Featured Audience Ratings

• Emil K

  
  A Thoughtful and uncompromising work of art and unique fairytale from M. Night Shyamalan who is also criminally underrated as a director. Shyamalan brings his own bedtime story to life in way that is touching, exciting and full of awe at the same time. I truly admire his work as a… More
  A Thoughtful and uncompromising work of art and unique fairytale from M. Night Shyamalan who is also criminally underrated as a director. Shyamalan brings his own bedtime story to life in way that is touching, exciting and full of awe at the same time. I truly admire his work as a director and i think that he is one of the greatest American directors working today. He has always been a poet, a true auteur and in a complete control of his own art. In a times when so many other filmmakers are running out of ideas or recycling the same old stuff, he has continued to tell his own unique stories. He has worked as a director/writer/producer in nearly all of his films and he is an artist that clearly knows where he is heading to and what he wants from his films. He is not one of those greedy directors who run only after their paychecks. Shyamalan proves that films are art that can create whole new worlds and he has ability pull us in them. In Shyamalan's films the possibilities are limitless. He uses his films as a plyground for his own imagination and visual experiments. For example many of his films, like Lady in the Water, has their own colour code and carefully constructed rhytm. He has always paid attention to even the tiniest of detail in his work. Photography, production design, music, the eerie mood and all the technical feats are always top notch in his films. He is also one of those rare directors working in Hollywood who does not rely in fast-paced editing or pointless camera trickery. His style is much more relaxed and old-school. Every film from Shyamalan has that same magical touch in common. He is a born filmmaker. Lady in the Water is a film that has many of his trademarks like the poetic use of slow-motion and wonderful colour palette, his earlier film The Village played with especially with yellows and reds, with enchanting use of colour blue. The truth is that while Shyamalan is a wonderful writer himself, he is also a great painter with his camera. With a support from the great lenser Christopher Doyle, he has made visually glorious fantasy film that not only stands apart from the typical genre cliches, but works as a daring journey into his own psyche and storytelling abilities. Lady in the Water is a brave film in every possible way. It is a complex and puzzling story inside the story. There has certainly never been a film like it before. This film has such an unique setting and a enchanting way to pull us in the story. Certainly you can tell that this is a highly personal film for it's director. This film's troubled production history and Shyamalan's will to not give up, tell something about this story's transition into the big screens. I am more than happy to see that Shyamalan's efforts were worth of it all. With great support from it's talented cast, Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Bob Balaban and Sarita Choudhury, to the career best score from James Newton Howard, this is a magical film from one of the true auteur geniunes in the world. If you like fairytales and have open mind for them, then you must give it a chance. Actually if you love films at all and especially the ones that are willing to push the boundaries of cinema then this is most definetly your cup of tea. It might not be a masterpiece and it certainly is uneven work, but it is also something we are not used to see that often anymore.

• Lucas M

  
  Offensive for the critics, the director put himself in a role, where he is a future hero for the world that write beautiful things and Bob Balaban's role is a intelligent, but rude critic that have a violent end. Lady in the Water present a charming cast and a interesting script,… More
  Offensive for the critics, the director put himself in a role, where he is a future hero for the world that write beautiful things and Bob Balaban's role is a intelligent, but rude critic that have a violent end. Lady in the Water present a charming cast and a interesting script, but become sort of a magic cliche movie.

• Chris W

  
  Okay, so this isn't quite the complete and utter failure that I had been led to believe that it was...but still, it is pretty bad. The film is basically a fairy tale bedtime story concerning Cleveland Heep- the superintendent of an apartment complex who discovers a sea nymph who… More
  Okay, so this isn't quite the complete and utter failure that I had been led to believe that it was...but still, it is pretty bad. The film is basically a fairy tale bedtime story concerning Cleveland Heep- the superintendent of an apartment complex who discovers a sea nymph who entered into our world through the pool at the apartment cocmplex. She tries to get back to her world, but she's threatened by menacing creatures, and requires help from Cleveland and the various colorful tenants of the building. Just looking at the broad concept (a supernatural thriller/fairy tale sort of bedtiem story thing) this isn't too bad. It's kinda unique, though the execution of it all is where there's trouble. The specific story itself is a little hokey, the script is atrocious, the cast, while notable, give some really dry, wooden, and downright awful performances, and to top it all off, the jokes suck, the film is unintentionally funny, there's tons of cliches, the bits where the 4th wall is broken really fall flat and induce facepalms, and it's all a bit of a bore and I didn't care too much. Also, Shyamalan really shows his narcissism here, but I won't spoil it by detailing specifics. But, since I did give it a barely passing grade, that means it's not all bad. LIke I said, good cast, terrible work. The cinematography is quite wonderful (as should be expected), the direction is decent (I've always felt that Shyamalan was a far better director than a writer) but he's been far better, and I do think Howard is pretty, even if she often gets miscast or misdirected. So yeah, bottom line, this film does mostly live up to its reputation. I liked some aspects of it, but it is essentially a really poor misguided piece of work.

