Once again, previews act as misdirection.

Rating: Null/10 (2 August 2004)

*quite a few spoilers* This movie seems to fall in between "Sixth Sense" and "Signs," quality-wise. It isn't as good as the former. But, it's way better than the latter. And, while you enter the movie theater, thinking it's going to be an outright thriller, it gradually becomes a touching love story. The movie starts out with the funeral of a child, in what appears to be an Amish-like community, circa 1897. This increases the resolve of the normally introspective blacksmith Lucius Hunt to bring some much needed medical advancements to the Village. This, in turn, helps him admit his love for the somewhat clairvoyant blind tomboy played, so sweetly and convincingly, by Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron's daughter). I won't spoil the twist ending, except to say that I was half-expecting something along that line. And, while it was a stroke of genius, Mr. Shyamalan (pronounced "Shom-a-lon") seems to be sending an even vaguer message than he did in "Signs!" I have an older brother who thinks the events in the latter film were all part of a faith-restoring dream sent by God on behalf of Mel Gibson's character. But, with "the Village," I don't know whether the moral of the story advocates a similar approach to dealing with modern problems. Or, if it's pointing out that, sooner or later, every Garden of Eden invariably gets its share of snakes. I would like to think it's the second one. In any case, I give this...3.1 stars (out of five)!