M KNIGHT's The Happening

J.R. Hudson said:
This debate comes up every time M makes a new film; complaints about Signs (which I thought was brialliantly told from the perspective of the isolated family). Whereas I like Signs best, others seem to fall into either the 6thS or Unbreakable camp.

The Village however, was panned; I liked it. Loved the cast, loved the story even if he screwed up the ending with exposition (yes, M, we get it without the explantion).

Lady in the Water I tried to enjoy, but didn't really get it. Wonderfully shot and acted, but the story didn't make sense to me.

Still, I think M is one of the few directors who really gets it, the langauge. He seems to really grasp visual storytelling.

I think he best move (if I was his agent) would be to direct someone elses property as well as giving the cameos a rest. Tarantino can get away with it purely on his films style and subject matter; I almost expect Quentin to pop up because he's peculiar and quirky and tends to fit into the storylines someway, but Night (Thanks Zak) detracts from the story when he shows up.

Anyways

There aren't too many gifted filmmakers working in HoWood right now, but I think M is one them.
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I agree with this post, and thus am quoting it.


You've pretty much nailed my thoughts as well on M. Night, he's a very talented filmmaker with a interesting style. I have a lot of hope for his newest film, we'll just have to see what happens.

Tarantino, while competent, will never win an Oscar for acting but he still pulls it off because he's just so quirky and interesting to
watch. Plus, he pretty much limits himself to a goofy minor character who's more of a side attraction without too much impact on the story arc.

M. Night can't act, and he needs to limit his cameos to pretty much being a face in a crowd. Giving himself larger and larger roles in his own films is just dumb and egotistical.
 
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I'll see it. My favs of his (in order) are Signs, Unbreakable, Sixth Sense, Village.

I thought the story in Lady in the Water was needlessly complex, but I agree with what was said earlier...regardless of the story, the WAY he tells it is awesome.
 
Jaime V said:
I'll see it. My favs of his (in order) are Signs, Unbreakable, Sixth Sense, Village.

I thought the story in Lady in the Water was needlessly complex, but I agree with what was said earlier...regardless of the story, the WAY he tells it is awesome.
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My favs are:

Signs, The 6th Sense, The Village, Unreakable and I guess Lady : /

Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
The Kill Bill series for starters... :)
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I knjew what ya meant; just bustin your chops. :evil::D
 
I gotta say that even though The Sign was butchered by the critics, I think it show classic directing skills.
 
Just watched the trailer, and it's cut like every other trailer of his films. Some ambiguous event that seems to defy all scientific logic, which ends up having a really simple solution. Can this guy do anything besides Macguffin movies?

I have no desire to see this, it's like Signs and War of the Worlds with a sprinkle of The Village thrown in. This stuff gets old, and if I want to see it done well I'll pop in some Hitchcock.

And Lady in the Water was unwatchable. I don't understand what the fascination is with M. Night and his poorly written films. Sixth Sense was good, and it had a logic to it. Signs was fine, except at the end you felt jerked around because it was setup as something else than it was. I'd like to see Night do a romantic comedy or something else. This material just seems worn out.
 
thank you Isaac. He's like an old pair of socks: torn, worn out and full of holes.
 
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I personally am looking forward to this.

I think Night is a genius of prodigy filmmaker and often gets lambasted for no other reason than still honing his craft.

He has made 8 films to date
  1. The Happening (2008)
  2. Lady in the Water (2006)
  3. The Village (2004)
    ... aka Grey (Philippines: English title: review title)
    ... aka M. Night Shyamalan's The Village (USA: promotional title)
  4. Signs (2002)
    ... aka M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (USA: promotional title)
  5. Unbreakable (2000)
  6. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  7. Wide Awake (1998)
  8. Praying with Anger (1992)
Lady in the Water $42,285,169
The Village $114,197
Signs $227,965,
Unbreakable $94,999,143
The Sixth Sense $293,506,292

Hitchcock got labeled as the master of suspense.

Spielberg got labeled for a long time fo his 'adolescent tendencies'

Scorsese is known for the Mobster films

De Palma is known for being the master of the macabre

Tarantino - Known for pop culture references

Bay - known for explosions (ha ha kind of kidding)

Allen - New york, new york, new york

Lynch - There'a a reason strange films are called Lynchonian

=========

My point is, certain directors are known for their own thing; Auteur Theory. Night does have a sort of theme going on, but so did Hitch, so does Wes Anderson ... etc

I think he's a cinematic genius who speaks the langauge masterfully. Could we see a different subject matter ? Yes.

But why? Who else is going to give us this ? His films have a deep visual style, engaging scores, great performances from th actors are more than simply entertaining.

Are they perfect ? No.

Does he need to be in every film ? No.

It's hard to live down the success of The 6th Sense as everyone is expecting even more geatness.

His films don't have a very similiar relation other than they fall into 'fantasy, horror, sci fi'

I don't know.

I like Night

THere's an extended clip available on YAhoo Movies

http://movies.yahoo.com/summer-movies/The-Happening/1809921595/trailers/125/887

Looks rad
 
J.R. Hudson said:
I personally am looking forward to this.

I think Night is a genius of prodigy filmmaker and often gets lambasted for no other reason than still honing his craft.

