It has restored my faith in MNS

Rating: 9/10 (27 September 2004)

Well firstly I'd like to comment on all the posting thus far: everyone seems to be downing The Village - rating it as the worst. That it was boring, to long to unfold - not scary enough. BLAH! All this from so called 'film students'. You think they would have picked up by now that this is Shayamalan's directing style, and was also the success behind Hitcock's long drawn out movies. If you are not drawn to that type of film, don't see a Shayamalan film because, surly, you know what to expect from him by now!
However, my friend and I were guessing his next one will be about Vampires in the cinema lobby..it does seem he has a particular 'genre' he is drawn to. But with name like his? Why wouldn't you capatalise on it!
However, despite that said, The Village put my faith back in MNS. I was heart broken with Unbreakable and Signs didn't impress me. But The Village, for me, says 'his back'. I thought the acting was outstanding and the twists super! :P. It was just the right pace too and revealed enough to keep you guessing but always in the dark. Something new was around every corner!
I really admire the MNS respects his audience's intelligence. Basil was hardly anywhere to be seen (for those of you who don't understand, Basil is short for Basil Exposition [from Austin powers] it means, a segment is put into the film to 'explain' everything). MNS believes audience's are smart enough to work the story out themselves but another aspect is by not giving away all the answers you can go back a second time and discover more!
The dialog was very moving, especially from the Porch scene. MNS has really crafted a beautiful film - I defiantly recommend it. I walked in dreading but came out floating. I think people who criticise so harshly, as others on here have done, should wait till they have done a FEATURE FILM themselves - I can't wait, they're sure to be perfect.
Anthony