Reviews of The Happening

The Happening review

Posted : 5 months, 3 weeks ago on 27 June 2009 12:33 (A review of The Happening)

It got to be a joke!!
The funniest film I ever seen. How can anybody take this seriously? It's embarassing in many scenes.
I'm still laughing of the evil trees and the old woman window breaker.
Shame on Zooey Deschanel, I think she was needing some cash...
Well, it worth a few laughs, everybody should see this film and learn how to not make a good film at all.
Pretty funny.



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Treehugger's Pride

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago on 27 September 2008 12:50 (A review of The Happening)

Look, I understand that people may be looking at this for entertainment purposes only, but try to look at the bigger picture. I thought this was an excellent movie! The theme may be a little outlandish, but the underlying message is what should be considered. I guess you've gotta be a treehugger to understand...but I loved it!

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Laughably bad

Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago on 4 July 2008 11:38 (A review of The Happening)

I'm honestly not exaggerating when I say this may be one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I've seen low budget slasher flicks and student films that were better than this.

Some dodgy acting. Terrible dialogue. Characterisation was poor so I really didn't care whether anyone in the film died or not, even with the added cliche of throwing a child into the mix to try to elicit some sympathy.

It fails in pretty much everything it tries to do/be. Scary? Nope. Tense? Not at all. Funny? Only unintentionally. Hitchcock-like? HELL no. Message? Buy an Adidas tracksuit and an iphone? That's the only message I spotted.

Only positive things I can say about this are the cinematography was decent and the film reminded me to water my plants ; )

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Muito ruim / To bad

Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago on 24 June 2008 07:47 (A review of The Happening)

Eu esperava bem mais deste filme, já que pra mim o autor ERA bom.

I expected much more from this film, because to me the author WAS good.



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The Almost!

Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago on 15 June 2008 05:34 (A review of The Happening)

"Can I have a ticket to The Happening thats happening right now?"

The title and trailer of this film always lead me to believe this was a 'movie within a tv show' from the Simpsons. Its ambiguousness and vague outset gave that extra point that you have to see this film to actually find out whats going on! However, it did give me a sense of curiousity and it was instantly put on my to see list.

Unfortunately, I saw this film with people who tend to read spoilers before they go and see a movie. Which all I can say, it ruined the premise. There was no longer any mystery and I was just left waiting for what was happening to happen so I could see it with my own eyes. Wankers.

The word 'eerie' is used quite a lot with this film and I couldn't agree more. As with a majority of Shyamalan films, you expect something different and malevolent occurring behind the scenes. The score backed this mood for the film aswell as the handheld they seemed to follow the expressions as they manifested.

The concept was highly evocative. It had a slight Darwinism twang to it which made it much more intriguing. The main nemesis of the film was an immobile but omnipresent natural organism that you couldn't avoid easily which kept the suspense drilled in throughout. It came about all of a sudden, the explanation, so I felt that reflected the title (and poor narrative structure). "Yeah, plants are dangerous."

Mark Wahlberg also attracted me to this film. He provided a solemn and whimsical addition to the situation. His facial expressions were questionable but there couldn't have been a better person to have the camera shoved right in his face. You could count his worry lines. Zooey Deschanel is a rising star that I've been keeping my eye on aswell, luckily she had beautiful eyes for the closes ups to be even more pleasurable. Their relationship was comical at best, there was no turmoil between them but there was no love either. Just a load of indifference.

Another aspect with Shyamalan films is that he gives 'the crowd' a personality. You see a group of people and he manages to give them a unique aspect so that they aren't your usual background characters. Cheesey and sometimes overpointless but they give that sense of realism which derives from the core heroes which media is accustomed too.

The film wasn't a cut above the rest but it was a vast improvement over Lady in the Water which shall never be named again. I'm still holding out hope for the director, even if I have to wait a lifetime.

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Shyamalan is back!

Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago on 15 June 2008 01:15 (A review of The Happening)

"There appears to be an event happening..."

As of 2008, it has been nine years since M. Night Shyamalan made his mark on the thriller genre with his 1999 hit The Sixth Sense. Director/writer Shyamalan proved that he is able to create some intriguing concepts and bring them successfully to the big screen. Unfortunately, from there it has been nothing but downhill for the director. In the years to follow the world witnessed the release of many more of his movies, many sinking without a trace. Signs is the only film of Shyamalan's that is almost on par with The Sixth Sense. Speaking rather forthrightly, Lady in the Water is genuine crap!

So how does The Happening hold up during Shyamalan's pursuit for redemption? Well, after reading the negative response from critics and audiences alike, I was already disappointed in one of Hollywood's most potentially talented directors. Hence, my view of the film was tainted when I walked into that cinema.

The Happening deals with an alarming prospect that is extremely plausible in this current era of humankind. In all honesty, I feel that humans could be in their final act. After populating the planet for so many years and causing gross amounts of pollution, our planet may be fed up with our selfish actions and perhaps is planning to exterminate us. Shyamalan takes this credible, distressing concept and uses it as the foundation for the film's plot. Shyamalan steadily paces the film and uses absorbing cinematography, dialogue, and media reports; letting the indisputable possibility sink into the minds of the audience. After all, we have been treating our planet so appallingly since the beginning of time...what if Mother Nature demands revenge? What would you do if the greenery of the surrounding land started releasing chemicals and toxins to bring about your demise?