He has made 8 films to date
  1. The Happening (2008)
  2. Lady in the Water (2006)
  3. The Village (2004)
    ... aka Grey (Philippines: English title: review title)
    ... aka M. Night Shyamalan's The Village (USA: promotional title)
  4. Signs (2002)
    ... aka M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (USA: promotional title)
  5. Unbreakable (2000)
  6. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  7. Wide Awake (1998)
  8. Praying with Anger (1992)
Lady in the Water $42,285,169
The Village $114,197
Signs $227,965,
Unbreakable $94,999,143
The Sixth Sense $293,506,292

Hitchcock got labeled as the master of suspense.

Spielberg got labeled for a long time fo his 'adolescent tendencies'

Scorsese is known for the Mobster films

De Palma is known for being the master of the macabre

Tarantino - Known for pop culture references

Bay - known for explosions (ha ha kind of kidding)

Allen - New york, new york, new york

Lynch - There'a a reason strange films are called Lynchonian

=========

My point is, certain directors are known for their own thing; Auteur Theory. Night does have a sort of theme going on, but so did Hitch, so does Wes Anderson ... etc

I think he's a cinematic genius who speaks the langauge masterfully. Could we see a different subject matter ? Yes.

But why? Who else is going to give us this ? His films have a deep visual style, engaging scores, great performances from th actors are more than simply entertaining.

Are they perfect ? No.

Does he need to be in every film ? No.

It's hard to live down the success of The 6th Sense as everyone is expecting even more geatness.

His films don't have a very similiar relation other than they fall into 'fantasy, horror, sci fi'

I don't know.

I like Night

THere's an extended clip available on YAhoo Movies

http://movies.yahoo.com/summer-movies/The-Happening/1809921595/trailers/125/887

Looks rad
Click to expand...

I only like one of those 8 movies. And even that one, the Sixth Sense, feels more like a stunt on repeat viewing. I just don't think he's that good. He knows how to create a creepy suspenseful tone and intriguing premises, and that's about it.
 
It's always going to come down to our subjective feelings, but the last thing I want Night doing is a romantic comedy.

One of the things I often hear people complaning about with Signs and The Village (LADY was a disaster I admit) is the ending or hooks.

It's as if there was a perfect ending, then they would have been satisfied. But I have not heard anyone complain about those films as a whole. I'm always in search of the perfect kick ass film from beginning to the end, but those films are few and far between.

Creating a film that has a 'creepy suspenseful tone and intriguing premises' is n't an easy task.

My .02 for Night ?

Let another screenwriter write your ideas (ala Steven) and stay out of your films beyond Hitchcokian cameos.

-

This film is rated R and I'm stoked about that.
 
I am interested. Though the whole "bee" thing the teasers start off with are totally M Night. Since Lady was about stick monkeys, grass puppies and sea nymphs...does this have something to do with suicidal bees?

I'll be seeing it for sure. I am just interested in the story.
 
Great post J.R. and I agree with you. I'm stoked for The Happening as well and I just saw it has a "R" rating WOW!

J.R. Hudson said:
I personally am looking forward to this.

I think Night is a genius of prodigy filmmaker and often gets lambasted for no other reason than still honing his craft.

He has made 8 films to date
  1. The Happening (2008)
  2. Lady in the Water (2006)
  3. The Village (2004)
    ... aka Grey (Philippines: English title: review title)
    ... aka M. Night Shyamalan's The Village (USA: promotional title)
  4. Signs (2002)
    ... aka M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (USA: promotional title)
  5. Unbreakable (2000)
  6. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  7. Wide Awake (1998)
  8. Praying with Anger (1992)
Lady in the Water $42,285,169
The Village $114,197
Signs $227,965,
Unbreakable $94,999,143
The Sixth Sense $293,506,292

Hitchcock got labeled as the master of suspense.

Spielberg got labeled for a long time fo his 'adolescent tendencies'

Scorsese is known for the Mobster films

De Palma is known for being the master of the macabre

Tarantino - Known for pop culture references

Bay - known for explosions (ha ha kind of kidding)

Allen - New york, new york, new york

Lynch - There'a a reason strange films are called Lynchonian

=========

My point is, certain directors are known for their own thing; Auteur Theory. Night does have a sort of theme going on, but so did Hitch, so does Wes Anderson ... etc

I think he's a cinematic genius who speaks the langauge masterfully. Could we see a different subject matter ? Yes.

But why? Who else is going to give us this ? His films have a deep visual style, engaging scores, great performances from th actors are more than simply entertaining.

Are they perfect ? No.

Does he need to be in every film ? No.

It's hard to live down the success of The 6th Sense as everyone is expecting even more geatness.

His films don't have a very similiar relation other than they fall into 'fantasy, horror, sci fi'

I don't know.

I like Night

THere's an extended clip available on YAhoo Movies

http://movies.yahoo.com/summer-movies/The-Happening/1809921595/trailers/125/887

Looks rad
Click to expand...
 
anchoryanker said:
M. Night can't act, and he needs to limit his cameos to pretty much being a face in a crowd. Giving himself larger and larger roles in his own films is just dumb and egotistical.
Click to expand...

He will not be appearing as an actor in this one. Thank the lord. 6th, Sings, and Unbreakable were good fils. LITW was not great but I thought the concept was interesting. He is also tapped to direct "Avatar:The Last Airbender" The toon is Amazing, and I hope he does that right. Non-action directors doing Action movies are almost always a let down. And to me Avatar should be heavy on action and story, A combination Hollywood does not put out too often.
 
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