• Alexander D

  
  All I keep hearing about director M. Night Shyamalan is that he was phenomenal with his debut, THE SIXTH SENSE, but after that his films began to plunge down an endless slope. I loved THE SIXTH SENSE so much that I couldn't bring myself to believe it. It's one of those times… More
  All I keep hearing about director M. Night Shyamalan is that he was phenomenal with his debut, THE SIXTH SENSE, but after that his films began to plunge down an endless slope. I loved THE SIXTH SENSE so much that I couldn't bring myself to believe it. It's one of those times when seeing actually is believing. I fully agree with that statement I've heard all too many times after seeing LADY IN THE WATER, a total disaster. The first problem with LADY IN THE WATER is the script. It's hard to tell if this was intended to be funny, but I laughed very hard in some parts. Let me give you an example of one of the worst scenes. It's when one of the characters is faced with the dog-like creature. The character is a film critic (is that Shyamalan trying to earn some critical respect?), and he states that it's like a moment out of a horror movie. (Seriously, are you M. Night Shyamalan or Mel Brooks?) He rambles on and on about how it's the moment when the side character is about to be attacked, and that he's going to run through the door behind him and the dog will barely miss him. He has rambled on so much that not only is it incredibly predictable when the dog slaughters him, it's excruciatingly funny. http://themoviefreakblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/review-lady-in-the-water/

• Jameson W

  
  One of the few M. Night Shyamalan films that I enjoy. Some of the acting was a bit ridiculous though.

• Matt G

  
  Another disaster from M. Night Shyamalan. Grade: F

• Conner R

  
  I think it's a good movie regardless of what most people say. It's sort've like an urban fairytale and is very successful at capturing a particular mood. It's not too scary, but it's definitely a lot more dark than it could've been. Paul Giamatti and… More
  I think it's a good movie regardless of what most people say. It's sort've like an urban fairytale and is very successful at capturing a particular mood. It's not too scary, but it's definitely a lot more dark than it could've been. Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard are both really good in this and I loved their relationship progression throughout the story.

• Jens S

  
  This is one of the rare cases where I do not quite see what I loved about the film the first time I watched it. Sure, the fable-like introduction sets up an interesting premise, but later the movie is oddly torn between taking itself a bit too seriously and making fun of the aspects… More
  This is one of the rare cases where I do not quite see what I loved about the film the first time I watched it. Sure, the fable-like introduction sets up an interesting premise, but later the movie is oddly torn between taking itself a bit too seriously and making fun of the aspects of storytelling. The acting is top notch, especially by Paul Giamatti, and some of the minor characters are wonderfully odd and unusual. If you're able to suspend disbelief and take is as the fairy tale that it is, there is some fun to have with this film. The solution feels somewhat random though and the aspect of fateful peaces falling into place has already been part of Shyamalan's "Signs" and so much better there, too. Still, an entertaining and somewhat charming film, for what it's worth. But somehow it touched me more the first time I watched it.

