 "(Possibly) the most realistic superhero movie ever made..." | 2010-02-08 |
| - Reviewed By Andrew Ellington from Mulholland Drive |
`Unbreakable' is one of those films that has aged rather well with me. When director M. Night Shyamalan first introduced himself to the movie going public in 1999 (`The Sixth Sense' was his second film, but it was the first that got anyone to take notice) he had so much promise, but sadly `Unbreakable' is the only film since that has expounded on that promise. One day I'll bombard you with a verbal slaughtering of `Lady in the Water', `Signs' and `The Village' (I refuse to see `The Happening'), but until then you can relish in some praise for `Unbreakable'.
Shyamalan's answer to the super hero origin story, `Unbreakable' tells of David Dunn, a unhappily married man who lives a rather ordinary (if not bland) life until a tragic train accident adds a new purpose to his life.
This is not your average superhero story, and it isn't anything like `The Sixth Sense', so it may be hard for many to completely get into this film. I remember when I saw it in the theater I was let down pretty bad, and so was everyone else I was with. We were expecting something like `The Sixth Sense', complete with the scares we felt when watching the 1999 thriller. Instead, `Unbreakable' is a slow and brooding character study that is more haunting than scary. Like I said, it has aged well with me. I appreciate the film much more now than I did when I first saw it (kind of like `The Village', although I still think that `The Village' is a mediocre film).
One thing that I really admire about this film is Shyamalan's direction. Sure, his screenwriting skills have become convoluted and forced as the years have progressed (he tries way too hard, and it shows) but his direction is always near impeccable. He knows how to capture a mood and tone. Here, he gives a very dark and gritty atmosphere to the film without ever compromising the comic book feel (the way the film is shot is almost TOO smart). The characters are shot in ways that accentuate their personalities and eventualities marvelously, using such clever technique to embellish what Shyamalan has crafted on the page. In fact, upon reflection I think that this direction may be even more accomplished and noteworthy than that of `The Sixth Sense'.
The acting is all very appropriate and at times even moving. Bruce Willis gives the performance of his career in `The Sixth Sense', and he follows that up with yet another very well controlled and admirable effort. Although he is known for his action films, for me he really shows a depth and range here that he should tap into more often. Robin Wright Penn is also quite impressive in her scenes, and although Jackson does come off somewhat clichéd and campy at times, he evokes a genuine chill (as in `down the back of your spine') that captures Shyamalan's vision marvelously. I actually thought that the films best performance came from Spencer Treat Clark, who understood the balance between his characters fear and admiration of his father.
It was stunning and only grows more and more haunting every time I see the film.
The idea of the `every man' coming into his own as a superhero has been approached before, but Shyamalan adds a layer of realism to this film by ditching the corny one-liners, ridiculous costumes and unrealistic `super villains' and their dastardly deeds, replacing them with a normal man muddling through realistic dialog, struggling to understand himself in a world with drug dealers and murderers and front page headline stories that you read about everyday.
Like I said, this is not your typical superhero story...this is a superhero movie for people who don't like superhero movies. |
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 "Bruce Willis is a superhero" | 2010-02-08 |
| - Reviewed By J. G. Crawford |
| In "Unbreakable" Bruce plays an everyday man David Dunn who has extraordinary powers. After escaping a tragedy unharmed he starts to think that there is something wrong with him because he's never been hurt in his life. David comes to meet another gentleman on the other side of the pendulum, Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) who has gone out of his way to follow David's miraculous powers. The more the plot unfolds the more we learn that David is such a heroic and humbled man who just wants to find out why he is like this. Bruce Willis was especially believable during the scene with the gun. There was so much passion in his voice. But it's not until David starts to embrace his special powers that he was born with does he really start to see what is going on around with him. It's like he is able to step outside of the box and look at the entire picture and that picture isn't very pretty and it's not very nice to look at. And that's why this role was so perfect for Bruce because he was able to channel his natural abilities of drama and even action to give such power and credence to an everyday man who happens to be everyone's hero. There is a plot twist that will really catch you for a loop, I can't imagine anyone would expect it. This is a wonderful movie because it's both uplifting and empowering and shows that heroes or angels or whatever you want to call them walk among us. "Unbreakable" is also an affective movie for displaying evil and virtu in the most semblance and basic ways. Robin Wright was also excellent playing Bruce's wife because there was an almost severe and magnanimous quality about her character that came shining through. If you enjoy Bruce Willis (and who doesn't?), dramas with a twist ending or just excellent movies that you can be proud to share with your entire family than this movie is for you. |
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| "Unbreakable [Blu-ray]" | 2010-01-21 |
| - Reviewed By Arnita D. Brown from USA |
Security Guard David Dunn miraculously survives a catastrophic train crash outside Philadelphia. Not only is he the sole survivor out of 132 passengers, he also is completely unharmed. A little later, comic book specialist Elijah Price contacts him to confront David with an incredible theory: Elijah, who has been nicknamed "Mr. Glass" due to his more than fragile bones, thinks that David has got all which he himself lacks. The two of them "seem to be linked by a curve, but sitting on opposite ends". First, David does not believe the strange man, but every single thing he had said proves to be true: David has never ever been hurt or sick in his life, his physical strength is larger than normal and he has a skill which others don't. Slowly, David begins to discover the shocking truth behind Mr. Price's assumptions. But after all, David's fate is not only to find his real place in the world. It also is about proving Elijah's theory of his own existence. I recommend this movie to everyone who likes Bruce Willis, M. Night Shyamalan, comic books or just an exciting, suspense-charged movie.
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| "The best M. Night Shyamalan movie" | 2010-01-20 |
| - Reviewed By Windir |
Unbreakable is a superhero "origin" movie about a lone survivor of a train crash who was unscathed in the incident. He is practically unbreakable. He is stalked by a comic-book enthusiast with a condition that leaves his bones extremely fragile and prone to breaking. The comic-book enthusiast, Elijah (played by Samuel L. Jackson), insists that David (played by Bruce Willis) has superhuman powers that makes him unbreakable, and is susceptible to drowning. At first, David believes the man to be a sociopath, but as time passes on, everything Elijah said turned out to be true.
This movie is so much better than The Sixth Sense. Some criticize the movie as "too slow," but I don't find this movie slow at all. Every scene in the movie is essential for character development and to the storyline. Sure, some would say that there were unnecessary and pointless scenes that added little to the film like Bruce Willis going out on a date with his wife, but I disagree. I thought it was important to build on Bruce Willis' character with his wife, with his son, and with Elijah, so these scenes were pivotal to the story.
Nevertheless, the story here is top-notch and the film has amazing cinematography and music. It also has wonderful acting performances from Bruce Willis and, especially, from Samuel L. Jackson. Not to mention, this movie had a better twist ending than The Sixth Sense.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery thriller films. |
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| "What happened to Night?" | 2009-12-10 |
| - Reviewed By D. Stokes from philly |
| Bruce Willis is great in this movie. What's with S.L. Jackson's hair? Night still had "it" when he made this film. Wheels fell off after Signs though. |
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| "Shyamalan's Best Work" | 2009-10-17 |
| - Reviewed By fatfredyfreak from Ennis TX |
| In my humble opinion, this is Night's best work to date. Bruce Willis is more than believable as the reluctant hero struggling to find his path in life. Sam Jackson gives an underrated performance as the mysterious stranger, bent on opening Willis' eyes to the truth. For me, this movie works on an emotional level more than almost any other movie I have ever seen. |
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