people who understood it - convince me (no haters plz)

I really liked this movie. I felt Lady in the Water was about human suffering, and the ability to overcome the suffering and begin to heal. Idk just the whole story about Cleveland's family being killed..and how he was hiding from the world after it..and when Story came she helped him heal and move on..I remember he said "you saved me" or something like that. My friends couldnt figure out why I was crying (yes, I am pathetic) both times I saw this movie and I think it was just because Story helped Cleveland heal when he went through hard times. Idk thats what i just took from it. Its a nice story if you dig deeper.

XF2 7.25.08

What I love most about M. Night's movies is he puts ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, and then focuses on the ordinary. It's a lot like my favorite author Orson Scott Card in complex simplicity.

I've found that most people who absolutely loved The Sixth Sense think all his subsequent movies were worse. I thought the Sixth Sense was pretty good, but I felt wowed by others like Signs, The Village, and Lady In the Water. A lot of people react negatively to simplicity. I can't blame them. But a flower in my backyard is still beautiful to me even after I've been across this Earth.

If you feel like you "didn't get it" I don't believe it. It was that simple. It was the beauty of loving your neighbor. This man, all alone in his mind has been good and kind. He has brought good people together, and in this, greatness happens. A simple idea. That he is not alone. That he is loved, and that he loves. It took something ridiculous and fantastic to make him realize this. To pull him out of his own deathly mourning.

I thought it was so beautiful I couldn't imagine any better. But I read all these people's comments that claim it was horrible, and to me, the simple idea of love and friendship was expressed here. There was no bad acting. There was no cheesy dialogue. Just very straight forward, this is life deal with it. If people find that horrible it makes me feel bad for them. Why so much negativity? If this movie were as bad as they say, wouldn't at least the theme of the film soften them enough to laugh? Instead it is vile distaste I read. And I wonder. Did they like the Sixth Sense because of the gorey death? Did they enjoy Signs because of the perverse joy of humans planning to die in a cellar? Where do they derive their entertainment? I know I'm a soft sell for goodness. But a good story is a good story. I've seen thousands of movies. I go to every premiere I can. I looove film. No other real hobbies to speak of. This is probably one of 3 movies I've ever watched in my life that brought a tear to my eye. One other was Schindler's List.

I don't think it was one of the best movies ever made, but when I left the theater I felt better as a human. Not a lot of movies aim for that. Not a lot of movies want you to be a better person, or wish you well, or think to have an actual effect on you. This one did for me. If it did not for you, that's fine, nothing lost, just another movie.

What is so great about M Night Shyamalan is the depth to his stories. Every time you watch one of his movies, you can come away appreciating something else about it. All the above replies are good, but there is also more. One of the main points is the power of storytelling. A few thoughts to go along with that are how we should overcome our critics (one of my favorite seens ever to see a director take such a bold shot at movie critics), how we should be more childlike, and how we need faith. Faith is so key in this movie. I know there is more to get, but I can't think right now.

A quick word on The Happening. It was exactly what he promised, nothing more, nothing less. There are some subtle deeper messages (I won't say what because I don't want to give away the end) and one not so subtle message, but, unfortunately, this was his first movie that was to be taken exactly as you see it. If you let the movie take you for a ride, you will love it. It is very similar to Hitchcock's The Birds. You will probably know if you will like the movie after the opening credit sequence, which sets the tone for the movie and is absolutely beautiful.

I also noticed that while Cleveland is healing Story (when he realizes he's the healer), he's also healing himself (he bursts into tears and talks about how he misses his family). He's getting some closure and a feeling of redemption by helping Story. That's how she saved his life (as he says to her in the end).

Why do you feel the need to be convinced that this film is good? Do you not trust your own opinion?

If you liked his other films, then stick with those and watch for his upcoming ones. But to ask for help with liking something you obviously didn't seems an irrational need to like the director regardless of what he's done. It's possible for anyone to fail, and M. Night isn't a god-even though he acts like he thinks he is one. I don't see any hidden, deeper meaning.

And it's quite possible to understand something completely and still not like it. Even if you get a convincing explanation of the "point," it won't mean anything if the film doesn't register emotionally. That's something no one else can provide.

-There is no such word as "alot."

I really can't say what I liked about it. I saw it with my two daughters, and they've called it the "mermaid who fights the big bad wolf" movie. They are young, under the age of 7.

I know what you're thinking- "You took your kids to an M. Night?! WTF, are you batsh*t insane?!"

Well, I screened it first and I made the decision that it was not too spooky for them to watch it. Plus they saw the poster and thought it was a mermaid film.

Technically a nymph, but they can't tell the difference (I think it helped that she was a red-head and was found on shore. You know, the "Ariel" connection?)

I have digressed, but at first I didn't like it that much, but then when my daughters saw it and were cheering on the "mermaid" and cringing at "the big bad wolf" and how he was defeated by "the magic monkeys," plus they knew the "strong man" was the hero (because he had muscles..er.. a muscled arm.)

I dunno, I guess I started seeing it for what is was- a fairy tale, and enjoyed it more. They watch it all the time (along with Hairspray) and is one of their favorites.

I guess you have to suspend belief, and see it through the eyes of a child. It was a movie about hope, and good in an unexpected place with people who escaped their shells to become more than what they thought they could ever be.

They took away from it, that it didn't matter who you were if you try, you can meet your potential and find strength in your fears. If that's not a good message to give to children, then I don't know what is.

So, I think most people didn't like it because it was a "Disney-esque" children's movie, disguised as an adult's suspense film. That's what I think. I just know I enjoyed it more after seeing it with my kids, than I did previously with friends.

Maybe we grew up to be too cynical, and that is what ruined the magic. If you just let it be a fairytale, then it's a wonderful film.

Peace.

I like this movie a lot when I saw it, and I must say no, there is not much to it. It is what it is at face value. If you didn't like it then you didn't like it.

It's not a typical M. Night movie, so I understand that some fan Boi's may be disappointed.

http://imalshen.deviantart.com/art/Lady-in-the-Water-Essay-101460888

That's my take on the film. :)


If you don’t stop burning my scarf you’re going to have to kill me!-Tom Baker, Doctor Who