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Get Breaking News on your cellSpoiling for a fight with The Happening
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I've heard from a number of readers unhappy with the fact that my review of The Happening gives away a crucial plot point, including one guy who thought I wrote the headline. (For future reference, that's the copy editor's job). They say I have violated the unwritten spoiler code of conduct. Here's why I disagree. Just in case, stop reading here if you don't want to know something that's revealed about 30 minutes into the movie. (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox) You never give away the ending of a movie, especially an ending with a twist. But the problem here seems to be that I gave away what's discovered in the first third of a movie. Unlike most M. Night Shyamalan films, The Happening doesn't have a twist. (It could have used one, but that's another story). So, in the course of writing about the film, I explain, as the film sort of does, that plant life is believed to pose a menace to mankind. I don't say if or how that threat is dealt with. I lay out the premise, much as a review of Godzilla might observe that a big green lizard is at large and extremely dangerous. This is not some "Gotcha!" development. It becomes evident early on, so evident that the idea of writing a review of the movie without mentioning it seems a little silly. By the way: Darth Vader is Luke's father. |
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Comments
Posted by stephen becker @ 12:07 PM Fri, Jun 20, 2008
I think a lot of this discussion has to do with marketing. The commercials for The Happening don't tell you what's causing all that chaos, with the idea that you'll want to go to the theater to find out. But what if the thing causing it is super dumb? I feel like we have an obligation to inform readers about such things, especially if we feel that maybe the commercials are hiding it because even they know the movie is weak.
That being said, I can appreciate that desire to go into a movie unwashed. And as much as I believe in self-preservation, I think the best course of action is to just not pick up the paper until after you've seen the movie. Then it should be fun to go back and read the review.
Posted by K. Bowen @ 9:20 PM Fri, Jun 20, 2008
There really is no way to talk about The Happening without talking about the Revenge of the Plants aspect. It's just not worth writing a review if you couldn't.
I don't think the movie was entirely weak, and I actually like the premise and the way it visualizes our modern fear of ecological disaster. That said, I don't quite recommend it. Too many flaws.
Could you guys please pass it up the food chain to please work on making the letter codes for posting a little more readable? It usually takes two or three attempts to post. Thank you.