Customer Reviews

Unbreakable (Two-Disc Vista Series)

5 star:		(305)
4 star:		(173)
3 star:		(90)
2 star:		(83)
1 star:		(86)

 

 

These days any film associated with comics is likely to be a special effects extravaganza full of action and short on character development. Well director M. Night Shyamalan has taken us in a different direction, (no surprise there). His film, "Unbreakable", explores the action comic philosophy without becoming an action comic itself. You won't see men in spandex leaping from tall buildings to save the day. What you will see is a thoughtful investigation of the unusual skills we humans may or may not have, and the choices we make regarding their use.

I have a talent for putting holes in T-shirts. My sister can permanently stop any watch she wears for a few weeks. It's hard to see either of us becoming crime fighters or maniacal masterminds on the strength of these talents but it does makes you think. Let's stretch our imaginations a little further. What if a man had the uncanny luck to avoid virtually all injury or illness? Could this be significant? Would he even notice? Where would it lead him?

Unbreakable introduces us to such a man. Bruce Willis plays David Dunn, the sole survivor of a tragic train derailment that killed the other 131 passengers. David walks away without a scratch and barely notices his fifteen minutes of fame on the local news channels. But at least one other person takes note of David's uncanny good fortune. Elijah Price is an art dealer, played convincingly by Samuel L Jackson. His gallery specializes in comic art and he is very passionate about the seriousness of his chosen profession and it's medium.

Elijah believes that action comics represent an ancient wisdom, exaggerated and commercialized but still containing an essence of truth. His theory is that there are people with extraordinary abilities and that these people have a destiny. Whether these people become legendary hero's or any other larger than life figure depends on them realizing their destiny and fulfilling their potential. In David Dunn, he suspects lies the heart of a hero and Elijah's obsession soon drags David and his family into a new world.

Shyamalan takes his time with this story. It could have very easily been boring, because when boiled down, little actually happens. However, Unbreakable avoids that trap and becomes instead, a strange mixture of longing, suspense and doubt. We truly get to know David's wife Audrey and his son Joseph. They are not an atypical family; marital problems, boredom and some other dysfunctions feature at the start of the story. In a way, David's gradually more serious attempts to explore his "gift" become the catalyst to improve his home life.

The sub-plot of David's crumbling relationship with Audrey, (Robin Wright), is not fully explored but we are given several clues that make it interesting. David is chasing job offers in another city, even after the accident little emotion passes between he and Audrey, and they sleep separately. All of which points to a lack of love. But to counter this we discover that David sacrificed a promising football career to capture Audrey's heart and, even in the hardest times, he has remained faithful to her. I like these quiet story lines, where nothing is forced down your throat and you have to work it out on your own.

By far the most interesting character is Elijah. Born with a brittle bone disease, his life has been crowded with pain, torment and ostracism. At school he was taunted with the moniker, "Mr. Glass", and to an extent he has embraced this title. If you look closely, you will see that he is always close to glass, for example, his fragile glass walking stick. Elijah is a fighter. His mother headed off a life of seclusion when he was a depressed boy and convinced him to accept life's challenges, eventually leading to his becoming a professional success. Elijah's passion and conviction are magnetic. He not only draws David and his son into the world of duty/destiny but the audience is forced to believe, long before David starts to.

Unbreakable is a subtle film about taking risks, acknowledging hope and following dreams. Whether we have special gifts or not, it challenges us to take a look around and try to find opportunities to make a difference; to stand up to the small and large evils in this world and do our part. I can only hope we see more of these inspiring characters in future films. I want to feel this way again.

It takes a patient movie-goer to appreciate Unbreakable, and the movie was admittedly hampered by horrible advertising which marketed it as a supernatural thriller. Hell the pace here is slower than The Sixth Sense, which is saying more about it's "thriller" aspects than an entire paragraph could describe. Still, it's an emotional, dramatic journey and if you let yourself you can easily be captivated as it unfolds before you. The story is about Bruce Willis' character being, as the trailer and title suggest, Unbreakable. Samuel L. Jackson plays a man to whom life has dealt a bad hand, who's trying to show Bruce that there's more to him than he could possibly imagine. From there the movie delves into superhero theology that is even more brilliant in retrospect and subsequent viewings. Looking back, I truly believe this to be M. Night Shyamalan's best film thus far. From the writing to the direction, his attention to detail and wonderful timing is on magnificent display in this film.

