M. Night Shyamalan's WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?

[so sorry]

Latino Review posted a script review

http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=1446

Looks like it's called Green Effect instead of Green Planet. Sounds good though....

Really? THAT sounded good to you?
Diff'rent Strokes, I guess, becuase that was total ass to me.

trees revolts against humanity? ugh. ugh. UGH.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

trees revolts against humanity? ugh. ugh. UGH.

Dinna the March of a the Ents, she teach us a nothing?!?!?

[TheBaxter]

i don't know... it seems a bit derivative. while i was reading the review, i was thinking how it might be a lot cooler if all those people started killing themselves, but without ever telling us why. parts of it sound kind of like stephen king's cell, except they never progress past the suicidal stage. i was also wondering why all the craziness begins in the cities, if it's caused by nature wouldn't it start in more rural areas first?

ah well. i'd still keep an open mind. though i heard a rumour about a twist at the end, which if true, would be kinda dumb:

[spoiler]humanity defeats the murdering plants when the hero discovers that nature is allergic to ... *GASP* ... WATER!!![/spoiler]

[so sorry]

...i was also wondering why all the craziness begins in the cities, if it's caused by nature wouldn't it start in more rural areas first?

Maybe its just the metrosexual trees that have problems with humanity

[spoiler]humanity defeats the murdering plants when the hero discovers that nature is allergic to ... *GASP* ... WATER!!![/spoiler]

HA!

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

it seems a bit derivative.

Derivative?!? M. Knight? NOOOOOOO!

[WinslowLeach]

Nighty needs to take a break. Relax, sit in the sun and get a tan.

[Ribbons]

Apparently Fox has picked up the spec script with the intention to produce, and the title has been changed to The Happening.

EDIT: Harry talks a little bit about the movie here.

[MisterCynic]

this script is pretty bad. it will have a few fantastic moments surrounded by largely uninteresting characters, mostly bad dialogue, and shyamalan logicâ„¢.

the first act is going to be brilliant on screen, it's all atmosphere and terror and... it'll work great. halfway through the second act it falls apart, and soon after that many will lose interest.

this is not his big comeback. like one of the talkbackers said, i saw the title 'the happening' and thought it was a different script... excited for oh so brief a moment, then landed hard. shame.

[Leckomaniac]

this script is pretty bad. it will have a few fantastic moments surrounded by largely uninteresting characters, mostly bad dialogue, and shyamalan logicâ„¢.

the first act is going to be brilliant on screen, it's all atmosphere and terror and... it'll work great. halfway through the second act it falls apart, and soon after that many will lose interest.

this is not his big comeback. like one of the talkbackers said, i saw the title 'the happening' and thought it was a different script... excited for oh so brief a moment, then landed hard. shame.

Is anyone really surprised by this?

[MisterCynic]

a rose by any other name, sir...

[Cha-Ka Khan]

Man, he just needs to break out of the mold he's in and jump into some completely different genre and start making movies again. Not "gimmick" pictures. "A new romantic comedy from the director of The Sixth Sense, and Signs!"

Hmm... maybe not. He's really painted himself into a corner. His tiff with Disney didn't help him, either.

[minstrel]

Some have suggested that Night do someone else's material for once. He should direct someone else's scripts.

That would probably work.

But what might work as well is to have someone else do Night's script. I'm thinking Christopher Guest and his gang of giggle-inducing improv maniacs. They could do Night's new script in their mockumentary style - add a few stupid songs, too.

It would TOTALLY rock!

[Peven]

Man, he just needs to break out of the mold he's in and jump into some completely different genre and start making movies again. Not "gimmick" pictures.

i figured that "Avatar" was his opportunity to do just that. too bad he seems driven to squeeze "The Happening" in first.

[havocSchultz]

Man, he just needs to break out of the mold he's in and jump into some completely different genre and start making movies again. Not "gimmick" pictures.

i figured that "Avatar" was his opportunity to do just that. too bad he seems driven to squeeze "The Happening" in first.

