About as bad as the Village People... **/5

Rating: 3/10 (17 January 2005)

Mr. Shyamalan is quite the director. In some ways, he has reached legendary status among movie goers. The Sixth Sense, while I didn't care for it as much, is regarded as one of the best and scariest movies of our time. His style of directing is almost of a post-modern Hitchcock style.
I find movies lately that I watch are usually made or broken with the last 30 minutes. It sounds very shallow and it is. Now, thats not to say I don't appreciate the majority of the movie but the ending is what really leaves you with your final opinion of the movie. Take Unbreakable. Mr. Shyamalan wrote and directed a movie; a movie that was so slow and seemed to be going no where... Until you reached the end. In those last two minutes, you understood why you'd watched the movie. You watched the ending and wow, it sat with you.
In fact, to clear things up so you don't totally discount my review, the end of a movie justifies the rest of it. And it is with this lengthy introduction that I begin my review of the Village.
Now, as far as the Village, basically I think the Village wasn't really a BAD movie per-say. I didn't hate it. Truth be told, as I was watching it, I found myself kinda interested. Who knows? Maybe it was another Unbreakable... Until the end. The end did not justify the means, nor the means the end. And I hope to tell you why.
-Sample Stuff One: The Village was disappointing.
I was watching the preview again last night, and though I saw it twice, I almost wanted to see it again, until I remembered that the majority of the movie was a romantic film. Yes, it's true. The previews make this film look scary and suspenseful. Now, I won't discount that there were a few scenes that, on first view, make you feel kinda scared. But by the end, you won't have any trouble flicking off the light at night.
Now, if this movie had been advertised as the romantic-drama it was, sure, i wouldn't have gone to see it but I could respect it for what it was. But, when you false advertise a movie like this and make it seem like the scare of the century, you draw blood.
-Smaple Stuff 2: The twist had nothing on his other films.
Now, I know some would beg to differ but I concur that the twists in The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs were phenomenal. To say this doesn't have a twist would be a lie. It has a twist... it's just not very good.
The problem with the twist is it doesn't follow the same pattern as the other films.
-SPOILERS- In the Sixth Sense, MNS told us a tale about Dead People and proved they were real.
In Unbreakable, MNS told us a tale about Superheroes and proved they were real.
In Signs, MNS told us a tale about Aliens and proved they were real.
I won't tell you the twist of the Village but basically, it doesn't follow this formula that made these three films so great (in my opinion).
-END SPOILERS- Sample Stuff 3: The acting was pretty good.
My one praise for this film. The acting was nothing short of great. I wouldn't expect anything else with a star-studded cast like this but certainly, this film was well acted.
If the film had any chance at the academy, I could see Bryce Dallas Howard being nominated for best actress. It's hard work portraying a blind girl (Ivy) and man, she hit it right on the dot.
Before we go any farther, I should tell you a little bit about the story and like, I said, the concept was brilliant.
Our story takes place in a 19th century Village where folks live in a community. No, we have no idea why they are there but they seem to be living well.
Until we find out about those who live in the woods bordering the Village. It seems that there are monsters in the woods and if one crosses over into the woods, it means certain death for the person who violated the boundary, as well as sufferage for the whole town.
The monsters also love the color red and to combat them, they paint the trees near the boarder yellow (where they got that, I don't know). And, the story is about Lucius, the town adventurer who is quiet as a mouse and Ivy, the out-going blind girl hooking up. Did that last part throw the movie out the door for you? I hope so because the twist isn't worth the drama you have to go through.
If you know the film is a drama and are still game for it, heck, do what you want! In fact, I encourage you check it out. But don't expect to be scared.
If you think you'd like to see this film but it sounds to scary, I assure you, it isn't. My mom thought it sounded evil and later, she saw it and loved it (she's more of a drama person. :-)).
Also, on the note of the twist, I still won't tell you what it is but it is hard to predict in that it is the first thing that would come to your mind.
So, all in all, I didn't care for this movie. It was certainly one of Mr. Shyamalan's worst films (Wide Awake was pretty bad too but, we don't speak of that). By no means was this a horrible movie, but, you'd be better off with the Young Men at the Y.M.C.A. ;-)