It's not Shyamalan who's a one trick pony, it's the audience!

Rating: 10/10 (31 July 2004)

What a very satisfying and intelligent film! those kvetching about their "disappointment" are just not getting it at all. There will never be another Sixth Sense because we're all looking for twists now. However, to his credit, Shyamalan continues to develop his craft as a story teller in the grand fashion of Hitchcock.
My viewing of the movie was marred by a vast sea of giddy, giggling teenage girls who must have thought they were in for some teen slasher flick. Even that wasn't enough to detract from the spellbinding visual quality of The Village. What difference does it make even if you guess the end or think it's "predictable"? Shyamalan has gone beyond that. His work needs to be judged not by horror standards but by literary ones.
He is a superb story teller.
The love story was unique and powerful. The theme of love and protection intertwined -- a rich subtext which pushes Ivy to a different response than the one taken by her elders when they had to deal with protecting the ones they love. Sometimes to protect we turn inward; sometimes we must turn outward.
I'll be just as happy when all the "disappointeds" finally just hop off the Shyamalan bandwagon so that people with more subtle sensibilities can watch all his sure-to-come destined-to-be-classic-in-spite-of-current-opinion films in a more respectful atmosphere.