He probably wants to do one of his own first - to prove that he's still got it...and hopefully get some success out of it...

Then he can move on to Avatar:The Last Airbud or whatever it's called and show that he can do someone else's ideas as well...

Either way - I'm a Night fan - so I'll always be interested in what he's doing next...

[Peven]

Man, he just needs to break out of the mold he's in and jump into some completely different genre and start making movies again. Not "gimmick" pictures.

i figured that "Avatar" was his opportunity to do just that. too bad he seems driven to squeeze "The Happening" in first.

He probably wants to do one of his own first - to prove that he's still got it...and hopefully get some success out of it...

Then he can move on to Avatar:The Last Airbud or whatever it's called and show that he can do someone else's ideas as well...

Either way - I'm a Night fan - so I'll always be interested in what he's doing next...

see, i am a Night fan too. i guess i am worried that by pushing to get this latest project in, trying to prove something, before he makes "Avatar" that he is forcing things and won't do himself any favors by doing so, and maybe the best thing for him would be to put it on the back burner, let it marinate a little, and come back to it fresh after adapting "Avatar". i'll be crossing my fingers that he pulls it off though.

[Peven]

this is not the post you are looking for......

[havocSchultz]

Man, he just needs to break out of the mold he's in and jump into some completely different genre and start making movies again. Not "gimmick" pictures.

i figured that "Avatar" was his opportunity to do just that. too bad he seems driven to squeeze "The Happening" in first.

He probably wants to do one of his own first - to prove that he's still got it...and hopefully get some success out of it...

Then he can move on to Avatar:The Last Airbud or whatever it's called and show that he can do someone else's ideas as well...

Either way - I'm a Night fan - so I'll always be interested in what he's doing next...

see, i am a Night fan too. i guess i am worried that by pushing to get this latest project in, trying to prove something, before he makes "Avatar" that he is forcing things and won't do himself any favors by doing so, and maybe the best thing for him would be to put it on the back burner, let it marinate a little, and come back to it fresh after adapting "Avatar". i'll be crossing my fingers in hope that he can be successful with what he has chosen though.

You must be a big fan...

So big - that you decided to post this twice...

[WinslowLeach]

Is Rerun in this?

[so sorry]

Is Rerun in this?

BWAHAHAHAA!!

[WinslowLeach]

OOPS! My bad.

[TheBaxter]

i don't mind the new title... as long as they use the Pixies song in the film somewhere.

[buster00]

i don't mind the new title... as long as they use the Pixies song in the film somewhere.

Or The Supremes song, from the 1967 movie of the same name.

[Brocktune]

to prove that he's still got it.

you mean this actually happened a first time?


dont bother answering that, unfortunately, i already know the truth.

[havocSchultz]

to prove that he's still got it.

you mean this actually happened a first time?


dont bother answering that, unfortunately, i already know the truth.

Maybe I meant herpes...

[MasterWhedon]

It's all happening... Mark Wahlberg to star.

[Pacino86845]

They should call it The Cancelled, and not spend money producing it...

[Dark Knight]

Whalberg as a science teacher.....a little far fetched, no?

[WinslowLeach]

The Happening! Its a far out groovy movie starring Peter Fonda as "Real Gone Daddy"

Real Gone Daddy: Heyyyyy caaaats, this is my new friend Gaaaaandhi....

Gandhi (M Night): Hello my friends! Nice day!

Hippie Chick #2: Like wowwwww.

Hippie Guy #5: Like far ouuut maaaaan. Lets get hiiiiigh....

FEATURING MUSIC BY THE TURTLES! HEAR THEM SINGING THEIR POP HITS: "The Happening"!, "Gandhi & Me"! and "Wha?"!

[Ribbons]

Guess that means that Shyamalan has now worked with both Wahlberg brothers. Probably doesn't mean anything, I just felt like pointing it out...

[Ribbons]

Well, looks like Mark Wahlberg will once again have a romantic interest about 10+ years younger than he is...

