MovieChat Forums > Lady in the Water (2006) Discussion > Far too underrated

Far too underrated

posted 13 years ago by Nicolesbunny88
40 replies | jump to latest

This film is beautiful and for it to receive a Razzie is a slap in the face to the fantasy genre. I don't remember when this was released, but from what I hear it was touted as a horror film, which I don't get.

This reminds me of that much hated film: Ishtar - Considered a terrible embarrassment to American cinema,but when I first watched it in my early teens, I was on the floor laughing and it remains to date one of my favorite films. I just don't think people got the point of Ishtar, and I don't think people get the point of Lady in the Water.

[–] jd-267 13 years ago

it was advertized as a horror movie, and I remember sitting in the theater (I saw it 3 times) and the audience in the movie theater were mostly teenage kids complaining that "they weren't scared". And at the same time, I was sitting next to 3 old women (in their 70's+) and at the end of the film, they were crying their eyes out. They loved it.

clearly, the teenagers were brought into the theater for the wrong reason. It was always the marketing's fault. It's always been this way for Shyamalan's films.

[–] moviewizguy 13 years ago

The marketing is quite confounding to say the least. The teaser trailer represents the film perfectly, but the later trailers suddenly turned it into a horror film. Here's the teaser if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF6g0-IkKCk

[–] jammastrjess 13 years ago

Seriously, this teaser is a beautiful little trailer. I feel like it would have been received a lot less negatively if the rest of the campaign had been like that.

[–] shifty131 12 years ago

Yes agree, they really did go wrong the moment the trailers led you to believe it was going to be a horror - FYI for those interested:-
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT8qbVVU4HI";
... This is one of my favorite films.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] koffeenkreame41-1 9 years ago

clearly, the teenagers were brought into the theater for the wrong reason. It was always the marketing's fault. It's always been this way for Shyamalan's films.

This.

"I'm the ultimate badass,you do NOT wanna f-ck wit me!"Hudson,Aliens😬

[–] manchof1 13 years ago

I wouldn't hate this movie as much if it wasn't so mind numbingly boring AND pretentious.

[–] goodkat2 13 years ago

Totaly agree with ya ....an awesome piece of fairytale fantasy storytelling ....very very underrated

And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the west

[–] ceasarsean 12 years ago

Loved loved the teaser to this movie. Remember seeing this in front of one of the Harry potter movies and being like what? But like a good interested what thought. It gives me chills. Good movie though.

[–] ShesSuchaLady 12 years ago

I love this movie. But then again, i am a fan of M Knight unlike so many unfortunately.

Ya Bish....

[–] KobiyashiMauru 12 years ago

This IS too far underrated, in the SUCKS genre.............

[–] Thiang 12 years ago

This was such a beautiful movie and it's a shame that so many people refuse to think outside the box and appreciate it for what it is. I'm a M. Knight fan too and it's because his stories are always centered around the complexity in people and their relationships in any and every given situation. He doesn't have to have giant CGI monsters, blood, sex and gore and because of this the mainstreamers call him "pretentious". Give me a break. It still cracks me up that so many people were so pissed about "The Village", lol!

[–] iCode_v2 12 years ago

Well, the important part is that you've managed to make yourself feel smugly superior to those people by saying they refuse to think outside the box.

[–] Panama1926 12 years ago

totally agree with what you say. The only thing I find a little weird (dunno if he always does that, but iirc he did in this film) is when he writes, directs and has himself playing a role, too... I think I find this one-man-show business a little odd...
Still, this was a beautiful movie

[–] koffeenkreame41-1 8 years ago

totally agree with what you say. The only thing I find a little weird (dunno if he always does that, but iirc he did in this film) is when he writes, directs and has himself playing a role, too... I think I find this one-man-show business a little odd...
Still, this was a beautiful movie

I don't think so, there are many other directors that wrote a big role for themselves to play in their films. Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, Kevin Smith, Alfred Hitchcock have done the same and wrote themselves in big roles. Lee in Do the Right Thing, School Daze, QT in From Dusk till Dawn, Resevoir Dogs etc. Smith in all of his films as Silent Bob, you get the idea. Out of all MNS' films, LITW is the only one where his character is really pivotal to the film aside for maybe Signs, concerning his Ray Reddy character. I agree, this is a very beautiful looking film,very underrated with terrific performances from Paul Giamatti & Bryce Dallas Howard.

"I'm the ultimate badass,you do NOT wanna f-ck wit me!"Hudson,Aliens😬

[–] utexashorns 9 years ago

I agree! It is much like Wes Anderson films- most people just did not get them until his recent fame- but he has been awesome all along!

[–] kelly-wilson 12 years ago

I think this is a beautiful picture also, but I think the beauty lies in the fairly universal themes being engaged (sacrifice, purpose, interconnectedness, forgiveness...) and not in the technical aspects of the picture.

I think, technically, this is probably not a great picture.

The first time I watched it, I didn't really enjoy it. The second time I found myself moved by the way in which Heep experiences healing, and now when I watch it I am more sensitive to what I think Shyamalan wants to say about purpose and sacrifice and interconectedness and forgiveness, and so on. When I think about "Lady..." from the perspective of the fairly universal themes being engaged, my admiration increases.

Here's a longer reaction:

http://mymusingsonfilm.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/lady-in-the-water-2006 /

All the best,
KW.

[–] dam33000 12 years ago

completely agree with you a beautiful work of art
when a movie has great performances and great cinematic you can't just say it's bad because you don't love the story or the way the story is told
people are lacking a good taste in cinematic experience
they just want popcorn fun, stupidity as an art form (like avengers or movies like that)

lady in the water is a movie you can discover every time you see it
9/10

[–] ericjstacey 12 years ago

I really enjoyed it-I went near the end of its run in theaters, so there were bad reviews and my expectations were lowered, I thought it was quite moving.

[–] DSo1976 12 years ago

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie... I would probably rank it as my 3rd fav movie by him... First being Signs, second being Unbreakable.

I thought it was well written, and extremely well acted. I thought Paul Giamati was absolutely incredible in this... Probably my favourite role from him, though to be fair I haven't seen all his movies.

I get why it wasn't liked, aside form the marketing... It's a fairy tale for adults, and that can be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of people.

I also understand the criticism of his ego, giving himself the role of the guy that would change the world, but overall his character's screen time was so small, and inconsequential to the overall movie... I also happen to think that he did a not bad job in the role.

"You're going to need a bigger boat." - Chief Brody

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] DSo1976 12 years ago

I don't think he was trying to relate that character to any real life person.. I don't see how my post implies that he was.

"You're going to need a bigger boat." - Chief Brody

[–] 12 years ago

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