"The Happening" by M. Night Shayamalan...better than I expected.

[Rabblevox]

My bar is set pretty low for Shaymalan, not my favorite director by a long stretch. He gets visuals, but doesn't really know how to tell a story.

But this time, he tells a really scary story, with very few visuals or "spooky-shots".

Mark Wahlberg is surprisingly effective in the lead role. (and he is not my favorite actor by a long shot). John Leguizamo and Betty Buckley do pitch-perfect supporting roles. Zooey Deschanel (whom I adore and thought was brilliant in "OZ") was the one horrid mis-cast. Literally her worst role ever. She is just a weak, whiny, bitch from gate to gate.

But for a movie I expected to be a crap-tastic mess, it was surprisingly intelligent and effective.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happening_(2008_film)

[EC]

1. Pretty much agree with everything you said

except I like Wahlberg in most of the movies I've seen him in. The same with John Leguizamo, only every single thing I've seen him in was outstanding work on his part.


Hated "The Village" so much I almost wrote off this one too.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

2. Ugh... really? His 'science' is just SOOO lacking it makes his...

.. films laughable!

Even in 'Signs' where aliens are in cornfields but water acts like acid? Did the man ever hear the word 'dew'????
The movie was so 'preachy and exaggerated' when he finally gets to his wife on the side of the road.. I retort out
"Does this truck make my butt look big?"

And for The Happening......... I can buy the environment protecting itself... OVER CENTURIES of evolution....
but not a 'coordinated attack' on mankind overnight!

Run the WIND is blowing!

Ugh, the only the happening was another bad film.
(But yeah, I liked the actors.. and the cinematography was good.. and POOO Betty Buckley.. WHAT was she thinking!!???)