Jason KingThe Happening (2008)
June 13th 2008 07:08
The Happening (2008) $7-
It's shit! LOL
It's the only way I know how to describe it in one sentence that gets to the point.
A pandemic of unknown cause is spreading across the northeast of the US, mysteriously within well-defined borders, with victims experiencing loss of speech and physical disorientation, followed by suicide: people jump from buildings, shoot or hang themselves, one feeds himself to lions in the zoo, some cut themselves with barbed wire or glass, etc. The protagonist, a science teacher named Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), flees together with his estranged wife, Alma Moore (Zooey Deschanel) and the 8-year-old daughter Jess (Ashlyn Sanchez) of Elliot's best friend, Julian (John Leguizamo), while Julian tries to reach his wife. The rest of the film follows them on their journey.
Would M. Night Shyamalan please oh please GIVE UP and stop embarrassing himself and pissing me off with pure shite. OK - maybe harsh. There is some chilling imagery of deaths, the idea behind the story is amazing and this film could have worked if Shyamalan knew how to direct actors. It is appalling at how bad the leads are, Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel are disgraceful and have less chemistry than the lion and the guy he's eating in the zoo. I seriously think Wahlberg is a good actor. He should have taken his shirt off when he realised how bad things were going. At least people would then want to watch him as opposed to turning away. Seriously, there are some close up facials that will have you laughing. And the funny thing, Deschanel is worse!! This film was even filmed in complete sequence so the characters could have pretended at least. There are so many unrequired characters and why does Shyamalan require so many weird side characters, can't some of them be normal at least? I did not even see the point of John Leguizamo and his character daughter - why not just make the two leads have a daughter. The film leads to a bad "Signs" mixed with "Lady in the Water". Signs was just good, mixing it with Lady can only cause disaster.
This could have worked!! Frustratingly overly POOR FILM!! I am SO disappointed - after that disaster he made, Lady in the Water, I thought he could only make better films, after this I would be surprised if he is EVER allowed to make a film again. What is also so annoying was the trailer looked awesome! Who's bright idea was it to release this crap on Friday 13th? It needs as much luck as possible and this is not the way to go about it. Failure on all levels. It has only 17% of positive comments on Rotten Tomatoes. Barely worth $7- and only because there are some great death scenes and best car accident scene for ages. You are HOT Mark Wahlberg but nothing can save this train wreck of celluloid.
And to everyone who reads my blog - I don't love everything!! LOL
It's shit! LOL
It's the only way I know how to describe it in one sentence that gets to the point.
A pandemic of unknown cause is spreading across the northeast of the US, mysteriously within well-defined borders, with victims experiencing loss of speech and physical disorientation, followed by suicide: people jump from buildings, shoot or hang themselves, one feeds himself to lions in the zoo, some cut themselves with barbed wire or glass, etc. The protagonist, a science teacher named Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), flees together with his estranged wife, Alma Moore (Zooey Deschanel) and the 8-year-old daughter Jess (Ashlyn Sanchez) of Elliot's best friend, Julian (John Leguizamo), while Julian tries to reach his wife. The rest of the film follows them on their journey.
Would M. Night Shyamalan please oh please GIVE UP and stop embarrassing himself and pissing me off with pure shite. OK - maybe harsh. There is some chilling imagery of deaths, the idea behind the story is amazing and this film could have worked if Shyamalan knew how to direct actors. It is appalling at how bad the leads are, Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel are disgraceful and have less chemistry than the lion and the guy he's eating in the zoo. I seriously think Wahlberg is a good actor. He should have taken his shirt off when he realised how bad things were going. At least people would then want to watch him as opposed to turning away. Seriously, there are some close up facials that will have you laughing. And the funny thing, Deschanel is worse!! This film was even filmed in complete sequence so the characters could have pretended at least. There are so many unrequired characters and why does Shyamalan require so many weird side characters, can't some of them be normal at least? I did not even see the point of John Leguizamo and his character daughter - why not just make the two leads have a daughter. The film leads to a bad "Signs" mixed with "Lady in the Water". Signs was just good, mixing it with Lady can only cause disaster.
This could have worked!! Frustratingly overly POOR FILM!! I am SO disappointed - after that disaster he made, Lady in the Water, I thought he could only make better films, after this I would be surprised if he is EVER allowed to make a film again. What is also so annoying was the trailer looked awesome! Who's bright idea was it to release this crap on Friday 13th? It needs as much luck as possible and this is not the way to go about it. Failure on all levels. It has only 17% of positive comments on Rotten Tomatoes. Barely worth $7- and only because there are some great death scenes and best car accident scene for ages. You are HOT Mark Wahlberg but nothing can save this train wreck of celluloid.
