Phenomenal

Rating: 8/10 (22 December 2003)

What to say about a movie that changed my life? And to lean on Travolta's character from Swordfish - "I'm not some grungy wannabe filmmaker searching for existentialism through a haze of bong smoke or something." But realizing the message of this movie was profoundly enlightening! "Signs" is a most felicitous mixture of hidden symbols and meanings. It goes way past other such movies because mr. Shyamalan has the utmost sense of perfection in his editing, musical score, scenery, photography, dialogues and especially actors and actresses. His movies are constantly feeding the viewer, but not stuffing them, he knows very well when to let the viewer figure and realize things out for himself. As characteristic for both "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" he provides an amazing revelation at the very end, and it left me with goose bumps till the closing credits. When I put the puzzle together it was simply magical, as if the world was an enormous map, I just had to look around and read it. The execution was yet again flawless and faultless but I do think that the initial idea of signs should have been realized in a non alien manner, which would probably make it as timeless as "The Sixth Sense". But I do find it most entertaining and annoying when I read comments about the movie and see that half the people didn't even get it, they just didn't like the alien CG and get all mad because they think the movie sucked. Well, in my mind the aliens were so crudely made because they were not even the main part of the story, they just began turning the wheels of the movie. As for the message the movie gives, well, I guess it just isn't for everybody. Just for those of us who can read Signs. 8/10