so what, signs was good

6/23/2008 4:34:28 PM

Quote :

"It didn't matter if they knew or not. The problem is that the atmosphere is saturated with water. If they were hurt by water they would be writing in pain just being within Earth's atmosphere"

-ddf583

You mean the same way you drown in our water saturated atmosphere?
Or the same way the warm water at Myrtle Beach burns your skin like frozen water in the arctic?


Just because water maintains the same atomic structure as a liquid, gas, and solid, doesn't mean that it affects our body in the same way in each of its physical states. Why should aliens be different?

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 5:36 PM. Reason : ``]

6/23/2008 5:35:08 PM

This thread needs to focus on how bad The Happening was, not stray off to his other crappy movies. Focus people.

6/23/2008 5:43:06 PM

SECOND WORST DIRECTOR EVER

No one is as bad as Uwe Boll.

6/23/2008 5:47:23 PM

I suppose the corn field they were hiding out in didn't have an irrigation system, and I guess it didn't rain ever, and I guess they didn't see the oceans when they looked out their spacecraft windows immediately before they landed.

They're intelligent enough to be capable of interstellar travel, but they don't do their research before they try to invade a planet. Even the inferior humans would be like

"Nope, can't take over that planet, there's chlorine gas in the atmosphere"

Or at least they wouldn't take a spacesuit off during the invasion which consisted of killing 7 billion people one baseball bat fight at a time.

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 5:50 PM. Reason : -]

6/23/2008 5:49:44 PM

^ aye. I think that's a much more legit complaint. That these aliens were incredibly dumb intersellar beings and it's odd they had nothing better to do when invading the planet than torture Mel Gibson. I think the idea is kinda kool, an alien invasion from an ordinary person's perspective (contrary to ID4 and others), but I don't think he pulled it off well. War of the Worlds did it better (and that might not be saying much).

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 5:53 PM. Reason : ``]

6/23/2008 5:52:33 PM

you know, honestly

shyamalan has a great mind for concepts and stories

he's just awful as a cogent storyteller or filmmaker

if he stuck to writing treatments and handed them over to more talented screenwriters and directors, we'd get much better films out of his ideas

6/23/2008 6:04:11 PM

^ agreed. He would benefit from collaboration.

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 6:13 PM. Reason : ``]

6/23/2008 6:13:38 PM

Quote :

"Ok so I just started to think about this(which makes the movie even worse if possible). There is a scene where they are running from the wind, which is moving almost like a tidal wave toward them. First off, them running from the wind made me bust out laughing in the middle of the movie. Second, were the plants controlling the wind or something? Wind doesn't "move" like that, it makes no sense. It would imply that not only were the plants in on it, but the wind was helping the plants? What the fuck? "

Yeah I was kinda iffy on that part myself. . one of the characters, can't remember which one, said something about how the trees and bushes and grass could "talk" to each other and I think they were doing it via the wind. But yeah I dont know if the plants were able to control the wind so they'd be able to talk or something . . why the fuck am I try to explain this? It makes me want to cry.

6/23/2008 9:03:40 PM

haha exactly, the more I think about the whole wind involvement just makes this an EVEN worse movie.


Did any else think the twist was going to be hot dogs make you immune? I was really hoping that for a while.

6/23/2008 10:49:53 PM

LOL that probably would have been an improvement

6/23/2008 11:03:20 PM

yeah just saw this movie...it was as others explained. The entire idea of plants killing humans was enough to make me want to leave. on a side note i was hoping the end would involve something about zooming out onto a group of honey bees talking about killing humans.

6/24/2008 2:06:00 AM

Quote :

"It didn't matter if they knew or not. The problem is that the atmosphere is saturated with water. If they were hurt by water they would be writing in pain just being within Earth's atmosphere"

False. There are several things that are dangerous to humans in the gas state and not dangerous in the liquid or solid and vice versa.

Quote :

""Nope, can't take over that planet, there's chlorine gas in the atmosphere""

That's because we know what chlorine gas is and what it does to us. There's no indication that the aliens were familiar with water. You're assuming a lot.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 9:10 AM. Reason : .]

6/24/2008 9:08:16 AM

How can we have a 5 page thread on a movie this terrible

6/24/2008 9:13:08 AM

how the movie should've ended:

6/24/2008 9:15:58 AM

Quote :

"False. There are several things that are dangerous to humans in the gas state and not dangerous in the liquid or solid and vice versa."

I'm sure you're right, but can you give me an example of something this is harmful to us as a liquid but not a gas?

