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Old 08-02-2004, 11:50 AM
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Default Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

The elders of "The Village" kept all the younger members from venturing away from their idealic village using blatent fear-mongering. It also made the younger members compliant, knowing the importance of their niche in their little society. The elders told of creatures in the woods they called "those that we do not speak of" and that violating the borders would endanger their fragile truce with them. Occasionally a creature or two would make an appearance in the dark, spreading a little terror, but mostly it was just a noise, the snap of a twig, or a kind of howling that terrorized the already frightened residents. To me, it was a metaphor for the Bush administration's use of the terrorist threat to keep Americans in line with their "holy" war. Just when we think everything is normal, we are reminded again of the threat to our way of life.

Any others?

I liked the movie for reasons that would spoil it for anyone that still wishes to see it, so I will not elaborate beyond what I already have.


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Old 08-04-2004, 05:13 AM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

Jon Stewart already spoiled it for me. He revealed that the "village" is more of a "hamlet." Smaller than a real village.
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Old 08-04-2004, 03:34 PM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

I didn't see it, and when I watched 10 minutes of that horribly stupid Sci-fi channel biography of M. Night I just had no desire to see it, considering how dumb "Signs" was.

What I did get from the ad for it:
Don't go in the woods.
Don't go out after dark.
Don't use red.
Don't go in the water.
Don't touch the sand.
Don't look at me that way.

It tipped my stupidity meter out the window.

-Scott
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Old 08-04-2004, 07:09 PM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotty
I didn't see it, and when I watched 10 minutes of that horribly stupid Sci-fi channel biography of M. Night I just had no desire to see it, considering how dumb "Signs" was.
I felt the same way, but my daughter Roxy, who had already seen it and basically spoiled it for me, wanted to take her friend to see it. I didn't really have anything better to do at the time, so I went. I thought it was pretty well directed and had an extremely low budget with the exception of actor's salaries.

Quote:
What I did get from the ad for it:
Don't go in the woods.
Yep, that's where the creatures dwell.
Quote:
Don't go out after dark.
No, they went out after dark, but probably no more than anyone that lived in a 18th or 19th century village or hamlet.
Quote:
Don't use red.
That was the color of the creatures.
Quote:
Don't go in the water.
Don't touch the sand.
I didn't note either one of these in the movie.
Quote:
Don't look at me that way.
There was a bit of that, but I chalked it up more as representative of the conservative nature of 18th or 19th century villagers. The villagers held a celebratory wedding ceremony with music and dancing, it wasn't all somber at all.

See it on video. It's not at all like Signs or not even very much like its trailer.


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Old 08-05-2004, 12:43 PM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

Actually I was just adding a typical horror movie scare tactic, which it seemed every single one was used in the TV spot.

He is a good director for the most part, but he just seemed to go downhill with "Signs" which was horrible. Plus, when the person making the films puts their name in front of the title, I start to ignore them.

-Scott
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Old 08-05-2004, 03:04 PM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

Speaking of actors salaries, I wonder how much this movie cost to make, having such actors as Adrian Brody, Joaquin Phoenix, William Hurt, and Sigourney Weaver in it? They sure didn't spend much on a set and there weren't any special effects at all.


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Old 08-05-2004, 03:08 PM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotty
Actually I was just adding a typical horror movie scare tactic, which it seemed every single one was used in the TV spot.

He is a good director for the most part, but he just seemed to go downhill with "Signs" which was horrible. Plus, when the person making the films puts their name in front of the title, I start to ignore them.
Like John Carpenter's The Thing? Well, on the plus side, there was a skinless dog or two in The Village not entirely unlike one of the forms the creature took in The Thing. The preceding isn't much of a spoiler, but you'll see... if you see the movie.


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Old 08-15-2004, 12:51 AM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenly
To me, it was a metaphor for the Bush administration's use of the terrorist threat to keep Americans in line with their "holy" war. Just when we think everything is normal, we are reminded again of the threat to our way of life.
That had occurred to me as well. A friend also pointed out that William Hurt's character is named Walker, as in George Walker Bush.

Also, was it me, or did the trademark M. Night Shyamalan "shocking" twist add absolutely nothing to the plot or the drama?
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Old 08-15-2004, 01:33 AM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

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Also, was it me, or did the trademark M. Night Shyamalan "shocking" twist add absolutely nothing to the plot or the drama?
Well, since my daughter had already spoiled it for me, it wasn't shocking at all. It wouldn't have been very shocking even if it hadn't been spoiled for me.



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Old 08-15-2004, 07:39 PM
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Default Re: Culturally Relevant Metaphor in "The Village"

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