Unbreakable is incredible.

David Dunn ( Bruce Willis) is the sole survivor of a massive train wreck, and does not even suffer a single scratch. Elajah Price ( Samuel L Jackson)has a condition that leaves his bones extremely vulnerable to breaking and develops the nickname "Mr. Glass". He is also a comic book specialist. His theory is that comic book heroes walk the earth, and due to the recent events, Elajah suspects that David is one of them. The theory is based on the spectrum of life. At one end is Elajah who is incredibly weak and extremely vulnerable. At the other end is someone who is extremely strong and invulnerable. At first David refuses to believe. But Elajah soon convinces David to look into his past. David soon discovers that he has never been sick, never been injured, has exceptional strength, and possesses a unique gift that others don't....

M. Night Shyamalan made one of the most popular horror films in history with "The Sixth Sense". But in my opinion, "Unbreakable" is his best film and extremely underrated. While people often criticize this film for being too slow, and hard to understand, it still continues to be one of my favorite films. The fact that the films move slowly, is what gives the film its brilliance. The events unfold at a pace that really lets you soak in the story and what the characters are going through. The story succeeds on five different levels. The first being the trouble with David's job as a security guard and his fight to find his place in the world. The second is the trouble with his marriage, and David's relationship with his wife Audrey ( Robin Wright Penn).The third is the endless need to proove Elajah's theory wrong. The fourth is with David's son Joseph ( Spencer Treat Clark) and how he thinks his dad is a hero. The fifth being what David does with his life, after he finds the truth. All of these aspects are blended together beautifully to create a well rounded story. M. Night Shyamalan is also known for his endings. The ending to "Unbreakable" will blow you away and is extremely shocking! Bruce Willis, Samuel L Jackson, Spencer Treat Clark, and Robin Wright Penn are all spectacular in their roles. Each bring an important part to the story and are equally captivating. Finally, the camera work, set designs, and use of color are amazing, and really bring the story to life.

The VISTA SERIES DVD however, might be the thing of all. The extras are out of this world. They really let you see the film in a whole new light. You get additional scenes, a behind the scenes documentary, and much much more. This is definately a must own

Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan faced a formidable task in delivering a follow-up to his last outing, "The Sixth Sense," which was a remarkable film; and his attempt at capturing that same quality and integrity in his latest effort has resulted in a film that, while it does not surpass "Sense," is nothing less than it's equal. Beginning with a screenplay that is brilliant in concept, content and structure, and realized with equal acuity, "Unbreakable," starring Bruce Willis, is a unique, challenging film that will test the limits of audience perception like never before. From the cryptic opening scene to the denouement, this is enthralling drama that offers singular insight into the dark capabilities of human nature, and a perspective of evil never before suggested in any movie in the history of the cinema. Conan Doyle said there's nothing new under the sun, and that may be true; other films may have dealt with similar themes, but the approach Shyamalan takes here is entirely original. Shyamalan approaches his material like a quiet, unobtrusive Hitchcock, resulting in a style that is quite his own. His pace is deliberate, and information is doled out in subtle, measured proportions which affords the discerning viewer a chance to place the myriad pieces of the puzzle into proper order as the story unfolds. It's a mystery that refuses to let you off the hook, and demands that you think about what is actually going on without respite. To say that this is thought provoking material would be an understatement; it's an intricate story, the plot of which is complemented by equally complex characters who are detailed and extremely well written and developed. As he did in "The Sixth Sense," Bruce Willis proves once again that there is so more to him as an actor than being just an action hero. His portrayal of David Dunn, a man facing a transitional period in his life, is played with a staid countenance that successfully reflects the inner turmoil of the character. You know from the outset that there is something going on beneath the surface; something unsettling for which Dunn is seeking resolution. When he becomes the only survivor of a train wreck, it adds to the irresolution in his life as he is suddenly confronted with new issues that take him into still deeper, uncharted waters. Willis gives a performance that is understated with nuance and depth, and gives Dunn a sense of controlled distress with which the audience can readily identify; that unknown, intangible something that one can feel, yet which remains elusive and unnamed. It's a powerful statement that illustrates the thin line between reality and the surreal. Samuel L. Jackson gives a strong performance as well, as Elijah Price, victim of a congenital disease that renders his existence fragile in the extreme. It's a sympathetic character that somehow refutes sympathy; and Jackson has a presence that makes Elijah real and believable, which is pivotal, as his infirmity is integral to the plot, as is the fact that he and Dunn represent opposite ends of the vast spectrum of life. Effective in a lesser, yet still significant role, is Robin Wright Penn (Audrey Dunn), who fleshes out the disarray of a wife dealing with the emotional absence of her husband. The supporting cast includes Spencer Treat Clark (Joseph Dunn), Charlayne Woodard (Elijah's Mother) and, in a cameo, M. Night Shyamalan (Stadium Drug Dealer). With "Unbreakable," Shyamalan has taken up the gauntlet and emerged victorious, with an intelligent, entertaining film so profound that it will no doubt become one of the most under-appreciated films of all time. There is simply a depth to it that will soar beyond the grasp of the casual viewer; few films have such substance and vision. Like a Monet, this is art that is both impressionistic and invaluable; a true original in every aspect, and a testimony to the talents of M. Night Shyamalan.

