Why is Unbreakable such a good (or bad) movie?

#1

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1/22/02 at 10:42pm

Kevin Porter
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I heard some people say that this was brilliant and some people say it sucked completely. I saw this and I feel I need to see it again because I was thinking about purchasing the DVD. So I was wondering what you guys think made this film so great or what made this film so horrible. Anyone want to chime in?

~Kevin

Danny Federici, we'll meet you in the land of hope and dreams

#2

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1/23/02 at 1:14am

Kevin Porter
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Should I buy Unbreakable?

I know this is a kick-butt DVD (Isn't it?) but I'm still a tad undecided about this movie. I know people said it was great and people say it sucked majorly. What do ya'll think about the movie itself? What makes so great or so horrible. And what do you think about the overall DVD quality. Thanks again.

~Kevin

Danny Federici, we'll meet you in the land of hope and dreams

#3

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1/23/02 at 1:34am

Scott Weinberg
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I absolutely loved Unbreakable. While I wouldn't call it a flawless film, Unbreakable has a somber and deliberate tone that I found very compelling.

The idea of a modern man believing he's a "super hero" could have failed in so many ways, but I think Shyamalan did a fantastic job. If he had done this movie BEFORE The Sixth Sense, I bet more people would like it.

I look at Unbreakable as a very cool movie prequel to a comic book that never existed. (Did that make sense?)

#4

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1/23/02 at 1:44am

Scott Weinberg
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This is one of those "love it or hate it" movies. I responded to your movie question in the other thread.

Regarding the DVD, I highly recommend it. I believe it was the first in the Vista Series, and if it wasn't I'm sure someone will correct me. The special features are quite extensive, the deleted scenes are particularly cool, and the packaging is very slick.

I'd say rent the movie first, then base your decision on how much you enjoyed it. Heck, even if you LOVE it, Unbreakable doesn't seem to be the kind of flick you would watch too often...

#5

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1/23/02 at 2:41am

Wes
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If the sale is still on it was at Hollywood Vid prev. viewed for $8.00.

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#6

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1/23/02 at 3:06am

Glenise
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I hated it but my cousin loved it.
I bought two copies of "Unbreakable" from Best Buy a while ago.
One for my Dad and one for myself.
Well, I watched the movie last year and it was slow at H***.
I still had my Dad's copy. (unopened).
I gave my Dad my opened copy and took his copy back to Best Buy and got my money back.
Actually, I only bought the movie because my Dad said it has a DTS soundtrack and was supposed to be a good movie.
When I got to Best Buy I found out that the director of this movie also directed "The Sixth Sense".
So I thought it must be a good movie.
I also thought "The Sixth Sense" was over hyped.
Ugh.
I couldn't see watching this movie again anytime soon.
The best part of the movie was when Samuel Jackson was in a wheelchair looking at some comic books and he wouldn't get out of the store.

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#7

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1/23/02 at 3:23am

DannyS
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6ht sense and unbreakable. one word. MARVELLOUS!

buy them now. both are so damn clever movies. the plots are very very intracate and deep, and require loads of viewings.. you pick up more each time. MASTERPIECES both of em.

even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day

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#8

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1/23/02 at 4:13am

Paul_D
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I think Shyamalan did a really admirable job, and Bruce Willis and Sam Jackson give great performances. But for me, the plot is just so uncinematic its untrue. The deliberate tone mentioned above is basically translated as (IMO) zero plot. The "plot" consists of basically him realising that hes a super-hero. That's it.

But that said, it could have been SOOOOOOOOO much worse. So for making it at least watchable, I give those involved a

!

But if this had originally been a book it would have been unfilmable!

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[c]\"Where did you take, this girl Jerry?\"[/c]

#9

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1/23/02 at 4:31am

Prentice Cotham
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I thought the movie was great. I've watched it twice and I love the whole, slow development of the characters.

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#10

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1/23/02 at 4:56am

Jeremy Anderson
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Some people say "slow." I say "deliberately paced." Unbreakable couldn't possibly live up to the hype machine that was The Sixth Sense... but taken on its own merits, it is one of the better movies in recent history. The performances are all dead-on perfect, the direction and cinematography fresh and interesting, and the soundtrack very dynamic and musical. Luckily, it's also a damn interesting movie in that it handles the comic book hero mythos more realistically than any movie before. While I would have liked to see more in the way of extras, given the inclusion of a second disc, this is still an excellent presentation of an excellent movie. Watch it at volume and be haunted by James Newton Howard's score, then scared by the sudden dynamic bursts of sound during the film's moments of revelation.

#11

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1/23/02 at 4:58am

Terrell
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I loved it, even moreso than Sixth Sense. The telling of the basic story of a superhero and a villian in such human terms, plus the performances by Willis, Jackson, and the yound boy drew me in.

