Rating: Summary: Love Bruce Willis Review: When I saw this film in the movie theater, I was not overwhelmed with it. But since I'm such a huge Willis fan, I purchased the DVD anyway. To my surprise, the more times I watch it, the more I enjoy it. The plot runs deep, and I think its one of those films that should be viewed several times to really understand.
Rating: Summary: bad pacing... Review: My husband was kind to rent this film for me as he wasn't sure if it was a keeper or not.. Well, sadly.. it wasn't. The film's pacing is slow, plodding & dull.. Characters you want to feel something for, never really develop and the ending, although an interresting twist doesn't pay off for the time invested. Worth a viewing on a rent.. but not worth your money to keep around. As my husband says.. "it definitely suffers from 2nd film anxiety."
Rating: Summary: Not bad, but not great. Review: It's always hard following a hit movie. "The Sixth Sense" put M. Night Shyamalan on the map and deservedly so. It was a fantastic thriller that kept your eyes on the screen the entire time, with a twist straight out of left field. Remarkable! "Unbreakable" was good, but not as good, in my opinion anyway, as "The Sixth sense." It just left something to be desired for me that I cannot really put my finger on. Bruce Willis was great as was Samuel L. Jackson, but the story was just "eh". Modern day superhero? Come on. It did have the great twist at the end that no one expects, but this was the best part of the movie for me. (Not because it was the end, but because it was the best part of the drama.) Where "The Sixth Sense" keeps you on the edge of your seat and your eyes bulging, "Unbreakable" keeps you firmly in your seat and relaxed. Not quite the thriller it was hyped as. If you're really into comics and want to see the comic-drenched special features, by all means purchase this, but I think one could get away with just renting it for an evening and being done with it.
Rating: Summary: The ultimate refutation to those... Review: who think comic books are kid's stuff. The ...reviewer has a lot of nerve to call the story "bordering on the juvenile"; while it is, of course, fantastic, juvenile would be garbage like "Armageddon." While this isn't "Watchmen", it is a perfect distillation of what comic books mean to those who read them and the pure sense of hope they can offer. Yes, I said hope. If you really need it spelled out, you should see another underappreciated film, "The Iron Giant." But if you're impatient, I can only explain it this way; as any regular reader of comics knows, the best comics and characters give us something to aspire to, to be just, true, and a protector of those who cannot protect themselves. Comics are an uniquely American creation, but the characters strike a deep human chord. A story my dad likes to tell is of a friend in the Peace Corps; he went to a village in the West Indies that was incredibly isolated, couldn't get radio stations, had almost no technology. He walked into a clearing...and there, carved out of a whole tree, was a statue of Superman. I've seen the photos. It's a really inspiring sight, and it's something I suspect MNS heard about, because he tapped into it deeply with "Unbreakable." His character of David Dunn is denying what he is to such a degree it's destroying his marriage, his relationship with his son and folding him into himself, rendering him number with each passing day. It's not until we get deeper into the film that we realize just how much he gave up for his wife and son, which makes the beginning that much more painful to watch. This isn't really a film you can watch like "The Sixth Sense." It's something completely different from that film, although it has a similar hopeful vibe underneath the gloomy lighting. In a lot of ways, "Unbreakable" is the ultimate comic book movie, and for those who know what that truly means, they know that's the greatest compliment anyone can bestow on it.
Rating: Summary: Bruce,time to start singing for your lunch again. Review: Except no substitute. Bruce Willis tries to score again with a mix of the sensitive Sixth Sense atmosphere and the slap from Twelve Monkeys.Where as they were his best two films since the Die Hard trilogy, this was rather drab and silly. Its only redemption being the neat twist to finish which is like an expensive bow on a cheap Christmas pressie. He plays a dim man of few words now working as a security guard at the local football stadium. He was once the all American College cliched starter quarterback who was curtailed by that ligament injury that strikes all the heroes down in America. Willis survives a calamitous accident and im not talking about "Breakfast with Champions or Hudson Hawk". He's strangely unbroken from a train crash and seems to be the only survivor. A strange comic collector is convinced that theres a reason for this and tracks him down. Samuel L Jackson sporting a Audley Harrison mullet is the one who tries to pursuade Willis that it was no accident that he survived the err accident for supernatural reasons. Just as he (Jackson) suffers from a brittle bone disorder from when he was a kid, he believes there must be someone out there who suffers the opposite... The comic books that helped him to be strong as a kid and made his fortune, also convince him that there is a superhero out there for real, and it could be Willis. Brucey baby seems to have forgotten his past and the fact he's never been ill or broke anything before. How the hell he forgot that I will never know. Everything he does, theres no scratch on him, apart from his mid nineties filmography, oh ive mentioned that already. But like I say he's dim and a security guard. Well you've seen them in the shopping centers outside Boots. Jackson is quickly into his over bearing SLJ Pulp Fiction sermons with Willis trying to hang on to the sensitive role play to little effect. This film is way too cool for the excellent Jackson to get involved in and should never jump on a Willises sinking ship he seems to captain these days. Although theres a cheeky line it where he hypothetically takes the p**s out of Willis by imaging he could have run a successful chain of restaurants which I thought was cute. Willis gets into his role wearing his OB1 Kanobi style cloak that err protects him from the err water. Mr Invincible has become H2O man. Unaware of his powers, he learns to forge a relationship with his stepson and try to get his marriage back on line. The actor playing his young one looks like he's seen Sixth Sense and Osmans (and Spielbergs AI) stunning performance and tries to better it. He only has about six lines though. Owww bless. Soon Bruce is pumping 300 lbs more than he should be in the cellar, which is nearly as heavy as his ego. Willis realizes that he is a little different and sets out to see if he can put his newly discovered powers to good. And that is the plot and most of the action im afraid folks. There really isn't much to this as Willis tries to repeat some of The Sixth Sense supernatural chemistry. The twist is the only thing that gives it a second dooyoo star from me and I would wait until this Turkey fare pops up on the Christmas table TV. Bruce, how about Die-Hard Four matey. If Willis keeps going down hill they will have to start subpoenaing those cinema audiences again.
