Smell the Movies
Smell the TV
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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| Year: | 2006 |
| Country of origin: | USA |
| Director: | M. Night Shyamalan |
| Genre: | Contemporary fairytale |
| Starring: | Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Cindy Cheung, M. Night Shyamalan |
| Rating: | 3/5 |
| IMDB link: | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452637/ |
| Tagline: | Time is running out for a happy ending. |
| Favourite line: | "He's hearing the voice of God through a crossword puzzle!" |
Shyamalan's attempt at a modern day fairytale is a confusing affair.
Weaving a vague plot involving a race of water-borne creatures who split off from humanity aeons ago, only to attempt to intermittently bridge the gap between the two races and bring mankind forward into a realm of light and wonder, this is a hotch-potch of good ideas and wild imagination, somewhat hampered by a director clearly disappearing up his own backside, and some highly misplaced 'humour'.
The affected and always awkward comedy comes in the form of wacky and zany characters - always likely to set me running for the hills - as well as the occasional dubious pratfall or knowing 'I'm in a movie, don't you know' character monologue.
It's a shame, as it really undermines what is quite an ambitious piece.
Shyamalan's trademark creepiness is present and correct on occasion, as is the usual smattering of everyday objects and phenomenon being drawn upon to weave a story of the fantastic but, this time, it's all a little too blatant, all a little too sign-posted.
Character wise, we have a veritable smorgasbord of racial stereotypes, from the gossiping, tacky Jewish wife, to the irritable and overly loud Asian sorts, to the wise and peaceful Indian man.
Cliché is piled upon cliché.
Additionally, Shyamalan has the audacity to cast himself as a future saviour of mankind through his writings! I mean, come on.
Absolutely lambasted by the critics upon release, this isn't as bad as you may have heard, but it's no Unbreakable either.
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