starring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin

rated: PG-13

plot: A widowed Pennsylvania farmer, Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), discovers strange 500-foot crop circles in his corn fields. Were they created by pranksters or ? aliens? Along with his brother, Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix), and his two children, daughter Bo (Abigail Breslin) and son Morgan (Rory Culkin), Graham searches for the answer, and it's not long before others are searching, too.

official website: http://bventertainment.go.com/movies/signs/index.html

review: Caught this movie on opening night in a crowded theater. I am normally not a fan of "scary" movies, and really didn't want to see this one. But... there wasn't anything els playing within a decent amount of time, so I went.

Mel's character is a former preacher whose lost his faith due to a rather tragic event that has left him alone with his brother (Joaquin - from Gladiator) to raise his 2 children. Merril (Joaquin) is a former minor league ball player that for some reason still lives with his brother, never quite getting it together. Because of the slimy roles he has played in the past, I've never liked him, but in this movie he comes off as very likable. The children (especially the daughter) are adorable and perform well. There's the obligatory asthmatic-child-who-doesn't-have-his-medicine-so-he-has-an-asthma-attack-at-just-the-wrong-moment in there Fine performances turned in by the townspeople and great directing by M. Night Shyamalan (who also wrote the movie) leave you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end I won't give away the ending... but there are some spiritual/Christian aspects throughout that we all struggle with.

Little-to-no gore in this one, maybe a cuss word or 2 (toward the beginning and kinda funny ) earn the pg-13 rating. I'd recommend it for anyone over 13 who doesn't scare too easily.

Final Thoughts: I am glad I went and you will be too.

rating: (out of 5)

Hehe... Final thought. Reminds me of Jerry Springer.

Without the chair being thrown beforehand? Do you feel cheated?

How was Mel's performance? I just watched a marathon of Conspiracy Theory and I just love him...

Embie..don't you think Mel is a little too young for you.....

(Wow...I'm really in trouble now...)

Mel was typical Mel, great performance, not too over the top, tho the prayer scene was close

Embie, have you ever seen Payback? I love that movie.

i loved this movie...

my favorite quote was at the very beginning:
"Stop calling me Father, I can't hear my children now..." *dun, dun, dun...creepy music*

i dunno why...i just thought it was funny

I took Michael to see it this afternoon. We really liked it. I sat with m fingers just close enough to blocking m eyes...just in case

It was a good film, and I agree that all the performances were very good. Hardly any gore, no sex, and just some minor cussing. Startling in parts, but not scarey after affects...

I liked it lots.

es, Kingpin, you will pay for that comment...

No, Michelle, I never saw Payback. Is it a current film of his?

A few years back (payback)

Glad you liked it, I don't always know how close I am to others' taste in movies, this one was good tho

Payback was from the late 90s ..in which Mel's son is kidnapped and turns the tables on them by offering the ransom money as a reward for whoever catches the guy. Also featured Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block.....woah oh oh oh oh ...woa oh oh oh.