Teshi, yeah, it was the fatal weak point that caused much of my amusement. Hey, it's a race allergic to water invading a planet that's mostly...water! Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
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The 'big reveal' was not particularly the aliens -- it was that the family's various idiosyncracies and things Mel Gibson's character's wife said as she was dying all turned out to be related to how they'd survive the alien encounter -- in other words, the titular 'signs' were not crop circles but clues that God was setting up to ultimately benefit them.
Posts: 326 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Oh yeah! I'd completely forgotten the religious aspect and I'm a little fuzzy on the specific details. Yes, I felt that that kind of undermined the rest of the story, which is why I can't remember that ending bit; it was, for me, non-memorable... incongruent with the rest of the story.
I think that Shyamalan has the same problems as I do when writing a short story. He goes a little too far.
Although I wish my middle name was "Night".
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I love M Night's movies, including Signs, and The Village.
His movies aren't meant to be scary in the sense that Dawn of the Dead or the Ring were supposed to be scary (which, by the way, they weren't).
I can't wait to see Lady in the Water. Shyamalan is one of the few director's that I'll probably see any movie with his name attached to it.
Though I must admit, that knowing there is a twist coming at the end has created a two fold reaction in me. One, I know it's coming, and therefore it becomes much, MUCH easier to spot. And Two, knowing that going in makes it sort of fun, it's almost like a sub genre of movie. Besides, if his next movie DOESN'T have a twist, that in itself would be a twist from his other movies.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Signs wasn't about the aliens! Who cares that the were stupid enough to come to an ocean planet =)
Signs was about Mel's character getting his faith back through the Signs God had given him and through what was left of his family. It's a beautiful beautiful movie!
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I agree that that part was touching; the problem was I distracted by the utter absurdity of the other part.
Spoiler . . . . . . Maybe if he'd made the aliens allergic to orange juice, or something. The movie was well-made; I agree with Kat on that. That "plot twist" was just sloppy writing, though.
Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
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My problem with Signs was that I find the idea that the bad things in my life happened as clues from God on what to do during an alien invasion entirely offensive.
I mean, Mel's wife dies so she can give a few cryptic hints? Couldn't God have sent Mel an email or something?? Whatever happened to messages in your morning cereal? Handwriting on a wall? Messenger from heaven? A dream? A sudden flash of inspiration at the right moment? The entire premise of the movie is for me false and shows what I consider to be a misunderstanding of Christian faith.
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I recall having had this conversation shortly after the movie came out, and feeling quite alone in my disgust for the "faith" elements of the movie. I'm glad other people now feel the same way. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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If I was here, Tom, I definitely commented on it. Disgustedly. I can't swear that I mentioned the email, though. Posts: 2762 | Registered: Sep 1999
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Well, as an atheist you can expect my reaction to be "whoa", but usually I have no problem with religious tales at all. This one I just felt was bizarre and almost two movies in one, both undermining the other.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I liked Signs because it didn't scare the tar out of me. I could actually sit down and watch it.
I would never have seen the Sixth Sense if I had known even a little bit about it. I can't take scary movies. I still haven't seen all of The Village...it was just too scary. Which goes to show how big a wimp I am.
I agree on Unbreakable being the best of his movies. I loved the premise, and the delivery was wonderful.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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quote: I recall having had this conversation shortly after the movie came out, and feeling quite alone in my disgust for the "faith" elements of the movie. I'm glad other people now feel the same way.
Yeah, I walked out during the scene where he refused to allow his son to pray. Never got to the "signs" part.
I did rather enjoy the tinfoil hats though. But one sight gag does not a movie make.
Posts: 3735 | Registered: Mar 2002
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For the same reason that I turned off a passion play on TBN when the "Jews" yelled "We'd kill you ourselves, but we aren't allowed!"
Posts: 3735 | Registered: Mar 2002
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