Disappointing but I think I'll see it again.

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2004)

I have enjoyed M. Night Shyamalan's films and he is one of the very few Directors today whose films I'll watch based on his name alone.
SPOILERS HERE:
I decided not to read any reviews before seeing the Village last night. I had expected to see a horror/thriller film about creatures in the woods threatening the people living in a small village in the 1890s. I thought this was a good premise for a film and it's the kind of story I like.
I'm disappointed because `The Village' turned out to be something very different. The fact that they were NO creatures at all really disheartened me. And then the film becomes some sort of social commentary of the perils of modern day life.
The use of the actors here is odd. I thought Joaquin Phoenix was going to be a central character to follow throughout the film but he is only seen in the first half. The William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver roles could have been played by anyonethey really didn't come alive for me in the story. Bryce Dallas Howard however, is really special in this film.

I am somewhat confused as to what Adrien Brody's character was supposed to be about. I felt that his actions happened without any specific purpose with regard to the plot. It is never explained why he tries to kill Lucius or chases Ivy.
Given what happens at the end, I found it very difficult to believe that a man would send his blind daughter out to the woods to fetch some medicine from a world she has no knowledge of. Especially when Hurt's character simply could have done the job himself and created fewer problems for his friends and family. This is a very weak plot element in the story.

Also towards the end of the film, when Ivy is being pursued by the `creature' I was wondering why this scene was shot in broad daylight. It looked like she was being chased by a guy in a chicken outfit wearing a robe. You could clearly see this was a man in a costume. Had Shyamalan filmed this at night, it would have been much more effective. I'm amazed that he made this oversight.
The Village is a complex film and Shyamalan is certainly being ambitious with this one. I think I will see it again to give it a second chance. Maybe I'll feel differently. There are SO FEW good films coming out of Hollywood these days that even Shyamalan's worst films are going to be far better than your typical movie today.
The Village is not a bad film. It's interesting with some good spooky moments but I had hoped for a different kind of film.