Signs is a scary, creepy movie, that leaves you stunned and satisfied at the end

Rating: 9/10 (3 August 2002)

Congratulations to the director, M. Night Shyamalan, for an excellent movie. Signs really distinguished itself from most of the shallow and ordinary movies of the summer (except Minority Report and Road to Perdition of course!). I am serious, if you want to see a movie that has a substance, quality, and lots of suspense and heart pounding horror, watch Signs!!!
**Possible SPOILERS**
The movie is about a retired reverend named Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), who has lost faith ever since his wife died in an accident. He refuses to have a family prayer during dinner, and he doesn't like it when people call him "father" (pertaining to the church). He lives with his two children (beautifully played by Rory Culkin and Abby Breslin) and his brother (Joaquin Phoenix, of Gladiator). One morning, the dogs are barking violently, and the kids have discovered an eerie, complex pattern on their crop field, better know as of course, a crop circle. It turns out that the rest of the world reflecks the situation going on at Buck County. There are crop circles in many other parts of the world, in India, Brazil, etc... As a tv commentor says, "There are only two ways to explain this phenomenom, either this is inexplicable...something that cannot be explained...that is supernatural, or this is the most elaborate hoax" Graham Hess takes his children to the town, expecting everyone to be happy, but it turns out that bookstore owners, the pharmacy lady, and other people have lost their faith, and are freaking out over the extraterrestrial invasion...
That is basically the plot.
Now, I will explain why this movie is so great.
-Great acting!! Mel Gibson delivers another hearty performance. You always like this guy. He's so good at playing the father, like he does in the Patriot, We Were Soldiers, etc. Joaquin Phoenix was also good, and he surprised me. He was good at being funny also. Now, the kids were just excellent. Rory Culkin appears to have a promising future ahead of him. As for Abby Breslin, who plays the little girl, she is the CUTEST girl I have ever seen in my life. She's adorable, that's a fact.
-The movie is SCARY, and touches on our biggest fear, the UNKNOWN! I mean, seriously, this is why the movie is so darn scary, it's about the unknown. The movie doesn't have aliens chasing people or flying in their spaceships like in Independence Day. This is all pure suspense and TERROR! There are plenty of JUMP-OUT-OF-YOUR-SEAT moments, I can think about at least 5 or 6. SO creepy! Nail biting terror!
-The movie is smart and original. I mean, think about it. There has never been a movie about crop circles. The plot is smart, and Shyamalan has his own style that makes him unique.
-Surprisingly, this movie touches our hearts. I mean, this is something The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable didn't do. At the end, we are exposed to elements and pointers concerning spiritually and the importance of faith and hope.
-This movie is enjoyable and appealing to everyone. The problem with The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable was that it was boring at times and so stretched out, that the audience had to struggle to pay attention. Not the case this time.
-Worth your money big time!
Go see it for yourself, and enjoy this movie.
I can't give it 10 out of 10 (the only criticism I have for the movie is that I wished to see Shyamalan use the Crop Circles to extend on the plot, but the movie did not actually focus on the Crop circles)...
So I give it 9 out of 10 stars