• Kevin K

  
  Lady in the Water is a M. Night Shyamalan movie who did the movies "The Sixth Sense" and "Signs" which were both good movies. Lady in the Water . . . . not so much. In fact Lady in the Water is so bad that it makes The Village enjoyable. The movie is just stupid .… More
  Lady in the Water is a M. Night Shyamalan movie who did the movies "The Sixth Sense" and "Signs" which were both good movies. Lady in the Water . . . . not so much. In fact Lady in the Water is so bad that it makes The Village enjoyable. The movie is just stupid . . . enough said. The movie follows Paul Giamatti who works at a apartment almost like the janitor. He has been getting reports that there has been a woman at night swimming in the pool. Giamatti catches the woman in the pool but accidentally slips and knocks himself unconscious and rolls into the pool. When he wakes up, he finds himself in his house, just outside the pool area, with a woman sitting on the couch. She says that she's from "The Blue World" which I'm guessing is the pool. Apparently a bedtime story from a chinese woman is actually a real story and the "Lady in the Water" is the main character from the story. She's a narf (don't even ask me what the hell that is). I feel bad that Paul Giamatti would actually take this offer in this movie. After his brilliant acting in "Sideways" I thought this movie was garbage to it. The actress who plays the lady is awful. She looks creepy, barely speaks (well I guess that's a good thing) and she didn't even fit the role. As for Mr. Shyamalan, a word of advice: MAYBE THESE BAD MOVIES ARE A SIGN FROM GOD THAT YOU HAVE LOST YOUR TALENT. This movie is bad not just because the story stinks, it's also the fact that this movie drags on too much. There were so many times when the lady was scratched up by the grass beasts (yes I'll get to them in a sec) that she had to be healed and then wait for a huge eagle to come down and take her away. In fact without the four or five times of the lady getting injured this movie is probably sixty minutes long. Now the only thing that can hurt the lady/narf are these beats who are . . . . the grass. Yea so make sure you be careful the next time you mow your lawn. They are trying to kill the lady. Then there's some crap about monkeys being the helpers of the narfs who are tree branches. . . . let me make this very clear to you my readers . . . if you like this movie you have no taste in good movies WHATSOEVER! OVERALL: Boy does this movie suck. It's 109 minutes I will never get back. The lady should've just died because that would be a great ending. And there is no twist as big as Shyamalan's previous movies so don't look forward to that. Please save yourself the time and pick up "The Sixth Sense" or "Signs" because this one is dead in the water.

• Richard C

  
  not great but interesting in parts but there's nothing special about this movie. C

• Lewis C

  
  "Man thinks that they're each alone in this world. It is not true." Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard star in this modern day fairy tale about a supernatural woman who has come among us for a special purpose, and is being hunted by a beast that has no intention of… More
  "Man thinks that they're each alone in this world. It is not true." Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard star in this modern day fairy tale about a supernatural woman who has come among us for a special purpose, and is being hunted by a beast that has no intention of allowing her to return to her home alive. A group of humans with special powers must be gathered in order to protect her and help her get back to where she belongs. This isn't exactly the kind of movie you'd expect from M. Knight. I remember that the first time I saw it, I was very surprised by how dissimilar it was to all the movies that he had done before. Lady in the Water truly is best viewed as a modern day bedtime story. It's easy to believe that Shyamalan made this movie for his kids to enjoy, and other kids, as well. I also believe that this is one of the most self-indulgent and masturbatory movies that I've ever seen in my life. Even in Hollywood, this level of narcissism in a film is remarkable. If Shyamalan could have reigned in some of his frustrations at critics and his own sense of self-importance, this could have been a good movie. As it stands, Lady in the Water is an occasionally interesting side-note that stumbles under its own ambition and forced mythology.

• JY S

  
  M. Night Shyamalan's <i>Lady in the Water</i> shows inklings of creative imagination. Not much else.<p>For the most part, the entire 100+ minute run time creeps by with a loitering pace. It is a shame because there are some fun ideas behind it all, but the… More
  M. Night Shyamalan's <i>Lady in the Water</i> shows inklings of creative imagination. Not much else.<p>For the most part, the entire 100+ minute run time creeps by with a loitering pace. It is a shame because there are some fun ideas behind it all, but the chosen setting, which is one apartment complex, and characters aren't the best way to exhibit them.</p><p> The animation introduction and narration does a good job at setting up the rest of the film; however, it goes downhill from there. The characters are uninteresting, there isn't much in the way of surprises, and the film becomes a bore, despite the amusing concept of the story. On a positive note, the CG effects are rather good for what little visual fantasy elements appear on screen.</p><p>All around, the acting is mediocre at best with Paul Giamatti leading the way. This goes back to the way the characters are written. M. Night even finds the time to cast himself as one of the major supporting characters. That certainly isn't the best move in his career.</p><p>All in all, <i>The Lady in the Water</i> is a bedtime story. It just needs a makeover.</p>

• Dead A

  
  It seems a bit fairy tale or something. I really enjoyed watching this.

• Anthony L

  
  I thought this was a sweet little movie, I'm not so sure why it got so panned by the critics? M. Night does have a bit of an ego though, which is becoming a problem, at least his signature unpredictable (predictable) ending was different!

