Lady in the Water

[Mysticlies]

M. Night Shyamalan is at it again, and with his trademark "recycling of the actors" brings us another movie about mystery, and much more (or nothing more depending if you saw the trailer). Anyway I love Shyamalan work, so I hope this movie doesn't disappoint me. Does anyone have any comments on this movie, and is anyone thinking of seein the movie?


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452637/
Plot Outline: Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep (Giamatti) rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.

[Zungas]

The pool at my apartment complex in Philly was scouted for the film.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Reminds me of the Lady of the Lake from the Arthurian Legends.

[VersesBatman]

I bet it will have a twist ending.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Don't they always? lol.

[VersesBatman]

I think it's getting old. Now that you expect it, it's not as big a surprise.

[zanos]

The teaser was awful.

[i luv tom welling]

I agree with zanos, I thought the trailer was terrible. M. Night was trying to go for something artistic, but there were just too many butterflies. It didn't really hook you like his other movie trailers have.

[David Ford, RPD]

Originally posted by i luv tom welling
I agree with zanos, I thought the trailer was terrible. M. Night was trying to go for something artistic, but there were just too many butterflies. It didn't really hook you like his other movie trailers have.

But it's not supposed to be a true mystery/thriller. It looks to be a very different type of film.

[Mysticlies]

I agree the trailer doesn't give us much, but I still think it looks brilliant.

[Lexgirl33]

I liked Signs and The Village, so it will be interesting to see this movie. I havent heard anythign about it till now, but i'll definaly check it out.

[i luv tom welling]

You know what the title of the movie reminds me of?

Arthur: I am your King.
Peasant woman: Well I didn't vote for you.
Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king, then?
Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I'm your king.
Dennis: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Arthur: Be quiet!
Dennis: You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!
Arthur: Shut up!
Dennis: If I went 'round sayin' I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!.

[MidgardDragon]

The thing that bothers me with this one is that M. hasn't left himself open for a "twist" ending without it being extremely lame. M.'s strength lies in those "twists" and I think, unfortunately, that he might be trying to distance himself from them.

Maybe I'm wrong and there will be an amazing twist ending, but it certainly seems to more likely be "serious fantasy" than anything.

[Magus]

Originally posted by i luv tom welling
You know what the title of the movie reminds me of?

Arthur: I am your King.
Peasant woman: Well I didn't vote for you.
Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king, then?
Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I'm your king.
Dennis: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Arthur: Be quiet!
Dennis: You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!
Arthur: Shut up!
Dennis: If I went 'round sayin' I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!.

nice.
I'll watch the film.

[David Ford, RPD]

Originally posted by MidgardDragon
The thing that bothers me with this one is that M. hasn't left himself open for a "twist" ending without it being extremely lame. M.'s strength lies in those "twists" and I think, unfortunately, that he might be trying to distance himself from them.

Maybe I'm wrong and there will be an amazing twist ending, but it certainly seems to more likely be "serious fantasy" than anything.

I have to disagreee. M. Night is a masterful filmmaker who isn't taking seriously because he puts a "twist" in every single one of his movies. If M. Night jettisoned even a hint of a twist in this film, he will go to a whole new level.

[Mysticlies]

I also love his movies, i think this one is going to be good, seeing as how certain crazy people(lol) didn't like 'the Village'.

by the way does anyone know the song used in the trailer its pretty haunting!:)

[Kalel33076]

I really don't wanna see this movie, whenever I see the trailer at the movies where the guy asks are there more of you? I always think to myself of course not, its called Lady in the water not ladies in the water.

[Mysticlies]

its almost, here so far nothing much has been said in the news about this movie, which is a good thing for non-spoilers out there. :)

[Lexgirl33]

Theres always some twist with his movies...Im going to see it tomorrow :D

[Dark Knight23]

I only liked Signs of M Night i didn't know about this movie though. The trailers kind of sucked.

[Lexgirl33]

Change of plans not seeing this movie

[MidgardDragon]

I might go see it today...I planned on taking a female friend, but I think we decided on Pirates simply because we know even if it completely sucks we won't be bored, whereas M. Night's movies have the potential to be boring.

[Rafael122]

This movie is getting killed by critics and I saw it have a 25% rating on rotten tomatoes. IMO, M Night is kinda overrated. I liked the Sixth Sense and Unbreakable and Signs, but overall, his movies are hit and miss.

[MidgardDragon]

It's definitely looking like it'll be a love it or hate it movie with no in-between. I'm still gonna give it a chance, though. Silent HIll got panned by the critics and I loved it.

[rae19780625]

I love all of his movies... I am definitely going to see it... very interesting director...

