M. Night Shyamalan= A young John Carpenter

[4496 aka Joe Sixpack]

I was struck today while discussing the "Thing" video game, that these two directors had some similarities early in their careers. Both broke out with films that were labeled "horror" but were really practices in suspense and got popular with grass roots word of mouth (Halloween, Sixth Sense), both followed that film up with slow paced atmospheric films about mythical beings (Ghosts in "The Fog", super heroes in "Unbreakable"). And then followed that up with flicks about aliens that are scary because of what you DON'T see (The Thing, Signs). Cinematography and score are also VERY crucial in said films, setting the mood just so.

Am I nuts or does anyone else see these similarities.

[Samurai X]

There are some silimaraties between the two of them and you never know, M. Night might become the next John Carpenter. When you say broke out with Halloween do you mean first film of first popular film that made you big because Halloween I believe was not John Carpenter's first film.

[imported_T_M]

So m. Night will make it big for a few years than start making stinkers?

[Nail Gun]

In those categories that you name I can see some similarity and while I don't want to knock Shyamalan, I don't think his films have anywhere near the level of suspense, excitement and entertainment of Carpenter's early films. To me, the comparison encompasses similarities in their careers, but not in their style or long range vision.

Also, Signs wasn't Shyamalan's first movie either ... there were two before that, including this gem- <a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120510" target="_blank">http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120510</a>

[4496 aka Joe Sixpack]

Samurai X Likes Sharp Things:
There are some silimaraties between the two of them and you never know, M. Night might become the next John Carpenter. When you say broke out with Halloween do you mean first film of first popular film that made you big because Halloween I believe was not John Carpenter's first film.No, it wasn't his first. I THINK Assult on Precinct 13 was. But Halloween was his "break out" aka first big hit.

[Dan Whitehead]

Dark Star was Carpenter's first.

terror_mike:
So m. Night will make it big for a few years than start making stinkers?And I think he made it big for more than "a few years".

[DJ Dylan]

I really dont see Shyamalan making the kind of movies that Carpenter is making now. I see him making good movies that are also enjoyable. Carpenter's problem was he started to make movies that were just enjoyable to watch, but were pretty horrible movies. I dont see that happening with Shyamalan.

[Dave Angel]

Now all you need to do is find a way to link up 'Assualt on Precinct 13' with 'Wide Awake' and 'Dark Star' with 'Praying with Anger'.

[Disciple]

Shyamalan

[Clarence Beaks]

Well put, David.

M. Night is turning out to be a pretty solid director, but he doesn't have Carpenter's masterful use of the widescreen just yet.

As a writer, I'll take Carpenter's sharply observed characterizations and more subtly-integrated themes over Shyamalan's need to explain it all for everyone in the cheap seats.

[otisthecat]

Clarence Beaks:
As a writer, I'll take Carpenter's sharply observed characterizations and more subtly-integrated themes over Shyamalan's need to explain it all for everyone in the cheap seats.That could have something to do with the fact that other than The Thing and maybe In The Mouth Of Madness Carpenters themes are simple, straight forward and more often than not, bad? Before the bitching begins, yes I have seen all of J.C.s movies more than once, and have most in my DVD collection, that doesn't make them good though.

[Charlie Brigden]

To be blunt,HALLOWEEN, THE FOG and THE THING piss over anything Shamalayan has done.

[otisthecat]

I understand they are "classics" but Halloween and The Fog are boring, even when I was a kid they were boring.

The Thing on the other hand, rules all.

[Charlie Brigden]

Anyone who finds Halloween boring should work on their attention span.

[otisthecat]

Frank Tobiasi:
Anyone who finds Halloween boring should work on their attention span.Nope, don't mind slow movies at all, it is suspense flicks without any suspense that are my problem.

[Charlie Brigden]

otisthecat:
Frank Tobiasi:
Anyone who finds Halloween boring should work on their attention span.Nope, don't mind slow movies at all, it is suspense flicks without any suspense that are my problem.Please... buy a copy of Halloween stat....

[Andre Dellamorte]

I think sequels and numerous rip offs have dampened the effect Halloween can have, but it's still a tight piece of filmmaking, and probably the best of it's sub-genre (of slasher films).

[Andre Dellamorte]

Also to the original post, I'd argue that the Thing is one of rare few films that suggests unspeakable evil and then shows it (unlike Signs, which was the original thesis). Some of the Bottin effects gags still disturb me, and it's one of the only horror movies that actuall does have truly demented looking effects.

Also Thing didn't follow Fog, Escape From New York did.

Also The Thing was a box office failure, unlike Signs.

Also John Carpenter has always worked with a explicit sense of homage in his genre work, where M. Night is not so forthcoming.

[otisthecat]

Frank Tobiasi:
otisthecat:
Frank Tobiasi:
Anyone who finds Halloween boring should work on their attention span.Nope, don't mind slow movies at all, it is suspense flicks without any suspense that are my problem.Please... buy a copy of Halloween stat....I have it, watch it once a year, I certainly don't hate it, just doesn't do anything for me.

