some nice work dampened by a holey plot

Rating: 6/10 (25 January 2003)

The other reviews are right on the money: this film looks really good and has that Twilight Zone-like Shyamalan feel to it, but there really are some plot holes that will have you shaking your head and smiling when you stop to think about it -- which, in my case, was _during_ my first (and probably only) viewing. One review I saw said the acting was terrible; I don't think so. Another comment mentioned that the movie was a confusion between different genres of movie and the makers weren't sure what sort of movie they were ultimately trying for, and I think that says it best, and explains why the acting may have seemed poor, at least to some people or in certain places.
There were some great shots in Signs, such as Graham's (Mel's) first initial glimpse of one of the aliens -- really spooky! Great job. I will also say the wife's death scene was dramatically compelling and I appreciated the emotional presentation of that event, including the faltering words of the female cop who gets the unenviable duty of explaining the situation to Graham when he arrives on the scene; she almost flubs her line, but that's exactly how real people would be in such a horrible situation: faltering and shaky. Thanks to the editors/directors for putting that take in the final film.
Buuuuuut... the best review of all put it simply: can't wait for the sequel when the aliens return with raincoats and crowbars. LOL! My thoughts exactly. Nothing like having to trek alllllllll the way back to Arcturus IV (or wherever -- please no hate mail from astronerds that there is no Arcturus IV) for those little interplanetary raid materials that SOMEONE forgot to put in the ship, huh? Considering there were hundreds of ships, that's a rather serious case of mass forgetfulness.
Good try; needed another pass on the plot to be really great. I give it 6/10.