Glass | It's An Origin Story

01.20.2019 – We live in the Golden Age of Superhero genre that’s appearing in movies and television. With Marvel’s trailblazing success on their Cinematic Universe and DC Comics' Extended Universe that also include their ever-growing Arroverse on The CW it is not slowing down. The New Year certainly bring some more but there are also others too that’s not produced by the big two. Truly, the slew of animation, films, television, and video games has brought the genre to its impressive era. There are also other superhero-type genres that are getting the same attention.

That film is “Glass” directed by M. Night Shyamalan which serves as the ‘secret sequel’ to “Unbreakable” and “Split” tying up loose ends which connects the narratives of the two previous films. It’s considered also “an origin story” that the famed director has been hard work in pushing to make in the last 20 years. Now with “Glass” the ceiling is broken in making that an interesting twist and at the same time psychological thinking of what defines a “Superhero.” or a “Villain.”

“Glass” follows after the events in “Split” released in 2016 featuring the talented performance of James McAvoy as the abused Kevin McCrumb aka “The Beast,” which received critical praise for portraying a character with multiple personalities. It is one of the highlights of “Split” and now with “Glass” taking this character to new heights of popularity.

Though “Glass” is not what everyone expected in comparing “Split” it does give us some revelations how these three characters started from way back in “Unbreakable” released nineteen years ago. For someone who has seen previous superhero genre, this is unlike adapted from the source material. This is more like deconstructing the genre how people would react if Superheroes walk the Earth with a grounded concept in visual as well as feel to the film.

This may not appear focused on Mr. Glass as masterfully portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in this film. It does shed some light on the connective tissue on three characters. There’s also something behind the scenes that linger in the shadows that reveal a human Illuminati-like group that is represented by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson). For anyone who used to the mainstream superhero films, this is not your usual punch match up. It’s a psychological mind game that is more of a conversation between these characters as to how it started with Unbreakable.

But with the success of “Split”, it puts this film in the spotlight, which was interesting from start to finish with balance action and revelation to the Eastrail 177 Trilogy. It gives you a whole perspective of defining enhanced human beings if they were real.

Overall “Glass” is non-stop superhero action as envisioned by like the train accident that created these characters almost 19 years ago. Critically impressive with the performance of the main cast that also featured Bruce Willis from the very beginning from Unbreakable.

Glass Release Dates | 17 January 2019 in Australia | 16 January 2019 in the Philippines | Listing for the Rest of the World HERE!

RATED: B+

NOTE: This film was screened publicly in Shang Cineplex in the City of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. This is reviewed with a personal opinion without spoilers not for you to agree or disagree about the views written by the author but to gain insight on his perspective about the film.