i know it's late in the thread, but i just find this all really interesting and i think it's important not to just discount things people are saying because you don't agree with them. puterart wrote a very well thought out review of the movie and backed up their reasons for disliking this film, which to me seems like a more valid and worthwhile post then writing pages of 'like, i love it, lol.'
did people even read those opinions? i would like to hear peoples responses to this because quite frankly a lot of it did make sense. i'm a die hard night fan, you should have seen my fangirl moment i had when i met rory culkin just because he was in signs. i worship this director, but to be honest looking back on this film there were a lot of things that i really don't like. i tried to ignore them or make dozens of excuses about why it's ok and it's original. but it was just cause it was a night film.
afi_village, I did respond to puterart's review. Did you read my response? I addressed his opinions. My issue wasn't with how a person feels about a movie for themselves, but when they speak for an entire audience, that's quite annoying. That person spoke for entire audience a few times, and not just the audience he saw it with, but anyone who saw the movie anywhere. Otherwise, his grievances were legitimate, for himself. Everyone reacts differently to what they see and hear, art or not, but specifically art. He gave 3 instances of things he did not like:
1. The general idea that the movie was not good concerning storyline and content. "The story seemed flimsy" with examples. The 1st example I wasn't clear on if he had a problem with characters becoming irrelevant after Cleveland realized what he had done wrong (as far as going by what the critic was telling him about who is what in a story), or if he was bothered by the quickness of Cleveland's revelation. If it's the former, well that seems to be one of the themes of the film. The idea I think is he shouldn't have blindly listened to an unimaginative jerk of a critic who only knows how to categorize things one way...and he critiques art, nice. If it's the latter, well puterarts personal opinion would be that it was just made up as an easy way out. Didn't come across that way to me. So, difference of opinion.
The 2nd example was "The kid misreading the cereal box seemed like an easy way out of a story falling apart". If he thinks that Cleveland being the "healer" was an easy way out, there is no argument that would suffice. Clevelands whole character is about being a healer from frame one. And if he doesn't like that Cleveland wasn't identified as the healer initially, well I'm guessing the writing situation there is that Cleveland had to be reluctant to be the healer and it works better that he submits to his true calling at that moment then at any other time in the movie. I think it works well.
2.The critic being killed. You like it or you don't. It's like anything. What puterart said about the critic character is true, but it's not just about being a close minded know it all film critic, it's about being close minded, dispassionate, and just plain unimaginative. And technically I don't think he stepped outside the movie when he started talking about what was going to happen, I think he was just talking out loud to calm himself and take control of the situation, which happens in movies. It was much more dynamic (and funny to me) here though because he was going on and on and talking very specifically about things he sees in movies. I loved it. It's very common to kill off characters in stories(movies and literature) that are the vessels for negative themes and ideas. I think it works here because this is a fantasy/fairytale sort of a movie. I love the mixing of genres in this film. It wasn't revolting to me at all.
3. That M Night cast himself as someone who writes something that would inspire someone to do great things. This does not effect story line or content, but casting. I addressed this before. I love M Night in this role. I wish he didn't play it though so other people didn't have such an issue with it.
Also, I don't know how to respond to this:
what i want is some indisputable evidence as to why this film is a masterpiece, and since that seems like a very unlikely thing to happen i would like to hear some solid opinions.
Art is not quantifiable. 2+2 does not equal a masterpiece. There is no such thing as indisputable evidence for why any piece of art is a masterpiece. In the end it does not matter what other people think, only what you think. If you don't like it, you don't like it. But if somehow you like it because of what someone else says, then what does that mean? Worse even, if you don't like it because what others say? This movie was profoundly moving to me. I was lost in it...right out of the gate with the cave drawing animation. Where other people find weaknesses in this film, I find strengths. I think every facet of the film, filmmaking wise, is great, not perfect, but great....writing, directing, acting, cinematography, everything. What I liked most was the sense of community and hope in this film. I love how everyone followed along this crazy idea out of a sense of community and appreciation of Cleveland and desire to believe in something. I love Heeps character, it really drives the story for me. I feel so much for him, even before I knew what happened to his family. The fear in his voice when he thinks someone may be drowning in the pool at the beginning spoke volumes to me as far as character depth. And when The Great Eatlon comes I'm just like, "I know they said this would happen, but I can't believe this is happening" and I actually believe. And the ending is like the best ending of all time. There is no more that needs to happen. Story accomplished her mission and Cleveland is saved and restored. So perfect.
If this means anything, I went to school for film. I love all of M nights movies passionately, except for The Sixth Sense. Aside from M Night movies, here are some of my favorite movies...Magnolia, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Fight Club, The New World, Star Wars in general, Adaptation, The Thin Red Line, Moulin Rouge, Lord of the Rings, many more but I could say those are all at the top.....more recently Zodiac and There Will Be Blood were my favorites of this last year.
