Signs (DVD, 2003)

I really liked this film. It’s a bit slow in the beginning but if you stick with it, the reward is the rest of the movie. The director and author of "Signs", M. Night Shayamalan (who also directed "The Sixth Sense" ) is a great storyteller and has a gift for letting us know as little as possible about what is going on until he must let us in on what’s going on in the films he makes, this one included all the while the suspense builds. He latches on to the archetypal fears we have and uses them adeptly.
He gives us a glimpse, but its not until the climax of the movie that we see with both eyes open and understand what he is telling us.
It stars Mel Gibson as the main character, “a man of faith” who has lost his faith, Joaquin Phoenix as his steadfast brother and Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin as Mel Gibsons' characters children, and M. Night Shayamalan as the towns’ Vet. It is a gripping and uniquely tightly packed story with more than what is seen but also a tale of relationships and the human psyche.

I love everything about the movie. I am a fan of Mel Gibson & Joaquin Phoenix. I still haven't seen Joaquin in We Own The Night, which I'd like to own since it also stars my absolute favorite actor, Mark Wahlberg along with Robert Duvall & Eva Mendes. I also like the movie because I believe it features the debut of Abigail Breslin, who is becoming a big star lateley with movies like Definitely, Maybe and Nim's Island, which I'd like to see both films sometime.

I think it's interesting for a young director (37) to make such a great alien movie years after movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Close Encounters of a Third Kind, and War Of The Worlds (1953). He did a excellent job making Signs, which allows the movie to be viewed as one of the great alien movies of all time.

I bought this movie because I'd like to own all of M. Night Shyamalan's films. So far, I own The Sixth Sense, Signs and The Village. I can't wait to own Unbreakable, which I have yet to see. I haven't found out if his first two movies, Praying With Anger & Wide Awake, are on DVD yet but I'd like to buy them sometime if they're available. His next two big movies are sure to be excellent, Avatar: The Last Airbender (first of a trilogy) and The Happening (with Mark Wahlberg).

IT'S HAPPENING."A SUSPENSE-FILLED TWILIGHT ZONE THRILLER. THRILLING. FRIGHTENING. HEARTBREAKING.FUNNY AND DEEPLY MOVING. THIS IS THE STORY OF THE HESS FAMILY IN BUCK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, WHO WAKE UP ONE MORNING TO FIND A 500 FOOT- CROP CIRCLE IN THEIR BACKYARD. GRAHAM HESS (MEL GIBSON) AND HIS FAMILY ARE TOLD EXTRATERRESTRIALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIGN IN THEIR FIELD. THEY WATCH, WITH GROWING DREAD, THE NEWS OF THE CROP CIRCLES BEING FOUND ALL OVER THE WORLD.
SIGNS IS THE EMOTIONAL STORY OF ONE FAMILY ON ONE FARM AS THEY ENCOUNTER THE TERRIFYING LAST MOMENTS OF LIFE AS THE WORLD IS BEING INVADED.

Let me first say that I've watched this movie numerous times and am still caught up in the story and underlying complexities within it. Yes it is a story about aliens, but not like an action flick or horror. This movie is more of a suspensful drama....and every now and then you'll get a laugh. While the focus is on aliens, there are so many other things going on that will get you thinking - especially the more you watch it. Not only does this film get you to question the existence and nature of other world beings, but things such as faith, coincidences, etc. Although I am not a fan of Mel Gibson by any means, he and the rest of the cast execute their roles flawlessly. While other films such as The Village and Lady in the Water have given many people the impression that Shyamalan is a terrible storyteller, this movie is actually quite brilliant on many levels. I'd say that if you enjoyed the way The Ring (or even Saw)flowed and appeared, then you'll definitely enjoy Signs. As I said, it's more suspense and waiting for something to make you jump out of your seat or the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end...violence is practically non-existant and it's a spooky tale that even adults will be chilled by.

I am a huge Shyamalan fan: I loved "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable." I can now add "Signs" to the list, and not just because it's one of his films. It's because it portrays its story and characters in a way that won't let me forget them. This particular film has all of the essential elements: humor, adventure, suspense and most of all, soul. The family element (as in all three of the above mentioned films) is so strong it made me want to hug my kids and get on my knees and talk to God. It rekindled my faith in God, family, mankind and in good films. Awesome.