Mr. Manoj Shyamalan wants to surprise us. He wants to tell us fairy tales. He wants us to believe -- like he does. Thanks to his upbringing in a catholic school. He is a talented storyteller and a talented filmmaker. If he wants to continue rising, he will never make a film like Signs again.
'Signs' is the story of an ex-priest who finds strange crop patterns in his cornfields. Initially he believes that it is the work of ruffians but when it is shown on TV that several countries have reported such crop patterns -- impossible for humans to construct -- he is forced to choose his faith. It is the story that is audacious enough to yet again divide the world into two types of people -- those who believe in God and those who don't or those who think everything happens for a reason and those who don't or those who think that there is a larger divine purpose than is visible and those who don't. Unfortunately, the weak story does not provide any type of debate. It shamefacedly wants you to be what the director thinks you should.
Mr. Shyamalan is of course the celebrated director of the new age classic 6th Sense and the dark follow-up Unbreakable. Mr. Shyamalan's problem is that though he wants to be Hitchock, he is not afraid to pull stunts perfected by Sam Raimi's older B movies. His sensibilities are overly excitable. He wants to cover all his grounds, explain all his moves and almost showcase his commonplace beliefs.
In the process, he makes 'Signs', a good movie event that is good while it lasts but does not last long when the lights switch on. Full of obvious flaws and stale shots, the film still manages to keep you occupied -- mostly because it is making big promises along the way. It does payoff but in a very different currency than you would expect.
'Signs' is a clear signal that brash young directors find it hard to resist the temptation of a summer blockbuster.
'Signs' is the story of an ex-priest who finds strange crop patterns in his cornfields. Initially he believes that it is the work of ruffians but when it is shown on TV that several countries have reported such crop patterns -- impossible for humans to construct -- he is forced to choose his faith. It is the story that is audacious enough to yet again divide the world into two types of people -- those who believe in God and those who don't or those who think everything happens for a reason and those who don't or those who think that there is a larger divine purpose than is visible and those who don't. Unfortunately, the weak story does not provide any type of debate. It shamefacedly wants you to be what the director thinks you should.
Mr. Shyamalan is of course the celebrated director of the new age classic 6th Sense and the dark follow-up Unbreakable. Mr. Shyamalan's problem is that though he wants to be Hitchock, he is not afraid to pull stunts perfected by Sam Raimi's older B movies. His sensibilities are overly excitable. He wants to cover all his grounds, explain all his moves and almost showcase his commonplace beliefs.
In the process, he makes 'Signs', a good movie event that is good while it lasts but does not last long when the lights switch on. Full of obvious flaws and stale shots, the film still manages to keep you occupied -- mostly because it is making big promises along the way. It does payoff but in a very different currency than you would expect.
'Signs' is a clear signal that brash young directors find it hard to resist the temptation of a summer blockbuster.