In a time where superheroes dominate the silver screen, M. Night Shyamalan has definitely managed to make his mark. Before superheroes like Iron Man and Doctor Strange were on the big screen, Shyamalan made a stand-alone superhero film which became bigger than expected.
The trilogy began with Unbreakable, continued with Split and now reaches its epic conclusion in Glass. The film constructs a new narrative of superheroes and supervillains only to simultaneously analyze that chronicle.
David Dunn, played by Bruce Willis, is happy to be a low-rent superhero, beating up petty crooks but when out on one of his "walks," he “casually” bumps into Kevin Crumb, played by James McAvoy, the villain brute of the film. Dunn then suits up and rescues the girls who Crumb abducted. The fight scenes between Dunn and Crumb are beautifully choreographed and really deserve more attention. Willis is already sitting a bit high on the age scale at 63, and it becomes obvious during these scenes, but it adds a realistic truth to the movie which should not be touched.
Far from being pleased with Dunn, the authorities assign him to a psychiatric hospital along with Crumb. The special asylum wing has a third occupant, Elijah Price, played by Samuel L. Jackson, the brittle boned super-intelligent villain who has brooded there for years. Though Jackson’s performance is a highlight of this movie, it isn’t enough to save the awkward scenes between him and McAvoy’s character, Crumb.
Dr. Ellie Staple, played by Sarah Paulson, believes that the trio are suffering from some type of Superhero Syndrome and wants to break them from this delusion. She believes that their supposed enhanced powers can be explained away by the use of sleight of hand and people seeing what they wanted to see. Paulson killed it in her role as Staple but viewers are ultimately left in the dark when it comes to who she is really working for which doesn’t allow the movie to move forward as easily as it could.
The game then commences. With the three main characters’ stories now being weaved together before the viewers eyes, it can get a bit confusing at times. Shyamalan can’t seem to make up his mind whether he is being ultra serious or light hearted. At times it’s hard to know if you’re supposed to laugh, cringe, or shiver at how Price introduces himself as Mr. Glass.
The film takes what you thought you knew about superhero movies and chucks it out the window. Now, whether this makes Shyamalan a genius or just a glorified “movie hipster,” that’s up to you.
This film will delight, annoy, and sadden, which makes it such a complex piece of work that is worth the watch.
The trilogy began with Unbreakable, continued with Split and now reaches its epic conclusion in Glass. The film constructs a new narrative of superheroes and supervillains only to simultaneously analyze that chronicle.
David Dunn, played by Bruce Willis, is happy to be a low-rent superhero, beating up petty crooks but when out on one of his "walks," he “casually” bumps into Kevin Crumb, played by James McAvoy, the villain brute of the film. Dunn then suits up and rescues the girls who Crumb abducted. The fight scenes between Dunn and Crumb are beautifully choreographed and really deserve more attention. Willis is already sitting a bit high on the age scale at 63, and it becomes obvious during these scenes, but it adds a realistic truth to the movie which should not be touched.
Far from being pleased with Dunn, the authorities assign him to a psychiatric hospital along with Crumb. The special asylum wing has a third occupant, Elijah Price, played by Samuel L. Jackson, the brittle boned super-intelligent villain who has brooded there for years. Though Jackson’s performance is a highlight of this movie, it isn’t enough to save the awkward scenes between him and McAvoy’s character, Crumb.
Dr. Ellie Staple, played by Sarah Paulson, believes that the trio are suffering from some type of Superhero Syndrome and wants to break them from this delusion. She believes that their supposed enhanced powers can be explained away by the use of sleight of hand and people seeing what they wanted to see. Paulson killed it in her role as Staple but viewers are ultimately left in the dark when it comes to who she is really working for which doesn’t allow the movie to move forward as easily as it could.
The game then commences. With the three main characters’ stories now being weaved together before the viewers eyes, it can get a bit confusing at times. Shyamalan can’t seem to make up his mind whether he is being ultra serious or light hearted. At times it’s hard to know if you’re supposed to laugh, cringe, or shiver at how Price introduces himself as Mr. Glass.
The film takes what you thought you knew about superhero movies and chucks it out the window. Now, whether this makes Shyamalan a genius or just a glorified “movie hipster,” that’s up to you.
This film will delight, annoy, and sadden, which makes it such a complex piece of work that is worth the watch.