“Danger is real, but fear is a choice.” As intriguing and catchy as this tagline may seem, the film as a whole may not fall into this classification. While M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth (2013) failed to reach some of its viewers as expected, others seem to have thoroughly enjoyed the film. The film opens with a promising story in which humans are forced to flee a polluted Earth inhabited by an alien race trained to exterminate them and retreat to Nova Prime, a new home, to find refuge. General Cypher Rage, played by Will Smith, plays a fearless warrior who possesses a superior "ghosting" ability to mask his fear that makes him invulnerable to aliens. His son Kitai, played by Jaden Smith, is an enthusiastic cadet who wants to follow in his father's footsteps. Cypher takes Kitai with him on his next mission, hoping to find some quality time to spend with his son. However, a crash landing forces Kitai and his father, Cypher, to abandon Earth a few thousand years after humanity's escape. Kitai is called upon to make the journey in the rear half of the plane located 100 kilometers away and retrieve the lighthouse himself. Ultimately, Kitai saves the day and brings the lighthouse back safely and achieves self-realization by conquering his fears. This time, Shyamalan fails to leave a strong impression on his audience having previously directed box office hits including The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. With moments of true greatness and outstanding performances, M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth ultimately fails to live up to its hype due to a mediocre plot and misguided themes, despite being one of 2013's most captivating films to discuss.If the audience can neglect the generic plot and conflict... middle of paper... ip. While M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth could have achieved more, it became just another movie in theaters. The film fails to reach the audience due to a mediocre plot and mixed messages, despite an appreciable performance by the actors. Even though the theme of the film contradicts itself throughout the film, the acting saves it from being a complete flop at the box office. If audiences are looking for a film with a slow plot, this is the film to watch; otherwise, the public should look elsewhere. Even though there is a lot of nonsense, the audience witnesses a well-executed rite of passage for a boy who must conquer his fears and feelings of insecurity. Shyamalan has received high praise along with offensive comments for his work over the years, After Earth falls somewhere in the middle.