Review of Unbreakable (2000) by James R — 16 Jan 2019

It's easily been 19 years since I've last seen this movie. I recall seeing this when I was 11 or 12 and not liking it as much. Maybe I was thinking this was going to be a horror film like director M.

Night Shyamalan's previous film The Sixth Sense (1999), but I just didn't enjoy Unbreakable back in 2000 when this first released. Before we begin I gotta say M. Night is a hit or miss for a lot of people.

He started with a small indie film he made and even had a major film before The Sixth Sense, but it was obviously with that film where he hit some huge fame. I don't know if people thought we had the next Alfred Hitchcock, or something like that, but for the most part I like most of M.

Night's films. Signs (2002) was fantastic, but hasn't aged too well. The Village (2004) actually has some really great moments, but I think by this point a lot of people just sort of kept expecting for a big ass twist in every M.

Night film. The guy's super creative and while I just didn't understand Lady in the Water (2006) and thought The Happening (2008), The Last Airbender (2010) and After Earth (aka the movie Will Smith directed, but threw M.

Night under the bus look it up) (2013) were all pretty damn terrible I found myself enjoying The Visit (2015)! Glass (2018) is suppose to be bringing us back down to reality and is apparently bad, but listen for my upcoming podcast on that to hear my opinion.

"Hey James this is a review for Unbreakable...maybe you wanna talk about that now?" Yes I know and I apologize for rambling, but I had to let ya know I've had that sort of love, hate, but back to love for M.

Night and by revisiting this film I've realized 12 year old James was wrong and this is a great movie. This film is a modern day superhero origin story about a security guard named David Dunn (Bruce Willis) who after surviving a train accident that killed everyone on board except for him realizes something is special about him.

An odd man named Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is born with a rare disorder where his bones are brittle and he always is breaking something throughout his entire life. The kids nickname Elijah "Mr.

Glass." Elijah seeks out David and tells him that he believes he is something like the characters in the many comic books that he collects. David's never been sick, has some incredible strength and most miraculous he left the scene of the accident without even a scratch on him.

David doesn't believe it all at first, but soon comes around to it from the insistence of his son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark). Before too long David has to make a choice to see whether this is all legit, or not.

The movie is really well done. It's a comic book come to screen and was even shot with long shots that recall the pages of a comic book. Willis and Jackson are great in the two lead roles and although the "twist" of this film has been spoiled (especially if you've seen the movie that's coming out this Friday) I want to say it would have been a little obvious, but it works for the most part.

This is not an action heavy movie (there's actually practically no action), but the plot itself is really well done and you really feel for David. He does not have a perfect life. He gave up his life as a star college football player to pursue his girlfriend at the time Audrey (Robin Wright), but it ultimately ends up in an almost failed marriage.

He works as a security guard and overall you can just tell the dude's super sad. The film has some great moments that showcase David becoming the hero he is and I really enjoyed those scenes. There's a scene in particular where David eventually benches 350lb's with his son watching and thats the kind of "wow" feeling you get off this movie.

Even if it never turned in a trilogy this film would have worked just as a stand alone film. The gripe I have with this one would be the last 10 minutes ends a little bit sloppily. It has font over the ending which is kind of the epilogue, but it's not like any of the tone of the film and it's super off putting.

The movie has a great pace and for once I actually think another 20 minutes would have benefited the ending of the movie. Overall, solid film that I'm glad I went back to and watched. I would recommend it for anyone that maybe didn't like it as a kid since I had the same experience and I definitely have changed my mind.