By John M. Delia, Jr
What would the world be like if there were really super heroes? Their powers may not be so obvious for most to see. Like super human strength, amazing intelligence, and the ability to see the future. Would this be something we would all embrace? Remember if there is one special hero, there is always the opposite and that’s its villain. This third installment of the series will tie everything together.
In the first film, Unbreakable (2000), this story establishes the origin of two characters, David Dunn (Bruce Willis) and Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson). After an accident on a train, where David was the only survivor, Elijah convinces him that he has special powers. David starts to notice these powers; amazing strength, the ability to see the future, and the desire to help others in need. One problem, he does have a weakness and its water. Elijah on the other hand is very intelligent, but his weakness is his bones are as brittle as glass.
The second film, Split (2016), is about an interesting character Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) who has 23 distinct personalities. This story depicts this troubled character who has a weakness for kidnapping teenage girls. He torments these girls by switching through his many odd personalities which eventually leads up to the origin of his 24th personality, the Beast.
Now this brings us to the third part of the series, Glass. Here we find our characters continuing to perform where they left off. David is now being referred to as the Overseer in the tabloids as he continues to avenge the weak. Kevin is in the midst of his crazy adventures, making the beast presence more common. Lastly, Elijah, who now refers to himself as Mr. Glass, finds himself in a predicament that may seem impossible for him to solve, but he may surprise you.
Director M. Night Shyamalan does an amazing job with this unique storyline. He tells a story that makes you believe these characters can exist. This world he brings us is not far from what we live in now. So he takes this knowledge and uses it to take on a spectacular adventure through the eyes of these power men. He uses special effects to enhance the characters abilities and to prove to the world that comic books are real. The performances by all the cast are outstanding and help bring the story’s believable conclusion to light.
This remarkable trilogy has been one of those stories you have to watch. Just like that book you cannot put down, it intrigues you to continue on. These magnificent narratives also seem to be on the list of films that you always find yourself watching even if it’s been the twentieth time you’ve seen them. You might believe that these graphic novel fairy tales may prove that the comic book is not fantasy, but maybe real after all.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the marvelous storyline, along with the stunning performance by all of the crew. This impressive view of the world played out on the big screen. (4 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, James McAvoy, Sarah Paulson, Bruce Willis, Spencer Treat Clark, Charlayne Woodard, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Directed and written by: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, and Thriller.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence including some bloody images, thematic elements, and language.
Running Time: 2 hours and 9 minutes
Release Date: January 18, 2019
Distributed By: Universal Pictures
Released In: Standard, Digital, D-Cinema