I just happened to see The Happening by Manoj Night Shyamalan. I’m still yet to see his Wide Anger or Praying with Anger, movies that he made much before his sensational success
with Sixth Sense. Now its time to give my verdict on those that I’ve seen in the manner I like them, not based on their technical merit or whatever way our professional film critics prefer it :)
- Lady in the Water (2006)
There’s something about the movie which makes me want to see it again & again. My God, the way
people worldwide had trashed this one! I feel movie like this is way ahead of it’s time. For those who’ve read spiritual books like Celestine Prophecy or Tenth Insight, some of the scenes in the movie will surely impress you - about the idea of people being in this world for a purpose or ’celestine vision’ I can say and how they come together, join hands and fulfill that vision. Even if one can’t relate to such stuff, it still makes for a nice entertainer for children too, like a beautiful fairytale. James Howard’s music is marvellous. And ofcourse, the lead characters Bryce Dallas Howard and Paul Giamatti were splendid.
- The Signs (2002)
Varying in its spookiness from beginning to end, The Signs is in the top of most people’s
’Favorite Manoj Shyamalan movies’. Again, what I like about his movies is that you keep thinking aout them long after they are over - about the sense of the plot or some of the scenes or the message he is trying to convey to the audience or the entertainment factor etc. And in Signs, we undergo a pleasant paradigm shift in our opinion of an alien when the movie reaches it climax. Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix was also very good.
- The Village (2004)
Another very interesting movie. And also, Bryce Howard does a cool job here too. Its about how
one blind woman breaks the mental barriers of the people in her village and overcomes her own
personal fears for the man she loves. And Manoj’s surprise appearance in the end was class.
- The Last Airbender (2010)
I saw this movie a few months ago. A good story and lovely special effects. You can read more about my review on this at https://imdb.com/title/tt0938283/usercomments-594.
- The Happening (2008)
Now this is horror. Scarier than Sixth Sense. And violent too. Not for kids. Actor Mark Wahlberg
was endearing. Although the plot may not make sense to many and you have hundreds of posts online still discussing as to the what really the story is all about, I still enjoyed the movie because
simply speaking, it entertains! Like all his movies do. A warning though - grab the edges of your seat or yourself tightly as there are some moments in the movie which could take you by surprise and make you literally jump in fright, like a guy beside me did....
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
Surprising as this may seem, I didnt enjoy Sixth Sense as much as I enjoyed the above ones. Bruce Willis and especially the child Haley Joel Osment did a wonderful job. Ofcourse the climax was stunning. I kinda felt that some of the scenes unnecessarily dragged.
- Unbreakable (2000)
Bruce Willis and Samuel Jackson were very intense throughout the movie and believe me, I liked
the concept of this movie too. But this should be, I say, a movie very dull in its looks
(cinematography). Perhaps that could be the reason why I have put this movie in the end of my
favorite Night films.
That’s it....this is my opinion only and I dont rave about the technicalities of any movie. I go to the cinema for entertainment and perhaps, with luck, be inspired too. And you? :)