Unbreakable is about the mythology behind comic book superheroes and the purposes that each of us have in life. The film opens with the birth of a baby boy with all four of his limbs broken. He is Elijah Price, who is played by Samuel L. Jackson, and he has type I OI or brittle bone disease. As his life goes on, he gets the nickname of "Mr. Glass" as up the point of present time in Unbreakable, Elijah had broken bones in his body 57 times. Elijah is motivated early on to socialize in some capacity by his mother and his primary interest becomes comic books. As he gets older he soon begins to question what the reason is for his own existence and comes to the conclusion that if people like him exist with his weakness, then surely there must be someone on the other end of the spectrum with massive strengths. Elijah believes there is nothing scarier than to live life without knowing your purpose and he makes the assertion that there are in fact real-life superheroes.

Bruce Willis plays David Dunn, a security officer, who, unlike Elijah, is trying to find his own purpose in life. He gave up his football career for his wife but now his marriage is falling apart. David survives a train wreck that kills 131 people, and he is the only survivor. He was completely unharmed. Elijah believes David to be a real superhero and gradually confronts David with his theory. David's son Joseph believes Elijah and assists David in finding out more about his potential powers. Just to add, I'm of the opinion that it is an absolute pleasure to watch Willis and Jackson act in pretty much anything.

As with any M. Night Shyamalan film, giving too much away is hugely detrimental to the experience and please know that this film is entirely worth going into with no more information then I have already provided. What Shyamalan has done here in retrospect, while considering the recent onslaught of big-budget comic book movies, is create a completely unconventional yet convincing adaptation of comic book heroes' origins. At the same time Unbreakable celebrates the mythology behind these fictional characters. It takes a profound imagination to come up with a screenplay that gives this concept the treatment that Shyamalan has. It is the kind of concept that might have taken almost a lifetime of brainstorming.

A friend of mine once said that the Sixth Sense was a gigantic and nearly perfect movie for absolutely everyone, while as a comic book fan Unbreakable was tailored made perfectly for him. Though I'm half the comic book fan he is, I concur with that assessment enough to confidently invoke it hear. If you truly love comic books, Unbreakable is your film. If you are not a lover of comic books, then try to walk into this film expecting little action and you shouldn't be disappointed.

It can be argued that Shyamalan has lost his way in recent years, although he does retain his technical prowess even now. Nevertheless, Unbreakable is still a joy to watch and is a shining example of Shyamalan during his most inspired and generative phase.

I suspect my grade will go up in time -- this movie, like "The Sixth Sense," requires a bit of thinking about after it's over.

And, also like "The Sixth Sense," it's hard to talk about this movie due to the risk of saying too much.

I will say this, as it occurs in the first 15 seconds of the movie, before even the credits begin: The film opens with a discussion of comics in America today, with text talking about the number of issues sold, how many hours a comic collector will read comics in their lifetime, and so on.

"Unbreakable" is a movie about superheroes. Sort of.

This isn't a gritty "real life superheroes" in the vein of "The Watchmen." For all its dark sets and whispered dialogue, "Unbreakable" has more in common with "gosh wow" comics than it does grim 'n gritty stuff. That's only natural, since the movie is about hope and the possibility that there are, among us ... well, to say more would be to give it away, although I suspect most people can guess.

As with "The Sixth Sense," there is a twist at the end, but it's not the key to the whole movie, unlike in the previous film.

