The Happening

moyer777 · June 14, 2008, 07:22:53 PM

If there was a Gorn in it, I'd go watch it.

Omra · June 14, 2008, 07:57:13 PM

Maybe his next movie will be 'Gorn with the Wind'! :D

Jobydrone · June 15, 2008, 06:28:16 AM

Quote from: Omra on June 14, 2008, 05:32:57 PM
The only reason I am even contemplating seeing it is because Zoey is in it. If Wahlburg was not in it, and they had cast an actual actor instead, I would have more enthusiasm for it.

LOL! I know what you mean, but his music career notwithstanding, I think Marky Mark's performances in the Departed (oscar nominated) and Boogie Nights (a great movie, one of my faves) do edge him over to the realm of "real acting". I heard he's pretty bad in this though.

moyer777 · June 15, 2008, 07:54:35 AM

What you didn't like ol' Markie as a Rockstar?

Steel Dragon... hehehe. :metallica:

wraith1701 · June 15, 2008, 08:45:04 AM

Quote from: wraith1701 on May 14, 2008, 05:01:13 PM
It almost looks like the movie will be about The Rapture.

For those who saw this; was I right?

Jobydrone · June 20, 2008, 07:01:43 AM

I guess noone saw it yet, but from what I have heard it has nothing to do with the rapture.

Rico · June 20, 2008, 07:31:45 AM

Markinro saw it. Maybe he will chime in on the movie, etc.

sheldor · June 20, 2008, 08:01:30 AM

Quote from: markinro on June 14, 2008, 05:05:43 PM
Just saw the movie - even after reading all the reviews. Its an intense movie. I wouldn't call it a horror movie but there was some gruesome deaths - the reason for the R rating. Some scenes I couldn't watch and of course there were scenes that come out of nowhere (like the scene in 6th Sense when he see's the hangings in the building). It wasn't a great movie but I thought it was accurate in the sense of the reactions of ordinary people to these kind of circumstances. I felt like I was watching an episode of the Twilight Zone - of course they have a little twist in the end but this time it was pretty predictable. I hope we some more from M. Night S. but he should get back to the writing/timing he had with 6th Sense.

addendum. I think people are holding MNS to the standard of 6th Sense and Unbreakable. Granted, the acting was flat but like I said - if you or I were in this situation, our reaction would be similar. I wouldn't see it again or rent the DVD and I wouldn't even think of letting a kid see it. Unlike fakeish horror movies, the scenes had an intentional sense of realism. The realism reminded me of the first Jaws movie - which I still have not seen.

Jobydrone · June 20, 2008, 08:39:44 AM

Quote from: markinro on June 20, 2008, 08:01:30 AM

addendum. I think people are holding MNS to the standard of 6th Sense and Unbreakable. Granted, the acting was flat but like I said - if you or I were in this situation, our reaction would be similar. I wouldn't see it again or rent the DVD and I wouldn't even think of letting a kid see it. Unlike fakeish horror movies, the scenes had an intentional sense of realism. The realism reminded me of the first Jaws movie - which I still have not seen.

Those are some pretty high standards. I would LOVE to see a follow up to Unbreakable, but I think I and maybe others in this community that loved that movie are pretty much in the minority. I think most people would say nothing MNS has done since 6th sense has even come close to the impact of that movie.

X · June 20, 2008, 08:43:46 AM

Scientific American just did a huge interview with MNS about the movie and the scientific themes. It's very interesting and on their latest podcast.

sheldor · June 20, 2008, 08:46:32 AM

6th Sense was such an original idea. I still think the original Star Wars was the best of the six. Same with "Junior" Jones. :D The one series I recall where the sequel was better then the first - Aliens. OMG - that was a great movie !

Omra · June 20, 2008, 03:38:32 PM

The Happening was abysmal-

What doomed this movie from the get go was "The Lady in the Water". It did so poorly that MNS lost his clout, and had to compromise a lot in order to get the funding for this movie. And he constantly ran into creative and budget problems with the co-producers. The movie was rushed and it really shows, most of the movie looks as if it was shot by second unit teams and added into the final cut. Only 30 minutes of the film has the look and feel of a MNS film.

Casting was the second thing that sank the movie, and this may also have had to do with the co-producers, but I am not sure. If you are going to try and market a fantastical premise to your audience and have it in a realistic setting you need strong actors to sell it. Bruce, Samuel, Mel and Joaquin all did good jobs at selling some pretty flimsy story ideas to their audiences.

Such as Aliens that are strong and fast and can jump up onto 3 story buildings with ease,but cannot seem to open doors. And are poisoned by water? And yet they are invading a planet practically covered by it!?! Anyways... :offtopic

The Village had a very weak script with a large cast of characters of which most were never developed, but the excellent ensamble cast made up for it by developing their own personal backstories. And Sigorney and William really made their characters come alive and gave them great intensity.

Matt and Zoey and John are not veteran actors, if anything they are young pups in the field. And so when faced with a weak script, and no character backstory to work with they floundered. It was agonizing for me to watch somebody I enjoyed in 'Tin Man' just wander from scene to scene with no idea what to do. And I have watched John chew up the scenery in other films, but here he was clueless as to what he should do. Marky Mark as a science teacher? What genius came up with that idea?

The one single person who could act stood out like a magnesium flare. She was awesome! she stole the whole movie away from those two the entire time she was on.

But the final suprise for me was................ The lack of a suprise. Where was the usual MNS twist? There was none.

I fear that this may have been his last film. The stingy and restrictive producers may very well have set this poor man up for failure.