It's sad that people hated this

Rating: 8/10 (1 August 2004)

As I left the theater after seeing "The Village," I heard one person after another say "God that was the worst movie ever," or, "That movie totally sucked," but most common among complaints was, "That wasn't scary at all." Alright, I can see disappointment, but being angry that "The Village" wasn't scary does not qualify it as the "worst movie ever." Lord, if you've seen Chronicles of Riddick, you know that the Village isn't even in the same league as the other contestants for the Worst Movie Ever. Frankly, I thought it was a very well made film, with fine acting and a storyline that was concerned more with making you think than with making you jump. Shyamalan weaves an intricate plot that conveys a profound statement on facing fear in its many forms. Beyond any cheap dime-store horror movie plot, he tells a story based on character development and atmosphere. The cast is stellar. Bryce Dallas Howard and Joaquin Phoenix give standout performances as the hopeful youths who think beyond their small village, while William Hurt some of the best acting he's done in recent years. The score by James Newton Howard is beautiful and greatly enhances an already solid film. My only complaint lies with the way Adrien Brody's character is finally dealt with. I won't give anything away, I just wasn't really pleased with that. Anyway, if you're going expecting a scary monster flick, of COURSE you'll be disappointed. Wait a week for Alien Vs. Predator if that's your idea of good movie-making. However, if you want to see something a bit more subtle and much deeper, go see the Village. My Rating: 8/10