Search - Unbreakable (Two-Disc Vista Series) on DVD

Daniel W. from LANSING, MI
Reviewed on 10/10/2012...

To me, this is M. Nights best work. I didnt always think so. If you would have asked 2 years ago I would have said Signs (which I still love), but after repeated viewings this has firmly latched on to the top spot. What once seemed slow and boring, became a fascinating character study. Both Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson are wonderful in their roles. Willis effectively plays a man who, you can pretty much tell at first glance, has stopped living anywhere near what most people call a life. He is distant, quiet, and most of all, sad and lacking any purpose. After being the sole survivor of a train wreck, enter Jacksons character. This character is completely unlike anything Samuel L. has done before. Lots of vulnerableness in his character, and not just physically. He suggests some pretty outrageous stuff to Willis and Willis takes a hike, thinking the man crazy. After a while though, he starts to change his mind and believe. Its a story about lost people finding their true identities when they thought they were lost forever. I have probably already said too much, but the film does move along methodically, so some people will be bored. But I ask you to stick with it. It grows on you.

6 of 6 member(s) found this review helpful.

Jerry S. from OCEANSIDE, CA
Reviewed on 3/25/2012...

GREAT! One of those movies that keeps you guessing to the end.

2 of 5 member(s) found this review helpful.

Deborah D. (pmdeborah) from YORK, PA
Reviewed on 7/24/2010...

All of the acting and the plot were great. I have watched this movie again and again. The movie moves along at a good pace and the ending is wonderful. Even though C Woodard had a small role it was very well acted and stuck with me. I am going to have to see some of her other films.

2 of 6 member(s) found this review helpful.

Kimberly B. (TheBookHunter) from SALEM, OH
Reviewed on 11/2/2008...

good with lots of suspense

3 of 6 member(s) found this review helpful.

Vernon P. (Merlin)
Reviewed on 4/20/2008...

This is a very carefully thought-out look at the practical side of the "hero" mythology of comics and legends. The ideas shared by Samuel L. Jackson's character are worth spending some time thinking on, and looking farther into. The application of the notion of a bell-curve to his reasoning is insightful.

This movie is well acted, and a delight to watch. From the beginning, Bruce Willis' character is lost, out-of-balance, and trying to establish his footing. Willis plays this perfectly. This movie is a jewel, and well worth spending almost 2 hours watching.

7 of 8 member(s) found this review helpful.

John C. (bookwheelboy)
Reviewed on 12/30/2007...

Simply wonderful.

4 of 7 member(s) found this review helpful.

You'll want to believe

Anthony Hinde | Sydney, Australia | 06/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These days any film associated with comics is likely to be a special effects extravaganza full of action and short on character development. Well director M. Night Shyamalan has taken us in a different direction, (no surprise there). His film, "Unbreakable", explores the action comic philosophy without becoming an action comic itself. You won't see men in spandex leaping from tall buildings to save the day. What you will see is a thoughtful investigation of the unusual skills we humans may or may not have, and the choices we make regarding their use. I have a talent for putting holes in T-shirts. My sister can permanently stop any watch she wears for a few weeks. It's hard to see either of us becoming crime fighters or maniacal masterminds on the strength of these talents but it does makes you think. Let's stretch our imaginations a little further. What if a man had the uncanny luck to avoid virtually all injury or illness? Could this be significant? Would he even notice? Where would it lead him? Unbreakable introduces us to such a man. Bruce Willis plays David Dunn, the sole survivor of a tragic train derailment that killed the other 131 passengers. David walks away without a scratch and barely notices his fifteen minutes of fame on the local news channels. But at least one other person takes note of David's uncanny good fortune. Elijah Price is an art dealer, played convincingly by Samuel L Jackson. His gallery specializes in comic art and he is very passionate about the seriousness of his chosen profession and it's medium. Elijah believes that action comics represent an ancient wisdom, exaggerated and commercialized but still containing an essence of truth. His theory is that there are people with extraordinary abilities and that these people have a destiny. Whether these people become legendary hero's or any other larger than life figure depends on them realizing their destiny and fulfilling their potential. In David Dunn, he suspects lies the heart of a hero and Elijah's obsession soon drags David and his family into a new world. Shyamalan takes his time with this story. It could have very easily been boring, because when boiled down, little actually happens. However, Unbreakable avoids that trap and becomes instead, a strange mixture of longing, suspense and doubt. We truly get to know David's wife Audrey and his son Joseph. They are not an atypical family; marital problems, boredom and some other dysfunctions feature at the start of the story. In a way, David's gradually more serious attempts to explore his "gift" become the catalyst to improve his home life. The sub-plot of David's crumbling relationship with Audrey, (Robin Wright), is not fully explored but we are given several clues that make it interesting. David is chasing job offers in another city, even after the accident little emotion passes between he and Audrey, and they sleep separately. All of which points to a lack of love. But to counter this we discover that David sacrificed a promising football career to capture Audrey's heart and, even in the hardest times, he has remained faithful to her. I like these quiet story lines, where nothing is forced down your throat and you have to work it out on your own. By far the most interesting character is Elijah. Born with a brittle bone disease, his life has been crowded with pain, torment and ostracism. At school he was taunted with the moniker, "Mr. Glass", and to an extent he has embraced this title. If you look closely, you will see that he is always close to glass, for example, his fragile glass walking stick. Elijah is a fighter. His mother headed off a life of seclusion when he was a depressed boy and convinced him to accept life's challenges, eventually leading to his becoming a professional success. Elijah's passion and conviction are magnetic. He not only draws David and his son into the world of duty/destiny but the audience is forced to believe, long before David starts to. Unbreakable is a subtle film about taking risks, acknowledging hope and following dreams. Whether we have special gifts or not, it challenges us to take a look around and try to find opportunities to make a difference; to stand up to the small and large evils in this world and do our part. I can only hope we see more of these inspiring characters in future films. I want to feel this way again."

