I didn't like The Happening as much as his other films. To me, it seemed to suffer from poor casting. It was the first movie of his where I didn't relate to any of the characters; I wasn't moved by them. Perhaps the greatest appeal of Shyamalan's films is that they're emotionally very rich experiences; like The Village, Unbreakable or Lady in the Water, moving from comedy to tragedy to moments that get under the skin. Unfortunately I didn't get that from The Happening.
I am not a film critic,but I am educated in film. this man is not a genius or an intellectual,his films are not entertaining or intelligent.he is great at convincing people that they are intelligent.they are mostly dreary. he is great at mood and pulling good performances out of the actors(mostly) but he cannot write to save his life! get someone else to write for him and he could be onto something but I don't think his ego would allow that.
No one looks at the subtext in his movies. Like in The Happening--an event from nature causes people to brutally kill themselves, right? Well in regards to how we've treated the environment, what are we doing as a civilization BUT killing ourselves?
M. Night's genius is in mixing popular entertainment with more thougth provoking themes. Much like Spielberg, although I hate comparing the two.
I've just watched The Happening for the 4 time last night, and im starting to love it more and more, its the same with LitW and The Village, Thanks for the positve comment and looking forward to hear from u again on this subject. Gr Marcel from The Netherlands.
Allright! i'd first thought u were another 'lowlife' shyamalan basher, but thank god i was wrong, well as a another huge i can tell u that Night will focus the next 5 years on the animé trilogy The Last Airbender. Still he has more then enough movie ideas/script and he will produce those! but will not direct them unfortunatly, tho! im still convinced that these '3' upcoming movies will rock our socks off!
Oh yes, I forgot to say, in the special features of the DVD he said he wrote a children's book telling the story, and he found an artist to his liking. I imagine that book would not be fair use.
My favorite is probably "Unbreakable," but I loved "Lady in the Water" as well. I ;oved "Signs" as well. My wife liked "The Village" more than I did, but I think this guy is great! I thought he was a great actor in "Signs" and liked his work in :Lady" as well. Gonna see "The Happening" tomorrow.
Well remember Lady in the Water was the production of a fairy tale he told to his kids and it was really something he did for them and other kids. I loved it actually, i watch movies to be entertained. Lady in the water was entertaining to me.
I've heard and read so many bad reviews of The Happening that I had decided not to bother seeing it. I've loved all of his other films except for Lady in the Water.
After hearing your review, perhaps I'll reconsider The Happening.
No this is just a good movie to go watch, enjoy, get it to it. It's a "thinking" movie which may be a slight departure from his usual movies but it's very good.
I'm afraid we don't see eye to eye on this one Tim. I just got home from seeing this unintentional comedy. This movie is soooo damned bad. It's Battlefield Earth bad, IMHO. I laughed so hard at the unintentionally funny scenes that I thought I was going to pee myself! LOL seriously, my face is sore from laughing so much and I wasn't the only one. The whole theater was laughing. What a bad, bad movie.
It's not that the concept is a bad one; it was just so poorly written, filmed directed and especially acted. Mark Wahlberg is usually such a good actor, but here he is just downright funny. Zooey Deschanel was just pathetically bad. I'm not sure what's happened to M. Night, but he has certainly lost flair for good film making.
Well I remember M. Night saying that they were shooting a "B" movie and he wanted it to be the best "B" movie ever. I don't know, maybe I'm not a good movie critic. I just like to be entertained. :) Hope you didn't go on my recommendation and NO I'm not sending you a refund. :)
I know others who like it too Tim, so it has some entertainment value for people. I think it's unintentionally funny. In fact, I wndered at times if it were meant to be a comedy. LOL
I didn't like The Happening as much as his other films. To me, it seemed to suffer from poor casting. It was the first movie of his where I didn't relate to any of the characters; I wasn't moved by them. Perhaps the greatest appeal of Shyamalan's films is that they're emotionally very rich experiences; like The Village, Unbreakable or Lady in the Water, moving from comedy to tragedy to moments that get under the skin. Unfortunately I didn't get that from The Happening.
astralweeks88 8 months ago
I am not a film critic,but I am educated in film. this man is not a genius or an intellectual,his films are not entertaining or intelligent.he is great at convincing people that they are intelligent.they are mostly dreary. he is great at mood and pulling good performances out of the actors(mostly) but he cannot write to save his life! get someone else to write for him and he could be onto something but I don't think his ego would allow that.
psychobabble1000 1 year ago
As a fan myself,I have to ask:who cares about the cameos?They have nothing to do with the quality of the movie,nor how good filmmaker he is.
YT0Vits 1 year ago
You know he didn't make a appearance in Wide awake either.
ichigoxmarura15 2 years ago
M. Night Shyamalan was in the happening. He was the voice on the cell phone when Alma picked it up.
Flaw55 2 years ago
This guys voice is cool. It's like Ben Stein with a lower voice.