• Jason O

  
  Saw this at the theater for free at Troy University while I was a student there a couple years ago. For me, this movie just didn't do it. It's overwhelmingly strange, to say the least.

• Film C

  
  Well M.Night Shymalan did the sixth sense and many other good movies apart from The village!, but this movie wasnt great i guess you can forgive the plot holes and all of its flaws and like it for a weirdly good fantasy as thats what it is! its a watchable movie but only when its a… More
  Well M.Night Shymalan did the sixth sense and many other good movies apart from The village!, but this movie wasnt great i guess you can forgive the plot holes and all of its flaws and like it for a weirdly good fantasy as thats what it is! its a watchable movie but only when its a miserable day and theres nothing else on !

• xGary X

  
  A solitary motel caretaker finds a young woman in the swimming pool and discovers that she is a water nymph who he must help to escape the clutches of an evil creature lurking in the backyard. MNS finally ditches his trademark "twist" formula for which I am thankful because… More
  A solitary motel caretaker finds a young woman in the swimming pool and discovers that she is a water nymph who he must help to escape the clutches of an evil creature lurking in the backyard. MNS finally ditches his trademark "twist" formula for which I am thankful because that got real old, real fast. Instead he has produced a modern fairytale that reminded me a little of the work of Hayao Miyazaki and Tim Burton. Paul Giamatti brings pathos, and more importantly, humour to his part, something sorely missing from MNS' previous work; I always thought he took himself far too seriously. Bryce Dallas Howard's elfin beauty also makes for a perfect nymph, and their relationship is sweetly endearing. Pretty much all of the other characters are a little too peripheral and underwritten and the whole format of fantasy means that there is no logic to events meaning little in the way of suspense or surprises. But it does have some charm, and is a pleasant little story that's probably far more satisfying for children than adults.

• Phil H

  
  Wow this was boring, didnt explain itself very well, didnt make much sense and was acted badly. The effects where nice for the little sections of fantasy but basically it was boring and is a complete waste for a interesting story, could of been much more.

• Pierluigi P

  
  Awkwardly amusing, but infinitely self-indulgent nonsense by Mr. M Night Shyamalan, the 'master' of plot twists, that hateful and failed aspirant to genius who always comes up with cheap, brain-dead ideas, wraps and sells them with the absurd conviction that he is creating… More
  Awkwardly amusing, but infinitely self-indulgent nonsense by Mr. M Night Shyamalan, the 'master' of plot twists, that hateful and failed aspirant to genius who always comes up with cheap, brain-dead ideas, wraps and sells them with the absurd conviction that he is creating the ultimate fantastic-messianic bedtime story.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Time is running out for a happy ending."</i> M. Night Shyamalan writes and directs this self-proclaimed, grown-up "bedtime story" about an apartment building superintendent named Cleveland (Paul Giamatti) who discovers a magical sea-nymph named… More
  <i>"Time is running out for a happy ending."</i> M. Night Shyamalan writes and directs this self-proclaimed, grown-up "bedtime story" about an apartment building superintendent named Cleveland (Paul Giamatti) who discovers a magical sea-nymph named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) who's been transported to this world and is living in the building's own swimming pool. As this bizarre revelation sinks in, Cleveland becomes enraptured by her other-worldly charm. As he shelters her in his apartment, other inhabitants of the building begin falling into place as representations of characters from an Eastern myth in which these mermaids, or "narfs," co-exist unhappily with more beastly and violent characters. In human reality, the forces of darkness that threaten the heroes of a fairy tale prove to be much more terrifying, and the victory of good over evil is by no means guaranteed. Jeffery Wright, Jared Harris and Mary Beth Hurt co-star, as well as Shyamalan himself, playing the visionary writer Vick. <b><u>Review</u></b> Contrived. Motionless. Impossibly false characters. Boring. Without reason. A 10 minute movie packed into 105 minutes. So much for the story line. The director's name is the first that appears in the closing...nice of him to remind the viewer of who is responsible for the outcome. Mechanically, the movie is well filmed, well edited (I guess), and looks decent on screen. Paul Giamatti is a fine actor who deserves much better writing for his talents. This is the fifth M. Night movie that I have seen and admittedly the worst movie he's ever done. The dialog is performed with a "who cares" feeling, almost like the director filmed the cuts before the actors were awake. Monotone lines, an inflatable date has more passion within.

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