6/24/2008 10:25:51 AM

actually, I can't think of anything at all that is dangerous as a liquid and not a gas. There are plenty of things that are more dangerous as gases, but are still toxic as liquids. I'm a bit rusty on my chemistry, so you may know of something that is toxic as a liquid but not a gas that I am overlooking.

6/24/2008 11:58:10 AM

sometimes its like that simply because in gas form it can be extremely dispersed compared to the liquid form, in which case I dont think it is entirely correct to state that those specific substances are not harmful in any gaseous form but are in liquid.

I also am not a chem whiz though so I would like some examples. I know there are a few but it doesnt seem like that would be the case for water in regards to the aliens.

6/24/2008 12:02:55 PM

SIGNS. WAS. SCIENCE. FICTION.

Star Wars sucked because Luke could jump really high, and humans can't do that...

6/24/2008 12:04:44 PM

They are not the same type of science fiction at all, but that's beside the point.

I'm just curious what there is that is toxic to humans in a liquid state, but not as a gas. He said I was wrong, and I suspect that I am, but I'd like to know for sure.

6/24/2008 12:15:45 PM

^^no that argument absolutely does not work here AT ALL for several reasons.

1. there is a HUGE difference between science fiction of something taking place on other worlds in other galaxies versus what is supposed to be a thriller about our own planet. There is even a difference between say superhero movies which takes place on our own planet but you are assuming that the super hero is in fact super human of course so it solves SOME of that.

2. it would be different if we were saying "zomg the aliens jumped 20ft high! you cant do that!" THAT would be like your argument. that would be the audience putting limitations that the movie has not set. who knows the aliens are probably a lot stronger than us.

3. in relation to 2, and the biggest of all, the entire movie rested upon a limitation that the movie clearly and blatantly introduced to the audience. This limitation defined the entire climax of the movie and cannot be overlooked. Therefore, it is completely acceptable for the audience to then question the validity of aspects of the movie because it is plot flaw and inconsistency that we are focusing on NOT science.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 12:22 PM. Reason : ]

6/24/2008 12:17:09 PM

remember when they ran from the wind? yeah...

6/24/2008 12:45:36 PM

i don't intend to see the movie, but I did hear M. Night recently on two science podcasts that I listen to - NPR's Talk of the Nation: Science Friday, and Scientific American's Science Talk

In each case, M. Night was very excited and eager to talk about the movie and the "science" behind it, but he also seemed out of place. Ira Flatow (the Science Friday host) even mentioned it at the beginning that he was very surprised when Shyamalan's publicist contacted them (indicating that it was him who was trying to get on all these science shows, not the other way around) because they rarely talk to entertainers.

On both shows, he tried to talk up the research he did to write the script, and in both cases he got several aspects of science and scientific research just wrong. He seemed to want to turn several things into unexplainable phenomenons or invoke mystical causes, and invoked Einstein a couple times and his "evangelical conversion later in life" (a complete falsehood, based on letters released recently. flatow called him on that, but should have pursued it further). The hosts of both shows were, i'd say, "accommodating", but especially on Science Friday I got the feeling that Flatow was not enjoying the conversation.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200806061
http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=7D143269-CDF5-97B4-8E87A33F3D39DA4B

6/24/2008 1:13:39 PM

Quote :

"I know there are a few but it doesnt seem like that would be the case for water in regards to the aliens."

Doesn't seem like that would be the case... what are you talking about? are you an alien or something to where you can speak of the genetic structure of the species and indicate why that wouldn't be the case?

I mean, this is ridiculous now.

At any rate, I cannot name a substance that is dangerous to humans in one state but not in another. I know they exist. I care not to look for it. Google probably knows.

6/24/2008 1:28:27 PM

i said that because water doesnt behave vastly different as a gas as it does in liquid form and also that it isnt present in such a low percentage in our air that I would consider it dispersed so much that it wouldnt be noticeably present to someone who was allergic to it.

Both of these things would seem to be common to something that was harmful as a liquid but not a gas. Thats all I meant. Of course I could be wrong I said.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 1:37 PM. Reason : ]

6/24/2008 1:34:47 PM

Logical fallacies exist in thrillers. All in all, signs was a good movie and vastly superior to the last two crap shoots that M. Night has profited from.

6/24/2008 1:37:09 PM

Quote :

"Star Wars sucked because Luke could jump really high, and humans can't do that... "

he used da force

6/24/2008 1:41:02 PM

How did the aliens survive the mornings out on the farm when dew formed? I suppose they also avoided any irrigation systems and or precipitation.

