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July 23, 2006
Lady in the Water
It is easy to see why critics deplore the film, the one person harmed in the course of its filming is a critic. And the important point here is not so much that he is a critic as that he is a hubristic know-it-all. Hubris and humanity, the themes of the film.
There's no need to try to outline the plot--it makes no sense outside of the film. And I won't claim that this was the very finest film M. Night Shyamalan has made--although it may be close.
It is a film with a tremendous philosophical appeal, and that may be the flaw that makes it, perhaps a lesser film. Sometimes, the veil is torn away and one gets the "lecture" that has been hiding in some of Shyamalan's other films. This may be what bothers critics, but if so, it seems a case of intellectual laziness.
I will have to watch this film five or six more times before I begin to understand all of the things that I might want to take away from it. But once again Shyamalan introduces his ideas of faith, hope, love, humanity, meaning, fallenness, and a host of others. If you've seen Signs you know the drill--much of it is repeated here. But the oeuvre as a whole is not repetitious.
Recommended for smart teens to adults. Younger children will likely be alternately bored and frightened if the sounds I heard in the theatre are indicative.
In our ongoing debate about censoring and changing films, this is an example of a filmmaker we should support and for whom we should show out in great numbers even when the work may not be the very finest (although, as I said, I found this one quite fine). If we want quality cinema that takes our concerns seriously, then it is high time to shell out the money at the Box Office to light Shyamalan and directors like him have a fair chance at future films.
Go and enjoy.
Posted by Steven Riddle at July 23, 2006 7:12 PM
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Comments
Appreciate your review. I wasn't sure if I would go or not but I think I will now. I'm probably one of the few among St. Blog's who hasn't seen Signs. (By the way, I think Bill Luse panned Signs.)
Posted by: TSO at July 24, 2006 12:29 PM
I enjoyed this film very much...thank you for your review. I particularly agree with what you said about who would appreciate this film. I think it takes a bit of work to see and understand what the movie (or any of Shyamalan's movies) presents.
Go to my blog for my thoughts...and a scolding from Barbara Nicolosi.
Posted by: Sarah E. Brungardt at July 24, 2006 6:55 PM