1. Even his worst stuff is more interesting than 90% plus of what Hollywood releases, and yeah I saw "The Lady in the Water". I'll see it.

Posted at 7:25PM on May 20th 2008 by Michael Couvillion

2. Poor M Night. He tries so hard to bring intellectualism and legitimacy to the genre. I loved the Village TRAILER, the Signs TRAILER, and unfortunately, I like this trailer too. My track record isn;t looking too good.

Posted at 8:24PM on May 20th 2008 by Mike

3. I vowed never to watch another of his movies after I saw The Village, but like Mike, I kind of enjoy this trailer (plus I've already read what the happening actually is, what's behind the "attack") so I might wind up going to see it anyway. I'm not expecting a great performance from Mark Wahlberg, but I'm expecting even less from Zooey Deschanel.

Posted at 9:16PM on May 20th 2008 by NP

4. Loved the trailer for The Village and loved the movie even more. Lady In the Water was ok but not his best but as the other person's comment said, his average stuff is more interesting than most other film maker's best. By the way Zooey Deschanel is one of the better actresses out there so I don't quite get the caddy remark. This trailer looks very interesting and I anxiously await the opportunity to see the film.

Posted at 10:04PM on May 20th 2008 by Bob

5. Meh. I haven't seen her do anything impressive.

Posted at 10:18AM on May 21st 2008 by NP

6. well, i've read what the secret "bad guy" or whatever is in this film, and let me tell you, i didn't stop laughing for about five minutes, it's that ridiculous....this seems like it's going to be even more of a laugh riot than lady in the water...i have no idea what went wrong with this guy, his first two films were so great...either way, i'll be waiting to rent this one.

Posted at 10:37PM on May 20th 2008 by Jordan

7. this "negative buzz" that's "building" consists of one negative review from a nameless friend of an internet blogger. why don't we wait for more than that before we talk about "negative buzz."

Posted at 11:04PM on May 20th 2008 by uforeader

8. Personally, I believe that M. Night as been overrated since "Sixth Sense". Without the twist ending, the movie is beasically two hours of Haley Joel Osment crying. I lost all my faith of M. Night's ability after I guessed the ending of "The Village" after viewing under a quarter of the film (and he owes Margaret Peterson Haddix royalties for ripping of her book.)

I wish I could believe that this movie is any good because it is a phenomenol idea.

Posted at 12:24AM on May 21st 2008 by Kelsey

9. "basically"

"I lost all faith in M. Night's ability"

Gosh, you would think in all of my complaining I would at least spell check.

Posted at 12:26AM on May 21st 2008 by Kelsey

10. Marky Mark's a good actor? Shaw... and pigs might fly out of my butt.

Posted at 2:02AM on May 21st 2008 by YouFaceTheTick

11. All this pre-hate is just nonsensical. I may not be his biggest fan, but the guy makes decent films. It seems like everyone is always comparing with his first film, and therefore hating the rest. He has his ups and downs. Just, please, wait until you've seen the film before you whine about it!

Posted at 5:21PM on May 21st 2008 by Maikel

12. To her hysterical performance in the otherwise pedestrian Failure to Launch and her enjoyable performance in Elf as well as her work in several indie productions that I doubt you would have bothered with (no CGI), Zooey has been shown herself to be an enjoyable actress to watch. Her role as the hippie school teacher in Bridge to Teribithia was also a stand out.

Posted at 6:43PM on May 21st 2008 by Bob

13.
The man makes movies that scare children, grandma's, and that Church people can enjoy without incurring the wrath of their God-like exalted Leaders. He makes soft Thrill and Soft Horror Genre Film that reach a wide Demographic. From a business vantage, we should all be so smart.

The products he delivers are profitable to studio and investors alike. That makes him important to the Industry. His Films make a profit, because a whole lot of people go to watch, and buy his products.

Though I personally find all of his films lacking that little extra something that thrills me as a film fan, I respect the man for any number of business related reasons. But given that I am neither a child, an old duffer, or a religious prig (myself enjoying edgier fair), I choose not to invest my entertainment dollars in watching his films. One day, maybe I pick up a five year old re-release from the "Used to be made in American - now all made in China discount Store, from the $5 discount bin.

