The Village (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: GOING TO BE GOOD
Review: I am a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan's movies becuase there so great and they always are released on dvd with lot's of special features about the movie and a mini film from Night that are so funny. This movie looks great though. I think I will enjoy it a lot. it seems as though he keeps on trying to use one main character from the movie that came out before it. He used Bruce Willis twice in Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. In this movie he's using Joaquin Phoenix as he did in signs. It looks kind of like Signs but a little better. I can't wait.

Rating:
Summary: A well made "Well...duh..." movie.
Review: I say "Well...duh!" because I saw the movie with as little preconception as possible. I have seen and loved his previous three films, and will pretty much see everything Shyamalan will ever do.

I love his work. That's where I'm coming from.

I eagerly placed the DVD in my player, and my wife and I sat back to take it all in.

Within the first few minutes, in my head, I had an idea. A thought. A 'guess' at where Shyamalan was taking us.

It happened to be right on the money, and I spent the rest of the movie saying to myself, 'Well...duh.'

It's superbly told and shot, with great performances all around, including the justly lauded Howard. And it's not Shyamalan's fault that I happened to guess the plot of the film. After all, he "got" me multiple times before, and I'm sure he will again. I merely got lucky, to the detriment of my film-going experience.

My wife, a more demanding critic, really enjoyed this film.

I'm a city boy; she grew up in upstate NY. She knows "the woods", and thought this film got that "spookiness" of the unknown out there beyond the treeline down cold. She mentioned she was surprised at how much she liked this movie...and she HATED "Unbreakable."

So there you go. At the very least, it is well worth spending an hour or two in the presence of such a great filmmaker as M. Night Shyamalan, even if it isn't his finest hour.

Rating:
Summary: Wow.
Review: I think that this is absolutely one of the best films I have ever seen by M. Night Shyamalan. The story ran smoothly along and the twist ending tied together everything that had happened. I absolutely LOVE this movie. I went to see it four times when it was in theaters and now that I own it...yeah. I think that if you are looking for a good Horror genre movie, with twists and a good story, this is the movie for you.

Rating:
Summary: A worst M . Night Shyamalan Movie.... Fool Me? I dont think
Review: If you wanna Get a really scare.. whit horror... suspense and stuff.... DONT BUY THIS MOVIE!!!!... Just rent.. I hahve a big disaponment whit Shyamalan....
Its SO!! Slow. muchs muchs WORds... Much romantic momente..and stuff..... 1 or 2 time... suspene scenes... but the others..

and The final.. SO STUPID!!!!!!!!!!! .... for all movie you believe in this people... they made believe live in 1700 or 1800 or in the middle of these years... and ITs PRESENT today!!!!!!!!!..

I HATE THIS MOVIEE


Rating:
Summary: LOOKS GOOD...
Review: im excited about this movie it looks more scarier than signs and should have its surprises coming from M. Night!

Rating:
Summary: Great Suspense. The Village Delivers
Review: M. Night Shyamalan's got a knack for strange circumstances, haunting filming, and twist of plot and in The Village he uses these teqniques to rescue a relatively simple story from mediocrity. The village, hidden from the world in the middle of a forest, could be many things at first glance, a religious commune or new settlement but of course all isnt as it seems. The Village is a very fun movie to watch and the twists of plot, though given away early and pretty easy to figure out make the movie interesting throughout. Yes the move is not scary, it is not supposed to be Shyamalan understands how to set up a film that seems to lead an audience one way as it really directs them in another way. If you watch this move looking for a scare... well Shyamalan's tricked you.

While this movie is a great watch it would have been better if the characters were built up a little more. The whole aim of the first 20 minutes of the film are devoted to setting up the larger premise (good color bad color etc) and should have used that time better to develop the characters. Possibly this was intentional in order to build suspense but I doubt it after seeing the directors other work. Anonther detriment to the characterisation was the 19th grammar and language used in the script. While it is understandable from watching the film why its overuse might seem phony, this false hood does something to seperate the viewers sympathy from the characters.

If you like M. Night Shyamalan you will like this movie and if you are a fan of suspense this movie will certainly please. For the rest of us this movie does provide entertainment value and is shot beautifully. Shyamalan has a great knack for giving his films a feel and he does this well... the feeling is unease. Each scene has some element of unease in it. I recommend this movie highly as one of the better thriller films of 2004 and the DVD version offers a few good extras including a "making of" that is worth watching.


-- Ted Murena


Rating:
Summary: Shyamalan Leaves his Audience Behind
Review: Ninnies looking for another fright flick can re-rent "Jeepers Creepers" or try "The Grudge". Those seeking more subtle inspirations will find it here. Shyamalan's previous "Signs" surely raised goose bumps, but also interwove remarkable spiritual insights into a gripping, understated, plot.

"The Village" continues the minimalist exploration, but throws the pantry doors wide open with a thematically dense script and dazzling array of performances. The monsters of this film are not "those of whom we do not speak" who live in the woods, but the very real monsters lurking deep within our hearts and at large in human society.

The shear humanity of Shyamalan's achievement cannot be ignored. William Hurt comes out of hibernation and gives his best performance in a decade. The resolute courage and love shown by Joachin Phoenix in "Signs" is again reprised here.

Most of all, Bryce Howard steals the show with an amazing display of childlike vulnerability and inspiring determination. Knowing that her sacrifice is utterly unnecessary - based as it is on a giant hoax - makes us love this innocent blind beauty all the more.

The set-up for all of the above requires a little patience and attention to detail. Such minor efforts will be richly rewarded by the time the credits roll.

Rating:
Summary: It's not what you think, thank goodness
Review: No, the ending is not surprising (not too surprising). No, it isn't scary (at least it won't make you jump very often).

But that's not the kind of film this is. It's not supposed to be. And thank God for it. What this is is an excellent film that struggles with an important question: How much liberty should be traded for security? Benjamin Franklin once said "Those who would exchange liberty for temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security." The Village forces its characters and its audience to decide if Franklin was right. his film is perfect for our times. It is thought-provoking and extremely well-crafted. If you wanted Sixth Sense Part 4, you'll be disappointed. If you want great filmmaking that makes you think, I highly recommed this film.

Rating:
Summary: The village
Review: ONE WORD THAT CAN DESCRIBE THIS MOVIE; CRAP, PURE CRAP .I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MOVIE THIS BAD IN MY WHOLE LIFE. IF YOU SEE THIS DVD FOR SALE THE ONLY ENJOYMENT YOU'LL GET OUT OF IT WILL BE A:USE IT AS A COSTER OR B:BURN IT! IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE CRAPIEST MOIVE OF ALL TIME THIS IS THE ONE!

Rating:
Summary: Dont Listen To Dummies
Review: The movie isnt out yet, there was no screenings yet, just pathetic losers wanting to give a movie that doesnt appeal to them a low score