The Village

I went to watch "The Village" with my girl and her friends to help take her mind off her hand.

I'm a huge fan of M. Night Shyamalan's. I consider him a modern day auteur because you actually sense his directorial vision with each film. The tone and subject matter varies from film to film, but there is no mistaking his unique pacing, and story-telling style. Anyway, even though "The Village" is not considered as big a hit as "Signs" was, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

Without giving too much of the plot away, I really found the relationship between Lucius and Ivy to be the reason why this film touched me. It was the concept of a love that defies all things, even fear. Their love was so steadfast and pure, that it spoke to my sentimentality and I found myself getting weepy in the middle of the film. I haven't done that in ages. This is the kind of love that I've always longed for. The stability and assuredness of unselfish love. I looked over at FoxyLady in that moment, and squeezed her hand (her good one) tightly.

This film isn't really about horror. Audiences spend too much time focused on the puzzle. I think everyone goes in expecting big twists and turns, when really it's about human happiness and sorrow; loss and rebirth; and above all... hope.

Go see it, at least for the great acting and characters.

---

On another movie note, I've discovered the joy that is "Princess Mononoke". I was thrown by violence in an animated film (heck, I was raised by innocuous Disney and Warner Bros. 'toons) but was amazed by the animation and intensely mythic storyline. Highly recommended. I may be an anime fan yet!