The Village...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 3:17am

go see it.

I would recommend seeing this soon to avoid having the "twist" blurted out by some idiot. I don't think it would be worth sitting through the somewhat unrealistic dialogue if you already know the "secret". Superb acting, though. For anyone worried about it being scary - it's not scary... just erie. It was nice to see Michael Pitt up there with Sigourney Weaver and Adrien Brody. B-/C+ Updated On: 7/31/04 at 03:17 AM

[jakebloke]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 10:10am

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.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 12:43pm

I may be seeing it tonight or tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait.

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 12:55pm

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

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 1:34pm

HAHAHA!!

[ontheT]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 1:37pm

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

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 1:45pm

Superb acting.

Terrible Screenplay.

Bryce Dallas Howard was fantastic.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 1:50pm

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.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 4:10pm

OMG!! This movie was such a piece of crap!! I want my money back NOW!!! Worst I've seen this year. The "twist ending"?? So desperate...so lame. SKIP IT!

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 5:02pm

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.

[robyn525600]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 5:03pm

I really liked it too. And it ends being very different form what the trailers make it out to be. Go see it! B+

Posted: 7/31/04 at 5:58pm

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

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 6:02pm

Well, if you have any intelligence, the ending won't be much of a surprise.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 6:47pm

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.

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

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 6:51pm

The movie is very eye-opening in terms of the use of fear to control. Quite poignant considering the times we are living in. But I feel that M. Night could have made it a much more sinister piece and done a better job with an interesting premise.

But through the day, I have been thinking about the movie a lot. It is one which, I think, you gain more respect for as you have time to think about it's deeper layers.

M. Night is one helluva director, but I'd like to see what he could do directing with a screenplay that is not his own.

Updated On: 7/31/04 at 06:51 PM

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 6:55pm

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?

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 6:57pm

See it. It is not a scary piece. It is suspenseful at a few moments, but it is not frightening.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 8:31pm

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.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 9:27pm

Saw it this evening. Like others, I was surprised by what the movie was about. The trailers and tv spots were very misleading. Like many, I went in expecting another Signs-type thriller and was a bit disappointed. It WAS more like a drama. No thrills here, kids. I much rather would have seen a movie about what the movie was thought to be about rather than what it was about. Phew, run on.

I went in expecting and wanting a monster movie. I didn't get that. Nor will anyone else. As my niece and I were walking out of the theatre, we heard a lot of "that was stupid,""that was terrible,""what the heck's?!" Stupid? No. Terrible...not too bad. What the heck? Hell yeah.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:08pm

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.

[DAME]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:14pm

This film was a bore. I was very dissapointed. And I did see it coming. Spend your money on the far superior Bourne or Manchurian Candidate.

[junglered]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 1:54pm

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

Posted: 8/1/04 at 2:09pm

I figured out the twist within the first hour and I really wanted to see a scarry film so I wasn't very happy with it but Adrien Brody was amazing in it! It was just an ok film I would rate it a C+

[Matt_G]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 2:14pm

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.

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 2:16pm

I didn't see it yet. I was suppose to lasr night with my friend but I kinda chickened out. I hate scary movies, but now I might go.