Topic: Lady in the Water

[please let me in, please]

     Im a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan, and love all of his movies except for the village. He can create a great story, and i belive in that with this movie. I just dont know what to expect. Reviews have been bad, even though i dont usually trust them. He first wants a children type story, but makes the commercials look like its creepy. Heres one for example:

water commerical

What i like is that hes trying to do something different, or thats what he says.

shyamalan interview

I am going to see it, but i know that they have already screened it in nyc, and some other areas.

[Arbok]

Yes, the movie is getting slammed by critics so far:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lady_in_the_water/

Personally, I doubt I will be seeing this one in theaters, which is how I felt even before the bad reviews started coming in.

I also find his whole little falling out with Disney a little childish. Yes the executives had some problems with the screenplay, but they were still willing to give him total control and a $60 million dollar budget (same he had for Village) to "prove them wrong"... and he took offense to that? A lot of directors would kill for that kind of offer. Oh well.

[wandering]

Like all of Shyamalan's movies, the premise sounds interesting, and the previews make it look good. I'll probably see it in the hopes that it lives up to it's promise, and I'll probably wish I hadn't afterwards. Oh well.

In my view, Shyamalan is very talented - but, like George Lucas, he has huge blind spots. And, also like Lucas, he has become too powerful for anyone to do anything about them. As a stand-alone director, or stand-alone producer, or, um, 'original idea by' person, I think he'd do really well. But writing, directing and producing all his movies himself just doesn't seem to be working.

[Ceric]

I have not inkling to see this movie what so ever.  It reminds me of the Ring from the previews.  I didn't like that movie at all.  From what I've seen theres nothing apealing in their for me.

[Bill Aurion]

The Village got poor reviews too, and it's one of my favorite movies ever...Critics can go...well, you know...

[Ceric]

I stopped beleiving critics a long time ago.  When I do read them I extract the information I want, much like game reviews, and then make my own decision.

[Dasmos]

Wow, this movie looked to suck when I saw the trailer at the movies. I can't believe anyone would really find this concept even interesting.

[Rhoq]

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill Aurion
The Village got poor reviews too, and it's one of my favorite movies ever...Critics can go...well, you know...

I loved The Village dispite having the ending ruined by a friend who saw it before me. The only Shyamalan film I couldn't get into was 'Unbreakable'. I need to watch that again and see if I like it better after a repeat viewing.

I'm looking forward to Lady In The Water, but this weekend, Clerks II wins my money. I also want to see the Strangers With Candy movie this weekend as it will only be playing for one more week, here in Philly...

[please let me in, please]

I didnt really like the village, i thought it was interesting, but not scary or fun in any way. I belive that he could have done a much better job. I am still going to see this movie, but im a little wary. Hes been getting worse and worse from the sixth sense. This also bothers me: he put so much time, effort and money into the ss to make it a masterpiece, but on his later movies they seem pale when compared. I also notice that the music in all his movies are dead on, as is the acting, and the camera angles are beautifully done. Even Shyamalan is good. Its just that the dialouge needs work every now and then, and that the script needs work. Ss was a masterpiece, unbreakable was good, signs was okay, and this one might suck, which i still hope not.

[Athrun Zala]

the only problem that I have with his movies is that they seem to follow the same formula:
- Interesting/average story
- Big twist near/at the end, which changes the whole perception of the movie

and that gets old......mind you, I did like The Village....and had, for exaple, 6th Sense and The Village switched places, the former would've been panned and the latter acclaimed....

[please let me in, please]

He does seem to use this formula, but i find it interesting. Not many movies have a huge twist that you never see coming; such as the sixth sense and unbreakable. Signs didnt use the formula, but i think the ending was terribly bad. As with the village. I hope for a twist in this one, as long as the overall movie as good.

As for storys, hes very good at creating something different. He just seemed to lack this on the last two films. I love this director, and think he is more talented than most. I just think he cant do it all alone. Maybe if this does bomb, he will realize this, and come back macking a movie with all his potential.

[mantidor]

"He does seem to use this formula, but i find it interesting. Not many movies have a huge twist that you never see coming; "

Thats the problem, with his movies you inevitable expect a plot twist, the plot twist is what made the sixh sense so popular, it really invited you to rewatch it more closely, but it doesnt work anymore, the audience is tired and doesn't find it as interesting as with the sixth sense, sometimes it seems that his forcing a plot twist.

But what I really don't like about his movies is that he tries too hard,  his focus on certain emotional aspects of a scene are really exaggerated, almost manipulative. I didn't like unbreakable for that reason, the same with signs, he seriously was trying too hard to make suspense,  it was almost insulting for the viewer those long waits that he used to try to build it, which went along with the overuse of the "shock" scare (nothing...nothing... 1 minute passes...BAM! the monster/alien/whatever appears and makes you jump), I find that so lame, is such a cheap scare tactic. Probably the reason I like asian horror is that they almost never do that.

[Ian Sane]

You can tell you're watching a trailer for an M. Night Shyamalan movie because everyone is whispering every line.

Personally I think the guy should just try something totally different like a comedy or something.  It would be interesting to see what he could do outside of the horror/suspense genre.  I would think as a director you would want to try something different.

[couchmonkey]

...so would I!  But it seems like a lot are content to work on one type of film.  I was reading an interview with Jerry Bruckheimer last year, and although I haven't really seen any of his movies, he came off as a pretty interesting guy, and one of the things I liked was that he seems to make a lot of different types of movies.  I still haven't seen any of his movies, but now I'd like to.

Edit:splng

[please let me in, please]

I know how people grow tired of his plot twists, but i believe that to be his trademark. As for signs, i thought it was good accept for the ending. Ian, i belive he could try a different genre. It would be very interesting.

[Arbok]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
I was reading an interview with Jerry Bruckheimer last year, and although I haven't really seen any of his movies...

...you haven't seen the first Pirates of the Caribbean? My god man, step to it!

[please let me in, please]

couchmonkey, you should see potc. Its an awesome movie, with a good plot. The second one however fun and action packed, was completely stupid. Oh well. Go see the first one. NOW!! ( please).

[Arbok]

Quote
Originally posted by: please let me in, please
The second one however fun and action packed, was completely stupid.

I thought the second movie was good too personally. It wasn't nearly as fun as the first, but it was a enjoyable movie none the same (second only to V for Vendetta for me for the year as a whole). I can't wait to see World's End now.

[please let me in, please]

the third potc is coming some time in 2007, along with spiderman 3. I predict that year to be good for movies. Im really exicted about the third one too. FREAKIN SWEET!!!!!!