Everyone loves to hate at least one M. Night Shyamalan movie and, at least before Lady in the Water and The Happening, The Village topped most folks’ list. I don’t understand that. In spite of all the rancor against it, I found The Village both entertaining and engrossing. Shyamalan continues to improve as a director learning the art of putting story first and himself last (well, at least, second . . . now I wish he’d give up casting himself as an actor in all his films).
The Village is beautifully shot, has an amazing soundtrack by James Newton Howard, and has spot on costume design (in fact, I can’t get the vibrantly used colors of red and yellow out of my mind’s eye). I’d be remiss in not mentioning Bryce Howard‘s compelling performance as Ivy Walker as another high point in this film.
I also enjoyed the story even if this is the one area that seems to trip people up in the end . . . and I literally mean in the “end.” I need more than two hands to count the number of viewers who have loved the movie until its final minutes. Some have called the ending lame, corny, or another Shyamalan gimmick . . . I found it interesting and it made me think a bit more about the nature of humanity. The film could have ended in a thousand different ways, like any story, but this particular ending didn’t jar me like it did for some (how would they have wanted it to end, I wonder?).
There is so much positive in this film, it’s hardly worth mentioning the somewhat unbelievable plot point at the end where a character finds a certain important something under a floorboard. Would they really hide that something in that room? I think not. Still, this minor point of doubt isn’t enough to ruin an otherwise well-crafted film.
If you haven’t seen The Village lately or you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend it as another fine film in the Shyamalan series.
I come at it from the opposite point of view I dislike a lot of M. Night Shymalan’s work but I actually like the village. I had an idea how it was going to end but wasn’t sure so it wasn’t a great surprise. I think the ending works really well and the film is better for it not worse. The other of his films I enjoyed was Unbreakable, that really did have a good twist.
The one I love to hate is The Sixth Sense. It is a rubbish film that trades on its twist ending. I saw the twist coming so couldn’t gain any enjoyment from it. Even if you don’t see the twist coming the film has the same problem on repeat viewings when you know what will happen.
Thanks for your comment. I totally understand disliking most of Shyamalan’s films. While I think they tend towards being gimmicky, he does tell (generally) a pretty good story. I have to give him credit to the extent that there is no one else out there right now doing his type of film. He has carved out a niche, of sorts; although, one wonders how long he can keep it up.
As to the Sixth Sense, I think you’re probably right. It isn’t his best work, but it’s his first so people remember it for that reason. I don’t think people watch it more than two times anyway, so repeat viewings probably isn’t so much an issue . . . which, of course, is an issue for the distributor that wants to continue making money from it in perpetuity.
Thanks for your comments. I love hearing what others are thinking, so I value your taking the time to write.
Um, I agree with everything you just said.
That doesn’t happen very often hahaha.
I’m not much of a love-to-hate when it comes of Shyamalan’s movies, although ‘The Last Airbender’ was written very poorly. Some of the one-liners in “The Village” can come across as corny, but I think that the brilliant acting pulls it off – especially Bryce Dallas Howard, she was just spectacular!
The music, of course, was absolutely brilliant. Great review, you touched on pretty much everything :]
Thanks so much for commenting on my review! The more I consider The Village, the more I like it. I used to think that Signs was my favorite Shyamalan film, but now I think the Village is neck-and-neck with that one. As you said, the acting is outstanding and, of course, the use of color is just brilliant (bad pun, I know, but nonetheless true). I didn’t want to ruin my appreciation for this as well as his earlier films, so I stopped watching Shyamalan pictures at “The Village.” I’m afraid it may not get any better than this (it appears things are going a bit down hill for him), but if this is his “best”, I’ll take it.
Thanks again for stopping by!