So, I saw it. Stray thoughts collected below
- I'd say it's worse than Unbreakable (which I think is decent-to-good and almost certainly my favourite Shyamalan) but better than Split (which I didn't like, but wouldn't consider particularly bad either) - probably helps that it, um, divides Kevin's screen time with David and Elijah but he still much ends up being more of a presence than I'd personally prefer (though that can't be helped since the other two are so subdued by design).
- I re-watched Unbreakable beforehand. There are a lot of minor call-backs.
- Interesting (if a little obvious) use of colours.
- First half is slow, perhaps too slow.
- I still remain fascinated by just how off-kilter his characterisation and dialogue tends to be, not necessarily in a so-bad-it's-good way but there is something about the way his characters interact at times (often in deliberately humourous manners) that is so distinctly...him. There's even an extended reference to the Salt Bae meme for some reason, which is on the level of that one guy from The Happening talking about hot dogs.
WARNING: "Glass" spoilers below
- I'm not sure if I missed something (ran late and walked in halfway through the credits sequence), but I'm wondering where exactly Elijah managed to get the shard of glass he uses to slit the orderly's throat. It seemed like the sort of thing that should've been foreshadowed so I do wonder if I simply missed something or if it's a mistake because it took me out of the movie for a bit.
- I do think it's interesting how this has got a clear meta reading that comes across as a mix of Shyamalan being self-reflexive about his cinematic output and also standing in defiance towards his critics (as represented by Dr. Staple and the cult aiming to keep down "special" individuals like the three leads being a particularly unsubtle metaphor, especially the scene where she attempts to convince them that they're not superhuman in a manner reminiscent of asking "why would water-allergic aliens invade a water-covered planet"?). On its own, that's not necessarily the most agreeable sentiment as "made for fans, not critics" has so easily become shorthand for "bad films made for brand-loyalty suckers" (especially when we're talking about a shared-universe threequel to a 20-year-old film from back when he was generally considered good). With Shyamalan in particular, it does seem somewhat earned considering just how bad of a beating he's taken over the years - he's flawed, but he's far from being one of the worst filmmakers out there as so many would have you believe. An interesting idea, but not particularly well-executed.
- Hell of a climax, enough so that I was like "wait, did that actually happen? Is this where this is going?"
- On a related note, there's also a certain endearing naivete to the fact that it actually goes for a "can't stop the signal" ending in 2019, but I think that does drive home the meta reading that people will respond to the "truth" i.e. the quality and concerns that his films do possess rather than remain ignorant because sinister forces (critics/haters) will attempt to suppress it no matter what.
- I do think it's interesting how this has got a clear meta reading that comes across as a mix of Shyamalan being self-reflexive about his cinematic output and also standing in defiance towards his critics (as represented by Dr. Staple and the cult aiming to keep down "special" individuals like the three leads being a particularly unsubtle metaphor, especially the scene where she attempts to convince them that they're not superhuman in a manner reminiscent of asking "why would water-allergic aliens invade a water-covered planet"?). On its own, that's not necessarily the most agreeable sentiment as "made for fans, not critics" has so easily become shorthand for "bad films made for brand-loyalty suckers" (especially when we're talking about a shared-universe threequel to a 20-year-old film from back when he was generally considered good). With Shyamalan in particular, it does seem somewhat earned considering just how bad of a beating he's taken over the years - he's flawed, but he's far from being one of the worst filmmakers out there as so many would have you believe. An interesting idea, but not particularly well-executed.
- Hell of a climax, enough so that I was like "wait, did that actually happen? Is this where this is going?"
- On a related note, there's also a certain endearing naivete to the fact that it actually goes for a "can't stop the signal" ending in 2019, but I think that does drive home the meta reading that people will respond to the "truth" i.e. the quality and concerns that his films do possess rather than remain ignorant because sinister forces (critics/haters) will attempt to suppress it no matter what.
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Iro's Top 100 Movies v3.0
I really just want you all angry and confused the whole time.