Think about it...

Rating: 8/10 (24 January 2012)

For both a video-editing class Im taking and English Literature I had to choose a movie. For English I had to watch a film and write a critique and also use the themes/morals/motifs/symbols to make a connection to a specific novel. For video editing I had to recreate my own trailer for any film. I chose The Village for both, and Im glad I did!
The Village, contrary to other reviews, is perfectly logical. This is NOT a movie you can watch and assume the obvious. No, use the literary analysis skills learned in school to decipher the codes (and there are plenty). Consider the themes of isolationism, and how 9/11 effected us as a society (did we become more accepting of each other, or fear 'those we can not speak of'). The Village is an allegorical masterpiece! As I read some reviews of others claiming it was illogical, I was really disappointed that people could not take it for what it was;That is, a fictional thriller chuck-full of symbolism. Examples: 1.The color (anger, passion,and danger), 2. The color yellow (happiness,security), 3.Towns/villages (that sense of security we feel within them), 4.Lock&Key(again,more security) I could continue, but I wont.
Despite the literary symbolism, there are even more clues to the overall meaning based on historical information and back-round information on when it was filmed. 1.The Cuban Missle Crisis- Cuba could of benefited by bribing that pilot to not fly over them, and so could the US considering the outcome. Thuse, the reasoning behind planes not flying over the village is FINE. 2. Pennsylvania- Yah, home of the Quakers way back when and very large Amish community today. 3. Blindness, okay, throughout time blind characters have been "seers". This may be some sort of irony, but seriously a blind character being able to see beyond the physical is nothing new-nor is it to be confused with fantasy. This is because in all themes of movies and books this has existed.
I will admit a blind girl running through the forest is crazy, but seriously right before she left her father gave us clues that perhaps she was not born blind. The dialogue is clear of contractions so use that.
The Village IS a good movie that was probably made longer than it should of been. This is a movie good for sociology, English, and basically anything. It does require you to dive deeper than what is directly observed/assumed. Do NOT let that influence you're perception of it, nor do you have to agree with the message of the movie. But thats just it- There's A MESSAGE. Nothing can be assumed. And if it doesn't all make perfect logical sense you have to look at it from a characters point of view. ACTING:Good SETTING:Superb SCRIPT: Perfect PLOT: Requires analysis