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LADY IN THE WATER

* - Shamalamadingdong sinks like a brick

1 votes

** - The Shamster swings, but he mostly misses... some good things, though

0 votes

*** - Not the best of Night, but unique fairy tale of sufficient interest

1 votes

**** - A funny, moving fantasy of redemption by one of our best filmmakers

0 votes

***** - Great story, great performances, great visuals... a great movie!

0 votes

Vic Sage Jul 24 2006 10:52 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 24 2006 11:37 AM

M. Night Shyamalan's new film opens to widespread derision... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452637/ ...but what did YOU think?

Willets Point Jul 24 2006 10:55 AM

Does it have a twist ending?

Vic Sage Jul 24 2006 10:56 AM

No, no twist ending. But it does play with your expectations, to some degree. Not as much as his prior films, though.

Edgy DC Jul 24 2006 10:59 AM

The reason I don't have a swimming pool is because I don't want mythical people to turn up in it. That must be a drag.

Vic Sage Jul 24 2006 11:37 AM

I'm a fan of Shyamalan's work. He's a writer/director of unique, visually arresting, sometimes moving stories about the spiritual quest to find one's purpose in the world. He is a master at frustrating audience expectations, which is a brave (somewhat self-destructive) impulse. Rather than simply being a con-man adept at the sleight-of-hand gimmick of the "twist ending", he's a maker of quiet, contemplative, sad, fantasy films. All that being said, he's annoyingly inconsistent, and he's a better director than he is a writer. As a writer, his scripts are often clumsy in their exposition, unfocused in the development of themes, and treat characters in a superficial way. As a director, however, he unfailingly finds the best place to put the camera in any scene. And his casting instincts are terrific (except when he casts himself), often getting great performances. As auteurs go, his work has a stylistic and thematic consistency, even as their quality zig zags. Thats because the success of SIXTH SENSE gave him the power to make whatever movies he wants, and sometimes his talent as a filmmaker exceeds his skill as a storyteller, thus creating a huge crater in the Earth. Unfortunately, such is the case of LADY IN THE WATER. But even here, in one of his lesser works, his desire to dramatize the importance of storytelling for our spiritual well-being is a message of hope and redemption. And I'm glad he made it and i saw it. It sure beats the crap out of wasting his and my time by making the SIXTH SENSE 2 ("I can still see dead people! And they've got guns!!") LADY IN THE WATER has been eviscerated by critics and audiences alike. In fact, the crowd i saw it with hooted and booed at the end (Hey, they could be Mets fans!). And, to be fair, by casting himself in the movie as an artist whose great, important work will change the world after his martyrdom... well, that kind of hubris demands a come-uppance. His self-importance aside, however, i still think the movie is worthwhile. Not great, certainly. At times, not even very good. Certainly not up to UNBREAKABLE quality (which, for my money, is on the short list of great films of the last 20 years). Shyamalan's movies cast a spell, regardless of the ocasional inadequacy of their construction, that never fails to make me think and make me feel. If there is anything else that art should accomplish, i have no idea what it may be. If you're looking for a slam-bang action film, this ain't it. In fact, unless you're already a fan of his work, this movie is unlikely to make you one. But for those who see a difference between his films and those of Jerry Bruckheimer's, and for those who appreciate that difference, I think the movie has sufficient quality to hold your interest. The films of M. Night Shyamalan Praying with Anger (1992) Wide Awake (1998) The Sixth Sense (1999) Unbreakable (2000) Signs (2002) The Village (2004) Lady in the Water (2006)

MFS62 Jul 24 2006 11:44 AM

Edgy DC wrote: The reason I don't have a swimming pool is because I don't want mythical people to turn up in it. That must be a drag. Are you hinting that the mythical people in the water are in drag? Don't tell me you've spoiled the story for the rest of us who haven't seen it yet. From the bad reviews and box office reaction, I guess it will be showing up on the LOGO channel very soon. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jul 24 2006 12:01 PM

I really liked The Sixth Sense, and hated Signs. In fact, I hated Signs so much that I'm not inclined to see any more of Night's films. So no Lady in the Water for me. Even though my daughter says that Paul Giamatti's character looks like me.

Vic Sage Jul 24 2006 12:05 PM

Yancy, i assume you liked UNBREAKABLE? I didn't love SIGNS, but i liked it ok. THE VILLAGE on the other hand... as far as i'm concerned, that's the weakest of his films to date. I saw the ending a mile off, and without that "twist", there was absolutely nothing else going on there.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 24 2006 12:07 PM

Didn't see Unbreakable. I was intrigued by it, but never did get around to seeing it. The only two "Night" films I've seen are the two I mentioned.

Vic Sage Jul 24 2006 12:11 PM

Despite your reaction to SIGNS, you should really try UNBREAKABLE. Considering our mutual interest in comics, and the superhero mythos, i think you'd appreciate it.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 24 2006 12:16 PM

Maybe I'll give it a shot, then.

Elster88 Jul 31 2006 10:50 AM

Sixth Sense - Liked it a lot Unbreakable - Liked it a lot Signs - Liked it The Village - Hated it Lady in the Water - Fell asleep