Director:  M. Night Shyamalan		Released:  August 2002
Writer:  M. Night Shyamalan		MPAA Rating:  PG-13
Players:  Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix		Running time:  106 minutes

I think I prefer the Night of old, the one who was subtle, who dropped hints about his story and allowed a sense of discovery at the end.  The Night that directed Signs is not subtle in any way, at one point he comes right out and tells us one of the film's plot points.  Not just figuratively, but literally, M. Night Shyamalan tells us.  He's cast himself in a part that reveals this bit of information to the audience, so that it is actually him, the director, speaking the words to us.  It's kind of weird and very distracting.  It's time for him to not put himself into every one of his films.  I understand he is kind of carrying on in the Hitchcock tradition, but he's gone too far when he places himself into a role that is significant to the story.

I really wanted to like this movie, and I did, but it didn't live up to my expectations.  Was I expecting too much?  I don't think so, I think this movie is only good, not great.  I loved the trailer.  And I love the soundtrack.  And I love Night's prior films, but this one is just sub-standard work for him.

One of the more confounding aspects of Signs is the role that Joaquin Phoenix plays.  If his character was removed from the film, it would still be the same.  The other confounding factor is the mixture of styles, none of which really work.  At times I thought it was supposed to be a comedy, but it wasn't making me laugh.  At other times I thought it was supposed to be a suspenseful thriller, but there was little tension created.

It's too bad, really.  There are some concepts here that really deserve to be explored at a deeper level.  What would an actual alien invasion be like?  What role would faith play in it?  For that matter, What role does faith play in our everyday lives?  Oh wait, they already made that movie.  Contact.  I think I'll go watch that again now.

- crocoPuffs

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