Signs

Signs

Running Time: 106 minutes

Summary: After the death of his wife in a freak accident, Reverend Graham Hess questions his faith and even leaves the church. Six months later, he discovers a gigantic crop circle in his yard. Similar events happen all over the world. Graham's children think it's aliens, his brother thinks it's pranksters, and Graham doesn't know what to think. However, as more and more strange events occur, he realizes something big is coming, and it's probably not going to be friendly.

Review: I remember when this first movie came out. I loved the Sixth Sense and even Unbreakable was alright. I was so excited to see the next film by this clearly brilliant director. I saw this in the theatre and was convinced that it was genius. I was obviously just buying into my own hype.

After watching this movie last night, I remember what I initially thought of this movie and am a little disappointed in myself.

Don't get me wrong, this movie definitely has it's good points. Joaquin Phoenix is really good. Little Abagail Breslin is adorable and more importantly believeable. Even the little Culkin kid does a pretty good job. Mel Gibson's performance was pretty weak, but I am having a hard time lately seperating him from his current public "I cheat on my wife with a Russian ballerina/whore and immediately getting her pregnant" image.

The movie has some great scenes though. Scenes like where Merryl and Graham chase the intruders, Graham in the corn, hiding in the basement, any thing with Abagail. Those are great scenes. M. Night Shyamalan has defintiely mastered the art of subtle creepy (which is my absolute favorite), but he should just focus on that instead of trying to make more of what is, in fact, JUST a movie. In the final scene when the source of all the drama is revealed. It's too much! It was so much scarier before you saw it!! Less is more, Shyamalan!!

In summary, this movie is weak. It's still one of my favorite movies to fall asleep to and has several scenes that are almost Hitchcock-esque in how they make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, but it's not enough to hold up the entire movie. It's a story that had a lot of potential if it wasn't directed by a self indulgent director who insists on having a cameo in each one of his movies.

5.5 nests out of 10