Why I'm not going to bother with the latest M. Night Shabadoo pic:

[CanuckAmok]

Okay, the "I see dead people" one was very good.

Signs was, IMO, "MEH". Heavy-handed, with all the subtlety of a shovel upside the head.

And "Unbreakable"?! What a five-alarm crapfest that was! Don't get me started on "Unbreakable".

So, as far as I'm concerned, until I'm shown differently, I'm convinced M. Night Shabadoo is a one-hit wonder.

[Fovea]

1. You should

I think it is a subtle film.

[supernova]

2. Hey, I LIKED Unbreakable

it was very interesting to me. I didn't expect it at all.

[boobooday]

3. I teach scriptwriting

And so I read a lot of screenplays.

I'm not surprised his movies are uneven.

He is a pretty bad writer, but of course this doesn't always preclude success in the movie business, as dialogue doesn't have to be literate. And if you get to direct then nobody has to know that you write like a high school sophomore. His script for the first movie is horribly written, but he had a good story, and directed it into a good movie.

But I'm sure his poor writing skills are catching up with him now . . .

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[CanuckAmok]

5. so much of good storytelling is pacing..

....but you know that. I just thing he fails miserably at maintaining a constant 'flow'. I suppose that's more a failing of his editing techniques than his writing. I don't know enough abiut good writing to decide if he's 'good' or not. Me fail English.

[boobooday]

6. Yes, pacing is everything

And if it is well-paced, a story can overcome a lot.

But I'm actually talking about his prose, which in a script means the "action" parts. It was embarrassing. I felt embarrassed for him.

There are so many components to screenwriting, and some people are good at one and not as strong at others. He probably needs to be the "story" guy, and work with someone who will keep him honest (in terms of pointing out inconsistencies in his plot) and clean up his prose.

Some people can plot all day, but can't seem to execute . . . some people write beautiful prose but can't plot their way out of a paper bag.

Of course he's better off being the first rather than the second, that's for sure.

[Paragon]

4. I prefer calling him "M. Night Shamalamadingdong"

Growing up a comic book geek, Unbreakable was my favorite of his.

The Sixth Sense and Signs were pretty telegraphed and obvious, IMHO. The Village appears even moreso - so I, too, will not be seeing it.

[luaneryder]

7. Bah! Just got back.

It was a total bore.

[Nlighten1]

8. "signs"

Was one of the most wretched movies I have ever seen. Bad acting, bad script...bad everything.

[starroute]

9. And trying to cast surburban Bucks County

As though it was out in the middle of the Great Plains or something, with farm fields that were miles away from the nearest trace of civilization, was more than just a bit out of touch with reality.