"Who would ever of thought a small amount of liquid would ever fall on ME?!"

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 1:53 PM. Reason : -]

6/24/2008 1:49:54 PM

Let's get down to brass tacks, gentlemen. Bonnie comes home at around 9:30 in the AM, which gives us around forty minutes to get the fuck out of Dodge.

This guy fucking sucks.

6/24/2008 2:05:04 PM

Quote :

"I'm sure you're right, but can you give me an example of something this is harmful to us as a liquid but not a gas?"

liquid nitrogen

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 2:34 PM. Reason : though obviously that's just because it's really cold, not inherently toxic]

6/24/2008 2:31:20 PM

^ along that same line, Dry Ice is not inherently dangerous as a solid (aside from giving your frostbite), but if you stick your head in an airtight bag with dry ice, you'll have nothing to breath except CO2 (of course.... if you stick your head in any airtight bag, after a while you'll only have CO2, but that's not the point).

would also wonder about mercury. Can you get mercury poisoning from solid mercury like you can from liquid?

6/24/2008 2:39:00 PM

I'm sure you can. It's all about the element, not necessarily the vehicle. People who took blue mass pills still got mercury poisoning, for example.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 2:49 PM. Reason : I'm not sure you'd be able to find one that's completely toxic in one state and harmless in another.]

6/24/2008 2:46:18 PM

yeah, i guess i meant from touching or handling it

6/24/2008 2:49:28 PM

Quote :

"Logical fallacies exist in thrillers. All in all, signs was a good movie and vastly superior to the last two crap shoots that M. Night has profited from. "

seriously.

if water was not part of the aliens' demise would y'all have enjoyed this movie?? nitpick.

6/24/2008 3:01:22 PM

i didn't enjoy the movie much anyways, you're right. However, having such a glaring flaw embedded into the climax/twist of a movie isnt exactly nitpicking. We're not talking about some random few scenes outside of the scope of the plot or something.

6/24/2008 3:06:51 PM

I don't know that I would call it a glaring flaw. If I can suspend my disbelief that aliens invade, I can suspend my disbelief that less concentrated water in the air wouldn't harm them, or perhaps just make things uncomfortable for them, lol. I don't remember exactly what the water did to them, haven't seen it in awhile.

edit: not to mention the wife being fucking psychic...

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 3:38 PM. Reason : FDSFD]

6/24/2008 3:23:36 PM

i doubt i'll see this movie but can someone explain what's going on in the scene w/ the tank mowing over a guy laying down?

6/24/2008 3:38:31 PM

I thought it was a great movie and a great climax.

6/24/2008 3:39:00 PM

^^he started the lawnmower and it goes in a circle and he lays down to kill himself.

because the plants told him to lol

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 3:59 PM. Reason : hfsd]

6/24/2008 3:59:26 PM

oh!

6/24/2008 4:02:40 PM

^^ Sorta. He actually told himself to do it, because the hormone that drives his desire for self-preservation gets counteracted by the toxins that the plants release.

Quote :

"^^no that argument absolutely does not work here AT ALL for several reasons. 1. there is a HUGE difference between science fiction of something taking place on other worlds in other galaxies versus what is supposed to be a thriller about our own planet. There is even a difference between say superhero movies which takes place on our own planet but you are assuming that the super hero is in fact super human of course so it solves SOME of that. 2. it would be different if we were saying "zomg the aliens jumped 20ft high! you cant do that!" THAT would be like your argument. that would be the audience putting limitations that the movie has not set. who knows the aliens are probably a lot stronger than us. 3. in relation to 2, and the biggest of all, the entire movie rested upon a limitation that the movie clearly and blatantly introduced to the audience. This limitation defined the entire climax of the movie and cannot be overlooked. Therefore, it is completely acceptable for the audience to then question the validity of aspects of the movie because it is plot flaw and inconsistency that we are focusing on NOT science."

Somewhat valid points, but I suppose I just plain disagree. I'm curious how you enjoy any movies at all.

[Edited on June 24, 2008 at 7:46 PM. Reason : ]

6/24/2008 7:43:50 PM

^Yeah I know, but "the plants told him to" sounds better

6/24/2008 8:07:21 PM

Quote :

"he started the lawnmower and it goes in a circle and he lays down to kill himself."

Haven't seen it... how exactly does the lawnmower go in a circle?

