Rating: 
Summary: This Film is OK
Review: This film is just OK. I am a bit surprised that it was the number one film for a few weeks in the summer of 2002, grossing over 60 million on opening weekend. It just wasn't all THAT spectacular. While the scenes are very well scripted in and of themselves, and while there is a heightened degree of suspense throughout, the film as a whole falls flat because the acting is not believable, and the quasi 'spiritual message' that it labors so hard to deliver is trite and unconvincing... But therein lies the answer to the mystery of this film's box office success: The general public rushes to anything the media puts out that has some promise of hope for them and thier loved ones. This is entirely natural- as we all would like to believe that life has some higher goodness and that we are all somehow spiritually connected. The problem is, that without substantial realism in trying to get this point across, it comes off as being very wishy-washy and even whimsical. This has led many artists, writers and filmakers down the blurry path of mediocre, blase art. We have seen this 'new-ageism' flop with the Celestine Prophecy's juvenile delivery, and we see it flop here with an unconvincing story and unrealistic characterizations.
Rating: 
Summary: A Turkey That Will Make Time Stand Still.
Review: When I watched this film, I thought it would never end.
It raised the same sense of dissatisfaction that I felt watching the Sixth Sense and unbreakable.
Well whatta-ya-know, this turkey is the product of M. Night Shyamalan, same as in The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable.
I say save your money.
Rating: 
Summary: underrated
Review: M. Night Shyamalan's biggest handicap is "The Sixth Sense". The film that made his reputation is all but impossible to live up to in terms of a killer twist ending and sheer spookiness. "Signs" is not another "Sixth Sense" (lose the expectations, people) but it is a superbly crafted film by the Alfred Hitchcock of the 21st century. The pace is on the slow side, the acting magnificent, and Shyamalan has the rare gift of effectively blending humor and horror. He's breathed creepy new life into the hokey old crop circles thing.
The only thing which slightly marred my enjoyment was the director's super-sized cameo. He's fine as an actor, and it's not an issue if you don't know it's Shyamalan. If you do, it's a little hard to believe him as the character he's playing. Hopefully in future films he'll take a cue from Hitchcock and keep the the cameos to a spot-him-if-you-can minimum.
Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling and utterly outstanding piece of film!
Review: "Signs" is the next thriller, offered by director/writer/producer, M. Night Shyamalan, who also made "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable".PLOT SUMMARY: "Signs" takes place in the rural farm area of Pennsylvania, where a retired Preacher lives with his two children and younger brother. Mel Gibson stars as Father Graham Hess, who has lost all Faith in God ever since his wife died in a terrible car accident. One day, Graham thinks his children, Morgan and Bo (Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin) are missing in the corn fields. He and his brother, Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), go out searching for them and discover the legendary Crop Circles in the field. At first, Graham and Merrill insist that it's nothing but teenagers playing jokes, but things start getting creepy when they watch TV and find out that Crop Circles are being found all across the Globe, according to the mysterious news that keeps on being repeated on every single radio station and television channel. When the family dogs start acting up, they are put outside and not much later, one of them dies. Other strange occurences that happen on the farm are that they keep on getting strange signals from Morgan's walkie talkie and someone--or something--has been tresspassing onto their land every night. Morgan keeps on insisting that it's "extra terrestrials" trying to make contact with Earth, but Graham won't believe it. However, when nothing else in Graham's theories seem to work, it all adds up to the fact that maybe--just MAYBE--Morgan might be right. MY OVERALL THOUGHTS: M. Night Shyamalan has taken the elements of religion, science, fiction, and even a little bit of horror, twisted them together, and turned them (along with top-notch acting performances, great special effects, and a superb storyline), into a spectacular and spooky film. Mel Gibson gives one of his best performances to-date, as the retired minster who's lack of self-belief in religion really nearly drives him to insanity with the Crop Circles. Joaquin Phoenix also gives a superb performance as Graham's younger brother who came to live with the family after Graham's wife died. Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin are amazing as the kids who believe what's really causing the Crop Circles to form are aliens trying to give Earth signals, as there are only a limited number of them and they are basically the same. The supporting cast does well, too...and M. Night Shyalaman even makes an appearence in the supporting cast, as he usually does in his films. The special effects are wonderful, and the storyline and plot are solid and strong--holds your interest to the very end. A real "thinker's film", and still manages to keep you entertained...and maybe even a little spooked. The DVD includes a nice package of extras including a six-part documentary on the making of the film, five deleted scenes, storyboards, and a featurette on Shyalaman's first alien film. The DVD is available in wide screen format. I highly recommend "Signs". Score:
