Movies & Music

The world has never seen two better bass singers than old friends JD Sumner (of The Stamps) and George Younce (of the Cathedrals). Both have passed on now, like so many other of the outstanding old gospel singers.

I grew up hearing my parents sing this one in church. The Waymasters are a group from the hills of North Carolina.

I watched “The Village” a few nights ago (M. Night Shyamalan’s 2004 thriller). And I decided all over again that this film is very underrated. In fact, it might be one of the single most underrated films in Hollywood history.

“The Village” received very negative reviews from critics and was largely considered to be a box office failure (a strong opening weekend with slumping sales thereafter). Billed as a horror flick, “The Village” attracted moviegoers who had fallen in love with MNS’s style after seeing 1999’s “The Sixth Sense.” Most of those viewers left theaters disappointed.

It may not have been so much that MNS’s trademark surprise ending wasn’t present, but that they didn’t understand the ending. If anything, “The Village” was miscategorized. A movie about a late 1800s isolated village with wild beasts roaming the woods? It sounds incredibly cheap; a classic horror film.

“The Village” suspenseful, and there are a few scary moments (masterfully presented, as always, by Shyamalan). But it isn’t a horror movie. There’s no blood and gore, no scream scenes.

And what seemed like a cheap plot progresses into something much more sophisticated. Take a classic tale of Americans trying to achieve a simpler way of life, mix in a little drama and a little romance—and, of course, a little suspense—and you have “The Village.”

It’s been written that MNS is a victim of his success, that he is doomed to spend the rest of his career trying to live up to that first smash hit in 1999. I think there’s probably some truth to that. On the other hand, although “Signs” (2002, Mel Gibson) was outstanding, “The Lady In The Water” (2006) and “The Happening” (2008) weren’t very good, and “The Last Airbender” is crashing and burning as we speak.

But I absolutely think MNS was a victim of his own success with “The Village.” The negative reviews were unfair to a movie that was masterfully produced. MNS is the best filmmaker of our time, Steven Speilberg not withstanding, and “The Village” wasn’t a disappointment in terms of quality. The score was excellent, the visual effects were stunning, and the acting was very good. (Bryce Dallas Howard [daughter of Ron Howard, aka Opie] was spectacular as blind Ivy.)

And that trademark surprise ending? It may not have been as spectacular as The Sixth Sense, but it was pretty darned close.

Anyone who enjoys a good movie but has let critics’ reviews steer them away from The Village for six years owes it to themselves to pick up a copy.

Here’s a kid who’s gonna go far.

You may have seen her on Maury Povich’s “talented kids” show this year. If not, check out this video. It’s Amazing Grace, by 7-year-old Rhema Marvanne. She’s quite a singer.

Great song.