Quote :

"He actually told himself to do it, because the hormone that drives his desire for self-preservation gets counteracted by the toxins that the plants release."

I would have thought the hormone for self preservation causes you to be afraid of certain scenarios that you deem harmful - making you want to avoid those situations. I wouldn't have expected it to keep a vigil against the inherent natural desire to kill yourself in creative and unique ways - like laying down in front of a lawnmower you have rigged up to do donuts. I haven't read up on the hormone, so I don't know.

Quote :

"Somewhat valid points, but I suppose I just plain disagree. I'm curious how you enjoy any movies at all."

Meh. I can suspend disbelief for certain kinds of movies. You would expect a movie to work within the rules it generates for itself... especially science fiction movies like Star Wars. In movies like Star Wars you can't exactly knock a scene where Luke jumps 20 feet because the universe that Luke is in has a readily available explanation for it. He has midichlorians after all. You can knock it for breaking it's own rules - like the shields the Gungans use in TPM being transparent to visible light but still blocking out the lasers the droids shot at them.

I guess it's up to the interpretation of the viewer whether or not splashing water on the aliens works within the universe Signs created. Some people think it does, I don't.

To borrow a bit from others:
Aliens who are technologically advanced enough to fly half way across the galaxy decide to invade a planet that has the two things they can’t handle: water and doorknobs.

Maybe if it were a glass of Pepsi I wouldn't have the same problem - but Pepsi has corn syrup and they were in a corn field... maybe to destroy the world's supply of corn? Maybe they could have used another kind of liquid - go for a remake of Ernest Scared Stupid.

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 8:15 AM. Reason : -]

6/25/2008 7:47:59 AM

Quote :

"I would have thought the hormone for self preservation causes you to be afraid of certain scenarios that you deem harmful - making you want to avoid those situations. I wouldn't have expected it to keep a vigil against the inherent natural desire to kill yourself in creative and unique ways - like laying down in front of a lawnmower you have rigged up to do donuts. I haven't read up on the hormone, so I don't know."

The hormone was reversed. Therefore, those who were affected by the toxin had no desire for self preservation.


As for the lawnmower... it wasn't rigged. The toxin hits instantly and the people would kill themselves seconds afterwards.

The guy started the lawnmower, put it into gear, then walked in front of it and layed down.

6/25/2008 8:14:49 AM

I guess I'll just have to see the movie. I'd assume that "no desire for self preservation" would translate into a lot of careless behavior around fire, heights, large hissing animals with pointy teeth, etc. I wouldn't assume that it would translate to "gotta kill myself NOW!" No desire for self preservation? Sounds like part of puberty/youth.

Then again it was reversed.

Sounds like a lame movie - quickly getting on my must see list.

What were the plant's plans on reducing some of their food supply (CO2, heat) with regards to events that produce more greenhouse gas than humans - like volcano eruptions?

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 8:41 AM. Reason : -]

6/25/2008 8:24:06 AM

Quote :

"I'm curious how you enjoy any movies at all."

pretty much what jbtilley said. I can suspend disbelief fairly easily in science fiction and fantasy, but it bugs the heck out of me when a movie breaks the rules that it sets itself especially at a critical moment.

for example, there are TONS of physics fallacies in star wars (sounds in space for one) but most of them dont affect the movie (they actually enhance) and the rest are explained with the force.

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 8:38 AM. Reason : ]

6/25/2008 8:35:15 AM

Quote :

"What were the plant's plans on reducing some of their food supply (CO2, heat) with regards to events that produce more greenhouse gas than humans - like volcano eruptions?"

Well, in the movie, the plants attacked just the NE United States. At the end of the movie, it was Paris.

It wasn't a widespread apocalypse which shows that, a) if the trees are rational enough to kill a predator it would be b) rational enough not to eliminate it's food supply.

Maybe the Union of Tree's EPA movement had the human race on the endangered species list and it removed it for hunting given our population size

Plus, the toxin was not affecting animals, so the CO2 supply should be ample without humans (as it was for the past 4 billion years).

6/25/2008 11:40:48 AM

How come there was always one person that didn't freeze on the spot and kill themselves and was able to observe all the other people freezing?

6/25/2008 12:50:25 PM

^ that is a legitimate question and I left wondering the same thing.

I mean, the reason is simple: dramatic effect. But that jump in logic was a little much.

6/25/2008 1:24:40 PM

^^Allergies? Maybe they had asthma?

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 1:48 PM. Reason : -]

6/25/2008 1:47:51 PM