100/100
A+
Rating:
Summary: Bait and Switch At It's Worst
Review: Huge--I repeat--HUGE disappointment. I am both a fan of Mel Gibson and a fan of anything that deals with unusual phenomena (e.g. crop circles). I thought that I would be enlightened, amazed and/or entertained. Instead, I just felt ripped off. The flick has a promising start and then degenerates into a sub-B film, 50s-style "ooh, those terrible alien monsters are gonna get us" farce of papermache aliens who--despite being able to fly through space/time and make crop cirles of incredible complexity can't seem to break through wooden doors and--GROAN--are vulnerable to water!! Oh, give me a huge break. Compound fracture, even! It's not even scary--more like pathetic. This could have been an inspiring film based upon an awesome phenomena. Instead we get a cheap, poorly executed farce about aliens who have nothing better to do than terrorize earthlings. Go watch "Contact"--anything but this.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Old school and in the style of Hitchcock, this movie rocks! Low-key special effects relying on drama, suspense, excellent edits, camera angles, and incidental music convey the perfect atmosphere. This movie proves you don't need heavy duty special effects to make a great film and tell a great story.
Rating:
Summary: DVD Blues
Review: I liked the movie very much, but was disappointed in the DVD. I didn't like the storyboard captions. It took away from watching the movie. I would have liked it if it was just the movie. Very disappointed in this version.
Rating:
Summary: One of the worst movies it has been my displeasure see
Review: I wish I could give an in depth review of Signs, but it would waste even more time than the 2 hours I spent watching it in the first place. In short, the movie is advertised as a thriller, in the beginning we are teased with an alien invasion worldwide, and then Shayamalan is nice enough to absolutely destroy any chances there were to make this movie great. The ending is anticlimactic. To be honest, they BLATANTLY LIE in the advertisements as to what the movies subject matter is. Remember the aliens and such in the preview? Well listen up, because this is VERY important........THERE ARE NO CLEAR SHOTS OF THEM, THEY ARE USED AS A BACKDROP TO A "TOUCHING" STORY OF A FAMILY COMING TOGETHER, AND BASICALLY PLAY A VERY LITTLE PART IN THE MOVIE. THE PREVIEW IS A LIE PLAIN AND SIMPLE, THIS MOVIE IS MORE LIKE A LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE EPISODE. Sorry about the caps, but I feel it is very important to make sure you don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Were There Any Aliens?
Review: Unusual crop designs, maps for an alien invasion or the hoax of a lifetime. A preacher who has lost his faith must now defend his family from the paranoia that is beginning to spread. And as the crop signs grow more numerous across the world, what does it all mean?
This movie really didn't connect at all. I must have lost the idea somewhere. The characters are emotionally charged and the acting is great but the storyline just doesn't hold up. The director introduces us to the main character a preacher who had lost his wife. The night she died he lost his faith in God. When the sightings of the UFO's appear the news says they are gathering around churches. Why? I asked myself the same question. I thought this movie might have had some religous message or signifigance, but if it did it didn't show itself.
The aliens make a very brief appearance yet the stroyline tells us they play a very big part in the movie. I am not a big action freak but when there is action going on in a movie I like to see it and not be shut in the dark.
If you are really looking for an alien invasion movie with a message watch Independance Day.
Rating:
Summary: Stop Signs
Review: I heard how suspenseful and scary this movie was, but all I saw was a dull B-movie with an A-list cast. That A-list cast seems in a coma for the entire movie, draining any emotion from the "been there, done that" story. It isn't suspenseful for one instant, in large part because every time something is going to happen, the scene shifts to some bizarre angle that doesn't show anything. Did they spend the entire budget to land Mel Gibson or something? This is a terrible movie and a complete waste of time. Like "The Sixth Sense" I don't see what the attraction was to this movie. All I do know is that neither lived up to the hype.
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