Review rated by 12 Ciao members on average: helpful
Oh, a film about crop circles. This could be a great film, crop circles, UFO landing sites or signs to the sky?
That has such a good basis for a film. Then why was i so disappointed by this?
Well lets look at the film. Directed by m. night shyamalan, the director of ‘Praying with Anger’, ’Wide Awake’, ‘The Sixth Sense’ and Unbreakable.
Set in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, it’s about Graham Hess, a reverend who lost his faith when his wife was killed in an road accident (flashbacks during the film recreate their last meeting), lives with his two children, Morgan and Bo, and his brother Merrill.
The film opens with the discovery of a crop circle appearing in the field next to their house, which seem to be many miles from anythng else drawing attection that they are alone, after first think it was fake they see that on the television that they are appearing all around the world. So when the invisible spaceships arrive casting lights in the night sky they realise that they are the sign of an invading army. so while they wait for this invasion Morgan, Bo and Merrill sit there with foil hats to stop them reading their minds, Morgan read about it. So apart from a brief home video recording and a hand under that pantry door we see nothing of the aliens till the invasion where they are locked in the basement. A quick scare when the lights go out and another then an hand appears from the coal shoot leading onto a asthma attack from Morgan which Graham try to get under control while cursing god. then as morning appears there is a all clear from that radio, only once they are out of the basement do they realise they still has an unwanted visitor. An indistinct and gangly alien has seized Morgan with its poisoned gas attack at the ready. A flurry of activity that follow caused the alien to use it’s gas and then try to defend itself from the onslaught of a Merrill with a baseball bat and once the aliens intolerance to water was discovered this were quickly ended. Leaving the poor Morgan having been attacked by poisoned gas where Graham is desperate for the asthma attack that had contracted Morgan’s lungs meant that no gas could take affect. So it closed with Graham, no longer faithless as perhaps Morgan survived by more that just good fortune.
Main Cast: Graham Hess - Mel Gibson Merrill Hess - Joaquin Phoenix Morgan Hess - Rory Culkin Bo Hess - Abigail Breslin Colleen Hess - Patrica Kalember Officer Caroline Paski – Cherry Jones
So what didn’t I like: I remember the first comment made to me about this film, ‘there is always a child with asthma’ perhaps a slight over exaggeration but I can’t help but think of Elliot from ET. The children in this seemed to lack any emotion, even once invasion started they still seemed not to be bothered. Slow at points and gives the end a slightly rushed feel. The defeat of the aliens has a distinct ‘War of the Worlds’ feel, a quite clearly advanced race defeated but something simple, in War of the Worlds it was the common cold, here it was water.
I am aware that this is a film about self-discovery and self-realisation, and I have nothing against such films but I feel it could have been done better, otherwise you are restricting your audience.
All in all I was not impressed with this film but that’s just me. I would guess the bast way to really know it to watch it and judge for yourselves.
ens inSignsafter tackling ghosts (The Sixth Sense) and superheroes (Unbreakable). With Mel Gibson replacing Bruce Willis as the traditional Shyamalan hero--a family man tr...
ens inSignsafter tackling ghosts (The Sixth Sense) and superheroes (Unbreakable). With Mel Gibson replacing Bruce Willis as the traditional Shyamalan hero--a family man tr...
![Signs [DTS] [DVD] [2002]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/76771759.jpg)
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by (67%):
01.10.2003 17:36
I wasn't impressed either - the alien looked like a skinny person dressed in a green suit! The children were plain scary though! x
01.10.2003 16:07
Oh! I don't think this is for me then, thanks Heather:)
01.10.2003 15:49
I thought this film was great, but it did lack some action. The tenseness of the film was the best in a long time.