Mark Kermode reviews The Happening - BBC 5 Live

[PHILIBOYLONDON]

Literally the worst film I have ever seen.

[tomstardis]

i've just finished watching this on film 4 and I honestly think its the biggest piece of crap that I've seen (not as bad as transformers 3 but close). it was the wind blows people kill themselves and then it stops. the end. i think that mark was being kind about it. There were some interesting bits but it was let down by the fact the main plot point was... trees and plants are bad mmmkay!

[bobbydylanio]

@tomstardis I agree, he went soft on this movie. The end was just staggering... the acting was generally dire and the plot was laughable. You know a film is doing something wrong when the best bit is intended to be funny, in what is apparently meant to be a serious, thought provoking story. (the funny scene is where he talks to the fake plant by the way... and it isn't that funny anyway)

[andymc24]

i don't get the wind thing

[wonderbhoy1967]

Quite simply one of the worst movies ever made. Kermode could've been so much harsher on this. So bad it becomes laughable. And Zooey whatshername is just awful in every film I have seen her in.

[Mantiso]

"people explain the plot to each other and to themselves"

this sooo much. this is a serious no-no in writing and this movie is full of it.

[sumbl3b0b]

Zooey is pronounces ''zoe'' but spelt differently, her parents named her after a book by J.D Salinger

[BIGFELLA123]

Haha good point regarding the wind, never thought of that

[sulijoo]

Anyone looking forward to seeing MNS's 'The Last Airbender'? LOL I doubt anyone will be able to walk to the box office and say "Ticket for The Last Airbender, please' without laughing.

[trooperJac]

I was moderately entertained by this movie - probably because everyone told me it sucked.

I found it very tongue in cheek and knowing. Plus Zooey D is very cute.

[mmatycoonDOTcom]

This is a terrible film, full stop. It's just a lack of basic content.

[iamtheblackcrowking]

have to disagree with kermode on mark wahlberg!

[DanielMumby]

[cont. - last part]

In a way, the summer blockbuster is the studio's way of propping up their finances by getting out all the mediocre, 'kickback' stuff, so that they then have enough money to make the arty, thought-provoking films which usually start arriving in the autumn (just in time for the Oscar and Bafta nominations).

Maybe none of that's true, you don't have to agree with it, but that's one explanation for why Transformers is so financially successful.

Long-winded point over.

[Treblaine]

Utter shit... I never want to go to the movies again after this film.

I find more entertainment and intellectual stimulation from just half an hour on the internet and at least then I don't have to sit in a dark room, miles away from where I live with noisy smelly people.

No one can deny we are now in the dark ages of cinema.

[DanielMumby]

There are bad films in whatever period you live in. Ppeople talk about a golden age of Hollywood but such people are being rose-rinted and only remembering the good stuff. The bad films of that period are either lost or forgotten, and with the exception of things like Plan 9 from Outer Space no one wants to remember them because it doesn't fit with their view of the past.

There are many great films out there, it takes is discernment and patience to find them. And if you can't - go and make them

[Treblaine]

I guess so. Gran Turino was great and several others.

It just seems so bad as the big name block-busters seem to be so bad yet so many idiots are gobbling up this shit.

It may not be the death of the golden age of cinema... but it is certainly the death of the GOOD summer blockbuster. The fact that in a recession they sell so well with this lowest common denominator crap sends such a strong signal to the studios they will try it over and over again.

[DanielMumby]

The blockbusters issue is a tricky one to call. It's very easy to say that people are stupid and will pay to see anything, which gives the studios an excuse to make shit. But that's a bit arrogant and not entirely accurate when you talk to people.

I think there's two things going on. One is that there are people out there who don't read film reviews, or listen to Dr. Kermode etc., and just want a film which will keep them occupied for a couple of hours.

[continues]

[DanielMumby]

[cont.]

And if it's trash, like Transformers, something which has little in the way of so-called 'intellectual ambition', they can relax and just enjoy it, even if it's only to laugh at it.

The other thing that's going on is what Kermode says about films becoming events. That is, people see films as something to do with your friends on a night out more than a quiet thing to do on your own. And since Transformers is a 12A many people can take their friends and see it as part of a night out...

[Treblaine]

It's not the lack of "intellectual stimulation". I LIKE dumb movies, this film just fails in the "dumb stuff" I mean robots fighting each other should be fun, but the way Michael Bay shoots his films it's not fun, it's confusing and pointless.

The worst criticisms I have heard of this film don't come from ranting Guardian readers but the hardcore audience who just go "Well, I know I *should* like it". The resounding "meh" as they collectively hand over $0.25 billion dollars is a travesty.

[Realitypod]

Mark Kermode is a legend!!!

[Guitarsthatkill]

Olly, I think you have unwittingly come across in the same way that Kermode criticised MNS for.

