The Happening

[FelMar]

Thanks for the review, Michael...

I saw this yesterday and thought it was horrible.

I only paid 5 bucks so its not too bad.

Like you say- could've been much better if he didn't do everything !

 

[Michael Crawford]

Yea, you can pretty much guarantee that if a movie has "writer/director/producer" in front of one guy's name, it's doomed.

 

[FQRizzo]

Did they include the original cast?







Oh, sorry, it's The Happening.

 

[DarkDaysinVegas]

The Village was a great film IMHO. Using "control by fear" in order to protect themselves and families....I felt was brilliant.

 

[Isabel Skyfire]

Just saw the movie ...

small spoilers...

I like it, but I didn't like the fact that 'Whats Happening' was told from start to finish ... That killed it for me ... not like all his other movies. But the idea was good. A good lessen to be learn in a way.​

 

[wofford29]

I'm not digging the looks of this one, but I like Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, and Lady in the Water.

 

[darth dypshyt]

"Shamalamadingdong" (as King so loving puts it...), is like a magician. Once you know his tricks, i.e. he nearly always has a twist ending, then that magic goes...And everyone starts looking for, and thinking about a twist. I think the WORST thing you can do, going into ANY movie...is to go in expecting something.

I find going into a movie with no pre-conceptions or expectations is much better. If you go into a movie expecting to be blown away...most times, you will be disappointed. Sometimes that's hard to do though...Dark Knight, anyone??

 

[uscmhicks]

"Shamalamadingdong" (as King so loving puts it...), is like a magician. Once you know his tricks, i.e. he nearly always has a twist ending, then that magic goes...And everyone starts looking for, and thinking about a twist. I think the WORST thing you can do, going into ANY movie...is to go in expecting something.

I find going into a movie with no pre-conceptions or expectations is much better. If you go into a movie expecting to be blown away...most times, you will be disappointed. Sometimes that's hard to do though...Dark Knight, anyone??

I don't think I can go to see the dark knight without expecting to be blown away.
With these trailers , the story , script and cast it just can't fail.

 

[Isabel Skyfire]

I don't think I can go to see the dark knight without expecting to be blown away.
With these trailers , the story , script and cast it just can't fail.

same here ... it looks too good not to be great​

 

[CAhobbit]

Just came from seeing this tonight and...................................it was HORRIBLE!! I should preface that I really have enjoyed many of Night's other films (Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and Lady in the Water were all ones I really did like. The Village wasn't my cup of tea). "The Happening" was badly acted, written and edited. I couldn't believe the dialog throughout (everything was over explained) and Markey Mark was AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL. Zoey had a few 'good' moments but even she tanked in the film. The ultimate premise of the film was just bad as well. I felt like there was promise with the story direction but it really never went anywhere.

I can't think of anything redeeming in this film. Overall....bad.

 

[one6th_doc]

"Shamalamadingdong"

 

[8th wonder]

Yea, you can pretty much guarantee that if a movie has "writer/director/producer" in front of one guy's name, it's doomed.

LOL, you are insulting the greatest filmmakers of our world. Most filmmakers that make films that go beyond simple escapism, write, produce and direct. Kubrick was one of them.

 

[galactiboy]

I saw this earlier today... I didn't hate it, but it felt it was a pretty meh movie overall. The intial idea is a really good one and creepy, but I just never felt much of an interest and the film just meandered along from one scene to the next.

Spoiler thoughts below:
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. The explanation of plants, while interesting (kind of) really didn't do much for me, and it being afraid of blowing wind, that may or may not make you kill yourself just didn't do it for me. I thought the scenes were the guy gets eaten by the lions and another gets run over by a lawnmower were too long and pointlessly gratuitous, but also not really that good looking. Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with violent scenes, but for the tone of this film I would have actually preferred seeing a lead up, but then the characters looking away.

Also, a lot of the dialogue and acting was pretty amateurish... and the scene were the woman was talking to her daughter of the cell phone was just too convenient and hokey.

So, again, a decent movie... but I really expected more since I've really liked (and loved) some of his earlier work. This one just seemed too thrown together.

 

[creature4000]

I agree Galacticboy! His Movies have a lack of excitment to them and the feeling through the whole movie is kind of boring... no real level of excitement.

Spoiler thoughts
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.The out come was different but not effective. I wasn't expecting a Twist but at least some excitment. It was somewhat entertaining but not enough to buy the DVD.
Oh and I would have killed that Lady in the end myself!!!!

 

[Michael Crawford]

LOL, you are insulting the greatest filmmakers of our world. Most filmmakers that make films that go beyond simple escapism, write, produce and direct. Kubrick was one of them.

Sorry, but Kubrick is one of the most overrated film makers of all time.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I think there are very few effective writer/producer/directors. Even the best - Kubrick and Spielberg - don't really try to write their own stuff.

As for M. Night - Sixth Sense was a brilliant film, well written and with a twist that was not only appropriate, but inevitable. I desperately want to like Unbreakable. I watched it again last night in preparation for seeing The Happening today. The basic idea of Unbreakable is brilliant -but there are some things in the film that are just stupid and even more that are pretentious. And each film from Night has gotten progressively dumber and dumber. He desperately needs a producer to tell him - "that's just dumb."

Sure there a couple of creepy moments in the film - but most that should be creepy, aren't.


spoilers



I saw The Happening and realized early on why he could only get Wahlberg and Deschanel for this film. All the better, smarter actors passed. At the point where they're trying to outrun the wind I'm just thinking that the victims of the toxic attack in the film had the right idea - suicide would be preferable.

Is there a good idea behind the Happening? Not really, it's the same idea that was better presented in An Inconvenient Truth and a myriad of other documentaries. This film is way too simplistic and obvious for it to have any impact at all. Night should go back and write the sequel to Stuart Little (that's where he got his start).

 

[GrueSam]

Well, I guess I won't be wasting my hard earned cash on this flick tomorrow.

We'll go see The Hulk instead!

 

[Batty]

The explanation of plants, while interesting (kind of) really didn't do much for me, and it being afraid of blowing wind, that may or may not make you kill yourself just didn't do it for me.

What if the wind was coming from Bodie's ass?

And while I find Zooey Deschanel very attractive, I can't stand how ditzy she always sounds.

 

[8th wonder]

Sorry, but Kubrick is one of the most overrated film makers of all time.

I agree actually but there are many great european directors who work that way.

 

[8th wonder]

I think there are very few effective writer/producer/directors. Even the best - Kubrick and Spielberg - don't really try to write their own stuff.

Kubrick always writes, although mostly with others. Spielbergs best movie was written by himself: Close encounters of the third kind.