A "colossal miscalculation?" I beg to differ.

Rating: 8/10 (13 August 2004)

Wow. All I can say is I've seen quite a few negative reviews, both from critics and from people on the message boards, and I don't think this movie is near deserving of them. Sure, I agree that the movie was marketed incorrectly, however, that doesn't mean that it was a bad film. Acting was excellent by Bryce Howard, Joaquin Phoenix (as usual) and the rest of the cast. Shyamalan has a great vision of cinematography and atmosphere and James Newton Howard's score tells the story by itself and in my opinion is one of his best yet.
If you go into the movie, forget about what the critics say, sit back in your seat and let yourself into the story, you'll probably find that it's a heartbreaking love story with enough frightening situations to keep you on your toes. Too many people went into this movie desperately trying to figure out the much talked about "twist" instead of letting it flow naturally. If this had been Shyamalan's first film, I bet it would have merited the same praise as The Sixth Sense.
This movie was not supposed to be the biggest thriller of all time; if that's what you were looking for, you may be disappointed. Furthermore, if all you're worried about after seeing the movie is what Lucius' 'color' is, I believe you're truly missing the point. I highly recommend this film to anyone who isn't just going to the movies for a cheap thrill. 9/10