(09-06-2024, 02:45 PM)MarleyJag Wrote:

(09-06-2024, 07:41 AM)Caldrac Wrote: I didn't like it at all. We watched it last weekend. The storyline droned on, the ending was anti climatic, Dakota Fanning was okay I guess acting wise. I had not seen her in anything in a long time. Didn't know it was based on a novel. 

I also hate how predictable it was. I won't spoil it, but, the fact that one of them group members that Dakota Fanning's character encounters ends up being who I predicted they would be is bothersome. I hate predictive stories and patterns. I even made a comment about it during one scene where Dakota begins revealing her background and she's LITERALLY being "watched" intently and closely.

I give the Director some credit there for that particular moment, but, it was the biggest tell and confirmation I needed regarding that particular character in reference. The equivalent of when Martin Sheen's character in the movie "Arrival" finds out that the boy that was following him around was one of them.

Reading what you wrote makes me wonder if we saw the same movie. You mentioned Dakota Fanning so I assume we did. I didn’t find it all that predictable (and I’m particularly good at predicting plots) because the ultimate revelations were so far off from where the movie starts, and if anything, the connections are a little implausible. It’s not a flawless movie by any stretch and it’s too long but the concept was interesting. You probably haven’t watched many of M Night’s movies.

No, that's the thing. I have. I know it's a meme, but, I actually liked The Happening. It had a lot of shock value with the two kids on the porch getting blasted by a Shotgun and then people offing themselves or others left and right. Was pretty wild to me at the time as a kid when it first came out. 

I think Signs is still fantastic, I loved how every little subtle "sign" was there and revealed from the daughter's fear of drinking water, the son's asthma, and the biggest one, his wife's dying words being "swing away, tell Merle to swing away". All of that came together brilliantly in a revelation to Mel's character to finish it out. 

The alien reveal with the news station and video was also chilling. One of the best movie moments for me in general. Great moment. 

I also really enjoyed The Village. That reveal was great. The casting was great. The premise was great. Really nice finish to that one. Lastly, of course, Unbreakable & Signs. With Bruce Willis. I enjoyed both of those movies. The stories were compelling, the characters were full of life and complexity while facing hardship. 

The Watchers just fell flat for me I guess. I get the concept. It's a modern take on an ancient story/classic. I can respect that. It was just a little off the mark is all I guess with some of the cast. Big reveal didn't surprise me though. Like I said, the "tell" was too easy to confirm my suspicion from the beginning with that particular character. 

For some reason, the hair was a dead give away to me and that look she gave her outside while banging on the door. I am into ancient Celtic tales and mythology though, so, maybe that played a hand in it. I knew right away where it was going when they found that sigil in the ground.

In fairness. M. didn't write nor direct this movie. He only produced it. I might go check out "Trap" with Josh Hartnett next week though with my wife on date night. That might be good.

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