Onemorefrog:
Where did I "sing the praises" of Don't Look Now? I was only making a comparison. I guess you didn't read my review very carefully. I never said whether or not Don't Look Now is a good movie, in my opinion.
Did you see the part about nearly everyone in the screening theatre laughing out loud? There was a also a pro screening last night, and I heard from some of my colleagues that the laughter was, again, uproarious. You may also notice that as of right now (1-ish, opening day) most of the critics are giving it a ROTTEN on Rotten Tomatoes. Even several of the ones marked FRESH still say negative things about the movie.
Nope, I didn't like Signs. A lot of people liked Signs. I don't condemn them for that. I don't think they have bad taste because they liked Signs... unlike the way some narrow-minded Signs fans think of those who didn't.
What a homogenized, dull world it would be if everyone thought the same. In case you didn't know, an opinion is neither right or wrong. I am entitled to mine, and if several TV stations, magazines and websites want to pay me for my professional opinion, then it is apparently worthy. Roger Ebert, one of the best-known, most-respected film reviewers of our time, gave The Village a totally scathing review in the Chicago Sun-Times. I was even a little taken aback (although I do completely agree with him). You can read it online today. By the way, Roger Ebert compares Don't Look Now to M. Night Shyamalan's films...
http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/greatm...ntlooknow.html
At any rate, I hope you're not completely hateful: I hope that you also posted nice letters of support to the reviewers who gave it a good review.
Did you read the article in Entertainment Weekly? (With Phoenix on the cover) It may give you some insight to Shyamalan's marketing / hoodwinking techniques. I guess he's got you fooled -- you're already defending a movie you have never even seen.
I hope you do enjoy the film. I don't want anyone to have a bad a time at the movies.
= = =
This is for everyone else: Thought you might like to see a funny letter I got about my review of The Village, and my response to it --
> Since you are a horror fan, maybe you should stick to reviewing horror
> movies (one of the weakest genres around). Shyamalan makes suspenseful
> dramas, which require someone with an IQ of over 100 to appreciate.
> Horror fans don't qualify.
I loved The Sixth Sense. Does that make my IQ sub-par, also? You can't have it both ways.
According to a recent interview with The Calgary Sun, Shyamalan said that:
Growing up, he was "an avid fan of horror and science-fiction. My friends and I rented every title in the horror section of our video store. I saw all the great horror films but I also saw loads of dreadful ones. All of them had an impact on me."
In case you hadn't noticed, Disney/Touchstone is advertising The Village as a scary movie, not a suspenseful drama.
Best,
Staci Layne Wilson
= = =
I've been following the message boards for film fans, the professional horror writers assn., and screenwriters' MBs. Most of the comments about The Village are much less kind than mine. One respected, long-time, well-established reviewer who works for a newspaper and on the radio said: "Get a big iron skillet. Smash it against your head. Rub your scalp with iodine. It'll be a better time than THE VILLAGE." (This was his remark on a message board; not an official review.)
Opening weekend on The Village may be great. After all, this year alone The Butterfly Effect opened at #1. You Got Served opened at #1. Barbershop 2 opened at #1. Fifty First Dates opened at #1. Scooby Doo 2 opened at #1. Any of those destined to be a classic? I don't think so. Only time will tell if The Village is a classic. Get back to me in about five or ten years.
That is all I have to say on the subject. I'm on to my next movie review.
Staci