1. There Is No Twist
The Theory: Exactly as it says in the headline. No surprises lie ahead, just a good old fashioned trek through an alien land that makes a boy a man, earns him the respect of his father, and the chagrin of the audience for sitting through it all at $11 a pop. (Audience, please adjust accordingly for IMAX screenings and international markets. Your outrage may vary.) Out of all the hunches, I've saved this one for last. It packs the most punch, because the biggest twist you could find in an M. Night Shyamalan film is that there is NO twist. The film plays as is, without any trickery, and an ultimately happy ending.
Supporting Evidence: M. Night Shyamalan might have given up twist endings for good in his career. His last two films, The Happening and The Last Airbender, didn't contain a twist ending in either of their structures. Two films in a row...this could be the third that could set the pattern of non-twist reliant storytelling becoming the new normal for Shyamalan. Who knows? After Earth could be the hit making combo that takes Shyamalan out of the dregs of his career as the nadir of filmmaking and Will Smith might have a hit on his hands where his son isn't a liability. I mean, it's not bloody likely, but still...wouldn't THAT be a twist to remember?
Are you planning on seeing After Earth this weekend? Did you see it already, and want to complain about the ending (or even pick an ending you like better from our stash)? Head down to the Comments section below and blow some smoke!