Not the movie you expected

Rating: 9/10 (2 September 2002)

I really liked this movie, which I consider much better than "Sixth Sense". I believe that the problems many people say they have with "Unbreakable" come from their own expectations. I expect similar reactions to Shyamalan's latest "Signs", because he is a director that refuses to respond to people's perceptions of him or his work.
Here's the 411: this move is NOT a clone of "Sixth Sense", despite what several reviewers have said; and it is not about "comic books" as such. Like "Signs", it's a story about discovering the strengths (and weaknesses) within yourself and learning to deal with them.
I've always admired writers and directors who can combine the everyday with the "unreal" and make it work, and that is Shyamalan's greatest strength in both areas. His own love of comics comes through here, and that famous Stan Lee line "With great power comes great responsibility" underlies nearly every scene in this movie, although it is never voiced out loud. What makes this work is that the Bruce Willis character, much like Peter Parker, is an everyday guy who has problems in his life, some of which are of his own making. The joy of this movie is in watching Willis's security guard character put aside his own reluctance and come to grips with the truths of who he is, and what is really important to him. Like Mel Gibson's character in "Signs", Willis's "hero" realizes that his wife and child must be his first priority, but he must not ignore his unique calling.
Samuel L. Jackson is a wonder to watch. It is his character that drives the action throughout the movie, and a more formidable "Lex Luthor" type you won't find anywhere, in film or in comic books. The "twist" at the end, where his full role in events is finally revealed, is more of a "wrench" that some viewers just won't be able to absorb. For those who can, you'll want to watch this movie over and over again.
The DVD contains some interesting deleted scenes with personal narration by Shyamalan explaining why they were filmed, and why they were finally cut. I found this to be a very nice view into the mind of a talented filmmaker who has yet to hit his peak.