Signs
(2002/Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C- Film: C-
An odd
film that has become somewhat odder thanks to the career turns of Mel Gibson,
M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs (2002)
odd in ways no one could have imagined.
It may remain one of the director’s biggest hits to date, which makes me
realize a moneymaking theory I have about his films: The less conclusively
deconstructive and smug, the more money they make.
In this
case, we get a suspense thriller where aliens from outer space are leaving
fancy patterns in a family’s cornfield and that family is headed by a widower
(Gibson) and includes his two children and their uncle (Joaquin Phoenix) are
enjoying their home and life when reports about such markings all over the
media mark the ones in their backyard.
The ending may be unsatisfying, but the film stretches out this concept
for most of the time. Unfortunately, it
is just too thin and we have seen this kind of film before, but done much
better.
There is
also too much humor in Shyamalan’s screenplay, but that made it digestible
enough for the public, explaining its success, though it is not a film many
talk that much about since. Gibson has
nothing to do with that one way or the other, but too many Shyamalan
disappointments since have and no, he did not become the next Spielberg.
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image has small problems throughout pointing
to the likelihood of an older HD transfer, but it is very good looking despite
the flaws and one of the reasons this did well is the cinematography of
Director of Photography Tak Fujimoto, A.S.C., still best known for The Silence Of The Lambs (reviewed
elsewhere on this site) and his style helps the weak script. The PCM 48/24 5.1 mix is even more
impressive, with rich, thick sound throughout, a solid soundfield,
well-recorded dialogue and James Newton Howard’s decent score benefits as
well. I fall else disappoints, it is a
very good back catalog sound demo.
Extras
include a six-part making of featurette, Shyamalan’s first alien movie,
storyboard multi-angle comparison feature and deleted scenes. Fans will like it, but the rest will fall
asleep or play sound highlights.
- Nicholas Sheffo
