DVD Review - “Lady In The Water”
GRADE: A-
This past summer I made sure I saw this movie on opening night for a reason. The reviews were pretty terrible and the box office receipts were just so-so. So, I made a point to avoid those reviews and to watch this movie with virgin eyes and ears. I think M. Night Shayamalan has earned my respect as an artist for me to give him that chance. If you see this movie I cannot stress how much you need to take the following advice, go into this movie with child like abandonment. Sit down in the theatre like a 7 year old about to be told a bedtime story, with anxious energy and an open imagination. You will get the movies tone and sweet fantasy setting much more if you do.
Bedtime stories are small fables with fantastical characters and situations, leaving the reader to believe that all kinds of wild tales and creatures do actually exist. This movie is no different. I completely wanted to believe in the “Narf” and the “Blue World”. Shayamalan has in many ways created a universe and a mythology similar to “Harry Potter”, or “Narnia” and even “Lord Of The Rings”. Now this movie is not in the same league as those films, but I think it is one of M. Night’s best and worthy of much much more applause. It reminds me of the treatment “Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow” received. It too was shunned and not seen by many people but was fun and orginal.
I loved the tension, and especially the comedy in this movie. I more than once jumped at a scary scene. I laughed out loud (sometimes too loud) when Paul Giamatti’s character interacted with his tenants. I loved all the varying cast members, apartment complex images and back stories that are woven through out. I will even admit to being so moved I cried twice and was choked up for the last half of the movie.
It saddens me that people can’t give into a movie going experience with a childish outlook, and enjoy the movie for what it may be. In many ways it can be seen as a parable to the modern life. Maybe I liked this movie too much. I thought it was sweet, and I felt very much like when I saw “E.T.” for the first time. Like being a child and believing was much more important than being serious and thinking of money all the time. I will put this on my top 20 movies of 2006 for sure, no matter what people say.
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