The Happening Review RETRACTION

The Happening

a.k.a
The Green Effect

New Zoozameter Reading: 90%


"There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it" - Sir Alfred Hitchcock

I'm writing this retraction because some information was brought to light for me. I knew that M. Night Shyamalan did option an old version of this movie to many major movie studios but was rejected early last year. But Shyamalan shouldn't have succumbed to the "Suits", and kept true to his original idea.

The Happening [a.k.a The Green Effect] tells the story that is layered with sentimental meaning so powerful that it would be difficult to ignore. Ergo, why I'm writing this retraction.

In my eyes, the end product deserves a 6 or a 7 out of 10. But the true notion and idea behind Shyamalan's intention deserve a 10!

The Happening tells beautiful story whereby a married couple rediscover their love for each-other in a time where the world is taken by a cataclysmic event. Unlike how most people might see it, the movie is NOT about blood, guts, and gore. It is evident in how the director himself removed the more nasty and grotesque scenes [zoo keeper feeding himself to lions], which I thought was edited out here in Kuwait through the censorship department of the Ministry of Mass Communication.

The original title [The Green Effect] didn't only refer to the plants violent attack against humanity, it refered to the reconciliation between Alma and Elliot in the end. The significance of the color green was ultimately eliminated when, after not having his original script picked up, Shyamalan had rewritten the screenplay to suit what "hollywood" thought the audience wanted to see.

Those who have seen, or are planning on seeing the movie will know the answer to Alma's [Zooey] question about the mood ring "what color was love?" It is a shame that we didn't get to see the end product that was inteded by this extremely talented young writer, director, and producer. This movie, as did some of his earlier works, wil most probably be dismissed as overrated garbage.

Shyamalan, fascinated with the aspect of human nature, endeavors to expose as much as he can through the tool he knows best - film making. And I personally think that he had one hell of a script to produce, but was stripped from the chance to express his true genious cos of the "Suits".

All in all, the movie gets a 90% on the Zoozameter after careful and elaborate observation.

To read an excellent review on what Shyamalan truly had in mind, click here.

The Happening: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

The movie is still stuck in my head, but not for the reasons you might think. It's the music. Captivating composer James Newton Howard comes back to score another M. Night Shyamalan movie and I think it's one of his greatest yet.

I am not an avid follower of soundtracks, composers, or musicians, but James Newton Howard is fantastic. Each note of his blends harmoniously with the next creating a sense of urgency and serenity at the same time.

Maya Beiser's cello solos are so riveting! Her performance is breathtaking. She's the glue that holds this amazing album together. I swear to God, you'll love her! :-o

Howard has yet to disappoint [Unlike Shyamalan, whom I still love :p], and presents us with a majestic work of art that will forever echo in the coliseum of my memories.

That God for iTunes, huh? :p~
$9.99 is a bargain for this exquisite piece of musical art.

Take care & Stay safe,
The Archer '08

Movie Review: The Happening 75% [being kind]

Zoozameter: 75%

Movie Synopsis:

M. Night Shyamalan directs this thriller about a father (Mark Walhberg) who tries to escape with his family after an apocalyptic event. THE HAPPENING costars Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo.

Cinescape Experience:

I cannot believe that they are actually editing out graphic death scenes now. As a horror/gore fan, I am appalled by this. The Ministery of Mass Comm/ Cinescape should be buried alive and have their grave spat on.

Movie Experience and Review:

The lighting was enthralling. The direction was superb. The effects were captivating. But the acting... uhh the acting was mainly ok, but just downright stupid at times. Mr. Shyamalan should have spent more time working on the script, just as much time as he spent tryign to make it strange and otherworldly.

The mic did appear at the top of the screen in some shot, which really bothered me at times.

M. Night Shyamalan writes, directs, and produces another thriller, in which he portrays moments of urgency and drama through aiming but missing on the Hitchcockian style.

The Happening starts out with an eerie couple of scenes that would send chills down anyone's spine, but takes a wrong turn after 30 to 40 minutes into the movie.

*Spoilers Start*

There are some interesting sequences, where that viral video on Youtube [a large group of people stand still at the exact same time] was adapted on screen. Another creepy sequence is were a man actually turns on a huge lawnmower and lays down on the grass and gets "mower-ed".

The scene that was edited out is where a zoo keeper provokes a lion and gets eaten alive. Thanks to Jerrod, I got my hands on the final script four weeks ago, and some preproduction daily footage.

*Spoilers End*

There were some fun jumps here and there, but other than that zilch. It was as if the movie went from filming to cinemas before entering preproduction. Okay, maybe I'm being brutal, or maybe I've just built it up way too much in my mind, but the movie was just ok for me.
Zooey Deschanel was really good considering what she had to work with. I loved every scene she was in, and Shyamalan was Mark Walhberg was not very good. He was clearly not the best choice to play the lead role. The kid was good, but annoying at times.

Advice:

Go and see it if you REALLY want to, but otherwise skip this one and wait for a decent screener or DvdRip to appear online, or rent it from iTunes in a few months.

Take care & Stay safe
The Archer '08