[4496 aka Joe Sixpack]

Well since I started this thread I should throw a couple things in. Namely, I hope Shyamalan doesn't end up like Carpenter. The guy has made 5 good movies in my estimation: Halloween, The Thing, Big Troble in Little China, They Live, and The Fog. The rest of his filmography is kind of shakey. Granted, those 5 films are unbelievable, but still. He hasn't had a winner in quite some time now.

[LonnieBeale]

He has already started making stinkers, SIGNS was two hours of people sitting around a house. THank god these Aliens with all their fancy spaceships never think to don space suits, we might really be in trouble.

[wade]

M. Night.....
hasn't made any B action movied yet which is what i really like from Carpenter.
Escape from NY/LA, Big Trouble in Little China, They live, Assualt on Precinct 13, Vampires

And does anyone see this guy doing an action movie??

[Dan Whitehead]

otisthecat:
Please... buy a copy of Halloween stat....I have it, watch it once a year, I certainly don't hate it, just doesn't do anything for me.So you bought a film that doesn't do anything for you, that you think is boring and devoid of suspense, but you watch it once a year?

Weird.

[Johnny Daywalker]

The comparisions are interesting but foolish.

Shyamalan is much more of a hitchcockian type director than a Carpenter type director.

Shyamalan isn't a creature feature /horror / thriller/action /comedy type director like Carpenter.

Shyamalan's work is more about Characters and Character study type stuff.

I for the record really like both filmmakers but this comparision doesn't hold much water sorry.

[moovyphreak]

I agree with this guy.

Shyamalan is more like Hitchkock and Carpenter has been making shit movies for a while now.

[Michael Rabattino]

When you compare new filmmakers to established film legends, you get shit on.

This, i've learned......

So I won't get into THIS argument.

[Andre Dellamorte]

And you have learned well.

I don't know about comparing MNS to Hitch just yet, but I will say that both made movies about lurid subject matter that were classy enough to be more than just "genre films."

Whereas JC has always embraced his B-movie love.

[General Logan]

If I could only watch the films of one of the two, I would pick MNS. That might get my CHUD badge revoked, or at least suspended.

But his three films compared to Carpenters are just a higher "success ratio" with me. And I am not meaning to slam the love of "B" films.

And nothing but love for:
In The Mouth of Madness, They Live, Big Trouble in Little China

I don't mean to diss Carpenter. But I expect great things from MNS, I hope for good things from Carpenter.

[billylove]

Look at it this way:

M. Night focuses on the characters and their development in a situation. M. Night is a character filmer.

Carpenter focuses on the situation and how characters deal with that situation. Carpenter is a situation filmer.

Both are similar but very different.

[otisthecat]

The Abominable Doctor Whitehead:
otisthecat:
Please... buy a copy of Halloween stat....I have it, watch it once a year, I certainly don't hate it, just doesn't do anything for me.So you bought a film that doesn't do anything for you, that you think is boring and devoid of suspense, but you watch it once a year?

Weird.The movie is called Halloween, I watch it on Halloween, just something one has to do.

[Clarence Beaks]

Do you watch MOTHER'S DAY every Mother's Day, then?

[otisthecat]

Clarence Beaks:
Do you watch MOTHER'S DAY every Mother's Day, then?That was just stupid Beaks, I expect better from you.

[Micah Robinson]

LonnieBeale:
He has already started making stinkers, SIGNS was two hours of people sitting around a house. THank god these Aliens with all their fancy spaceships never think to don space suits, we might really be in trouble.Die.

Now please.

[Clarence Beaks]

otisthecat:
Clarence Beaks:
Do you watch MOTHER'S DAY every Mother's Day, then?That was just stupid Beaks, I expect better from you.I'll gladly be stupid if hunkering down for annual screenings of a movie I don't even like is considered genius.

[Michael Rabattino]

LonnieBeale:
He has already started making stinkers, SIGNS was two hours of people sitting around a house. THank god these Aliens with all their fancy spaceships never think to don space suits, we might really be in trouble.Eat my cock.

[otisthecat]

Clarence Beaks:
otisthecat:
Clarence Beaks:
Do you watch MOTHER'S DAY every Mother's Day, then?That was just stupid Beaks, I expect better from you.I'll gladly be stupid if hunkering down for annual screenings of a movie I don't even like is considered genius.Oh give me a fuckin break Beaks, just because I don't think it is the masterpiece some do doesn't mean I can't put it on as background noise at a Halloween party.

[Andre Dellamorte]

But blind resignation to "holiday" movies is why I don't understand why my Arbor Day project hasn't taken off. Come on Warners, I know you have no taste, what gives?

