could have been a lot better-spoilers ahead

Rating: Null/10 (11 October 2004)

Okay.I'm just going to start by saying that although I really disliked this movie, I'm sure there are many people in the world who do like this movie, so I'll try not to anger you guys too much.
Anyway, this movie really did let itself down. I'll admit, at the start and even to the middle of the movie, I was a little edgy. Shymalaan does the creepy camera angles very well and he has a great use of colour and tones. BUT this movie had a really difficult plot. It was a plot that has been done countless times already, the whole "aliens attacking earth" idea. The thing with this film's aliens were that they were the stupidest aliens ever. I mean, if these aliens were scrutinizing Earth as a place to harvest, then you'd think they'd do a little bit of research, eh? Think that they might realize that Earth is like, 60% water and that could hurt them? Nope, they went ahead and invaded anyway.
The only thing that saved this movie from being a complete flop was the acting. Mel Gibson was, impressive, not brilliant but impressive, and Joquain Phoenix does the brooding hulk very well. The kids very uncannily creepy too.
But the plot let this movie down, and overall it was not worthwhile at all. There is no major logic in this film, there is a subplot involving the dead wife which really doesn't add too much to the plot, only to the characters, which are fairly unlikable anyway, and the film seems to be too concerned with "faith" and other such religious subplots that it makes for slightly dragged out viewing. There was heaps of material in this film that could have been used in more constructive ways, but instead the film just piled on more little meanings and thoughts.
I expected a thriller. I got a fairly dragged out, driveling film that really didn't have much meaning in the long run. And as for the "twist"...well, there wasn't one of those either. I guess Shymalaan tried to make up for it with "The Village".