Unbreakable has many things in common with its predecessor, The Sixth Sense, other than being directed by, and starring the same person, the pace, story-line, and eventual surprise ending also seem to be parallel. However similar Unbreakable may be to The Sixth Sense, it is a unique film in itself that although slow-paced throughout, is entertaining and actually bearable.

Bruce Willis stars as an overly-morose security guard who miraculously survives a train wreck, and aside from being the sole survivor, he has not a scratch on him. Samuel L. Jackson believes him to be 'special,' maybe even super-human. A comic collector, and purveyor of the hidden meanings within them, Jackson (Elijah Price) believes Willis (David Dunn) to be the 'one' that he has been searching for, a savior for mankind, and an exact opposite to himself. By delving further into the story, I may give too much away, so I'll instead focus from here out on the rest of the movie rather than the plot.

Shyamalan seems to have a fixation with myth, or the supernatural. Here we deal with an unbreakable person - one who never gets sick, never breaks a bone, can never be injured. And although he is unbreakable physically, emotionally he is extremely scarred. His marriage is on the verge of a break-up and his relationship with his son is less than stellar, but Price believes, that through the cultivation of his 'power,' he can do good in the world and wake up without that sadness he has experienced since his teens. Writer/director/actor Shyamalan has layered this film with much more than is visible at first viewing - exploring relationships (father-son, husband-wife) and much more in depth. And herein lies the main problem with the film - while Unbreakable is crafted meticulously, Shyamalan takes his sweet time to do it. I found myself several times during the film wondering what time it was, how much was left, etc. During any other film that captivates you, and totally engrosses the audience, these things don't happen. But while the pace is slow, the plot is thick and actually quite interesting to watch.

But while Unbreakable does have it's problems, you can't help but walk away with a satisfied feeling. The ending will most likely feel many people wanting more, but it's a twist that you can't see coming, even though I thought I had it figured out (as I did The Sixth Sense). While some of the plot turns are obvious in their own mysterious way, the ending will catch you off guard and thinking about the film as a whole. Had it not been so slow through the middle, I'd have no complaints. Jackson and Willis were great in their performances and while the ending may leave some questions unanswered, overall, the movie does present a good story and will not leave crowds disappointed.

Genres: Drama, Suspense
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 105 minutes
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