is great... like Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense, this is probably the most mature role that he's had yet. Joaquin Phoenix is HILARIOUS, and he played well off of Gibson. I read a review on this site about how you can see microphones in almost every scene. Truthfully, I saw Signs in a real theatre and I did not see any microphones. However, when I came to college and saw it again when it was showing at the school theatre, I did see the microphones. I thought, "Thank God they weren't in the real edition that I saw," because they really did ruin the movie, especially with everyone laughing at the mics popping up during very intense scenes. Just know that the real movie does not have the microphones (do you honestly think Shymalan-whose name I cannot spell-and the producers would let something like that slide?). There must be a really early, uncut, or maybe just off-center edition floating around. Anyway, I love this movie. As everyone else has said, the suspense is handled extremely well by a masterful director. For those who have been bitching about unrealistic plotlines, get over it; how the hell can anyone know how aliens would act in a completely new environment? And if I were a member of a desperate species on the brink of extinction, I sure as hell would get to the first planet that I could in order to get nourishment, regardless of any impending weather such as rain. The one thing that I will gripe about with this movie is that seeing the alien is not so much of a letdown, but more awkward than not. When you see the alien on the TV (both in the news AND at the end through the reflection), it is quite well-done and terrifying. However, I would have rather not seen the alien as clearly as they showed it during the climax, because the computer generated effects took a great deal away from the movie. But to the filmmakers' credit, from the amount of suspense that this movie builds up, it would have been impossible to lead to anything that will please everyone (especially in the way that the alien looks). Other than the alien, the story's main strength is the family. It's one of the best *family* films that I have ever seen, really. The message of faith, not so much (to me) in a higher power, but in your family and in love, was quite powerful. And to top it all off, it's funny as hell. I still laugh at every part that I originally laughed at. Watch Signs... you'll laugh, you'll cry... hell, you'll probably soil yourself too.