The film opens as the event occurs. We are thrown straight into the action as disorientated people begin committing suicide: people stab themselves, workers throw themselves from construction sites, policemen shoot themselves through the head...and no-one has a clue why this is happening. Naturally in today's society the immediate initial thought is that a terrorist attack in unfolding. The cause of the suicides is ascertained to be the result of a dangerous neuro-toxin gas being deployed from an unknown source. The clueless population are ordered to commence the evacuation of all major cities that have been affected.

Cut to a simple school where we are introduced to Elliot Moore (Wahlberg): a teacher who excels in the area of science. The school learns of the neuro-toxin gas outbreak and are forced to evacuate the premises. Elliot leaves his home with estranged wife Alma (Deschanel) as they head for the smaller suburban towns, under the impression that this "terrorist attack" (as the media are calling it) would not be targeting the insignificant parts of the country. But reports of people being affected by the gas begin stretching to smaller towns where people are now fleeing. It soon becomes clear as the body count rises that the odds of a terrorist attack are declining sharply. The central plot branches off into numerous sub-plots as the protagonists rapidly relocate in an attempt at survival.

For those expecting a Shyamalan "twist in the tale", forget about it. There are a few interesting twists as the plot builds, but nothing major that will force you to cover your mouth in shock. There is no twist ending...in fact there is essentially no ending. On the whole, the film feels really incomplete. I felt that everything was wrapped up nicely until the film's final scene that will leave the audience feeling disgruntled and dissatisfied. There are far too many endings as well. At least 5 times there is a fade out...then it just cuts to another scene. The critics and audiences alike are feeding the film nothing but pasting and criticism mainly because of this. I am in the gross minority by saying this, but I liked the ending. The film manages to stay away from the clichés and conventions. People rely too heavily on "feel good" happy endings. If a natural event like this did occur, the chances are minute that it would actually cease. I admire Shyamalan for making a very different and unique horror movie.

I expect that because this film was released during the summer season (the American summer season, that is) people will attend a screening with hopes of seeing something like Iron Man. This film's rating will certainly reflect the maturity one must reach to watch the film. If you're in your early teen years you'll be expecting something eventful and action-packed, I presume. My advice: stick with The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man so I won't have to hear your mindless rambling. In my opinion, Shyamalan's approach of developing a fascinating plot is more intriguing than a clichéd, predictable Marvel action film.

Shyamalan uses captivating shots of the surrounding landscape. His trademark cinematography techniques are disturbingly effective. The director is skilled at creating an atmospheric thriller/horror film. Whenever people are affected by the gas, there is plenty of opportunity for you to scream. I found the suicide scenes to be eerie and unsettling. With Shyamalan being granted permission to make his first film to be classified R by the MPAA, you can expect blood and corpses. But also assume something different and unique: a film that is slow-paced but requires patience. Don't anticipate the typical clichés to surface.

Similar to everything else in the film, the performances are a little different. Mark Wahlberg delivers a unique performance unlike anything we've seen him tackle before. His dialogue delivery reflects the established atmosphere of the movie. Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo further support this previously instituted atmosphere. They usually look zoned-out and drained of emotion; however I would expect that this is how people would react if something bizarre like this actually occurred. No-one would have a clue what to do. The film manages to stay away from the conventional riots and looting that would occur in your typical epic thriller. One of my complaints about the film is in the script. Some of the dialogue feels contrived and is occasionally very dumb. Also, we're thrown into the action immediately without developing the characters. Why are we supposed to care about them? With an extra 20 minutes of character development dropped in front of the rest of the movie, the results would have been a lot better. Not to mention almost no chemistry between the leads. Towards the film's conclusion, things get extremely silly as well.

Overall, The Happening is a film that I expected more from. Shyamalan could have done a lot more with the incredible potentiality of the concept as its execution is merely average. I certainly liked it more than some of the critics, probably because I enjoy this genre and admire uniqueness.

At the end of the day, people approach a Shyamalan film expecting scares and a tense atmosphere...but above all looking for something different. On that note, the film delivers. It's slow-paced and not very rewarding in the end, but at least I was entertained and rather enthralled from start to finish. The score by James Newton Howard mixed with spellbinding cinematography is bound to impress. I am very aware that I am in a select minority of praising the film, but I am gladly in that minority. The bottom line: the film delivers an important message that is relevant to current society. It is also suspenseful, atmospheric and eerie. The haters evidently just don't understand the movie.

7.3/10

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Wierd, But Oddly Entertaining.

Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago on 14 June 2008 09:55 (A review of The Happening)

I thought "The Happening", would be much better, and a lot different than it was. I was expecting a really good horror film. The result was a weird, and very interesting, goofy film. I am not going to lie, I was laughing a lot more than I was getting scared, in fact, The film was not spooky, or scary at all, with the exception of a couple scary scenes. it was actually hilarious, and you could probably consider it a comedy film. I am not saying the film is bad, or not worth seeing, because it isn't, it just isn't a film that you can take seriously. There are mostly serious scenes, but they are just not pulled off very well, considering the acting was mostly bad, and cheesy. The story gets very entertaining as the film progresses. Overall, I thought this film was ridiculous, funny, and oddly very entertaining.

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