A work of art from beginning to end

Rating: 10/10 (23 July 2006)

I have been so surprised at the negative comments and reviews for this movie. I think it is because it is a movie based on dialog and relationships with quiet and deep felt emotion rather than explosive acting...I don't know. But for me it is a masterpiece by a genius. The acting is superb by each member of a wonderful and obviously close cast. The mystical, moving music alone could cause me to watch it over and over. Many people comment on "camera angles being good." Misses the mark a bit. Every single frame of this movie COULD be framed...even the shot of Noah dead at the bottom of the pit. The enormous care that goes into the details of every scene of this and all of Shyamalan's movies is a gift to the movie goer.
Night's attention to individual characters is a wonderful change from the superficiality of most movies. The gentleness, honesty, humor and beauty of each personality is delightful. You get to know these people...they have quirks and fears and desires...and he causes you to care deeply about them. Mercy inhabits all of his films...and tolerance and understanding. He is able to take the most simple things and create depth and breadth and make each moment of a film memorable for some small reason or another. I don't think anyone has made a more beautiful love scene than the one of Brice and Joaquine sitting on the porch as he expresses his love for her.
The thing about this film, and I believe all of Shyamalan's films. is that you have to let yourself FEEL them. You have to slow down a bit and enter into the world he has created and become part of it for a while. But, then, isn't that why we watch movies? He gives us real people, able to be heroic with almost no one ever knowing...he give hope for the human condition...he brings beauty for the eyes and ears and uniqueness at every turn.
The Village for me was like a master's painting and I believe all of this particular master's paintings will become classics.