And, as with "The Sixth Sense," the movie is more than a clever concept and good writing, although it has both. Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright Penn and that little boy -- I was almost expecting Haley Joel Osment in this -- all do outstanding work, making what could be flat characters into real people. For all of the comic book tropes at work here -- the alliterative name of the protagonist, the uniform he wears that gives him a classic silhouette, and so on -- the film never feels like a gag or a gimmick, and it's the quality work of the actors that elevates it away from schticky territory.

This is absolutely the smartest, most mature comic book movie ever, and a film for even those who find comic book movies abhorent to begin with.

Thoughtful, thought-provoking and a film well worth seeing.

when you were a kid, did you ever pretend you had super powers? or did you wish you had super powers? if so, this movie is definitely for you.

the story is of a modern man (the bruce willis character) who, unbeknownst to him, has "super powers." it takes the a train wreck and the persistance of a fanatical comic book collector (samual l. jackson's character) to bring him to grips with his uncanny powers.

what's so impressive about this movie is how we are made to understand the mental dilemmas of the main character, we feel him learning to accept that his powers are real, and just becasue he has them doesn't mean he has to be an unfalliable "superhero". the story is far from "campy," which is usually the case with this genre of movie. and, as usual, m. night shyamalan (writer of 6th sense) is once again able to throw his trademarked "curveball" at the end of the movie.

however, don't assume that because you loved 6th sense, you'll love this movie... this movie got only moderate reviews at best, for one good reason: it wasn't targeted to a large audience like 6th sense. in the 6th sense, we had a kid as a main character, whom we all fell in love with, the relationship with his mother, and the dying relationship (pun intended) between the child psychologist and his wife, and the friendship between the kid and the psychologist. this appealed to a large audience, and especially helped to attract a female following. unbreakable has none of that. there is a kid -- the lead character's son -- but there's little character development. there's also no strong female character in this movie. no, this movie targets a different audience all together: basically, a male audience who may or may not have read comic books as kids, or always wished that they were superheros like batman or superman.

overall, i personally loved this movie. but then, i'm part of the targeted audience (i used to pretend i was half-robot, half-human with super strength). i do indeed recommend this movie.

One night in the Hard Rock Cafe in Universal City, I was fortunate enough to encounter director M. Night Shyamalan and I went up to him to tell him how much I enjoyed "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable." He was about the thank me when suddenly I asked him why the "Unbreakable" didn't break box office records (yeah, I know, what nerve!) and he told me: "I think it was misunderstood." I believe this is what happened to this really good film which I found refreshing. It overstepped the boundries of your typical Hollywood hype movie (it came out at the same time as the ultra-crap "Charlie's Angels" and "Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows"). So my question is: Does the movie-going audience prefer your standard "factory-made" crap or something completely different, unusual, and downright smart? Mister Shayamalan, your great film wasn't misunderstood, it's the audience that rather sit through cheap thrills like "Charlie's Angels." If you want to enjoy something different, well-filmed, smartly written, and wonderfully acted by Sam Jackson and Bruce Willis, then check this film out. Otherwise, hey, they're playing pre-prepared Hollywood hype in your local theater.

In the aftermath of a terrible train wreck, a man finds himself with nary a scratch in the midst of all the devastation, the corpses and the detritus. The only survivor, this seemingly ordinary man David Dunn (Bruce Willis), living a crumbling marriage and working mundanely as a security guard, comes to realize that he is very different from other people. He has never been hurt in his life, has never even had a cold. He meets an intense, strange, brittle-boned man, Elijah Price (Samuel Jackson), who informs him that superheroes have always existed in one guise or another, and that David is one such - that David is, in fact, an archetype. David undergoes a journey of self-discovery as he strives to challenge the limits of his powers, and figure out where he fits in, in a world that has become suddenly eschewed. But Elijah Price also sees himself as an archetype, and not that of a superhero...and that the roles of superhero and -villain must be played out.

M. Night Shyamalan unveils his love for the genre with the film's implementation of his very heady concept: what if superheroes walked the earth? Unbreakable plumbs the comic book mythology and delves into the pop psychology of the superhero phenomenon. M. Night's conceit is that the archetypes of the Hero and the Villain have always been around, but now have been channeled into contemporary comic book superhero sensibilities. Shyamalan has his "superhero" follow the classic pattern as David Dunn runs the gamut of shocking discovery, the search for existential meaning, the quest for his rightful place in the world and finally, his acceptance of his unique seemingly pre-determined role. In the climactic scenes, David's shapeless poncho somewhat becomes a symbol of this acceptance, becoming, in fact, his superhero costume.

