Close your window ... but open your mind

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2008)

For me this was a terrific movie. Though I can understand a lot of people did and will not like it. Why? Most movies handle about extraordinary situations combined with extraordinary people: they have special powers, are very creative, show strong leadership. What about a movie where you have an extraordinary situation with 'ordinary' people? That's what the happening is all about. The situation is really extraordinary: flora is doing some nasty teamwork that threatens mankind! But there's no hero! Elliot Moore is not the biologist that goes in counter attack (i.e. by finding some cure that makes us resistant against this act of nature) nor is he the creative leader that comes up with a brilliant plan to 'bewilder' plant life.
After seeing such an intense trailer for some months it can be quite a disappointment having to cope with the above (only regular hesitant people in a remarkable situation). Maybe I was influenced by reading some bad reviews upfront and was therefore surprised with this subtle thriller.
I'm asking myself: if this movie was not promoted as a blockbuster, would it then get better critics? Maybe, but it's hard to say afterward. 'I am legend' was not your typical blockbuster movie  even though it was put forward as such  and still it became a hit.
As I see it, Mr. Shyamalan wanted to let the situation be the main actor and did his utter best not to let anything take over (Mark Wahlberg definitely could have  if the script allowed it). Even though this movie was working just fine for me, I'm sure it would score better if [1] the trailer had not made us think this would be a fast paced and powerful movie from head to toe or [2] let mankind be more in control.