Zooey Deschanel joins the cast of The Happening

Cynicism aside, I like Zooey Deschanel, so I guess this is good news.

[Leckomaniac]

Well, looks like Mark Wahlberg will once again have a romantic interest about 10+ years younger than he is...

Zooey Deschanel joins the cast of The Happening

Cynicism aside, I like Zooey Deschanel, so I guess this is good news.

Oh my do I love Zooey Deschanel. She is probably one of my biggest celeb crushes. I even sat through that shitty Failure To Launch in order to see her.

[aldi]

So the wheels have come off the 'new Hitchcock''s wagon. Guess we'll have to make do with the old Hitchcock.

I think we'll manage just fine.

[havocSchultz]

When did the wheels come off...?

[Ribbons]

I think there was a pothole somewhere around The Village...

No, I don't know. I'm hoping that this is good.

[havocSchultz]

I'm hoping that this is good.

Me Too...

And I didn't even hate Lady in the Water...I consider it his weakest effort...

But I actually enjoyed The Village for the most part...

And the fact that this is supposed to be his first R Rated film, has me quite interested...

[Ribbons]

I'm a little skeptical about the quality of the script. Latino Review and Harry both stand by it, but it was originally passed up (as documented here) by pretty much every studio. This could be par for the course with most spec scripts that eventually get produced as far as I know, but you'd figure that someone with Night's profile wouldn't have difficulty getting a movie picked up in Hollywood, unless it had something to do with the quality of the story or the string of bad press he'd just received. I guess what I'm wondering is whether people avoided the script because it was M. Night Shyamalan's, or whether Fox decided to greenlight the script because it was.

[havocSchultz]

I'm a little skeptical about the quality of the script. Latino Review and Grande Rojo both stand by it, but it was originally passed up (as documented here) by pretty much every studio. I guess I'm wondering whether people avoided the script because it was M. Night Shyamalan's, or whether Fox decided to greenlight the script because it was.

I think that's a good possibility - especially for the fact the he wasn't just trying to sell them the script alone - but with him attached to direct of course - and with the reputation he's been working so hard to build for himself these last few years, apparentely, I wouldn't be surprised if it's more of a lack of faith in him - then the material.

But you never know I guess...

[Ribbons]

A lot of directors who are hard to work with are still actively sought-out by studios if they think they're a commodity. I guess the difference with Shyamalan is that he's very unreceptive to criticism and his movies are fairly expensive to produce. So that's a pretty unattractive set of conditions right there, especially if the film ends up tanking like Lady in the Water did. Although Lady in the Water could have very well been an expensive failure (for Disney) even if he did take Jacobson's advice, but it's also probably harder to get studios to commit to a big-budget script unless it's a franchise. Shyamalan's name used to be considered something of a franchise itself, and he's still probably the 2nd or 3rd most famous director in the United States, but apparently that doesn't equate to ticket sales if the movie is flawed.

[tapehead]

the 2nd or 3rd most famous director in the United States

Really? so it's Spielberg, Lucas, M.Night? really? Surely Bay, Raimi, Jackson , or the Wachowskis or the like would push him down the fame ranks, and that's without even considering the likes of Woody Allen or Ridley Scott (the exception being if, as I presume, you were probably referring to 'Americans' in the US, but even then, frankly it's a little surprising).

[Ribbons]

the 2nd or 3rd most famous director in the United States

Really? so it's Spielberg, Lucas, M.Night? really? Surely Bay, Raimi, Jackson , or the Wachowskis or the like would push him down the fame ranks, and that's without even considering the likes of Woody Allen or Ridley Scott (the exception being if, as I presume, you were probably referring to 'Americans' in the US, but even then, frankly it's a little surprising).

Yeah, worldwide there are probably more recognizable American directors. But I find a lot of times if you ask people on the street to name directors they'll go "Spielberg... Tarantino... that Sixth Sense dude, Shamalahar or whatever..." So, go fig. Again I think it has to do with the fact that Shyamalan is the commodity and not the movies he makes. Same applies to Michael Bay (in some cases) and Woody Allen, but their names don't come up as often, probably because people either see or ignore their films for different reasons.