Jonashottie7 3 years ago
No one looks at the subtext in his movies. Like in The Happening--an event from nature causes people to brutally kill themselves, right? Well in regards to how we've treated the environment, what are we doing as a civilization BUT killing ourselves?
M. Night's genius is in mixing popular entertainment with more thougth provoking themes. Much like Spielberg, although I hate comparing the two.
TTillman3 3 years ago
@TTillman3 oh my god,what an intriguing premise! sorry but a sixth grader could have come up with that one.
psychobabble1000 1 year ago
look the happening was bad but this guy does make top movies and he makes you think regardless if you like them or not
dajeffect 3 years ago
I think this movie was horrible!! The acting was so bad it seemed like a comedy.
TSXboy26 3 years ago
I've just watched The Happening for the 4 time last night, and im starting to love it more and more, its the same with LitW and The Village, Thanks for the positve comment and looking forward to hear from u again on this subject. Gr Marcel from The Netherlands.
mcjansen 3 years ago
Allright! i'd first thought u were another 'lowlife' shyamalan basher, but thank god i was wrong, well as a another huge i can tell u that Night will focus the next 5 years on the animé trilogy The Last Airbender. Still he has more then enough movie ideas/script and he will produce those! but will not direct them unfortunatly, tho! im still convinced that these '3' upcoming movies will rock our socks off!
mcjansen 3 years ago
you have a nice voice.
lemmycaution12 3 years ago
I loved "Lady In The Water" too, even though a lot of people didn't seem to like it much. I might have to check out this new one.
JealousGuy 3 years ago
It's a thinking movie so there are some that will look for the twist and efficient wrap up but it's a thinking movie.
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
a cameo appearance is the least of the problems in The Happening... he was in fact 'joey' who says Hello on the phone.
Clearly his worst movie.
IMO
1. Sixth Sense
2. Unbreakable
3. Signs
5. The Village
10. The Happening
LewiTunes 3 years ago
I know, but that's not good enough for me. He's gotta be in there somewhere!
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
6th sense was good, Unbreakable was good, Signs was watchable, the rest sucked.
ScottishAtheist 3 years ago
Oh yes, I forgot to say, in the special features of the DVD he said he wrote a children's book telling the story, and he found an artist to his liking. I imagine that book would not be fair use.
genmama1955 3 years ago
i didnt like lady in the water, but thats in compaistion to his other movies. I wanna ssee this new one
vivaladil 3 years ago
My favorite is probably "Unbreakable," but I loved "Lady in the Water" as well. I ;oved "Signs" as well. My wife liked "The Village" more than I did, but I think this guy is great! I thought he was a great actor in "Signs" and liked his work in :Lady" as well. Gonna see "The Happening" tomorrow.
hrumphga 3 years ago
My absolute favorite was the sixth sense. That was a very good movie.
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
I'm going to watch Lady in the Water now. I did like the Village, and all his other movies.
genmama1955 3 years ago
Well remember Lady in the Water was the production of a fairy tale he told to his kids and it was really something he did for them and other kids. I loved it actually, i watch movies to be entertained. Lady in the water was entertaining to me.
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
I have not got to see Lady in the Water yet and I want to see The Happening.
daniephillips77 3 years ago
Well people forget that Lady in the Water was a fairy tale he created for his children from a story he used to tell them. I loved it.
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
I didn't like The Village as much as the rest. I do like his cameos, though. Fans love it, critics don't.
alnewberry 3 years ago
Yeah but not in person. That sucks!
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
i agree with you will see it mon.
wizart49 3 years ago
I've heard and read so many bad reviews of The Happening that I had decided not to bother seeing it. I've loved all of his other films except for Lady in the Water.
After hearing your review, perhaps I'll reconsider The Happening.
OddRustle 3 years ago
No this is just a good movie to go watch, enjoy, get it to it. It's a "thinking" movie which may be a slight departure from his usual movies but it's very good.
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
I'm afraid we don't see eye to eye on this one Tim. I just got home from seeing this unintentional comedy. This movie is soooo damned bad. It's Battlefield Earth bad, IMHO. I laughed so hard at the unintentionally funny scenes that I thought I was going to pee myself! LOL seriously, my face is sore from laughing so much and I wasn't the only one. The whole theater was laughing. What a bad, bad movie.
OddRustle 3 years ago
It's not that the concept is a bad one; it was just so poorly written, filmed directed and especially acted. Mark Wahlberg is usually such a good actor, but here he is just downright funny. Zooey Deschanel was just pathetically bad. I'm not sure what's happened to M. Night, but he has certainly lost flair for good film making.
OddRustle 3 years ago
Well I remember M. Night saying that they were shooting a "B" movie and he wanted it to be the best "B" movie ever. I don't know, maybe I'm not a good movie critic. I just like to be entertained. :) Hope you didn't go on my recommendation and NO I'm not sending you a refund. :)
UpDownMostly 3 years ago
I know others who like it too Tim, so it has some entertainment value for people. I think it's unintentionally funny. In fact, I wndered at times if it were meant to be a comedy. LOL
OddRustle 3 years ago