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#12

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1/23/02 at 5:05am

TheoGB
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Unbreakable is a brilliant concept but I don't know that it made it to the screen in good shape.

As negatives it has a slow pace: it feels like a long movie and it takes too long with some parts of the story that really don't need it

Bruce Willis doesn't need/bother to change character from the Sixth Sense.

A REALLY terribly disappointing 'tacked-on' ending.

Personally I think this was wasted as movie, engaging though Jackson is (he totally carries the film). It would have made a fantastic mini-series with: some other writers involved in intervening episodes, most of the movie being the pilot, and the finale held back until the last episode of the series.

It could have been great but I think most people would agree that it's not quite there.

I'm surprised how many people hate it, though, because it really doesn't deserve that.

I Shot the Deputy

#13

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1/23/02 at 5:10am

TheoGB
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I've answered you in the other thread in Software. This is going to be confusing. Are mods able to merge these in one forum?

I Shot the Deputy

#14

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1/23/02 at 5:13am

mark_d
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Well, I adore this movie.

Why? Many reasons. There's the concept, the visuals, the score (excellent), the pacing, the fantastic performances all round. Shyamalan seems to be a bit of a Spielberg when it comes to getting performances out of youngsters.

Some scenes I find simply electrifying. David Dunn lifting weights, his son pulling the gun on him, the eventual confrontation with the murderer. Brilliant.

Mark

#15

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1/23/02 at 5:18am

JasonKrol
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although I thought there were some really good scenes in this movie, like mentioned above, and the train scene, I still though towards the end the movie got really "stupid". I was thinking that there was going to be something really supernatural at work..something interesting..and just to be dissappointed with the ending..wasnt worth the build up.

but, i guess all in all, the movie was entertaining..and Id probably watch it again..and who knows..maybe the second time around i wont expect as much and I might like it more..?

-Jason

#16

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1/23/02 at 5:29am

Rob_C
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I really liked this movie. Much better than the overrated Sixth Sense.

#17

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1/23/02 at 5:47am

Paul Mason
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I really liked the movie, not as much Sixth Sense though.

I think it's a sign of how good this movie is that it is almost a formulaic re-creation of the elements of Sixth Sense - and yet they still managed to make it very watchable and entertaining.

Warning Spoiler! Click to show

I'd like to have seen a more impressive super-hero by the end of the movie but I can see why they didn't do that. They wanted to play the "it can all be explained naturally" line as long as possible.

Maybe I'm dumb but I didn't spot the twist in either movie, but for me the one in Sixth Sense was more satisfying because I think it had a deeper impact on how you view the whole story.

#18

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1/23/02 at 6:07am

Ross Waite
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Personally, I really like Unbreakable. I have to agree with the comments that it is "deliberately paced"...excellent description IMO. I am a bit surprised it didn't do better at the box office.

The concept is great, and the execution is very good (again, IMO). In fact, I think the ending is very powerfull.
Yes, the characters are a little bit 2-dimensional...however, I think this may have been MNS' intent. I base this on the information provided with the extras.

Is it The Sixth Sense? No. But then, it wasn't supposed to be.

Oh yeah, I think the Vista Series release is rather well done.

...Just my $0.02 worth...

-Ross

#19

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1/23/02 at 6:24am

Kirsten
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I really loved this movie, but it seems that it is one of those love 'em or hate 'em kind of shows. Just after I had watched Unbreakable, we were discussing the story at work. I was surprised that I was the only one at the office who actually enjoyed the movie. Most of my co-workers disliked the show, but they were very vague in discussing why.

Personally, I liked the story. My only disappointment was that Willis did not do more with his "super hero powers" once he had discovered them. I feel that there could have been much more to the show, but nevertheless, it is worth seeing again.

#20

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1/23/02 at 6:29am

Jerome Grate
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Quoting the two guys on In Living Color (Men On Films)
HATED IT I watched it and watched it and I have to admit it intrigued you then poof, anyway I would get it.

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#21

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1/23/02 at 6:33am

DonRoeber
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I enjoy it more than the Sixth Sense, because I find it a bit more rewatchable.

Luckily, right at that moment, an unconscious Argentinean fell through my roof.

He was quickly joined by a dwarf dressed as a nun.

#22

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1/23/02 at 6:35am

Stephen B
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it is one of the best superhero movies ever. its real, dramatic and really well acted, willis really has come along way acting wise, i believe this is his best effort yet. but please, dont go in expecting x-men or superman. its a drama, not an action film.

I\'m Gonna Cook Ya, Then I\'m gonna Fu*ken Eat Ya.

#23

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1/23/02 at 7:26am

Patrick Sun
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(Spoiler below!)

