Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely the Funniest Scare We ever got!!
Review: Absolutely Fantastic! A new genre for Mel, this was very funny and very scary! We were gasping and grabbing at one second, and then laughing the next! A real Roller Coaster of a Movie, A Must See!
Rating: 
Summary: I Admit It, I Got Suckered In To See It
Review: Unless you want to be disappointed at the end of the film I suggest that you save this one for a rental. Note, There are spoilers coming up so if you don't want to know anything about the film quit reading now. I was really enjoying the film, it had its tense parts, humor and drama- but then the climax came. Finding out that Merril was an ex minor league ball player in the films beginning and hearing that Grahams wife's last words were "swing away", -boy, I didn't see that coming (yeah, right). Then there was all the water being left around the house by little daughter Bo. Hmmm, could this be leading up to something significant? Then the climax came. You would have thought that the writers would have come up with something better than they did. The aliens are vulnerable to water so they just pack up and leave? Did I miss something here? C'MON!!! With the aliens apparent superior technology and considering that they've been coming to Earth for centuries don't you think that they would have known about water and its effect on them and taken precautions against this "deadly" threat? They would have at least been wearing a protective suit instead of running around naked! And then there was the alien that just let Merril beat him to death with a baseball bat without even trying to fight back, and also the fact that the aliens are busting through the house with no problem but just can't seem to get past that one basement door. I just wonder why the (professional) critics gave such high marks on this film considering how things just didn't add up in the end. No, I just couldn't buy the ending and because of its lame writing for the climax I only give it 2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Has Success Spoiled M. Night Shyamalan?
Review: I think the world of The Sixth Sense. It is a movie that, to my mind, is so perfectly executed that it was a tragedy that it lost out to the inferior films at the Oscars. I think that it was dismissed mainly by those who thought it was simply a clever ghost story. Boy, did they miss real story. I liked Unbreakable for the same reason: interesting story cloaking a charged, emotional message about adult life and the small miracles that many of us stopped dreaming about somewhere close to middle age. But I loathed Wide Awake, another film by M. Night Shyamalan, It was one his first major release, and it was awful. I made the mistake of buying the DVD. I thought about giving it away, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. So, it sits on my shelf ready to prompt an embarrassing question like, "Is this a good movie?" God, I should have realized as soon as I saw Rosie O'Donnell in the credits that it would be a mistake to watch further. But I'd forgotten about Wide Awake when I sat down to watch Signs. After all, it was in the distant past. M. Night had demonstrated that he had overcome his early ineptness at storytelling; that he had grown into a mature, highly intelligent filmmaker who would wow us again. I was wrong. Signs is closer to Wide Awake than The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. Let me tell you why I came away empty--despite Roger Ebert giving it 4 stars (?!). Signs is another metaphorical story, a message movie about crises of faith cloaked in a story about an alien invasion. In the same way, The Sixth Sense was a story about how people grow dead to each other, how husbands and wives, for example, neglect each other, act is if they don't exist in the real world, and otherwise become the living dead. So too, Unbreakable was a story about growing up and losing faith in oneself and in the magic of waking up in an amazing and miraculous world. But where The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable told their subtextual story in clever, subtle, and artistic ways, Signs is ham-handed, unconvincing, and, ultimately, a preachy little mess of a movie. Unlike Night's other films, the cover story is neither coherent nor convincing. They won't let me give any "spoilers" in this review, so can't include my catalog of errors, inconsistencies, and plot holes. So, you'll just have to add them up. Now, this movie clearly isn't as bad as Wide Awake. I found Mel Gibson's character endearing, Joaquin Phoenix does a nice job, too. And the children are endearing and natural. I also happened to like the alien. It was very creepy, mean, and disturbing. I just hope his next film comes close to The Sixth Sense. And that is the curse of The Sixth Sense; Night just peaked too soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Imagine everything you believed to be true changing in a day
