Lady in the Water (2006)

Lack of good storyline.

Great Film overall

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

I loved this movie. I thought the characters were fascinating, the plot line was captivating, and the mythology was remarkable. Blows my mind how so many hated this film. This one was more than a movie for me. I go back to it when I need to remind myself that there is more to life than surfacy stuff. Please watch it if you haven't.

What M. Night Shyalaman proved when he directed 'The Sixth Sense','Unbreakable', and 'Signs' is that he is the filmmaker with potential. For a while, it seems like Shyalaman was another promising filmmaker in the Hollywood roster. This makes it more disconcerting to see him descending so low with this plodding supernatural thriller. This fantasy spectacle following the story that echoes the works of classic fairy tales falls short of the magic that made Shyalaman's aforementioned hits. Worse, the director also manages to appear in front of the camera as a supporting character, a role that suggests he may not have as bright of a future in front of the camera as he does behind. If there are any redeeming values to be handed in its 110-minute runtime, they are all pretty much diminished by the Shyalaman's failure to bring is mythical world to life and establish it with a coherent story. The film, set in the director's hometown in Philadelphia like the rest of his entries, follows Cleveland Heep (played by Paul Giamatti), an apartment building superintendent who is alarmed by strange noises going on in the swimming pool. Splashing around in the pool is a mysterious red-head woman known as a "narf" named Story (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) who has emerged from a magical world known as "The Blue World". She reveals to be a character from a storybook. As she and Cleveland develop a platonic relationship of some sort, she is soon haunted by mysterious creatures who threaten to keep her returning home to her world. It is up to Cleveland and his apartment friends Dr. Dury (played by Jeffrey Wright), Vick (played by M. Night Shyalaman himself), Ann (played by Sarita Choudhury), and other nameless residents to protect her and get her home.M. Night Shyalaman has proved capable of generating palpable suspense when showcasing the tension of each moment. This film, however, does virtually nothing to show it, though you should definitely give him some points for imagination. Shyalaman establishes world in which reality and fantasy clash, with something push the imagination. But it is difficult to grow engaged in this fantastical world when the director fails to make things convincing. It is all just a series of botched attempts at providing solid thrills while moments of suspense that are even remotely effective run scarce. And when you are dealing with the story that is so incoherent it easy to find yourself lost more than once, it only adds insult to injury. Arguably the best attempt at scares is the scene where Cleveland is approached by a ferocious wolf-like creature. Sadly, that sequence only half works. There is one interesting element involving romantic tension between Cleveland and Story, even that feels dull. Their chemistry certainly doesn't sizzle. As for Paul Giamatti, he does a fair job in the role of the lead character, generating a little humor with his occasional stuttering. Bryce Dallas Howard is fine, but nothing that will leave a lasting impression. On the other hand, M. Night Shyalaman, who makes an appearance as an egotistical writer is a little wooden in his role. It is probably in his best interest if he is just sticks with directing, although he has made a few cameos in the past. Lady in The Water is a dull fantasy spectacle that fall shallow of the flair that M. Night Shyalaman's upheld in his previous efforts. It comes to show that even the most promising directors hit the low points. Although the film isn't exactly a deploring disaster, it most certainly shows the worst of the director.

When "Lady In The Water" first hit DVD/BluRay in December of 2006, I eagerly snatched it up in anticipation of M. Night Shyamalan's next masterpiece following "The Village". After viewing it at that time, I thought it was one of the worst movies I had ever seen in my life. Six years later, after watching the film again with a younger sibling, I finally was able to understand the overall concept and thoroughly enjoy the experience.For a basic plot summary, "Lady In The Water" takes place in "The Cove", an apartment complex (complete with swimming pool) owned by Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti). When a mermaid-like being named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) suddenly turns up in Heep's pool, an entirely new world (with completely new beings) is discovered, one that Story must get back to at all costs.If you try to compare "Lady in the Water" to M. Night's earlier fare, you will be severely disappointed. This is not a "surprise ending" film, nor is it a psychological thriller. Comparing it to movies like "Signs", "The Sixth Sense", "Unbreakable", & "The Village" is like comparing apples to oranges. When I originally watched the film, I was expecting the past and missed what this movie really is all about.The real genius of this movie? It is essentially a modern-day fairy tale. Based on a bedtime story M. Night told his children that later took on epic proportions, Shyamalan adapted the story into a major motion picture. As such, the story is incredibly original and quite fantastical, filled with imaginative characters and quirky real-life individuals. This project is a labor of love for M. Night, and I respect him for making it and making it well.The only reason I can't give this film a full five stars is because some of the plot points do not exactly line up. Yes, it is a fairy tale, but it is quite a bit fractured at that. It contains nothing "worthy" of the multiple Razzy Awards it ended up winning, but a few points in the film are a bit confusing/nonsensical.Overall, upon second viewing (with a completely different frame of mind), "Lady In The Water" is inches shy of a truly classic film. Once you understand WHY M. Night made the movie, you'll respect it in a completely different light.

This fantasy film talks about the appearance of a sea nymph in the pool of an apartment complex where Cleveland is caretaker. The nymph, Story, will then change the lives of all residents, need to help them to fulfill her mission and return to her world. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan (who also is one of the leading roles), has Bryce Dallas Howard as the protagonist. M. Night Shyamalan has accustomed us to stories with a touch of fantasy and imagination. Its as if this remarkable filmmaker refused to grow and would like to make his films with the imagination of a child playing with a camera. And, in this movie, its pretty much what happens, having himself gone head to the front of them and "playing" with the story that he's creating (as he also wrote the script). But don't think that this movie is bad. It's a good movie has touching scenes and reaches the audience for our children's side, the child that we all have within us. We would like that the plot was real and could be a creature so kind and innocent as that nymph. We would like to see people collaborate as in the movie on several occasions. And that makes us enjoy the film.