The Diet Coke of Evil
The Happening
09:37, Sat 21 Jun 2008
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So, I was going to go see Get Smart tonight, but I woulda had to wait an hour and a half, so I opted to see The Happening instead.
It was okay. Mark Walbergh doesn't play a school teacher very well... not that he plays much of anything very well. The exposition was clumsy... Mark Walbergh, as a schoolteacher, is interested in all kinds of things, and as a result has a wealth of knowledge that later turns out to be useful, which is fine, except that he injects that knowledge into conversations without much provocation, and it usually seems a bit disjointed. I didn't really feel like he had much chemistry with Zooey Deschanel, and the moments that should have had a fair amount of gravitas or emotional impact just kind of fell flat. The biggest problem that I have with this movie is that it's a great idea poorly executed. As a matter of fact, Alfred Hitchcock had roughly the same idea when he made "The Birds" and he did it much much better. It's no secret that Hitchcock is a strong influence on M Night Shyamalan, and I think this movie could have been a decent homage, except that it just seemed like he got lazy and relied a great deal on shock value, which seems beneath him, and utterly failed to live up to the mystery of The Birds, or even his own earlier movies by positing all kinds of "reasons" why the "Happening" may have occured. Sometimes, not knowing is scarier.
After "The Village" and "The Lady In The Water" I was really hoping to like this movie, because I think Shyamalan occupies a unique niche in the film-making world, specifically as a writer, tackling subjects that seem more likely to be found in a bit of short fiction, rather than a big budget feature length film.
A few positive points. John Leguizamo, beginning to show his age is very believable as a high school math teacher and turns in a very good performance, no pun intended. The characters in this film don't suffer from the chronic whisper-inducing illness that plagues the characters in his other films. Some of the camera work , as usual, is great, with some very striking and moody shots. And at times the dialogue is genuinely funny. Cough syrup comes to mind.
Over all, i didn't leave the theater feeling i'd been cheated, but I didn't leave wholly satisfied either. If you've already seen Kung Fu Panda and possibly Get Smart (which I haven't seen yet) I'd say it's worth a matinee viewing, otherwise, wait for the video.
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11:15, Sat 21 Jun 2008 .. Posted by SassyPantsI think the only thing that bothered me was the dialogue between Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel. They talked to each other like a bunch of 15 year olds. Get Smart was pretty funny though. I recommend that.
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11:41, Sat 21 Jun 2008 .. Posted by alittlemore movie reviews!
I want to read something more interesting. :O
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12:02, Sun 22 Jun 2008 .. Posted by bebbetThe trailer for this greatly sparked my interest, but the critics have been pretty unanimous that it's an utter pile of shit. I think I'll give it a miss at the cinema.
Wanted is probably going to be the next thing I see. Hulk sometime soon, too.
Get Smart is also high on the list, along with Hancock...
Argh! Too many films out this summer! :/
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12:05, Sun 22 Jun 2008 .. Posted by WelshPixieWe're planning on possibly going to see it, only for comidy value, 'cause it looks god awful from the trailer. Most of that awfulness is Mark Walberg pulling faces though.
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12:07, Sun 22 Jun 2008 .. Posted by bebbetThe Departed showed Mark Walberg can actually turn in a good performance when he puts the effort. I think he's just really bad at picking project.
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08:48, Sun 22 Jun 2008 .. Posted by thedietcokeofevilSorry, Kelley. Actually writing about my life is fucking depressing. When things are better I'll look back and write all about it. I promise.
I'm determined not to see Wanted, because I read the comic book, and it was cool, and the movie looks like it's taken the form of it, and completely stripped out the fundamental premise, which was that supervillains had finally gotten together and defeated all the superheroes, and were now running the world, pretty much doing whatever the hell they wanted.
Read the graphic novel if you haven't. It's graphic. And novel.
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11:51, Sun 22 Jun 2008 .. Posted by bebbetI'm quite forgiving of adaptations. I am disappointed if they make unnecessary changes, and it's unforgivable when they miss the point of the story, but as long it's a good film, I can still enjoy it.
Of couse, as forgiving as I am, it only goes so far. The Golden Compass made me queasy. Not only a pathetic adaptation, but a truly rubbish film.
I do intend on reading Wanted at some point, but it'll probably be while. I've got a lot of reading to catch up with...
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