[Ketchup]

M. Night is one of those writers that try to be original and different to the absurdity, because that is the only way he feels he'll ever stand out from anyone else. Too bad "twist endings" are no longer original. Look at Dan Brown, there are like 10,000 twists per book with that guy, and what? In the end it just gets boring because most of the storyline becomes redundant. Same for M. Night, just because you end a movie on an unexpected note doesn't make it a good story or a good movie. Ex. Signs. What the HELL was the purpose of that movie? It turned from a War of the Worlds type of story into a semi religious semi comedy/drama. And just as things were getting remotely interesting... it ends. Same for the Village, it's a return to the "isolated utopia within the modern world" idea. Totally unoriginal because it's the millionth time the story has been written. Just check out some of the science fiction stories from the 60s-70s, there's so much of this stuff there. The only thing I liked about this movie was the ending... cuz it ended. Come on, come up with something new already. There's a reason every decent critic thinks you suck.

The trailer for this one made me laugh.

[MidgardDragon]

Here's my break down of M. Night movies -

The Sixth Sense - outstanding but boring in parts 9/10

Unbreakable - outstanding but boring in parts and it fell apart in the end - 8/10

Signs - boring for most of the movie with some interesting parts and the lamest way of killing aliens ever 5/10

The Village - outstanding with boring parts and a twist that could have been better, almost as good as Unbreakable 7/10

Clearly his movie "hook" is the twists, everyone knows they're coming and tries to figure them out. I don't think that makes him a bad director, it's just his hook, and he waayyy overuses it. His movies also do not hold up on repeat viewings. The only movie of his I enjoyed watching a second time was The Sixth Sense, which becomes a whole new movie the second time. However, I would never recommend buying one of his DVD's to anyone. Rent it or go see it in the theatres or both, but never never buy.

ETA - Regarding the trailer, it actually made me interested. It also makes me think this is either going to be great, or totally suck. There's no in-between happening with this movie.

[Ketchup]

Didn't realize the Sixth Sense was his. That was a good movie, not at all something I'd expect from M. Night. Unbreakable was a nice try, still better than Signs and the Village.

[MidgardDragon]

Saw it. Loved it. Here's my quick review I just posted on another board:

Let me preface this by saying that, for some odd reason, going into this movie, I didn't really want to like it. It may have been mainstream media influence, it may have been all the "M. Night is washed up" or "M. Night always sucked" people I've talked to. I don't know. Something made me want to dislike this movie.

I loved it. The advertisements as a bed-time story were really dead on. It wasn't a horror, as some might think from more recent previews. One line in the movie summed it up for me: "It's time to prove that some stories are real."

I have on complaint. There was a gratuitous "**** the critics" character added, that really added nothing to the plot. It did add a small twist to the movie. Did I mention M. Night's famous plot twists aren't as present or overt? This one had small twists with the characters, not with the plot.

I'm sure the movie will continue to get panned by the critics, and most here will probably hate it. I, however, stand by the fact that this is a geniuinely good movie.

It could have been the low expectations, but I think this movie was great. Not for everyone, but great for me.

[LusciousLois]

Originally posted by Ketchup
M. Night is one of those writers that try to be original and different to the absurdity, because that is the only way he feels he'll ever stand out from anyone else. Too bad "twist endings" are no longer original. Look at Dan Brown, there are like 10,000 twists per book with that guy, and what? In the end it just gets boring because most of the storyline becomes redundant. Same for M. Night, just because you end a movie on an unexpected note doesn't make it a good story or a good movie. Ex. Signs. What the HELL was the purpose of that movie? It turned from a War of the Worlds type of story into a semi religious semi comedy/drama. And just as things were getting remotely interesting... it ends. Same for the Village, it's a return to the "isolated utopia within the modern world" idea. Totally unoriginal because it's the millionth time the story has been written. Just check out some of the science fiction stories from the 60s-70s, there's so much of this stuff there. The only thing I liked about this movie was the ending... cuz it ended. Come on, come up with something new already. There's a reason every decent critic thinks you suck.

The trailer for this one made me laugh.

I agree. Apart from "The Sixth Sense", his movies are drab and lacking enough of a storyline to make the twist endings worthwhile. By the end, you're so bored, you go, "That's it? That's what I sat through 2 hours of agony to find out?" I fell asleep during the "The Village" and a friend had to tell me that "surprise" ending. I'm glad I fell asleep. Ya know, M.Night has claimed that he is connected to the spiritual world and that his films are autobiographical and not just something he made up. If I were him, I'd contact a voodoo priest ASAP in order to stop this nightmare. This will not be something I pay $10 to see.

