review: SIGNS (Blu-ray)

Touchstone  //  Buy from Amazon.com After captivating audiences with THE SIXTH SENSE and UNBREAKABLE writer/director M. Night Shyamalan created his next mind-blowing movie event: SIGNS -- now more tantalizing than ever on Blu-ray Disc! SIGNS is the gripping story of an ordinary family as they encounter the possibility that Earth is being invaded by creatures from another planet. When Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) and his family awaken to find a 500-foot crop circle in their backyard they're told extraterrestrials are responsible. As they watch with growing dread news reports tell of similar "signs" suddenly appearing all over the world! Don't even blink as razor-sharp high definition transports you to a new dimension of awe and terror. Jump out of your skin as the spectacularly enhanced audio quality intensifies every gasp heartbeat and otherworldly echo. Stir your sense and experience SIGNS as if for the very first time in Blu-ray High Definition! There's probably not another director in modern times who has received so much adoration, and so much scorn, than Mr. M. Night Shyamalan. Breaking on the scene with "Six Sense" he kicked in the teeth of moviegoers everwhere, left them with scratched heads with "Unbreakable" (I'm still not sure about that one), and then brought "Close Encounters" to the farm with this film, his third, "Signs." He would go onto 2 more films that would receive scathing criticism (although I stand firm that "Lady in the Water" is his best film next to his first), so it's interesting to apprach & watch "Signs" with that knowledge, knowing that this might've been the peak of his rise to glory, and see if/how that colors your reception of the film. There's no big plot stunners like in the first two films, although the ending (as expected) does bring everything full circle, as is Shyamalan's calling card now. But "Signs" is really just a good, intense, tension-filled film that carries the viewer through a myriad of emotions, contained within a relatively small cast and tight location setting, as Shyamalan plucks the viewer's emotional strings like a harpist, knowing just when and how to conjure up the right emotional response. Video Presented in a 1080p 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, the film looks very sharp and impressive. With only a couple scenes not as crisp as I otherwise might've expected, overall this is a very nice looking presentation, and is unequivocally better than the DVD version. Audio The PCM 5.1 surround mix is unbelievable, as Shymaalan uses the soundscape almost as another character in the film, managing to convey so much emotion and intensity with the enveloping mix. Extras making-of featurette deleted scenes multi-angle feature (of 2 scenes frilm film) clip from Shyamalan's first alien movie (when he waas a kid) trailers Closing Thoughts Enthralling, entertaining ride + impressive assortment of extras = well worth checking out