I really wanted to like this movie. About halfway through I decided (hoped) maybe it was made as a spoof. It's the only explanation that makes sense. It attempts to be minimalist and quietly frightening, but only succeeds at feeling like a stiff B...
- 15.November.2010
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- by: schmaarit
- schmaarit rated this movie
 0/10
I really wanted to like this movie. About halfway through I decided (hoped) maybe it was made as a spoof. It's the only explanation that makes sense. It attempts to be minimalist and quietly frightening, but only succeeds at feeling like a stiff B movie. I can't decide if it was the script or the acting that killed this flick, but maybe a combination of both. In either case, the chemistry just wasn't there.
- 15.November.2010
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- by: schmaarit
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The most creepy thing about this movie is that Al Gore continues to amass his minions in Hollywood creating fairy-tale fiction to front his fairy-tale agenda.
Aside from the silly environmentalist premise, this movie suffers from bizarre scenes in...
- 21.September.2010
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- by: Jon Paul
- Jon Paul rated this movie0/10
The most creepy thing about this movie is that Al Gore continues to amass his minions in Hollywood creating fairy-tale fiction to front his fairy-tale agenda.
Aside from the silly environmentalist premise, this movie suffers from bizarre scenes in which the background people and ancillary characters behave in the exact opposite that one would expect during a wide-spread panic. Also, many of the plot elements are gratuitously contrived (e.g., "hay! take a look at my iPhone video of this horror scene!" [screen image simulated]), and are thus very distracting.
I cannot understand why that "actress" Zooey gets hired for anything but the lifeless gen-y blank-stare roles, but Wahlberg and Leguizamo do pretty well given the context of the script. (Leguizamo is a true actor with very diverse abilities--having seen his other roles.)
I give it 2 stars only because it's not that bad if you treat it like a cheesy Twilight Zone episode and don't expect much.
Shyamalan doesn't make them like he used to. I'm not sure if he's aware of the differences, but I suppose he's working on deadlines these days.
- 21.September.2010
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- by: Jon Paul
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I actually liked this movie, right up until we discover **spoiler alert** the trees? For Real?
- 11.July.2010
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- by: Amanda
- Amanda rated this movie0/10
I actually liked this movie, right up until we discover **spoiler alert** the trees? For Real?
- 11.July.2010
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- by: Amanda
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Interesting, potentially great concept destroyed by an author who seems to have all but forgotten how to write a script. Unbelievably bad dialogue and unbelievable scenarios (I mean the scene setups not the overall conceit--it is an eco-horror...
- 30.June.2010
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- by: Gabriel
- Gabriel rated this movie0/10
Interesting, potentially great concept destroyed by an author who seems to have all but forgotten how to write a script. Unbelievably bad dialogue and unbelievable scenarios (I mean the scene setups not the overall conceit--it is an eco-horror film)are only made worse by performances that range from bad to outright bizarre. Mark Whalberg is particularly stilted as his only reaction to everything is to breathe heavily and look confused. I give it three stars because there are some genuinely cool moments of shock but overall this one is another nail in the soon to be closed coffin of M. Night's career.
- 30.June.2010
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- by: Gabriel
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The happening is one of those love it or hate it kind of movies, which is why I would have to disagree totally with all those who hated it and said it wasn't worth the wait. I truly loved this movie! The story offered a unique twist on reality....
- 18.September.2009
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- by: Jon
- Jon rated this movie0/10
The happening is one of those love it or hate it kind of movies, which is why I would have to disagree totally with all those who hated it and said it wasn't worth the wait. I truly loved this movie! The story offered a unique twist on reality. Normally we humans are the ones doing things to our planet without regard for the consequences. This time around nature fought back, and gave us a serious reminder just how important our environment is to our survival. The movie may be a bit preachy on the subject, but in my opinion that is a good thing. If you go into this movie expecting a spectacular post apocalyptic extravaganza, you will be greatly disappointed. However if you want to see a movie that offers a more realistic reaction to the unknown, you just might find what happens to be a bit enlightening and a bit enjoyable. As mentioned in other reviews, the actors at times were a bit flat, but I believe that only added to the human factor of the movie. In real life, real people are not all beautiful and trained to express their emotions. We are real, not all of us wear our feelings on our sleeves, and many times when overwhelmed can indeed seem to shut down, and become emotionless when things become hopeless. I think M. Night Shyamalan captured that well in this film.
- 18.September.2009
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- by: Jon
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Many people have compared the reception of this movie to M. Night's much maligned "Unbreakable", but I find the comparison very undeserved. Much of the criticism of Unbreakable came from those that decried its slow pace and strange emotion, and...
- 17.September.2009
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- by: trinian
- trinian rated this movie0/10
Many people have compared the reception of this movie to M. Night's much maligned "Unbreakable", but I find the comparison very undeserved. Much of the criticism of Unbreakable came from those that decried its slow pace and strange emotion, and those that by their own admission didn't "get it". With "The Happening", it has a similar calm pace that takes some getting used to but nicely sets up how the attacker works, but unlike his other movies, there's really nothing to get. There's really no subtlety to the plot - you're practically bludgeoned to death with it from the start. There's really no good character emotion; the romantic subplot was wooden and forced, you really don't have any good moments of sadness apart from Mark Wahlberg's hilarious sobbing fits (I kept asking myself, why is nobody upset about what's going on? They all just seem... kinda bored.) And oh good grief the ending. Is there anything more pure cheese than the classic X-Files-style "The End...?" Instead of trying to like this drawn out, obvious, ridiculous film, focus your attention on something good - like Unbreakable.
- 17.September.2009
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- by: trinian
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Waste of time. This movie is possibly Manoj's worst. The movie fails to provide the thrill which other manoj films usually provide. Even after reading the reviews I wanted to give it a try. But it was not worth it. Mark Wahlberg was a bad choice for...
- 16.September.2009
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- by: sreevatsa
- sreevatsa rated this movie0/10
Waste of time. This movie is possibly Manoj's worst. The movie fails to provide the thrill which other manoj films usually provide. Even after reading the reviews I wanted to give it a try. But it was not worth it. Mark Wahlberg was a bad choice for this kind of a movie.
- 16.September.2009
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- by: sreevatsa
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Most negative reviews of this movie are essentially the same. People have an idea in their heads of what an M. Night Shyamalan film is and then are disappointed when the film doesn't match those expectations. What I like about M. Night's films is...
- 16.September.2009
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- by: Jamie
- Jamie rated this movie0/10
Most negative reviews of this movie are essentially the same. People have an idea in their heads of what an M. Night Shyamalan film is and then are disappointed when the film doesn't match those expectations. What I like about M. Night's films is that he isn't afraid to experiment, to try new things, and avoid creating films that fit some template people have in their minds.
With that said, I didn't think this was one of his best films but I liked it. It held my attention, was creepy, and interesting. There was no big bang finish, so crazy surprise twist at the end of the journey, but he wraps it up by leaving it unexplained. And he explains that.
If you want something different and creepy, you'll probably like this if you keep an open mind. If you want predictable twists and turns and a big finish, you'll be disappointed.
- 16.September.2009
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- by: Jamie
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Mood:
Plot:
Genres:
Time/Period:
Place:
Attitudes:
Flag:
Does this gene fit The Happening?
