The Village

I'll just say first off that this is a difficult movie to review--at least without giving away integral parts of the storyline. That said, here's a list of the pros and cons.

Pros:

The acting was very good, particularly on the part of newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard, who plays a blind woman. Suspense piled up effectively throughout the first 70% of the movie. I enjoyed the atmospheric look of the cinematography. Shyamalan always does a great job with this, creating a mood and an eerie feel to the setting. In addition, I enjoyed the soundtrack, though it was not quite as good as that of Signs. Laslty, regardless of your hate or love for this film, it was, indeed, thought-provoking.

Cons:

As I said, the suspense built steadily through most of the movie, but the pay-off toward the end did not live up to the earlier portions. Worse, the end was actually anticlimactic. And the way people spoke--as if they'd just stepped out of The Scarlet Letter--is never explained properly. Once you see it, you'll realize what I mean. Though M. Night Shyamalan has made three previous excellent films (excellent, that is, in my opinion), this one does not rise to the level of his earlier efforts. And yet it is a tribute to what a fine filmmaker he is, for it is still worth your time.

TWO-AND-A-HALF STARS