The Shoutbox
I agree that his movies are amazing technically, and it's interesting to hear a theory about him visualizing the film for years prior. What always catches me off guard are some of the ridiculous moments that pop up amidst all this grand cinematic art. "Swing away" comes to mind. I had to rewind and pause for a good long while when I saw that. To this day I wonder if I missed something, and my perception was off. But the trend seems to repeat in way, shape or form, and I think that is some of the critical, I know it's a big part of audience and critic reception. It's like Dario Argento..he makes these beautiful films, only to get a close up of a beating heart getting stabbed. But at least Argento uses extreme shock and bad taste to jolt ppl. Shyamalan kind of seems to be fumbling loudly without knowing it? Can't put my finger on it but it reminds me of Michealangelo painting on a McDowell's bag.
Originally Posted by Citizen Rules
I actually have a Shyamalan DVD that someone gave me, The Happening, I've never watched it...Maybe one day I'll get up my courage and just do it
It's not good, but it has some good moments. All his films have some really good moments or ideas, really. They just don't seem to get the extra 10% they used to.

The script, incidentally, was significantly better than what ended up on screen. Not good exactly, but better.
I was talking to my sisters about this the other day, and we've got lots of theories. One of the more satisfying, to me, is that he was probably making Unbreakable in his head for a decade or more (which really shows in how it's shot), and after a few films he was making things new, that didn't have the same amount of time to percolate and perfect.

Also, the dude basically achieved his lifetime goal and was on top of the cinematic world at 29. You have to have quite a drive to maintain that level of effort and quality for decades after something like that.
I'll put Signs right up there, too. Some of the writing suffers a little, but it's so well made technically (the score, the cinematography) and Gibson is tremendous in it.

Anyway, most people peg the decline right after that, including me. The Village still has a lot of technical virtuosity, but it feels like someone doing an imitation of a good Shyamalan film, and a few of his efforts since haven't even had that high technical polish, either.
Oh, I didn't realize he did, The Sixth Sense. I really liked it, the one time I seen it.
The obvious picks for his best (and closest to essential) movies are The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. The former was a Best Picture nominee for whatever that's worth (especially in 1999).
Shyamalan. Shamrock. Apple. Bad apple. Luck. Bad luck. Shyamalan movie. Unlucky.
I've seen one of his movies, the one with Joaquin Phoenix. It was in Raul's Top movie countdown so I watched it. That one was OK and kind of fun, not my thing but it had it's moments.
I don't think you'll make it to the end of that one. I doubt anyone here would suggest it as a starting point anyway.
I actually have a Shyamalan DVD that someone gave me, The Happening, I've never watched it...Maybe one day I'll get up my courage and just do it
It was definitely needless to say, lol