The Witch Doctor

My husband and I are in the middle of a film festival of sorts. It started Sunday night with M. Night Shyamalan's (who in our house is known as M. Night Shama Lama Ding Dong) "Lady in the Water". Say what you will, critics, but I LOVED it! Really, really loved it. I was floored to see that it did so stinker in the theaters.

I wouldn't recommend this film to everyone. I mean, if you're cynical and jaded you could very easily pick the ridiculous premise apart. But I had no idea what to expect and just let the movie take me on a ride. A ride that I loved.

Critics were super, um, critical because M. Knight Shyamalan cast himself not in a bit part, but as a fledgling writer who's work would influence a great leader of the future. Critics saw this as hubris, but I saw it, well, I agree with this review from Christian Spotlight:

"The decision of Shyamalan to include himself in the film as one who will change the world is in no way offensive to me. I didn't see it as a sign of arrogance. I actually saw it as a personal confession. He was being vulnerable for us. Opening up his heart and telling us what he desires to be. Kind of like the child that shouts out with no inhibition or fear of misjudgment that he will one day be a police officer, fire-fighter or an astronaut. He will one day make a difference in this world. That is what I took from Shyamalan's performance in this film."

My love of Lady in the Water sparked my desire to see the rest of M. Night Shyamalan's films. So far, I'm not impressed.

Last night we watched "Signs". I'm not super into the whole alien invasion thing. While I did scream out loud at one point, I spent much of the movie unimpressed. What I DID like about the film was that its' ultimate message wasn't about aliens at all. Sure there were crop circles, lights in the sky, and full-on alien encounters, but these were all a backdrop to the journey of the main character, Rev. Graham Hess.

I liked how I felt as the credits started rolling. Other than that, I wasn't super impressed with the film.

The Village is next on the list.