not Shyamalan at his best

Rating: Null/10 (20 October 2002)

I've heard so many comments about this Shyamalan's work and since most of them are good ones, today I get to watch the movie with my friends and with quite a high expectations. First of all, I've been one of Shyamalan's admirer since Sixth Sense. It was the BEST thriller and ghost story for years. Everything is perfect; the camera, the casts, the plot twists, and especially the ending. I didn't quite remember the last time I got shocked by an ending so much till then. While Unbreakable is not such a bad movie itself, it didn't quite live up to my expectations and the level of Syamalan (in my mind) that's already been set by Sixth Sense. Don't get me wrong. Signs is not as bad as Unbreakable, and Unbreakable is actually a decent one itself. But I've been expecting too much of Shyamalan to show the miracle he's done with Sixth Sense to happen again, and I'm quite disappointed by Signs. The plot has holes somewhere. I can't exclusively point it, but I have this strange feeling while watching the movie. I'm continuously hoping the 'magic moments' where I could be stunned, but it didn't happen.
Shyamalan did show his talents though. He's still one of the masters at building up suspense through every single objects of the movie. *spoiler* I've read a comments which pointed at the alien's form and behavior as the biggest flaw of the movie. While I didn't exactly agree with that. I have to admit that up to the point where the alien did show its true form I'm enjoying the movie much more. It's annoying to think that a supposedly much more advanced civilization as the alien (they've got flying saucer and some kind of camouflage force field for god's sake!) can't even find a way through the wooden barrelled door?
But again I would say, if this hasn't been a Shyamalan's maybe I would appreciate and enjoying the movie much more. It COULD very well be my own 'too high expectations' of Syamalan that prevented me to do so.
If only you could go to the movie and forgetting all about Shyamalan and just expect nothing, it's highly likely you will enjoy the movie.
At last, the movie's still worth seeing. I'll give it somewhere around 7 out of 10.