Its not that people are dumber than you and cant see the positive attributes, but its that they being unbiased and objective can see the whole picture, which sadly in addition to the cool bits, includes a whole bunch of BAD attributes too.

NMS is clearly his own biggest, smuggest fan and unfortunately it shows in his work.

Kermode was spot on with this movie, IMO.

[wolvoleke]

Dats right

[Porrohman]

can any of you kermodians tell me if he ever reviewed rob zombies halloween remake?can`t find it anywhere.

[zeightygeisty]

wtf he says he doesn't like RDJ, but he likes Mark Walberg... Is every one forgetting Marky Mark and the funky bunch, but The Doctor still is awesome.

[TheEvilelvis89]

@zeightygeisty

he does like robert downey jr but he apparently doesn't like the way he mumbles in movies sometimes. go figure....

[mdimitrova1]

He thinks Mark Whalberg is a very good actor??

Oooh Mark Kemode has just lost a big chunk of his credibility making such a claim.

[dorknight25]

The Departed and Boogie Nights.....he is a good actor, given the right material. Bad films that he has appeared in were bad films with or without his involvement. My two pence x

[riazomonero]

To be honest, if you make a movie that Mark Kermode praises, you will have made one hell of a movie.

[Synchronization259]

He considers The Exorcist as the best film of all time by the way.

[riazomonero]

Really?

[DanielMumby]

Yep, followed by Silent Running, Local Hero, It's A Wonderful Life and Brazil

[dubzy81]

UK's best critic easily. he does not get conned by these mainstream turds like the pirates of the carribean and lord of the rings etc, he uses logic and good taste!

[gt6808]

He loved Lord of the Rings. And quite rightly.

[JD1010101110]

i liked unbreakable, it was ok

[wolvoleke]

M knight Shyamalan is not as clever as he thinks he is and sixth sense is ok it showed promise but it's been downhill ever since

[ollymcguirk]

grrr i dont agree and its m NIGHT btw i think i am the only m night real fan alive, i love what he is trying to do and what themes he has and what positive ideas he usus, but not a lot of people see it it annoys me :)

[wolvoleke]

his idea's are suited for 40-45 min slots not films. we do get them there not that deep

[ollymcguirk]

do you not think he executes em really beautifully though? like lady in the water the village etc.

[wolvoleke]

if they were episodes of say the outer limits or the twilightzone like I said 40-45 min slots they would be better for it

[gothicgeezer333]

i totally agree that those films were executed perfectly but the happenings ending could've been so much better

[EchetusXe]

"Whos making the wind blow?" He is saying that so as to point out a flaw in the films plot right? He isn't referring to divive intervention is he? I think I agree with him but he is not harsh enough.

[dowling1981]

echet - Have you seen Benjamin Hur?

[EchetusXe]

No, whats the link?

[dowling1981]

There are similarities, ken? Do you enjoy Mark Kermode's antics?

[EchetusXe]

Ken? Yeh, hes great.

[dowling1981]

Which is your favourite of yon Kermode antics?

[EchetusXe]

I dunno, his reviews are good and accurate, he knows what hes talking about. His rants are classic of course.

[dowling1981]

Would you respect him less if he ranted more?

[EchetusXe]

Probably, I think The Happening deserved a rant though.

[dowling1981]

What are your opinions on the Lord Of the Rings films? I watched the return of the king for the first time the other day (finally lol)

[EchetusXe]

Well thats going back a bit lol. But I was very impressed with them yeh.

[dowling1981]

Did you like Arwen's mental antics?

[Allllthings]

mark whalberg a great actor! im sorry mark you've completely lost it.even donnies better.

[alanlovedog]

when i discovered that the woman's 'affair'was actually her sharing a dessert with someone i just couldn't believe it - do americans really look that badly on sharing food with colleagues @!?!

[jonnyhboy94]

Mark Wahlbergs acting in this was terrible. For example (Maybe to bad writing) he just says "No" very flatly when something horrendous has just "happened" it was an inappropriatly not-explained "movie"

[starcraft108]

it is hideously bad, i was crying with laughter at it.

[SaundersKira]

I saw it yesterday, I almost cried it was that bad

[dubzy81]

kermode is mostly always right about films, especially the hollywood pieces of shit which 99% really stink

[starcraft108]

can the man pronounce anything?

[TheConciseStatement]

Please don't tell me he's poor Bryce Dallas Howard into this as well. She was too sweet to tell the programme how artistically bankrupt The Lady in the Water was. Sorry love, you're not THAT good an actor.

And if not, which maiden is in the clutches of the megalomaniacal director this time? And how is she going to rationalise his Sermon on the Mount?

[starcraft108]

peter bradshaw forever...although we have to see who is right on this film

[starcraft108]

ok forget bradshaw

[dogspawn]

Once you accept M Night Shyamalan is the second coming, literally, his films make sense... I think that dude really thinks of himself as some kind of living deity. "The Sixth Sense" was luck.