The Happening

Venue: The Mall Cinema, Gadong

Show: 11.20pm Screening

Snacks: Bottle of mineral water and scabbed some of Adi's popcorn

I decided very last minute to catch a movie last night, it was either 'The Incredible Hulk' or 'The Happening', decided on 'The Happening' based on the fact that I hadn't watched an M. Night movie since 'Lady in the Water' when it came out, and since there had been so many "superhero" movies, i thought it would be a nice change of pace.

'The Happening' is directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and stars Mark Wahlberg (i know he's a pretty good actor, and he's been in some really good movies like boogie nights and the departed, but he will forever be remembered as Marky Mark, and the CK underwear model! haha), it also stars, Zooey Deschanel (i do have a thing for zooey deschanel even though i do think she's a bit weird, but i think it's her eyes that kill me), John "Luigi" Leguizamo, and i guess you could say "cameos" by Spencer "Spy Kids/The Kid" Breslin and Alan "Cameron Frye from Ferris Bueller" Ruck.

"Weird hot" (shout-out to DKD who also happens

to appreciate the hot eccentricity of Zooey Deschanel)

[ *SPOILER ALERT (POSSIBLY)*

The Movie is basically set around a series of events (or "happenings") that start in New York, and seem to start to spread around America, these events involve people suddenly seeming to go crazy and start offing themselves in the most convenient way for them at that moment in time. The rest of the movie is basically about Marky Mark and his funky bunch, trying to get away from the North-East and try and distance themselves from the "happenings". ]

I was kinda hyped about this movie, i'd seen the trailers and thought that it looked pretty good, i was a bit disappointed by 'Lady in the Water' (I thought it was a bit "wishy-washy"), and i was looking forward to a decent flick from M. Night. I would'nt say that this is his best flick, but i'd definitely rate it higher than 'Lady in the Water' just because i preferred the x-files element of this movie, and maybe M. Night doing fantasy just isn't for me (I still think that no one does fantasy better than Guillermo Del Toro at the moment).

[*SPOILER ALERT*

I was 'pleasantly shocked' by the brutality and gore of the suicide scenes, particularly the earlier ones, like the construction workers walking off the scaffolding and plummeting to their deaths, actually now that i think more about it, the movie was dammmnnnn brutal! haha, epsecially with Spencer Breslin getting blown away by a shotgun!.]

I watched the movie with some friends, and some of em walked out of the movie going "wtf" thinking that the ending had something to do with "the power of love" hahahaha, i guess they were expecting more, but i thought it was pretty good, i suppose at some point the movie does go a lil' "B-grade" due to the gore of the suicides, and i did find myself squirming a bit, haha, but if anything, i wasn't too impressed by the overall "environmental" message of the movie, i'm guessing that's what M. Night's message is from the movie, but hey give the guy credit for coming up with another unique and original plot.

Rating: 3/5

Last say:

Aprilsky will probably dig this movie because of the x-files element, but he might be a bit disappointed due to the lack of aliens... (See i can do x-files, i am not an alien hater! haha, so long as the genres don't get spliced!), and word of caution for people watching with Aprilsky, beware of spoilers! especially in drawings! haha...

King Shen, let's watch another movie, something better than superhero gayvie please... haha...