And to everyone who reads my blog - I don't love everything!! LOL
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Jason King
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I only Shymlan film I rank is Unbreakable and I had little hope for this...what is sad to read is that the uber cool Zooey is wasted in this, she was the only reason i was thinking of seeing it. Even in lame films sheis always good, usually.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by David L
But i think the film has zero reason for being released. It boggles the mind how this made it into theaters, when gems get sidelined.
Using your style i would give the happening 'a free gift pass' of value....as it's only attribute is how unintentionally hilarious it was, even more so than the WICKER MAN with cage.
The whole time when i was watching it i couldnt help but Imagine if it were to be a jim carrey comedy, then it would be a classic.
'THERES SOMETHING IN THE AIR!!!! SSOOOOOOMMMEEEETHHHIIINNNGGGG !!!!!"
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Nice call with the Jim Carrey thing!!
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Agree on the date - I think he was trying to make people think it's a dark and scary horror perfect for this date but it's so appalling a straight to dvd would have been more suitable, agreeing with David from above. Some of the best films I have discovered on straight to dvd. Peaceful Warrior for example. You still have to rent it out people!!!
I have to disagree about the "good director" thing. This film shows it - you can see things like "just look scared at the camera and pretend that an invisible nature is attacking you". It's funny!! And when I look back on his films.
1) 6th Sense - it was his first and his masterpiece. It also starred Bruce Willis and a surprisingly brilliant acting kid who outshone Bruce. Little pot smoking Haley Joel Osmont. These 2 plus Muriel were superb actors who needed minimal direction plus they had an evil force they could see to act off.
2) Unbreakable - similar formula. Bruce and Samuel - another 2 great actors that don't need much direction
3) Signs - Mel Gibson - a renowned director himself. He just had to believe in the story and he directs himself
4) The Village. Bigger cast - mediocre film and the over done formula of Shyamalan starts getting seen as a director typecasting issue. Will he break the mold? Film was not so bad - but when in the last half hour everyone's going "ok what's his twist going to be this time" you know he needs to do something different
5) Lady in the Water - EXACTLY the same formula topped with YES - the most appalling story and script ever written by Shyamalan. Every studio turned this one down until someone silly enough said OK let's do it. DID THEY NOT LEARN FROM THIS????? Mediocre cast that needs a good direction. Not provided.
6) And then we get this - a continuation of his writing formula and while not quite as bad as Lady in the Water - it is the worst acting ever seen from the lead characters. Two actors that needed to know every emotion. Shyamalan wrote this with Marky Mark in his head to play the lead. If so - why did he not visualise everything better and then direct him to achieve it.
My hypothesis - shit director.
Thanks heaps for the comments!!
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
His verdict:
The Crappening.
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
I can see the new movie poster for it now.
The Crappening................... ....It's Shit!
LOL
Comment by Leonard Marlborough
Racing Write
He's a one-trick pony - The Sixth Sense so good that everyone keeps forgiving each subsequent stuff up.
Maybe he should direct a romantic comedy, western (even), or something different than his sham spooky/psychic thrillers? Or maybe not direct at all. Was I the only one who knew the 'twist' to The Village almost from the beginning? And that Lady In The Water Thingy. Cringe.
Maybe they should keep him away from keyboards (writing) and camera (behind and in front). I'm an M Night Shyamalan atheist. I no longer believe.
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Completetely agree - I think 6th Sense was a complete fluke.
I want a Shyamalan romantic comedy with a twist. At the end the lead guy has a breakdown and kills the girl. It's never been done before!! Box office gold people!!
I have to admit - I did not work out the twist in the Village. Bad me!! Lady in the Water was hideous. I was screaming at the screen it was that crap.
And your last paragraph - brilliant. I also no longer believe.
Can u believe they asked Shyamalan to write the first draft script of the new Indy film but he said he could not get Lucas, Spielberg or Ford to concentrate. LOL. They replaced him everntually. Thankgod!!!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Kim L
Diving About
When I first saw the trailer, I got a little excited.... looks interesting, I think, ''wonder what's 'happening'"??
Then I saw it was a M Night Shyamalan film.....
The Sixth Sense was a great movie... but that's where it ends.. The Village annoyed me... like 'the happening' it looked so interesting, but failed utterly to be so...
Personally, I'm not happy to watch 90 minutes of boring film, waiting for a minor surprise in the last two minutes.... There's so many other movies to watch!!!
Thanks for the review Jason....
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
When I saw the trailer for Lady in the Water I told everyone it would be gold and to ignore the reviews from the US. Did I cop a hiding or what!!!
This one got me excited but after last time I was slightly more wary. Then I read one review that said it was as bad as Lady..... and I nearly cried. LOL
He needs to come out with something bloody awesome to rekindle the faith. Even the 7th Sense would be better. How is Haley coping after 10yrs of talking to ghosts!!!
And Morgan - totally - I think he is losing it!!
Comment by Callen Mac
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Thanks Callen!! I needed to wake to a bloody funny post!!
It is good to know someone felt as angry as I did at the end of the film!
I feel justified.