[tapehead]

Fair enough - should have figured on QT, too I guess - It is surprising his profile is that high in the US.

[Nachokoolaid]

Well, looks like Mark Wahlberg will once again have a romantic interest about 10+ years younger than he is...

Zooey Deschanel joins the cast of The Happening

Cynicism aside, I like Zooey Deschanel, so I guess this is good news.

Or maybe she's one of his students?

[Peven]

the 2nd or 3rd most famous director in the United States

Really? so it's Spielberg, Lucas, M.Night? really? Surely Bay, Raimi, Jackson , or the Wachowskis or the like would push him down the fame ranks, and that's without even considering the likes of Woody Allen or Ridley Scott (the exception being if, as I presume, you were probably referring to 'Americans' in the US, but even then, frankly it's a little surprising).

Yeah, worldwide there are probably more recognizable American directors. But I find a lot of times if you ask people on the street to name directors they'll go "Spielberg... Tarantino... that Sixth Sense dude, Shamalahar or whatever..." So, go fig. Again I think it has to do with the fact that Shyamalan is the commodity and not the movies he makes. Same applies to Michael Bay (in some cases) and Woody Allen, but their names don't come up as often, probably because people either see or ignore their films for different reasons.

gotta disagree with you here, Ribbons. what about Lucas, Scorcese, Ron Howard, Sam Raimi, Clint Eastwood, Coppola, just to name a few off the top of my head. i think if you asked the "man on the street" it would be rare that M.Night would be in the top 5, let alone top 2 or 3.

[Ribbons]

That's true, I forgot about a couple of those guys. Still, Shyamalan's name comes up quite a bit when you ask people directors they know.

[Peven]

sorry, not trying to nitpick you, man. i think it is easy for those of us who are wrapped up in the cinematic world to forget how little awareness there is of a lot of the details among the "general public", and while a guy like M. Night is in the forefront of our consciousness of American directors working today i think his name is not nearly as recognizable as his movies, like "The 6th Sense", among joe public.

i know that there are many times i am brought up against the realization of just how immersed i am in all things movies when i am talking to a family member or teacher at a school where i am subbing and i bring up a movie/director/actor/etc. in a matter-of-fact way, as if EVERYBODY knows that, and receive a blank stare in return. then again, it could be worse, i could say "IPAMPLASH" when somebody in the teacher's lounge says something really funny.

[burlivesleftnut]

I concur. Any time I bring up a popular movie at the office, and I try to talk about directors or writers, I get the reactions of fucking commoners who don't know shit about film. Recently I talked about Sam Raimi and some of his decisions on Spiderman and nobody even clued in that he directed the movie. All I got was, "fuckin' a, spiderman is wizard lol".

I think it takes some time for people to start recognizing many directors as a household name, but I think M. Night has an advantage because a) his name is weird and b) he has always had that gimmicky ending going for him.

So while I don't poll people on the street, I think that M. Night would probably be a more recognized dude than a few directors we take for granted. I think most directors are better known for their work than their name. And what I mean by that is stuff like this:

THEM: King Kong was directed by that guy who directed Lord of the Rings?

ME: Yeah.

THEM: No wonder it went on for so long...

[havocSchultz]

Everybody I mention Michael Bay too knows exactly who I'm talking about...

It makes me wonder if I'm hanging out with the wrong people...

[burlivesleftnut]

now THAT'S comedy.

[havocSchultz]

My life is now complete...

[Flumm]

M. Night's new movie poster.




Intriguing.

"We've sensed it. We've seen The Signs... Now it's Happening"

Apart from The Happening sounding to me like the best possible parody title for a M. Night Shyamalan film... I'll, if a little cautiously, second your intrigue, Fievel.

I'm supposing that's just some pithy advertising, but I wonder if there's going to to be some King'essque continuity introduced now...