Review: Graham Hess (Gibson) has suffered a tragedy that leaves him doubting his faith, and shakes the very core of his being and beliefs. When he finds elaborate crop circles in his cornfields, he finds himself putting that faith to the test in a way he never could have imagined. A unique thriller with alien aspects that will leave even the most steadfast viewer thinking of the possibilities. Could this happen at any moment in time. Joaquin Phoenix does a first-rate job as Hess' brother who has come to live with Gibson and his family on a farm in the heartland. A well-done, enjoyable movie, from the director/writer M.N.Shyamalan also known for "The Sixth Sense". It's a movie that leaves the viewer thinking about the unnerving possibilities. Kelsana 8/14/02
Rating:
Summary: Definitely Worth The Price Of A Movie Ticket
Review: I suppose that if I thought about it a lot, the movie would become illogical. There would be loose ends and missing connections. But I'm not thinking about it, because I'm too busy locking up my doors and boarding up my windows! Now, I'm not easily scared by movies, and when my friends took me to see it I was very doubtful. Now it's an hour later and the only reason I'm not hyperventilating is because I'm distracting myself from thinking about this movie. Now everybody can probably guess the plot of this movie: Mel Gibson plays a reverend who has lost his faith after the tragic accidental death of his wife. Now I can't tell if he's a farmer as well, or simply lives next to a crop of corn, all I know is that he can look out from any window of his house and see nothing but corn. He lives with his two children, Rory Culkin as the older brother, and I Don't Recall Her Name, the adorable younger sister (yes we all know her, she's the one who says in the commercials "Daddy, there's a monster outside my window, can I have a glass of water?"), and the Ex-Father's younger brother, a former Minor League star. His brother is my favorite character, he's so believable and comic. I suppose, as someone sad earlier, he's a third child, but not really. In some ways, his more mature than his older brother. The crop circles begin appearing and other signs and portents. The movie is theological and yet very very very frightening. As someone put it, the movie is done in a classic War Of The Worlds style. My favorite part is where they sit around watching the TV reports from around the globe. (Yes. They are wearing the tin foil hats. It's not as bad as it looks.) M. Night uses all the classic tricks, and they all work. He also manages to slip in some surprising yet not innappropriate comedy. It's not the world's greatest scare flick of all time, but GOD it's scary... P.S. If you're going to see this for the first time-bring a date. You'll only need to pay for the one seat, because you'll be in their lap in practically the first scene!
Rating:
Summary: Signs: Thought Provoking
Review: First off, this film is not about crop circles as the promos would have you think. Certainly, they play a part in the story, but the true aspects of the film go much deeper. I find it works on several levels. One, it is about a man who has lost his faith thru a tragedy but who, before the film is over, has his faith restored by harking back to that same event. It is also about an alien invasion (shades of War of the Worlds) but even this takes a back seat to what the film is really about. Once again, Mr. Shyamalan (who appears in the film) crafts a very moving and unique tale, using much foreshadowing along the way, as he did in
The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. Granted, there were a few things
that were left unexplained and could have been made clearer but it does not take away from the heart of the film. Mel Gibson gives a moving performance as a laspsed minister who loves his children (the children's performances are wonderful). Joaquin Phoenix is also very humorous as Gibson's younger brother. It almost seems, that in the course of the movie, the alien invasion is a catalyst for one man's journey to a realization that a higher power is indeed out there-or in one's heart. Don't go expecting anything new when the aliens are shown, but I didn't feel that was the point of the film. Certainly, there are very frightening segments, but it's more to do with suspense and character. This film, in fact, like the Sixth Sense bears repeated viewing to see all the small details fall into place.
Nan
Rating:
Summary: An absolutely great story!
Review: I found Signs to be an absolutely great story. I don't know much about theology or what "Reverend" is supposed to mean or not mean, but the story in this movie was very interesting. The tragic death of a very loved wife and mother is the backdrop. The husband having his world completely torn apart. Now add alot of creepy things going on. They don't make sense. That's the point. Sometimes life just doesn't make sense. The talk between the two brothers about the "types of people" was, I believe, the core of the story. Do we believe in miracles or not. What type am I? It was a great story!!!