I myself am right now in the development process of making a movie, my first. I retired at age 50 from my Insurance Business to be a Film Maker, knowing full well the difficulties that lie ahead for me, having made a rigorous study of Film (viewing in excess of 1000 films a year - 3 and more a night between 10pm-3am) and of the Industry for over two years before launching into my first venture.

My first film and the Production Company formed around it is Titled:

NECROMECCA


a Mystery/Horror/Thriller with a spiritual element. There will be blood and gore, but my purpose, I suppose, is to transfer my CRITICISM OF FILM AND THEIR MAKERS into a palpable reality. If one thinks they can do better, shut the fu_k up, got off you a_s and do it, --- I always say to myself.

In other words, to hell with complaining, any dim-wit can do that --- make a better movie --- make movies that are so good, that even people who don't like that kind of movie will just love your's.

You ever been in the car with a bad, inconsiderate driver who rails on everyone else for not getting out of their way?

????? WHY DON'T FILM CRITICS STOP COMPLAINING AND JUST GO MAKE BETTER MOVIES ?????

Because, unlike my extremely talented and humble-self ----- they can't.

Rick Denny

Remember the name

Posted at 11:42AM on May 23rd 2008 by WriterDirector Rick Denny

14. i gotta say, i honestly don't do this often at all, but when i read that i really couldn't help but post some sort of response. kudos that you're going out and doing what you want to do, really, i wish you a lot of luck. but speaking as someone who does write, work on and direct films (not bragging, really, just trying to give a little background regarding my experience) it kinda sounds like you're doing it for the wrong reasons. i mean, don't make the perfect movie that 'everyone' will like, it doesn't exist. make the movie you want to watch, tell the story you really want to tell that means something to you, don't make something because you hate critics. most critics that i know don't make movies because they don't want to, it's just not their medium. a lot of food critics love food, but don't like to cook-- being a critic doesn't mean you think you could do better, it means you enjoy critiquing. film theory isn't something that failed filmmakers go into, it's practically a whole other field, having to do with the study of film-- not saying "i could do better, but i won't".
great films-- not all great films, but quite a few-- didn't come about by people viewing the whole thing as a business, they came from people who really cared about the stories they were telling. i don't think m. night deliberately packaged his films so they could reach a wider audience, i just think he was deliberate in the way he told his stories-- with the craft of filmmaking, not gallons of fake blood-- and that happened to attract producers (the people whose jobs are to see the thing as a business). sometimes it's timing, talent and luck that make an auteur, not careful study. it might do your film some good to mull over why you're making it and if you really think those are the right reasons. and hey, if you feel you are, full steam ahead.

Posted at 12:50PM on Jun 3rd 2008 by noirorion

15. Suspenseful, frightening, scary are not necessarily derived from graphic and gory. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a good gorefest as much as the next guy but truly scary and/or suspenseful, give me Robert Wise's The Haunting any day. The day Eli Roth can make a movie as frightening as it is graphic he will then legitmately join the ranks of true masters.

Posted at 4:41PM on May 24th 2008 by Bob

16. I'm psyched for this one... I think it will restore M. Night's career - but of course I havent seen it yet so will reserve judgement.

Been noticing a few ImprovEverywhere styled re-enactments popping up around the place. This one from Sydney got some classic "shock" reactions:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXO9TdmZdA

Posted at 10:06PM on May 27th 2008 by Sam Stone

17. What begets me is how much Night's movies offend some of you. I understand the viewpoint of 'not liking' a movie, but to feel 'offended' by a movie seems a bit stupid to me. If any of you view Shyamalan's filmmaking as 'offensive', then I can't help but laugh and be amazed at how much power you willingly choose to give a film director over your emotions. All of you will go see this movie; you wouldn't be leaving comments on a movie-geek website if you hadn't already made that decision to yourself.

I always anticipate Spielberg films, even though he's directed some lame movies...1941, The Lost World, Amistad....C'mon, why does Steven get the pardon and Shyamalan get the shaft? Get over yourselves, people. Kudos to M. Night for taking risks, pushing the limits, and doing whatever it takes not to conform.

Posted at 5:19AM on May 28th 2008 by San Paulito

18. Kinda reminds me of a japanese horror flick called Suicide Club where people just started killing themselves or mutilating themselves.

Posted at 2:25PM on Jun 1st 2008 by Harold