[<Adam Knight>]

I really didnt like this movie at all..It was prob the worst movie i saw ever in my life..i almost fell asleep...my aunt and two cousins didnt like it either...the people at the theater said alott of people complaained about how bad it was

[Lexgirl33]

I saw this movie yesterday...decent. Definatly not one of his better ones. 6/10

[Ketchup]

Originally posted by <Adam Knight>
I really didnt like this movie at all..It was prob the worst movie i saw ever in my life..i almost fell asleep...my aunt and two cousins didnt like it either...the people at the theater said alott of people complaained about how bad it was

I was standing in line to the box office to buy a ticket to this movie... then someone walked out of the theater as I was saying "two for Lady in the Water" and told me that it was the worst movie ever made... so I used my ticket to get into John Tucker Must Die instead. :D

[MidgardDragon]

You just missed out a great opportunity, even if it's just the opportunity to decide for yourself. Definitely a good movie. It's a fairy tale, and that's really all you need to know to understand why people are dissing it. That and the fact that it's got no twist, which I'm sure people were expecting.

[Lexgirl33]

I was definatly expecting a twist :) Hes one sly dog. I was waiting for it at the end of the movie and felt stupid when it didnt happen.

I guess it wasnt scary enough or something. I mean it wasnt horrible, but it wasnt great. I did enjoy the asian college student and her relationship with her mom :lol: All I know is that he told his children the bedtime story.

[Ketchup]

Originally posted by MidgardDragon
You just missed out a great opportunity, even if it's just the opportunity to decide for yourself.

Not really. I hated all the past M. Night movies (except the Sixth Sense and Unbreakable) and I was getting dragged to this one... I was glad I didn't have to go in the end. He is one of the worst directors out there.

[<Adam Knight>]

Originally posted by Ketchup
I was standing in line to the box office to buy a ticket to this movie... then someone walked out of the theater as I was saying "two for Lady in the Water" and told me that it was the worst movie ever made... so I used my ticket to get into John Tucker Must Die instead. :D

your so lucky...i wish someone would of told us it wasnt good

[MidgardDragon]

Originally posted by Lexgirl33
I was definatly expecting a twist :) Hes one sly dog. I was waiting for it at the end of the movie and felt stupid when it didnt happen.

I guess it wasnt scary enough or something. I mean it wasnt horrible, but it wasnt great. I did enjoy the asian college student and her relationship with her mom :lol: All I know is that he told his children the bedtime story.

Wasn't scary enough? This *wasn't* even a horror movie. Why would it be scary? o.O

Originally posted by Ketchup
Not really. I hated all the past M. Night movies (except the Sixth Sense and Unbreakable) and I was getting dragged to this one... I was glad I didn't have to go in the end. He is one of the worst directors out there.

Umm, even if you hated his original movies, that doesn't mean you didn't still miss out on the opportunity to decide for yourself.

Either way, if you don't wanna see it no big deal. I didn't want to see POTC2 but got dragged to it, and would've gladly given up my ticket to go see Lady in the Water a third time. ;)

[Lexgirl33]

Because most of his movies are some what frightening.

[MidgardDragon]

:lol: I disagree on that count. All of his movies have been supernatural-ish, but none of them have really been frightening, IMO. And this was a fairy-tale/bedtime story, so it follows it would be the "least" frightening of the set, anyways. I think that's the big mistake with the marketing of M. Night movies, they always try to sell them to the horror crowd, when they should just be going for the "interested in good movies" crowd. :P

[Ketchup]

Maybe she thought it was supposed to be scary cuz M. Night himself called it a horror movie when he came on the Jon Stewart show?

[Lexgirl33]

:lol: They aren't scary like horror movies, they give you the jumps during the movie, frightening, but definalty not as bad as horror films. I know his films are sci-fi ish but they are creepy, I guess thats what i mean lol Wait they try to sell them as horror films? I definatly have to disagree with those people who think its horror!

[MidgardDragon]

Originally posted by Ketchup
Maybe she thought it was supposed to be scary cuz M. Night himself called it a horror movie when he came on the Jon Stewart show?

Have a link to a transcript or the interview itself? I've only heard him call it a "dark fairy tale" and a "bedtime story".

I assume you mean The Daily Show, since I don't know of any Jon Stewart Show, right? :P

[Damali]

I have tried to refrain from posting in this particular thread, because this movie was sooooo bad and I have nothing positive to say about.

Its just, I usually love Night’s movies, I even like Unbreakable. But this movie just left me empty, unfulfilled. I didn’t get, I felt like I really missed something.

I really wanted to like this movie.

[shadowcat20x]

I really really liked this movie. It's unlike anything I've ever seen.

And for the people who say M. Night's a bad director, I totally disagree with them. I'd say he's one of the best, and his style is new and unique. I predict that film students will have to study his work in the future.

[Happy Random]

I went and saw 'Lady in the Water' today with a friend and liked it. It wasn't as suspenseful or scary as I had kind of hoped it would be but it was an interesting story and I really enjoyed it. :)

[MidgardDragon]

Yeah, I think they really did a disservice promoting this movie as remotely suspenseful or scary. But it was still a beautiful fairy tale. Glad you liked it!

[jpfort1957]

It was more like a "made fot TV" movie.