Was 'Signs' a Good Movie? Debunking a Few Plot Holes and Analyzing the Film
I just finished watching it and I am WTF did I just watch…
I mean, the aliens were real, right?
Hmmmm… M. Night Shyamalan is really a hit and miss director. The movie was a commercial success, making $408.2 million against a budget of $72 million. It has a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Personally, I found the film quite thrilling when I watched it for the first time.
Kudos to the acting skills of Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix.
However, I like to point out obvious glaring plot holes in movies and totally debunk them. For example, the aliens being dissolved by water. Problem solved. Imagine if they walk past a pond of these: Seriously, make a better plot next time, Shyamalan.
The Fiery Culmination vs. Debatable Plot
I would say Signs is one helluva perfect movie till it culminated with the obviously sheepish climax. Let's face it: the alien invasion tied to crop circles is a perfectly believable setup, but the way it wraps up leaves much to be desired.
Some may argue that M. Night Shyamalan has this unnecessary habit of introducing twists in his movies. Sometimes it is brilliant, but on other occasions, it diminishes the quality of the movie. Signs is one example of the latter.
Phenomenal Acting and Soundtrack
Despite the flaws, Signs is great otherwise and is far too underappreciated. The acting is phenomenal, with Mel Gibson hitting it out of the park. James Newton Howard does an excellent job with the eerie and chilling soundtrack. The story is quite believable and is still quite close to my heart. The performances from the child artists – Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin – are top notch.
The movie is well-paced and takes its time to establish the characters and their close-knit relationships. Yes, crop circles; we all love them, and the idea of an alien invasion connected to crop circles is enthralling!
Shyamalan's Second-Best Film
I personally consider Signs as M. Night Shyamalan's second-best film, only after The Village. I know many would be surprised with my rating of The Village as his best, instead of The Sixth Sense. But I have my reasons to love The Village. It's worth a look!
Further Reading: What are some movies similar to Signs? Check out these other thrilling alien invasion films that you might enjoy: