don't think they were going for "realistic...

Posted by Grant (M) on July 12, 2010 at 07:20:14

In Reply to: Signs was so stupid that it was insulting posted by Rob Doorack on July 8, 2010 at 07:55:50:

...depictions" of anything in that movie. I was less insulted because I watched with my kids on DVR, not as a $50 theater experience. Still, I thought it was more like a comedy that almost worked, with dramatic themes forcibly woven in--which was the films principal undoing.

Joachim Phoenix was great throughout the film and Gibson had several nice dry-humor moments as did Breslin and Culkin. There were even a couple laugh out loud scenes and a few unintentionally dumb moments that also made us smile.

The tension with the Aliens was corny and a contrivance to drive the "struggle of faith" message of the film. There was a nice scary moment or two for our 10 year old. This seemed made for a teen audience with some adult themes. They tried to do way too much with too little.

The film is indefensible on many levels but it was watchable and mildly entertaining on a rainy Saturday. If you look at what PG-13 films are "ok" for kids 10-14 Signs doesn't seem so bad.

Next to the other M. Night films Signs had a few redeeming qualities; mainly humor and a lack of serious language and violence--which is likely why they went with water and trouble with locks as the Aliens undoing.... they fit the silly, mostly mild nature of the film.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - "The Last Airbender." Do NOT take your kid to see this. Mine is a huge fan of the animated series but she - tinear 20:22:44 07/02/10 (19)

Consensus of reviewers about this film... - mkuller 10:20:30 07/06/10 (2)

Hopefully he will go away - barryb 07:51:03 07/12/10 (1)

Not gonna happen. His movies have grossed $2.1 billion worldwide. - sjb 08:10:43 07/13/10 (0)

"After spending the past decade making bad movies, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan has branched out - musetap 14:37:14 07/03/10 (0)

M. Night is awful - barryb 09:48:39 07/03/10 (14)

Signs was so stupid that it was insulting - Rob Doorack 07:55:50 07/08/10 (9)

don't think they were going for "realistic... - Grant 07:20:14 07/12/10 (0)

Agree completely, almost - barryb 09:04:59 07/11/10 (4)

"a sad joke"? - Rob Doorack 19:45:49 07/11/10 (1)

Venus - barryb 07:16:12 07/12/10 (0)

"there hasn't been a realistic depiction of the aliens since Close Encounters?" - volunteer 17:25:04 07/11/10 (1)

Thousands of eye witnesses and common sense - barryb 07:20:58 07/12/10 (0)

what kind of technological development. . . - Larry I 09:25:02 07/09/10 (2)

Another depiction of aliens as scary - barryb 09:09:47 07/11/10 (1)

"until they took out all mentions of the words "Area 51". " - volunteer 18:59:18 07/15/10 (0)

Enjoyed Signs and especially Village - Brian A 08:07:35 07/05/10 (0)

One hit and that was it. "Unbreakable," was - tinear 21:00:23 07/03/10 (2)

Definitely a specific taste that one really needed to run with. - barryb 07:41:29 07/04/10 (0)

RE: One hit and that was it. "Unbreakable," was - patrickU 03:25:15 07/04/10 (0)

Follow Ups

don't think they were going for "realistic... - Grant 07:20:14 07/12/10 (0)

don't think they were going for "realistic...

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