Lady In The Water

I finally got my first Blu-Ray from Netflix, and was very excited to see how it looked. Let’s just say, it’s pretty awesome.

I had a very hard time starting this Lady in the Water review. With Lady in the Water M. Night Shyamalan may have created a masterpiece that nobody will see. The problem is it takes awhile for the genius of the movie to sink in. I always enjoy going to M Night’s films because I know I’m going to be seeing something unique and interesting, even if it’s not a spectacular movie.

It’s important to note that this is not a scary or thriller type movie, it’s not meant to be. I’m sure many people came out of the theater disappointed because this wasn’t another sixth sense. Instead of being a scary movie with a huge twist “Lady in The Water” is more of a bedtime story brought to life.

The simple plot begins when superintendent of The Cover, a Philadelphia apartment complex, Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) discovers a Narf (pretty much a mermaid with legs) in his swimming pool, and must learn the secrets of a bedtime story to help save her. The residents of The Cove have been magically drawn together, as they all have an important role to play.

Like any fairy tale this film has a moral. Everyone has a purpose, and we are all meant to do something important. This purpose might not always be obvious, but it will have an impact on humanity sometime down the line. It also makes the point even if you think your purpose is obvious, it probably isn’t.

If you are a parent don’t be afraid to watch this film with your children. The humor is all clean, and the beast shouldn’t give them nightmares. It’s a good chance to show them a movie that has a great message, and help them appreciate a great piece of cinema.

Paul Giamatti is once again brilliant and M Night himself played a big roll in his own movie. Some might find it a bit narcissistic to star in your own movie, but he did an awesome job and fit the character perfectly. The rest of the supporting cast did a great job of keeping the film light and entertaining.

On of the most interesting aspects of “Lady in The Water” was its cinematography. M Night uses a bunch of different camera angles that give the viewer an interesting perspective on the film.

Hopefully this movie will receive the accolades it deserves, but I have a sinking feeling it won’t. It made an obvious point to shun the norms of Hollywood. Instead of being rewarded for it’s uniqueness it will be punished. It’s so sad that so many people will listen to the “big critics” and miss out on this gem.