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4 out of 5 Cast: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, M. Night Shyamalan, Sarita Choudhury, Cindy Cheung, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey Wright, Freddy Rodriguez, Bill Irwin, Mary Beth Hurt, Noah Grey-Cabey Director: M. Night Shyamalan Screenplay: M. Night Shyamalan The plot of Lady in the Water revolves around a bedtime story that M. Night Shyamalan had written for his children, which has subsequently been published in book form, coinciding the release of his film ("Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story"). The film version is set in the modern-day "real world" of Philadelphia, where an apartment complex superintendent, Cleveland Heep (Giamatti, Cinderella Man), has been trying to figure out just what's making the noises in the complex swimming pool after hours. He soon finds out when he has an accident investigating it one night, falling into the pool to drown for sure, only to awaken finding that he's been saved by a mysterious woman named Story (Howard, The Village), who claims to be from the "blue world" in the water. Heep is appreciative, but skeptical, only changing his tune once Story tries to return home only to draw the ire of a strange canid creature she calls a "scrunt". With the help of an elderly Asian neighbor and her daughter, Cleveland begins to learn more about this mythical tale that he now believes is reality, where narfs (water nymphs) appear in order to "awaken" a human that will do something to change the world. With the only thing he has to go on being that the person is a writer, Cleveland sets about trying to arrange a meeting with the person in the apartment complex that Story is supposed to connect with so that she can be free to return home However, finding that person, as well as satisfying the other conditions to fulfill Story's mission, proves to be more elaborate than originally planned. The film was enjoyed by the whole family and will be watched again and again by my children I am sure of that, so all in a a 4 out of 5 for this film, if you like fairy science fiction this is for you. Giving Shyamalan credit where it's due, Lady in the Water is a highly imaginative and original film that will probably hold the attention of most viewers throughout. It's suspenseful, sometimes scary, occasionally witty, and moves at a brisk enough clip to sidestep many of the pitfalls that a film this ambitious could easily become ensnared in early on. The visual qualities are sumptuous, as you'd expect from a film shot by esteemed cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Last Life in the Universe, Infernal Affairs), and Shyamalan's expertise at making us believe that anything can happen, even in the world of the mundane, is still second to none.Read full review
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excellent value for money,really cheap. this kkeps you on the edge of your seat all the way though. would recommend to every one that likes a bit of mystery/horror. i think this is one of the best.
“Characters were walking around, saying their thoughts out loud. Who does that? And in a typical romance where the couple finally tell each other they love one another in the rain. Why does everyone like to stand around and talk in the rain in movies?” From the mind that brought us The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and The Village; comes this creepy film starring Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard and Bob Balaban. A building attendant finds a young woman in the swimming pool who is actually a creature from a Chinese storybook. He must bring the people of the building together in order to save her from being killed by an evil grass monster. M Night Shyamalan is truly the master of the horror / fantasy genre. He attempts to keep the story fresh in every movie he releases. In fact, one of the most arrogant characters in this movie makes reference to how similar the horror genre is. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that Lady In The Water is probably one of the strangest and most unique films that I’ve ever seen. Based on a bedtime story that the writer/director invented for his children; Lady In The Water introduces us to a mythical history about two races of people – those who live under the water and those who live on the land. Long ago, the two peoples were close but they have since drifted part when those on the land stopped listening to the wise people of the “blue world” and became violent and warlike. Although rejected, the peaceful water people have refused to give up on their old friends and occasionally send ambassadors to the surface to try and connect. It’s at the risk of their lives however, since a fierce creature stalks them when they leave the water. Paul Giamatti plays Cleeveland Heep, a kind but stuttering building attendant whose life has fallen apart. One night, Cleeveland discovers a woman named ‘Story’, naked and alone in the apartment complex’s swimming pool. When he is around Story, his stutter goes and he finds a clarity that he thought was lost. Realising that there is something very unique about this woman, he starts to ask the building tenants to see if they know anything about what she may be. Speaking with an old Chinese tenant, he hears about the two races of people and realises that this mysterious stranger is really a nymph who needs the help of the apartment residents to make it back home safely. Using his knowledge of the myth, Cleveland discovers that each of the residents have unique powers that come out when they are around Story. Some of them have the power to heal or to decipher codes; others have the power to control the beast out to kill our heroine. With time quickly running out and a monster on the loose, intent of killing this most important of nymphs; Cleveland and the people of the apartment block must put aside their differences and work together like never before in order to save the life of Story. A remarkable movie that will blow your mind. Make sure you watch with the lights off!Read full review
A load of waffle and way too far fetched. The characters accepted everything said to them without doubt the dialogue was ropey, real people don't talk this way. Okay for kids maybe, a couple of wee scary bits but overall no worse that Disney. No sex so again okay, bit of bad language. Special effects were really amateur and shot in the dark so you couldn't see anything anyway. I like fantasy, sci-fi and horror and this film looked good. Also discoverd I don't like this director his films are indulgent and lack real substance with story lines, I have unfortunately watched a few of them now! No relfection on the seller DVD was in perfect condition and as described.
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