Review of The Village (2004) by M_Elders — 03 Aug 2012

I'd like to say two things about myself before starting this review. First of all, I almost always agree with critical ratings for movies. Second of all, I like to go into movies without knowing anything about them except their critical ratings and/or Oscar/Golden Globe performance.

I watched The Village because of a friend's recommendation, knowing nothing about it or its director, M. Night Shyamalan. Halfway through the movie, I knew it was great. After it was over, I was certain it was one of my favorite movies ever.

Much to my surprise, I found out later that it had mixed critical reviews at best. To this day, however, this is by far my favorite film of 2004. My theory is that too many people went into this movie knowing at least one of two things: the director of the movie and everything in the trailer.

Shyamalan is known for making movies with silly twists and awful dialogue, so I think too many people failed to give this movie a fighting chance. And the trailer made this movie look like a cruddy horror movie.

I certainly wouldn't have watched it after watching the trailer, and if I had liked what I saw in the trailer, the movie probably would have been disappointing. So to those who haven't seen it, know that this movie tells a love story.

The setting of the movie does not make the movie. The plot twists (though very well done I think) do not make the movie. The suspense/mystery helps make the movie engaging, but does not make the movie.

As it should be with any great movie, the characters make the movie, and the three main characters (acted superbly by Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, and Adrien Brody) are interesting, believable, and imperfect.