From AICN, [excerpt] A year or so ago, the script for "The Happening" (then titled "The Green Effect") came across my desk and, while it inspired a mixed reaction, I really thought it was step up from both "The Village" and "Lady in the Water" and more in-tone with "Signs". A straight-forward disaster epic on a human scale, "The Happening" seemed to be, from the script, exactly what Shyamalan needed to win back an audience and redeem himself. And on the positive side, I thought he couldn't get much worse.
I was wrong.
"The Happening" is a terrible, terrible movie. I mean, it's bad on an epic scale. It's so bad that I can't possibly tell you how bad it is without understating the point or making it sound like I'm picking on the film. But let me stress: this is not pent-up Shyamalan aggression or a desire to see him fail. This is bad in a jaw-dropping "they can't really be serious, can they?" kind of way. The closest comparison I can draw is to Neil LaBute's "Wicker Man" and, like that film, the only consolation I can offer potential theater-goers is that you might want to see it just to be in on the ground floor when the film gets its ass handed back to it.
Go here for the rest.
16 comments:
I've hated "Marky" Mark Wahlberg ever since that awful, soul-deadening Feel the Vibrations song hit the radio like a sucky sledgehammer and I've always been secretly disappointed whenever he's in a good movie. Don't remember that shitty song? Well here are some sample lyrics:
"Donnie D's on the back up
Drug free, so put the crack up
No need for speed
I'm the anti D-R-U-G-G-I-E my
Body is healthy
My rhymes make me wealthy
And the Funky Bunch helps me
To bring you a show with no intoxication
Come on feel the vibration
Yeah
Can you feel it baby?
I can too
(fat black gospel singer belts out awful chorus)
It's such a good vibration
It's such a sweet sensation"
I've spent the last half hour fuming about how much I hate that song. "Song" isn't really the word I'm looking for - "inexcusable turd masquerading as a song" - is more like it.
See, Mr. Wahlberg may have correctly recognized that the Funky Bunch would provide a launching pad for his future acting career but he should have known that some people noticed how bland, irritating and utterly disgraceful the song ultimately was. Some of us will never forget or forgive.
Had about as much edge as Nancy Reagan.
According to Wikipedia, Good Vibrations reached #1 on the American Music charts in 1991. Shame on those of you who helped it get there. I have a sneaking suspicion that DCD owned a copy...
Great. I was searching for images of the bastard and for some reason he was only photographed in his underwear back in his Marky Mark incarnation, presumably to show off his washboard stomach that DCD presumably found so attractive. Now my coworker thinks I'm gay.
WHOA! Dude, just because I liked Duran Duran you don't have to get all nasty!
For your information I wouldn't know a Funky Bunch song if it bit me on the behind - I find it interesting that you seem to know so much about them though....
Alright DCD, your story checks out...
Would anyone else like to publicly condemn or praise Marky Mark and/or the Funky Bunch?
i know nothing of marky mark's music but i can't say i mind those underwear photos. if johnny's coworkers think he's gay, at least they'll also think he has good taste in men.
I liked Wahlberg in most of movies I've seen him in. I loved the "The Italian Job", also one of the few American films Jason Statham doesn't have to be embarrassed about.
JSP you have to pick your battles, soon you will have nothing to watch or listen to.
Man, I made a lot of typos in that post!
movie-wise i liked him in "boogie nights" and "the departed".
I think Wahlberg is a fine actor but I can't really come up with any reason JSP shouldn't go on hating him. Here's a story:
When those underwear pics first emerged as ad posters in NYC my gay roommate managed to liberate one and wanted to put it up in the apartment. I didn't object on principle but rather because of the picture itself.
I can't find it right now but it featured Marky Mark looking straight at the camera pointing his arms straight up in the air. He was making this neanderthalish "I'm flexing instensely" face and because of the camera angle the viewer was looking right in his eyes. The only spot this could really go on our wall was directly across the hall from my bedroom door, which meant I'd see that face every morning when I got up, his eyes and mine at about the same level.
It was the only apartment decoration I ever vetoed.
Oh yeah... I have to admit it's quite gratifying that Shyamalan's movie sucks. I find I can't wish enough bad things on him after Lady in the Water. Jerk.
(I can't believe he's making the Avatar movies. Ugh.)
I like Wahlberg a lot. He seems to have a pretty good nose for scripts that play to his strengths.
It bums me out to see this movie get panned, though. I keep holding out hope that Shyamalan is going to fulfill the promise of his first couple flicks. I bought into some hype from a film studies prof friend who proclaimed him the next Hitchcock after Sixth and Unbreakable. Oops.
Though I didn't hate the Village as much as everyone else. I never bothered to check out Lady in Water though.
Stay away from Lady, it's a horrible vanity project!
Yes, Lady in the Water is M. Night revealing his own meglomania with insultingly bad art. I recommend avoiding it, unless you want to get angry.
Just wondering if eBay makes it possible for you to sell [url=http://www.ticketchoice.com.au]concert tickets[/url] on the web? Do you know if you will discover any restrictions based on what country you are in?
My parents have just referred to as me and asked if i could "get rid" of their two tickets to a concert as they wont be able to make it due to an additional family event.
Apart from asking friends etc, i thought ebay would be an excellent place to sell them.
But whats ebay's policy on offering tickets? Ive heard alot about it around the news but ive forgotten what happened.
and if it matters, the concert is inside of this coming month
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Johnny Sweatpants STFU Mark is a talented actor, and that song was a dance song lyrics weren't exactly his strong point.
But that song was the jam back in the day.
Post a Comment