Rating:
Summary: Shyamalan is one creepy creative director!
Review: After starring in hugely successful comedies and hit historical films, Gibson is back in a refreshing new movie. Very different from other hits this summer, in it's second week receiving over $110 million at the US box-office, "Signs" is a must-see. The movie doesn't bore you to sleep with too many details. It concentrates on the horror theme. It may not be the sixth sense but it's still great! The movie is very interesting and quite emotional. It definitely has the gripping suspense and the fearful moments that have made us enjoy horror flicks. It's yet another film by Shyamalan that'll make you consider similar things for quite a while. The Hess family- a modern everyday family with happy times all the time!- NOT! Problems are taking place with the Hess family-strange problems. The story revolves around graham Hess (played by Mel Gibson) and his brother Merrill who awaken to find their dogs barking fiercely. The kids (brother-sister) are wandering around in the cornfields as if under somebody's commander as if they're zombies. If that wasn't strange enough, crop circles are spotted. The TV industry is going wild, and graham tries his best to ignore it all. He reads about aliens (no! It's not an alien movie). The plot shows Graham trying to get things back to normal. Shyamalan once again shows that he's great at making horror flicks. He's prepared yet another brilliant film that you'll have to see this summer. It's a reality problems show and a horror hour show. It's mystical and thought provoking. The cast did a great job. The plot was enthralling. It deserves raving reviews. It has it's share of humour. It's a great modern thriller. It's spooky and it's worth a check. Despite having the mystery plot and the thought-provoking scenes, "Signs" is only a must for horror flicks, sixth sense, the others, and Gibson movie fans. You'll probably also enjoy it if you like interesting stories and love reading Higgins type mysteries. Don't bother to see it if you're looking for a romantic comedy (What women want), a historically based movie (Patriot, Braveheart), or a reality problems flick (the Mel-Julia duo film). ----Ahmed Mashhood
Rating:
Summary: A THINKING MAN'S B-MOVIE
Review: Despite its B-movie plot (isolated family begins to suspect aliens are moving in on them), "Signs" is in fact a deeply involving film about the questions of personal faith. Mel Gibson's disillusioned minister asks all the right questions en route to all the right answers, and his gradual realization of the truth is both convincing and moving. Joaquin Phoenix lends solid support as Gibson's brother, and the child-actors acquit themselves honorably as well. This is not your typical alien-invasion movie: though the story has worldwide scope, we see it all unfold through the eyes of Gibson's slowly disnitegrating family. Like "The Sixth Sense," "Signs" is a thriller in the Val Lewton mode, eschewing sensationalism and SFX blitzes for a slow build-up of suspense through careful characterization and a dream-like atmosphere that methodically descends into nightmare. Director Shymalan deserves a lot of credit for not only ignoring the general Hollywood stylistic traps, but also for having the guts to make a film that dares to portray spirituality in a positive light. Genuinely scary, believable, and uplifting, "Signs" is a thriller with both a brain AND a heart.
Rating:
Summary: Thriller. Should be seen.
Review: This movie has tension and suspense, and builds both without the use of surprises. You have a pretty good notion of how each scene will turn out as it begins, but those endings produced in your imagination are pretty ugly and disturbing. This is, however, a PG-13 movie and it does what it does without gore and shock imagery. A very dark fate appears to be moving steadily and unstoppably toward the characters. This is not Independence Day or Star Wars, however. This has more in common with the Passover than it does most sci-fi themes. The type of die-hard sci-fi fans and UFO enthusiasts referred to in the film during a series of Joaquin Phoenix lines might not find things fitting in with current folkore and mythology on UFO stuff. The movie, however, is entertaining and a good watch. See it.
|