A True Work Of Art

Reviewer | 12/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan faced a formidable task in delivering a follow-up to his last outing, "The Sixth Sense," which was a remarkable film; and his attempt at capturing that same quality and integrity in his latest effort has resulted in a film that, while it does not surpass "Sense," is nothing less than it's equal. Beginning with a screenplay that is brilliant in concept, content and structure, and realized with equal acuity, "Unbreakable," starring Bruce Willis, is a unique, challenging film that will test the limits of audience perception like never before. From the cryptic opening scene to the denouement, this is enthralling drama that offers singular insight into the dark capabilities of human nature, and a perspective of evil never before suggested in any movie in the history of the cinema. Conan Doyle said there's nothing new under the sun, and that may be true; other films may have dealt with similar themes, but the approach Shyamalan takes here is entirely original. Shyamalan approaches his material like a quiet, unobtrusive Hitchcock, resulting in a style that is quite his own. His pace is deliberate, and information is doled out in subtle, measured proportions which affords the discerning viewer a chance to place the myriad pieces of the puzzle into proper order as the story unfolds. It's a mystery that refuses to let you off the hook, and demands that you think about what is actually going on without respite. To say that this is thought provoking material would be an understatement; it's an intricate story, the plot of which is complemented by equally complex characters who are detailed and extremely well written and developed. As he did in "The Sixth Sense," Bruce Willis proves once again that there is so more to him as an actor than being just an action hero. His portrayal of David Dunn, a man facing a transitional period in his life, is played with a staid countenance that successfully reflects the inner turmoil of the character. You know from the outset that there is something going on beneath the surface; something unsettling for which Dunn is seeking resolution. When he becomes the only survivor of a train wreck, it adds to the irresolution in his life as he is suddenly confronted with new issues that take him into still deeper, uncharted waters. Willis gives a performance that is understated with nuance and depth, and gives Dunn a sense of controlled distress with which the audience can readily identify; that unknown, intangible something that one can feel, yet which remains elusive and unnamed. It's a powerful statement that illustrates the thin line between reality and the surreal. Samuel L. Jackson gives a strong performance as well, as Elijah Price, victim of a congenital disease that renders his existence fragile in the extreme. It's a sympathetic character that somehow refutes sympathy; and Jackson has a presence that makes Elijah real and believable, which is pivotal, as his infirmity is integral to the plot, as is the fact that he and Dunn represent opposite ends of the vast spectrum of life. Effective in a lesser, yet still significant role, is Robin Wright Penn (Audrey Dunn), who fleshes out the disarray of a wife dealing with the emotional absence of her husband. The supporting cast includes Spencer Treat Clark (Joseph Dunn), Charlayne Woodard (Elijah's Mother) and, in a cameo, M. Night Shyamalan (Stadium Drug Dealer). With "Unbreakable," Shyamalan has taken up the gauntlet and emerged victorious, with an intelligent, entertaining film so profound that it will no doubt become one of the most under-appreciated films of all time. There is simply a depth to it that will soar beyond the grasp of the casual viewer; few films have such substance and vision. Like a Monet, this is art that is both impressionistic and invaluable; a true original in every aspect, and a testimony to the talents of M. Night Shyamalan."