An invasion backdrop for an excellent faith story.

Rating: 9/10 (31 May 2005)

SPOILERS AHEAD!
Some people believe that this film falls apart towards the end. I don't believe that. In fact, I think the ending is its strongest point, but you have to be tracking with Shayamalan the whole time. The movie isn't about aliens. Not really, at least. It's about faith. It's about family.
Mel Gibson's character, Graham, has lost his faith. And it is that part of his character around which the entire movie revolves. We are constantly reminded that he was once a minister, and he constantly reminds us that he doesn't want to be associated with it anymore. We learn about his wife's death and how that has changed his life and his family dynamic. He's very angry with God.
Once one understands that, the rest of the movie is quite excellent and falls right into place. By the end, Graham is confronted with the complex ways that God has been guiding his life. The ending doesn't fall apart. It draws everything together at the central point of the real story of the movie: a man who is angry with God about how his life has played out.
As a Christian, I readily admit my slight bias towards stories like this. However, if you strip my faith out of my view of the film it still completely works and is still a well crafted story and film on both technical levels, and storytelling levels. Whether or not you agree with the story or its possible message, that doesn't change the fact that it is a story that hits its marks and is told well.