[Buffalo Wildfire]

LonnieBeale:
He has already started making stinkers, SIGNS was two hours of people sitting around a house. THank god these Aliens with all their fancy spaceships never think to don space suits, we might really be in trouble.Could`nt agree more, signs has been very over rated .. sad to say it reminded me of Reign Of Fire in that seemed to concentrate solely on a part of a much bigger story .. also i was trying my best not to laugh at some of the worse scenes since Plan 9 all the TV reports shown were hilerious(were they suppose to be funny ??)

[Michael Rabattino]

Wolfman Wildfire:
also i was trying my best not to laugh at some of the worse scenes since Plan 9 I'm beginning to think some of you watch movies with blindfolds on.

[billylove]

Wolfman Wildfire:
LonnieBeale:
He has already started making stinkers, SIGNS was two hours of people sitting around a house. THank god these Aliens with all their fancy spaceships never think to don space suits, we might really be in trouble.Could`nt agree more, signs has been very over rated .. sad to say it reminded me of Reign Of Fire in that seemed to concentrate solely on a part of a much bigger story .. also i was trying my best not to laugh at some of the worse scenes since Plan 9 all the TV reports shown were hilerious(were they suppose to be funny ??)THIS, is why we have films like Gitter coming out.

[billylove]

Gitter = Glitter

[Clarence Beaks]

otisthecat:
Oh give me a fuckin break Beaks, just because I don't think it is the masterpiece some do doesn't mean I can't put it on as background noise at a Halloween party.So now you don't actually *watch* the movie, you just have it on as "background noise" at a party.

Why must you lie to us, Otis?

[surgeon]

This thread sucks. MNS has yet to prove himself. He got lucky with The Sixth Sense but he has fumbled the ball, in my opinion.

JC has proved himself 100 times over as an innovative, unique stylist with no comparable peers. Again, my opinion.

Putting Halloween on for background noise at a halloween party and then throwing shit at its director... and then shoot off at the mouth about it-- is bush league.

[Dan Whitehead]

otisthecat:
Oh give me a fuckin break Beaks, just because I don't think it is the masterpiece some do doesn't mean I can't put it on as background noise at a Halloween party.If John Carpenter has created the only slasher movie you can dance to, I think he deserves a lot of respect.

[xtheshapex]

yea,i havent posted anythign in like,a month...ive been pretty dormant in terms of speaking my mind on here,until now...

i saw the same problem in my friends sister that i seem to see in othisthecat,they didnt see any suspense in halloween,and they deem it boring...

how..i do not know...considering this movie DID start the genre and paved the way for the movies that you see now and most liekly consider scary(at least she does) ie...scream,urban legends and *shudder* valentine...

because it doesnt have a a semi high budget or songs of the moment on the osundtrack their dismissed as boring crap...

ye,and definately try to back out of it saying you play it as background music for a party...

i generally let people have their own opinions about films,but with halloween (my favorite film of all time) there should only be one thing that is said...it rocks,end of story,basically...youre dumb if you dont like it...

*hands over ears*

IM NOT LISTENING,IM RIGHT,YOU SUCK...

[otisthecat]

surgeon:
JC has proved himself 100 times over as an innovative, unique stylist with no comparable peers. Again, my opinion.The Good: The Thing

The OK: Halloween, Big Trouble in Little China, Escape From NY

The Bad: Ghosts of Mars, Vampires, Escape From LA, Village of the Damned, Body Bags, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, They Live, Star Man, Christine, The Fog, Assault on Precinct 13, Dark Star

I wouldn't say 100 times over. Again, my opinion.

[Andre Dellamorte]

Have you even seen Assault on Precinct 13 or Dark Star?

[otisthecat]

DELLAMORTE:
Have you even seen Assault on Precinct 13 or Dark Star?Yes, many years ago. No, don't remember much about them. Yes, I remember they were not very good. I think if I dig through my old VHS tapes box, I have a copy of Dark Star taped off TV from the late 80s.

[otisthecat]

Clarence Beaks:
otisthecat:
Oh give me a fuckin break Beaks, just because I don't think it is the masterpiece some do doesn't mean I can't put it on as background noise at a Halloween party.So now you don't actually *watch* the movie, you just have it on as "background noise" at a party.

Why must you lie to us, Otis?Once you have seen Halloween a few times, if you can't watch and socialize and still know what is going on, you should probably see a doctor.

[xtheshapex]

otisthecat:
Clarence Beaks:
otisthecat:
Oh give me a fuckin break Beaks, just because I don't think it is the masterpiece some do doesn't mean I can't put it on as background noise at a Halloween party.So now you don't actually *watch* the movie, you just have it on as "background noise" at a party.

Why must you lie to us, Otis?Once you have seen Halloween a few times, if you can't watch and socialize and still know what is going on, you should probably see a doctor.i think its you who needs to go to the doctor if you insist on lumping christine in the bad category with vampires and body bags...BODY BAGS for christ sakes...