The Happening Movie Reviews

I have always been a fan of Night Shyamlan , he has a different and unique way of presenting normal things around us , look scary. But I always get disappointed at the end , coz he always makes his movies end with a question in the viewer's mind , so does this !

Comes this , what a start , scary though , with literally lively bodies walking and falling off the roofs , moves the hell out of you !

Then comes the chase and that too by whom? The trees , or the grass , or the greenery overall ??Oh My Gosh , somebody please tell me , finally what the hell it was?

Both the plot and cinema have been put to work in a great way. Mark Wahlberg is as good as always but he did not have much scope to show his talents , as the whole movie required running and running and running .

At the end , when everything is shown to be perfectly fine after few months , there goes it again , but what the hell is it ? This movie might leave a question like, " should we stop planting trees and go against the motto of " GO GREEN" or is this a scary way of God to show us His powers?the question remains unanswered !I dont think you would dislike the movie , its a one time watch for sure !

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Director– Manoj “Night” Shyamalan

Screenplay– Manoj “Night” Shyamalan

Plot

In New York City , a strange phenomenon has happened. All of a sudden, people are becoming like zombies and killing themselves. What is initially thought as a terrorist chemical attack, is found out to be something different. This enemy has no face. It has no 5 senses. It is invisible. It is nature.

Apparently, trees, plants and all other flora and fauna have started to release toxic chemical gases which get carried by winds and whoever happens to smell it(which is practically everyone), gets a neurological disorder where they instantly kill themselves. In midst of this crisis, a young science teacher, Elliot(Mark Wahlberg) and wife Alma(Zooey Deschanel) flee the city of Philadelphia where the virus may be heading towards the west of the country along with Elliot’s friend and math’s teacher, Julian(John Leguizamo) and his daughter Jess(Ashlyn Sanchez).

But wherever they go, the virus has spread rapidly. Now the only option is to outrun the virus in places where its not yet attacked. However when it comes to nature, there are some things which are unexplained.

Critic’s Comments

Shyamalan has got back to what he is doing best, making movies with the supernatural element. Mark Wahlberg has acted well and the rest of the star cast has been good as well. With minimal use of special effects, Shyamalan has managed to create a thriller without any of the clichéd elements. The script may be a bit oft-repeated but the treatment is better. Comparisons with The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable are inevitable, but then even Shyamalan will find it difficult to match to the standards he has set. After the disastrous, Lady in the water, Shyamalan has finally come out with a movie that was expected from him. This is one person who is going the Hitchcock way and making movies with subjects that no one else will have the mindset to make. Good movie and worth watching on a dark rainy night.

Psst –

*1) Shyamalan purposely released the film worldwide on 13th June 2008 which is Friday the 13th. Supposed to be a very unlucky day according to many people world wide.

2) The movie was written specifically with Wahlberg in mind.

3) Movie was shot in 44 days starting 6th August 2007. Exactly 9 years after The Sixth Sense in 1999. Post production took nearly 8 months.

4) Director Trademark – Shooting in hometown Philadelphia and black humor amongst thriller scenes. Another trademark, haunting music by favorite, James Newton Howard.

5) Made on a budget of $57 million (Quite high for a film of this stature), it grossed $30 million in the opening weekend in USA alone.

6) This was the first mainstream hollywood production venture for Indian Company UTV and its honchos – Ronnie and Zarina Screwvalla.*

Quotes

1)       “An event is happening.”

2)       “I’d thought I’d say it before I die.”

3)       “Nature is trying to tell us something here. Its like a spot of rash.”

*Oops-

I was quite engrossed. Didn’t see any goofs.*

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Spent £27 on two tickets of this movie this weekend. Just wanted it to be avarage movie with bit of drama, suspense and some good logic behind it! but after watching this mutlimillion blockbuster?! I am highly disappointed. M Night Syamalan has totally lost his edge as a director, It's not as half as the signs or the Village. The story is about something happens in the environment in North Eastern US States of New York and Pennsilvania which switch off people's sense of safety and they started to kill themselves, throwing themselves from roofs, shooting themselves etc.

The protagonist of the movie Elliot Moore(Mark Wahlberg) is a professor in the university in Pennsilvania and suddenly find himself in the middle of this madness where people are killing themselves around him and he leads group of people to safety as far as possible from the centre of the action, can he save them? can he save himself? What's the reason behind this phenomena, is it a terrorist attack or is it an act of nature or aliens? You will find out the reason only if you watch The Happening. [Not worth watching though] The concept is really engaging but the narration and the suspense is not unfortunately.

But is it worth watching in the theatres? NO. Seriously watch it when a DVD is out or when it's on the TV, don't waste your money. Really disappointed on M Night Syamalan, I think this is the second movie produced by UTV with big hollywood production house, though they may have already recovered the money from the bumper US opening and decent Euroean showing I don't think many people liked it, especialy critics and people like me who spent fortune on watching the movie despite have their unlimited monthly movies card.:-( All and a poor effort from M Night Syamalan and another time waster.

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I know there are lot of bad reviews on this movie. But seriously guys you have to see this one for yourself. Leave behind the memories from Sixth Sense and Signs and forget all the reactions you got from others on this one. So, clear your mind and steer your car to the movie hall to see “The Happening”.

I am afraid I can’t say that the plot was great or how great the starting or the ending was. But, I was thrilled by these great moments thrown at me one after another. I almost stepped into the shoes of the characters and was reacting to every sound I heard. The ride was so thrilling and gripping that it kept me glued to my seat from start to end. I didn’t try to think of the story or the theory as to what was happening.

I was lost in the moment of every scene unfolding on screen. As always with Shyamalan movies, the background score was a character in this movie and James Newton Howard again proves his command over the medium. Actor Mark Wahlberg was literally breathing the lead character and keeps you with him throughout. He had the entire movie on his shoulders along with the background score and the two of them together delivered the goods for me.

The humour has been woven beautifully into the screenplay. While the audience is rejoicing a lighter moment on the screen, a scene makes the audience go “ah!” followed by a pin drop silence. That’s when you realize the power of cinema and the magic of M.Night Shyamalan. The only disappointment was that the movie came to an end really fast.

It’s almost like you got into a roller coaster ride that you are enjoying as it goes faster and faster and suddenly comes to an halt. I wanted to ride more. Shyamalan’s “The Village” and “The Lady In The Water” didn’t work for me. But, “The Happening” was really happening for me. So, Finally all I have to say is the movie may or may not leave a impression on you, but you definitely don’t want to miss the experience of being part of “The Happening”. And I have to add that UTV and Ronnie Screwvala’s second Hollywood outing was a great pick.

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This is the worst movie I have paid and gone to see in the cinemas. Manoj N. Shyamalan has really lost it. I don’t know whether it is fame or whatever it is….has affected the young guy and he is now completely depleted of his creative abilities in script-writing.

This movie has no storyline; it wasted the talents of good actors like Mark Wahlberg and others. Half way through the movie, I felt it was not going anywhere, and was rambling along. The whole movie was just a waste of time.

My son and I came out of the cinema hall feeling used and abused. It had nothing to captivate or engage the audience.  The only thing commendable in the movie was the cinematography and the sound design.

But what’s the use if technically it is good but has no story to tell!! I don’t want to even waste my time telling you the storyline as there is none.

It is a complete waste of time and money and I advise everyone not to waste their hard-earned money to see this useless movie.

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