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"I believe comics are a form of history."
POW, ZAP, KABOOM, HOLY SPECIAL EFFECTS BATMAN... a movie about comic books...no, no, no. We comic collector's seem
to think that UNBREAKABLE is writer/director M. Night Shyamalan's (The Sixth Sense) tribute to comic books. So
many comic collector's feel betrayed or let down because the movie seems to put down the collector's and their comics. Yes the
basic idea is about the realistic possiblity of super heroes and villians but it isn't about comics. This is not Batman or Spawn or even
X-Men it is about the ramifications of the possible existence of men with extraordinary abilities. What would their life be like if they
found out that they were special. There are no special super hero effects, no costumes no menacing monsters, just real people.
Obviously it is important to feature comics and their art in this movie because it is the story of one man's obsession with comics
and the art. Even deeper he feels that that there is a probability that a comic book like hero does exist. In his tortured mind I can see
why he would hope that one existed. It was important to his sanity.
"Were you really injured in that car accident? I think you faked it for her."
Interestingly enough Shyamalan has set the time period for Price's birth at 1961. This, to most comic collector's is the beginning
of the Silver Age of comics. Therefore this is the perfect time period to start this story because this is a pivotal time in the
history of of comics. The modern super hero was born at this time and so our two lead characters.
"They call me Mr. Glass "
The story concerns only two characters really, the rest are just window dressing. We have Bruce Willis as David Dunn
and Samuel L. Jackson as Elijah Price, nicknamed Mr. Glass by his school friends. Elijah was born with a
congenital condition called osteogenesis imperfecta which makes him extremely vulnerable to bone breaks. Even as he was being
born his borns were breaking. In school his friends began nicknaming him Mr. Glass. He gravitated towards reading and
collecting comics during his many stays in hospitals. As an adult he runs a special comics art gallery. He treats comic art pages
as they should be treated...works of art. He refuses to sell to anyone who thinks the art is just for children. David was a young
football star who supposedly hurt in a car accident, eventually married and works as a security guard, a job he seems to just
endure. From the moment we see him he seems sad and morose. Dunn is the sole survivor of a train wreck. He has no idea
why this happened.
"How many days of your life have you been sick?"
Dunn is contacted by Elijah Price who has an interesting theory about himself and this sole survivor of tragedy. His theory works
fine in the comic world. Price figures that if nature made him as fragile as glass, then nature must also have made a man who is
unbreakable, hterefore the title of this film. Price tells Dunn that he has watched and read about all the disasters that have
occurred for years trying to find his counterpart, his man of steel. He believes that Dunn is this man that is why he was the sole
survivior of the train disaster. He poses questions to Dunn that has him questioning his life and his abilities. It seems that no one
can remember him ever being sick, not even a cold. In a flashback we find that he was never hurt in the car accident, he
had only faked it.
"If there is somebody like me in this world isn't there someday at the other end of the spectrum."
Dunn begins questioning everything about his life. He even tries to save his faltering relationship with his wife, Audrey played by
Robin Wright Penn. David has not told his wife about the possibility that he something more than just a mortal man.
During a weightlifting scene his son, Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark) realizes that his father is more than what he seems.
This is a classic super hero scene where the hero discovers some of his abilities. The two of them work on discovering more about
David's "powers". This will lead to a terrifying scene of confrontation that involves the three of them tha twill not be easily
forgotten.
"Real life doesn't happen in tiny squares."
Probably one the most gut wrenching scenes of the film happens while Price follows a man who David had a precognitive "feeling"
about. David was sure he was carrying a gun. When Price reaches s set of steep steps we can see his terror at the idea of
going down them. He does decide to go down but his legs can not hold him and he falls. The director uses the sound of broken
glass as we hear, no, feel his bones breaking. The scene just sends chills down your spine. If you feel no empathy with this
character up to this time this scene will change all this.
"You were right."
We slowly discover the truth about David in when he goes to a train station we see how he uses his powers. He has no costume
on just a rain gray poncho that makes him a bit mysterious. For those in the know, you will find his look reminiscent of
THE SPECTRE, mysterious super hero who deals out a harsh judgement on evil doers. His powers lead him into
performing his first real act as a "super hero". He shares what happened only with his son.
"I had a bad dream. It's over now."
Of course like in THE SIXTH SENSE, Shyamalan had to give us that surprise ending that most of us had already figured
out. If you watched the film most of the ending was pretty well telegraphed. Okay if you are a comic reader then it would have
been telegraphed, for the others it may have been a surprise. Was this a satisfying ending? Well only you can decide for
yourselves. For me, it was because it was the inevitable and logical beginning. No, this is not a mistake, I did say beginning. After
all the end of the origin of a new super hero is usually just the beginning.
"Tell me David, when you woke up this morning, wa the sadness there?"
"No."
UNBREAKABLE is nicely photographed and the story telling is excellent. Even though I did not find it as well
done as THE SIXTH SENSE this is still a fine film, worth paying the price of admission. It is not necessary to know
anything about comics to enjoy this film. There is nothing really offensive or unsuitable for children in UNBREAKABLE.
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