Awesome

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2004)

Many people are saying that The Village was not scary enough, not fast enough, etc. upon first viewing the film. Well, if you are in the mood for The Fast and the Furious, then go see the Rock's most recent movie. I love Shyamalan's films because he has a complete disregard for what the viewer is expecting to see - scratch that, he KNOWS what the viewer wants to see, and uses that to surprise them. What makes him the master of screen writing is that, unlike any other writer/director I've ever known, he hides the red herrings of the story, so that the most intelligent viewer will think he's caught on to something, when in fact he's falling into the trap. If you like brilliant film-making, then see this movie at least twice. I know that the best viewing for me was the third time, because only then did I truly appreciate all the effort that Night put into this film, even more than he did in The Sixth Sense, already a classic film. On top of the surprises, he adds themes of romance and deep grief that only a great director like him would be able to communicate in such a moving way. These elements portrayed by such great actors as Adrien Brody, Sigourney Weaver, and William Hurt, and most of all the amazing new Bryce Dallas Howard, lead me to give this film a 10 out of 10. Best M. Night Shyamalan film yet - but don't worry, there's more coming...