disappointment/ depressing

Rating: 3/10 (18 February 2006)

I liked the Sixth Sense, for the most part, and Signs (I haven't seen the other ones), but I can't recommend Unbreakable for the same reasons that I don't like parts of the other two, mentioned, movies. M. Night Shamalayan's movies contain nuggets of scary "real world" situations that I really don't want to sit in a movie theater and watch. I don't want to think about gun play or psychotic mothers a la The Sixth sense, or slow deaths from car crashes a la Signs. However, both of those movies had very compelling stories and Mr. Shamalayan managed to keep me to the end (fine acting helped also). Unbreakable could've been as good, but it's long and just too bleak. It's great the way Bruce Willis discovers his superpowers, and there is some fine interaction between Samuel L. Jackson and him, but the movie veers into the dark corners of the minds of everyday lowlifes committing wanton acts of abuse that this story leads you to believe are commonplace--they could be going on right now outside the theater or in your very home! The climax features a burglary that ventures into disturbing Thomas Harris-type situations. After the resolution and the surprise ending, you're left wondering "what did I watch this for?" If you rent this, I suggest you pick up Anchorman, Eurotrip, or your favorite comedy to chase this one down--you'll need it.