Rating: Summary: comic fans AND movie fans have a reason to cheer!! Review: As an avid and dedicated comic book fan, this is a dream come true. The perfect origin story of a superhero and his nemesis (how should there be a hero without a villain?), told in a way that it 'could' really occur. At the same time Mr. Shyamalan uses the camera so perfectly and in particular slow moments so well as only masters of storytelling in comic books do through the use of white spaces. The real nugget though is the additional DVD and the special features. The deleted scenes are the 'usual' good stuff, but the special on the power of comics is just wonderful. Legends such as Frank Miller, Dave Gibbons and Will Eisner as well as Scott McLoud, from 'Understanding Comics' fame are interviewed AND also recent Pulitzer price winner Michael Chabon is included! Now, that is what I call a thoughtfully put together group, where no expense was spared to provide real value to paying customers. More of this and additional DVDs are worth their money.
Rating: Summary: A Hero We Can Accept Review: M. Night Shyamalan has directed and written a wonderful movie here. The story is a contempory version of a comic book. Only, unlike the comics of the 50's,60's, and 70's; this movie portrays the hero in a more subtle and realistic light. Bruce Willis plays the hero, David Dunn, who is discovered and informed about his "superpowers" from a stranger, Elijah (Samuel L. Jackson). The movie deals with the frustrations of a mortal man who has not fulfilled his dreams. Both men are searching for meaninig in this life. I don't want to give away the ending so I'll leave it there. The movie is richly filmed and beautifully crafted. The plot works because the actors are beleavable. No one overacts their part. The two disk set has the extra bonus of a feature about comics. Many people, including great comic writers and artists, Frank Miller and Alex Ross, are interviewed. The musical score is also terrific. Lastly, a reviewer said this movie is depressing. I cannot understand why. In the final analysis, good triumphs evil, and our hero finds peace in himself. Further, the subplot featuring the family, ends in an exceptional way. I found this to be very uplifting in th emessage it speaks.
Rating: Summary: High on Style, Light on Content Review: I wanted very much to love M. Night Shyamalan's next film after The Sixth Sense, but going away from it I only just enjoyed it. Bruce Willis and Samuel Jackson give amazing performances, and the film is very well directed - even if the film progresses very slowly. The film is well composed, and it may well be the best effort in bringing comic book superheroes into a more real world. However, the film is lacking in it's scope. It seems like more of a prelude to a greater story. If someday it is, this film is an excellent start. Unfortunately, if it has to stand on it's own, it's far from a complete package. The video presented here is excellent, as is the Audio. Buena Vista's new Vista series holds some promise, but it's a bit dissapointing that M. Night did not choose to do a commentary for this release.
Rating: Summary: The Seventh Sense! Review: Unbreakable is a very entertaining movie. Produced or directed by the same guy who did The Sixth Sense, there are as expected some similarities -- suspense, low-key acting, and a great story. Unbreakable lacks the twist-turn ending, but more than makes up for this in many other ways. The relationship between Bruce Willis and is wife is extraordinarily well-done. I also liked the ambiguity of the protagonist -- is he an unbreakable super-here, or not? And the villain -- is he an arch-enenmy or just twisted. Watch it and decide for yourself.
Rating: Summary: enjoyable, edgy escapism with some flaws Review: "Unbreakable" is one of those movies that is a lot of fun if you're in the mood for it. On the other hand, if you're in the mood for a really deep plot, consistently great acting, or an unpredictable surprise ending; don't watch this movie. In other words, Shyamalan is an excellent director and both Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis are favorite actors of mine, but this movie is only good; not great.
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