Why I'm glad I disregarded the critics' reviews and saw this film

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2004)

I almost didn't see this movie because of all the bad critics' reviews that I read about it, and I'm glad that I saw it anyway, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many of the reviews that I read said that it didn't meet the expectations of horror that were advertised, "the twist" was disappointing, and the action was plodding. I went into viewing the movie with an open mind as if I had heard nothing about it, and I can say that I totally disagree with those reviews. Rather than a horror movie, I see this movie as almost a fairytale, complete with suspense, romance, monsters, and a brave heroine in peril. The storyline also makes you think about what people are capable of doing to protect our loved ones - the misguided acts and the heroic ones. The atmosphere of the movie draws you into the action and you can feel the joy, fear, and emotional pain of the characters. I thought the performances of William Hurt, Joaquin Phoenix and Bryce Dallas Howard were very strong. Bryce Dallas Howard fairly glowed. More than one unexpected and surprising event took place, and I was in tears at one point.
Although I had guessed what the final revelation would be by the end of the movie, it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the film. The critics should stop rating M. Knight Shyamalan's movies by how effective "the twist" is, and just review each film independently on its own merits. This movie was not meant to be another "Sixth Sense." It can stand alone as an enjoyable, moving, and thought-provoking film.