The dependable Bruce Willis invests his role with his trademark, career-making everyday man persona and brings home a sense that, yes, this is how a Regular Joe would react to such unusual circumstances. I always relish when he takes the minimalist road as his acting choice (though his mouthy and brash Moonlighting and Blind Date persona is also fun). Either way, he's believable. Samuel Jackson's assured Elijah provides a very good foil for Willis's stoic David. The ever cool Jackson can be relied on to always bring in the noise, the funk and the bravado. Robin Wright Penn's character is nicely miserable but hopeful and should've been more involved in the proceedings. And, while I understand Shyamalan's need to inject a kid character into the story - to symbolize and convey the innocence and wonder of the comic book theme - the kid actor he finds ends up being cloying and annoying.

Good or bad, Shyamalan goes the gloom and doom route. There is a sense of prevailing glumness to Unbreakable, a certain somberness to the music, a moroseness to the look and the atmosphere of the film. It infects David's dreary, humdrum life and his on-the-outs relationship with his wife. The pace is plodding, the action pieces far apart. In the special features, M. Night mentions that he had originally conceptualized the film in three stages: David's discovery of his inhuman abilities, his several encounters with sundry crooks and villains, and, finally, his mega face-off with a worthy supervillain. But M. Night admits he didn't "feel" the last two segments and altered the storyline to this more bleak version. Shyamalan is earnest in his writing and directing effort but *sigh* I wish he'd found a happy medium between his original concept and the version with which he ended. He shoots for the grandiose moments and almost, almost gets there. But not quite. Still, I admire his sincerity and great effort and I was entertained enough to recommend this film: 3 and a half stars.

Unbreakable's special features include:

- Additional scenes with an intro by M. Night.
- An in-depth "Behind the Scenes" feature.
- "Comic Books and Superheroes" - a fascinating feature delving into the superhero/comic book mythos with avid fan Sam Jackson, the great Will Eisner, Scott McCloud, Alex Ross, Denny O'Neil, Michael Chabon and Frank Miller (Eisner talks about the origin of his Spirit hero).
- A multi-angled feature on the train station sequence.
- An excerpt from "Millionaire" - an amusing early film endeavor of a younger M. Night in a fight scene with two kids.
- 2 collectible but forgettable illustrations by comic book artist Alex Ross.

When first given an opportunity to watch this film, I was really skeptical. "A superhero film? With a meaning? You must be joking!" I had never seen THE SIXTH SENSE, still don't intend to. I'm not a big fan of the supernatural thriller and for the life of me, I could not understand why several critics hated this film if it was "just so great."
I knew nothing of M. Night Shyamalan, other than that he was a director of sorts, made a good deal of money.
Let me get to the point: I had no personal bias for or against Shyamalan, SIXTH SENSE, or anything associated with the two.
2 hours went by. At the end of the film, I sat in my seat, glued, ready to watch it again. Ready to tell everybody I knew about this buried treasure I had found. Why had the critics given it poor reviews? Because it wasn't a sequel to the highly acclaimed SIXTH SENSE? Probably. Who knows, but I think I've found a favorite movie.
This film had the glorious potential to flop, tank, bomb, or anything other kind of adjective you can find to describe its ruin. And yet, it is the most amazingly executed film I have ever seen. I have viewed it many times since that first showing, and it never gets old or dull. There are so many details that one never catches within the first few viewings.
Up until yesterday, I owned a copy of UNBREAKABLE on VHS. I had recorded a Saturday night showing on ABC, once again enthralled. But yesterday, uopn a visit to the local video store, I saw a DVD discount rack with Shyamalan's film happily displayed in the very front row. Obviously I bought it, and when I returned home I was pleased with the results of my buy.
The film extras were satisfying, something a film lover would enjoy: a tour of production; a documentary on comic books; a sound blender, allowing you to view a scene of the film with various sound fx, musical arrangements, etc. All in all, a worthy purchase.

PLOT: David Dunn- sole survivor of a train crash- begins a personal search for himself that leads to a startling discovery, changing his beliefs forever.