I Saw the Signs no comments

I sort of avoided Signs when it came out. M. Night Shyamalan had caused a stir with Sixth Sense, then a backlash with Unbreakable (then later indifference with The Village) so even though I enjoyed Unbreakable I was put off by the reviews of Signs.

So one tired evening it appears on t.v. and I thought what the hell . . .

. . . and enjoyed it for a surprising reason: I think it was the very ordinariness of Merrill, played by Joaquin Phoenix.

I think he had the same sort of intensity as when he played Commodus in Gladiator, but applied to this ordinary guy, helping to look after his brother (Gibson) and family made him even more compelling.

Otherwise I liked the is-it-isn't-it-an invasion ride, but do you remember the Superbowl episode of The Simpsons? A Superbowl episode with Dolly Parton that featured no sport and no singing?

I suppose I felt slightly cheated by an alien invasion movie with no spaceships or aliens, but the human story held the twee ending together.

And didn't the scene in the cellar remind you of George Pal's War of the Worlds? (You know, the low-budget 50's one with poor special effects. Destined to be remembered as a million times better than the remake. They'll be violating Day the Earth Stood Still next . . .) Homage, no doubt.

I was also disappointed that the thing on the roof didn't turn out to be the Mothman, but I'm probably a bit confused about that!