The Happening

Director - M. Night Shyamalan

Year - 2008

Country - U.S.

I have seen a few movies between my last post and this one but I actually have some time to write now. It is sad because this movie was amazingly bad. It was bad in disturbing ways. I couldn't sleep the night I saw it because I was thinking of ways to fix it. It could have been a great movie. There were many good ideas and little kernels of wit but they didn't work. Everyone I know who saw this movie was disappointed. We like Shyamalan's other work and couldn't believe he put this movie out. The acting was horrible even though I like many of the actors. I think it had more to do with the writing. There are one liners all over the place that don't belong. When everything is done, the viewer is left wondering what would possess someone to make this movie in this way. The science was counterintuitive and even if I were to suspend belief long enough to absorb some of the theories espoused, they were contradicted by other strange drop-ins. I have often admired some of Shyamalan's strange characters but this time he went overboard. It seemed that everyone in the movie was crazy before "the happening" even occurred. I don't want to give everything away for those still willing to find out for themselves but I could definitely make a list of things I would change.

Dark Days

Director - Marc Singer
Year - 2000
Country - U.S.



I love documentaries. This one is about the people who lived underground in the Amtrak tunnels. It is an amazing portrait of the way people are capable of building a livelihood in the most difficult situations. The people living here built houses, had electricity, cooked food, took care of pets, and started a kind of family with others in the tunnels. It isn't the place that most people would want to live considering the rats, lack of running water, and overall darkness but the residents point out that it is much better than living on the street exposed to the elements and people who mistreat them.

Welcome

I have decided to start a movie blog. Why would I do that when I can hardly keep up with my book blog, list blog, etc.? I have a few reasons.

1. I can keep up but I haven't. I think that if I organize myself I will be able to do what I want to.
2. If I don't keep up well I think my masses of readers will be okay.
3. More than a review blog, this is a space where I can remember the movies I have seen and how I felt about them. I can't stand not remembering the films I saw in a given month or forgetting the initial love that I have for a film.

My last reason is that it just seems like fun. Here I go....