Better Than (And Completely Different To) That Other Movie He Made

Rating: 10/10 (26 June 2001)

You know, I liked "The Sixth Sense", I really did, it was atmospheric and original--but I wasn't so awestruck that the mere words "by the director of 'The Sixth Sense'" would have been sufficient to lure me into the theatre to see "Unbreakable". Rather, it was the delight and enthusiasm expressed by various comic book fans that got me interested. From the advertisements I'd half-watched, it certainly didn't come across as the next "X-Men". But being a graphic novel aficionado of modest proportions myself (or possibly a complete geek with more bagged "Howard The Duck" back-issues than brains, depending on one's perspective) I went, and watched, and came away from it appropriately impressed. In fact it held the coveted "Best Film Since 'Fight Club'" position in my completely subjective and personal top twenty list for the several intervening months before I saw "Memento".
I don't think you have to be a comic book fan to appreciate this movie, although it must certainly help to have some exposure to the genre, an awareness of its tropes and conventions.
Alternatively I wonder if being a big fan of "The Sixth Sense" might not hinder one's enjoyment of "Unbreakable", inasmuch as the director's distinctive style is used to very different (and in my opinion far better) effect here.