Loved it. The movie was the about the journey of self-realization of David finally coming to grips with his extra-ordinary abilities, and choosing to do good with them. But just because David has these abilities, it doesn't mean he's mentally equipped to handle Elijah's revelation of the monstrous lengths he went to to find "him/David" In a "fight or flight" situation, David showed that he was still human in spite of his powers, and choose flight, calmed down, and had the authorities handle the situation.

Mainly it's the ending that polarizes audiences. Some people just can't get over the "captions" that explain the resolution of that particular development. For me, the film was done, there was no need to show all that other stuff when a few well-worded captions would do the trick.

I really enjoyed the care that Shyamalan took in translating many shots of classic comic book hero "poses/panels" as he build his story up. The psyche of a "super-hero" is a rather fragile thing when translated into a "real life" reality. Shyamalan was able to move the viewer from a 2-D world into a 3-D world with many more nuances/issues that could crop up with "reluctant" super-heroes.

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#24

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1/23/02 at 7:45am

Mike Broadman
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Unbreakable, like the Sixth Sense and, to a lesser degree, Memento, hinge upon the Big Surprise Ending that's supposed to shock us. With Sixth Sense, I knew something was up, but didn't guess the big surprise completely, so it was kind of cool. With Unbreakable, however, I knew the ending half-way through.

It's very gimmicky, and the gimmick fails for me. Then there's the idea that the guy has superpowers but doesn't realise it until some nutjob in a purple suit tells him.

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#25

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1/23/02 at 8:00am

Terrell
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He doesn't have superpowers in the sense that he would recognize them. His power is very subtle. Not like flying and x-ray vision.

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#26

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1/23/02 at 9:04am

Paul Mason
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Quote:

He doesn't have superpowers in the sense that he would recognize them. His power is very subtle. Not like flying and x-ray vision.

That's the film's biggest problem in a way - the story would have had bigger impact if his powers were less subtle, but then you'd lose the element of uncertainty about whether he really had powers or not.

So it's a balancing act and they got it about right.

Also about the ending - maybe we saw a different version in Europe but I don't remember any captions?

#27

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1/23/02 at 9:31am

Jack Briggs
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Though I screened my copy of the DVD just once, I couldn't fathom this film's appeal. I was so apathetic about it I never bothered to pop the second disc full of supplements into the player. I just didn't care.

The transfer is superb, though.

Maybe I'll give this one another try sometime in the near future.

#28

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1/23/02 at 10:18am

TheoGB
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Paul, the movie definitely ended with some text on the screen wrapping it all up in the preview I saw on Shaftesbury Ave. I think it looked shoddy as far as an ending goes, but there you go.

I Shot the Deputy

#29

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1/23/02 at 11:24am

Patrick Sun
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There are plenty of films that had a bunch of text "wrapping up the movie". Black Hawk Down is a recent example of this form of story-telling. Did the audience feel cheated that they didn't get to see that part of the story? I just don't understand the double standard (of films they like vs. don't like) when people bring up the objections to the text at the end of films.

Besides being born with super dense bones and tissue, David's other super-power was being able to see flashes of evil commited by people, something like a Spidey-sense, but it worked by tactile contact with people and it was for events in the past, so he's a bit psychic as well.

These are powers that don't call attention to you, and could easily be present in the "real" world unbeknowst to the person until someone shows them the truth about their extraordinary abilities.

I have to admit, being a life-long comic book reader, this film brings to life how a real-life 'super-hero' might materialize and function in our world.

The film touches on the issues of depression when such a person choeses to close himself off from being his true self all for the love of a woman. Once David discovers the truth of his gifts, his mental state becomes less depressed, and has to faced the responsibility of using his gifts for his internal proclivities, which is to be a protector of sorts.

But there's no point in trying to dictate taste in films. If a person hates the movie, they hate the movie. But if someone asks me why I love or hate a film, I do try to cite examples, rather than just give a thumbs up or down gesture.

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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#30

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1/23/02 at 12:30pm

Chauncey_G
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Another vote for really enjoying Unbreakable. I didn't feel this way immediately, though. After I watched it the first time, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. As time went on, I found myself thinking more and more about it and found myself really wanting to see it again. Upon subsequent viewings, my appreciation for it grew quite a bit. I think it is an intelligent and mature treatment of a genre (comic books) that is largely seen as being just the opposite. Very thought provoking (all the debate on the movie should prove that!).

I didn't mind the end captions; I actually thought they were a nice touch. I think one's view on this might be influenced by one's involvement in the world of comic books. I used to collect, but it got too expensive (so I got into Home Theater? What kind of sense does THAT make?

). The point is, when the captions came up I immediately recognized the comic book necessity of them. When Batman defeats a villan, they seem to always end up in Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, though you never really spend a lot of time actually watching Bats haul them to the Asylum, sign them over, give a statement as to what happened, etc. etc.. From a dramatic standpoint, it'd be a little dull. From a genre (comic book) standpoint, that's just not how it's done.

All in all an excellent film, IMO.

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