Wonderful movie, but not like I thought it would be

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2002)

I just saw "Signs" a few hours ago. My initial thought upon leaving the theater was "It wasn't at all like I expected". I enjoyed "Sixth Sense" immensely, but wasn't too thrilled with "Unbreakable". Mr. Shyamalan's newest film is a lot like the first two, with the same symbolism and examination of human behavior. This is what I love most about his films, you have to think to fully understand everything.
What might be hurting "Signs" is that like "Sixth Sense", it's being advertised as a scary alien movie. If you go into the theater expecting "jump out of your seats" thrills and chills, you might be disappointed. There a few tense moments, but I honestly wasn't scared; probably because I expected some really scary stuff. The story mainly focuses on Graham Hess, played by Gibson, who was a minister of sorts before his wife died in a horrific accident. He has since retired and winces when people address him as "Father". He and his two children, along with his younger brother, Merrill, live on a rural farm in Pennsylvania. One day, the children spot a "crop circle" in the cornfields, which sets off a chain of events of what might be "the end of the world".

The story is VERY slow-paced, which may bore some viewers. My father admits he almost fell asleep during the first half. Key plot points are also very slow to develop, which might leave you thinking, "What the heck is going on here?" For instance, the fact that Graham's wife died in a car accident isn't entirely clear until the movie is half over. At its heart, "Signs" is a movie about a man's loss of faith, how it changed his life, and how rediscovering it has made him a better man. This is accomplished by not being too preachy. The whole deal with the aliens is more symbolic than anything, as if the message is "If you don't have faith, you're all alone in the world with no one to save you." Without faith, the "aliens" or inner demons of your own lack of faith and anger of the past will consume you. This is what Graham goes through in the first half of the movie, with the way he treats his kids along with his detached attitude. We never really see what the aliens look like, they're usually seen from far away, or lurking in shadows. But there is no need to see them, since they serve a more symbolic purpose. Unfortunately, the whole thing was ruined at the end when the characters discover the aliens have a weakness to water. It kind of cheapened the whole thing with faith being the number one weapon that I had imagined.
The acting in the movie is excellent, except I noticed Mel Gibson needed only one facial expression to get through most of his scenes. Joaquin Phoenix was excellent as Merrill, as were Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin, who played Morgan and Bo, respectively. My favorite scene, which was also one of the most moving, was when the family was eating their "last meal" in which everyone got to eat whatever they wanted. Graham's habit of hiding his feelings causes him to blow-up at his family, scaring the children who don't understand their dad's anger. That was the tear-jerker in my opinion, and it marked a major change in Graham's character. Also, Mr. Shyamalan continues with his tradition of acting in his films, this time as the man who killed Graham's wife in the accident. Not the most flattering role, but it was well played.
To summarize everything I've said, "Signs" is a very deep, symbolic movie about the human spirit, with a few aliens thrown into the mix. If you're going to see the movie for intense alien action, you'll probably be disappointed. Young teens might also find the movie a bit dull. I don't know what children might think, since I doubt many will be seeing this film, for good reason. Not so much that the movie is scary, but it's too deep for kids. I didn't understand everything myself, so seeing the movie a second time might be a good idea. I'd give the movie an 8.5/10.