Not what I expected

Rating: 10/10 (28 June 2001)

SPOILERS INCLUDED
This movie is not what I expected. It was better.
I don't know what I did expect, but what I got wasn't it. I had the good fortune to not have any of the surprises ruined for me. I didn't even know it had to do with comics. Not knowing definitely made the film that much better.
Here's what I liked: the use of silence. Especially at the beginning, the quiet moments and lack of score grabbed my attention. Then, when music was introduced, it was so subtle that it emphasized the increasing action. I also liked the cinematography. The shots were beautiful--most notably, the shot of David Dunn and the girl on the train. It was unusual. It made me feel as though I were spying on a real person. I thought the acting was amazing. I don't think I've ever seen Bruce Willis so good. His quiet sense of sadness and the superb subtelty made me want to never look away. Samuel Jackson is, of course, fantastic. And I was duly impressed with the young boy in the film. He was perfect for the role.
People call this movie slow. I was riveted. I loved the comic book feel, the accessability of the supernatural qualities, and the acting. As soon as it was over I wanted to watch it again. An amazing testament to contemporary film making.