HugeReviews.com Reviews:

Unbreakable
by Mark Capitelli

Super

I definitely think that this was a great movie, so why wasn't it HUGE? Three big reasons: 1.) The ending was too rushed, 2.) It was too slow in its build-up, and 3.) I did not appreciate seeing the same type of plot, feel, and rhythm of The Sixth Sense all over again. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a rehash of The Sixth Sense, but (without giving too much away) the film moves exactly the same way, with similar twists and turns. That being said, I want to warn you that you should see this film before someone gives it all away!

So why did I rate it so highly? I loved the style it had, I thought the acting was good, and I was impressed by what the director was trying to do with this film. Visually, it played games with your eyes without using any tricks except an interesting blend of dull colors with an occasional shot of vibrancy. The costumes were unique and great in their own dull way. As for the acting, Samuel L. Jackson, although always playing himself it seems, is always a joy to watch. Bruce Willis also did a great job and was very convincing in his role. Finally, and most importantly, I believe the film's story touched people's desire to be greater than they are and believe in heroes, without insulting their intelligence or good taste. I appreciated that.

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Unstoppable: Unbreakable
by Christian De Matteo

Super

Wow. As the very first seconds of the movie appeared before me, it became abundantly clear that I had no idea what this movie was about. And that was cool. In this era of Titanic and What Lies Beneath previews, going into a movie ready for anything, yet knowing nothing is a rare pleasure indeed. Now, once again in a M. Night Shyamalan film, it was up to me to pay careful attention.

Once again using the amazing Bruce Willis (Twelve Monkeys, The Sixth Sense), M. Night brings to perfectly realistic life a story that is not realistic. I have come to believe that Shyamalan could convince us of anything if given enough time and film. With his writing and the way he works his actors, Night eases his way into our understanding, plants new conceptual seeds there and then drops a whopping heap of MiracleGro™ on top. His characters are people we know, people we work with, people in our families. They are never exaggerated and they are always engaging. All in all, they are completely convincing. He also has a gift for directing children so that they don’t come across as bratty, pretentious, or stock, the way most children in movies do. Just think back to The Sixth Sense and how easily Haley Joel Osment’s character could have been a snotty little brat in another director’s hands. But no, not there and not here with Spencer Treat Clark. I certainly don’t mean to take credit from Clark, who’s proved his acting chops in Gladiator, but there is a certain magic in a Shyamalan actor which they all demonstrate only in his films, a magic beyond their usual style and grace, a magic that tells of a great puppeteer lording over his puppets. (By puppets I mean the characters, not the actors, so please take no offense, actors. Your art is well recognized by me.)

But great directing would be nothing without great writing, and Night has that, as well. I can’t think of a single moment in either The Sixth Sense or Unbreakable when a bad line is uttered, or one even slightly off. The script to Unbreakable is wonderful, balancing David Dunn’s (Willis) quiet dynamics with Elijah’s (a fantastic Samuel L. Jackson) wilder proclamations. The script is a slow burning quiet one that pulls you in and takes you on a voyage of discovery that gives you the same powerful Ah-ha! that Dunn does in realizing his reality.

You will note, however, that I use the word slow and I mean that in both the good and bad connotations of the word. The word is the reason the movie gets a Super and not a HUGE. Night tries to take this movie at different pace from his last, and while that works just fine through about 85% of the movie, there are moments when you think, “This could be moving just a little bit faster.” Never do you want to “pull your own head off,” to quote my good buddy Mark, but certain scenes could use a kick in the seat of the pants.

These scenes are well in the minority, though, and are more than made up for by the one scene between Willis, Clark and Robin Wright Penn (who does a highly commendable job as the wife) that is, in my opinion, the MOST tense scene in a film this year, probably in many years. The scene lasts only two or three minutes but feels like an hour of tension and fright. I will say not more, but do be on guard for it. That scene alone proves Night’s worth as a director and the worth of all three actors in it.

On the whole, Unbreakable is a top notch, highly intelligent and exciting film that pays off greatly and is well worth the slower moments. The only thing I am still not sure of is the very last thirty seconds. On that, however, I shall ruminate before further comment.

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Unbreakable: John McClain vs. Shaft
by Michael Flanagan

Super

Unbreakable, M. Night Shayamalan’s follow-up to The Sixth Sense, is unbelievably good. So good, in fact, one may consider enjoying a second viewing. I watched The Sixth Sense repeatedly out of a need to discover all the hints and clues leading to the twist ending that will not be given away in this review, or in The Sixth Sense review. I am going to watch Unbreakable again out of a need to decide whether it’s good, but how good is it.

The best aspect of the film is easily the lack of information given through trailers and previews before the movies release. In an age of the entire film being laid out in the preview, so that you will often find the last big moment when one character says, “The butler did it,” followed by the “Starts Friday,” it is refreshing to know nothing of the true essence of a movie before seeing it. That lack of foresight made every twist, turn, and surprise much more powerful than it would have been. That’s not to say the film had no other impressive attributes. The entire movie is played out in frames, from the space between two seats as seen by a little girl to a house separated by one frame after another. Also, one scene has Bruce Willis in the background and a dying medical victim bleeding to death in the foreground as the doctor weaves the first elements of the plot’s web. Indeed, the film is as impressive as it is mysterious.

The worst aspect of the film is not necessarily bad, just somewhat oddly confusing. The ending. No, this review will not give away any more than the previews did. (What? The creator of The Sixth Sense put a twist at the end of a movie? Naah.) The last textual bookend of the film, though equally balancing out the opening few seconds, left me wondering exactly why Shayamalan had made the film in the first place.

Sure, it was good, but the characters of Unbreakable find neither the redemption nor the enlightenment provided by Sense. What does Unbreakable provide? The answer may be found behind the comic book frames and repetition of the green, yellow, black, and purple color scheme of the film’s symbolism. Or, as the wise old saying goes: Read between the lines.

Or, maybe the butler did it.

DVD Update

The Unbreakable DVD isn’t quite as good as The Sixth Sense DVD, which is unfortunate, as the former is a 2 disc set. This is not to say that the DVD is a bad release at all, though. The first disc features the film in various audio capabilities. The second disc has deleted scenes, all introduced by Shamaylan. He doesn’t look as happy this time around, but maybe that’s because he’s standing in a cold Philadelphia hanger. Or it’s because the scenes this time around are pretty bad. The disc also has a storyboard to film comparison, which is pretty pointless unless you like to compare storyboards to film. A documentary on Unbreakable is enjoyable and informative, though a bit too short. But the Superhero documentary is great. It contains footage of comic books shown as examples, as well as interviews with the actual comic books writers and artists. Finally, the DVD has a card with artwork from Alex Ross on the characters of the movie. Not a bad DVD at all. Actually, it’s Super.

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Awards: Check back later.

Mark's Movie Info.:

M. Night Shyamalan, the director, played the drug dealer in the stadium.

Spencer Treat Clark (Joseph Dunn) is a young actor with four impressive films under his belt. Unbreakable, Gladiator, Double Jeopardy, and Arlington Road. So if you thought you recognized him, now you know from where.

Unbreakable

The Unbreakable Store (We Can't be Beat!)

Super

DVD Update

Mark's Movie Info.: