The Village...

I also liked it. Very Very different from how the previews make it look. Great acting.....especially for a movie debut of Ron Howard's daughter...can't think of her name right now.

when I read the thread title it reminded me of the Village People and I started humming YMCA...

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it was really good, so different from what i expected.

Remember Dogville with Nicole Kidman? That's the first in a trilogy, and since Nicole bowed out of the second and third installments, Bryce Dallas Howard is taking her place.

I am going to try not to ruin it and give you my opinion:

If you are expecting to scream, and that's all, don't see it.

I really could have waited for a DVD for that movie- ugh, was I disappointed.

Ooh I want to see this. I love surprise endings.

I understand the disappointment. This film cannot be remotely catagorized as a horror movie. The trailer, the print ads, the use of "warning" rhetoric in an elaborate ritualistic lingo, everything about it suggests a cross between Shirley Jackson's THE LOTTERY and a BLAIR WITCH prequel (to be fair,in one brief sequence, it does have a few moments of homage to the blair witch technique, no?) But I liked it, and didn't mind where it ultimately lands. Without spoiling it, to me the movie is a powerful parable, with some complex bigger themes: using fear to control, and what is the price of creating a utopia. I guessed both of the "twists," though to be fair, they aren't twists, but explanations of a very intricate backstory. And M. Night plays fair throughout--things that look like red herrings, from the first moment, are very tied to the revelations. I don't think the horror crowd -- or even the suspense genre folk -- will embrace it, and kids, in particular, will be mighty pissed off. It is miles away from SIGNS and 6th SENSE in tone and in imagery. Ironically, those who will appreciate its TWILIGHT ZONE parable aspects might stay away. Too bad; there's a lot to chew on.

I saw MANCHURIAN today, and think it and THE VILLAGE are interesting companion pieces about these difficult times. MANCHURIAN is of course a far wilder ride. Good weekend--both movies are "popcorn" type, but adult, and intelligent. I'll take 'em over ham sandwich stuff like DAY AFTER TOMORROW, which barely made sense and existed only for CGI post-production opps. These are real stories, and for grown-ups.

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Updated On: 7/31/04 at 06:47 PM

my friends want to see it soon, and i'm kinda skeptical about going. i get scared VERY easily. what do you guys think i should do?

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Okay kids. I just saw this one. I think I'm going to have to go again, though. I was expecting a suspense/thriller and that's just NOT what this movie was. It was a drama. I wish I had known this going in because for the first hour I found myself kind of bored watching it, waiting for the suspense to kick in. After that hour, I figured out what kind of movie Night was trying to make and I could enjoy it a little more.

The acting was a little over the top for the most part and a big part of that was due to the screenplay and the delivery of the lines. There was one glorious exception and that was Bryce Dallas Howard who was sublime and has a great future in film. Weaver and Hurt did great jobs as well, but were unfortunately very underused.

As for the twist? I didn't see it coming which is always a good thing and it definately had me thinking for a while afterwards. But again, I'm going to go and see it again sometime now that I know what kind of movie it actually is.

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The Village is a must see film. The message is a universal one that too many people in today's society overlook. Unfortunately, the marketing ploy is making people rush to the theatre expecting something completely the opposite of what the film turns out to be - a morality tale of true depth and beauty. I cried three times during the movie and was so moved by the performances and some of the dialogue. It IS an atmospheric piece, sometimes eerie and frightening, but, more importantly, it is a movie about love, living a positive and uplifting life, and being inherently good - or trying to be. It is a film about what every human being on this earth should strive for in his/her lifetime...to live a life of peace, happiness, and to be kind to each other. I belive it is a groundbreaking piece of film-making, and deserves to be seen, re-seen and digested properly, and then honored for it's value as a story of human beauty.

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I'm going to see the new Bourne later today, Dame. I loved the first Bourne film.

First, how the hell would you figure that twist out? Nothing at all hinted at it. NOTHING. Secondly, Adrian Brody was annoying. That character was done much better by DiCaprio in GILBERT GRAPE.

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