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Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Bob Balaban, Sarita Choudhury ... see more see more... , Cindy Cheung , M. Night Shyamalan , Freddy Rodriguez , Bill Irwin , Mary Beth Hurt , Noah Gray-Cabey , Joseph D. Reitman , Jared Harris , Grant Monohon , John Boyd , Ethan Cohn , June Kyoko Lu , Tovah Feldshuh , Tom Mardirosian , Maricruz Hernandez , Carla Jimenez , Natasha Perez , Monique Curnen , Marilyn Torres , George Bass , Joel Garland , James "Jimbo" Breen , Nell Johnson , Walter Lafty , Mark Melchiorre Jr. , Kevin Frank , Brian Weaver , Nick Perri , Jeremy Howard , Brian Steele , Kurt Carley , Doug Jones

M. Night Shyamalan writes and directs this self-proclaimed, grown-up "bedtime story" about an apartment building superintendent named Cleveland (Paul Giamatti) who discovers a magical sea-nymph named ... read more read more...Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) who's been transported to this world and is living in the building's own swimming pool. As this bizarre revelation sinks in, Cleveland becomes enraptured by her other-worldly charm. As he shelters her in his apartment, other inhabitants of the building begin falling into place as representations of characters from an Eastern myth in which these mermaids, or "narfs," co-exist unhappily with more beastly and violent characters. In human reality, the forces of darkness that threaten the heroes of a fairy tale prove to be much more terrifying, and the victory of good over evil is by no means guaranteed. Jeffery Wright, Jared Harris and Mary Beth Hurt co-star, as well as Shyamalan himself, playing the visionary writer Vick. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi

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54% liked it

396,182 ratings

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24% liked it

207 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Release Date: July 21, 2006

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DVD Release Date: December 19, 2006

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Stats: 26,320 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (26,320)

  • cosmo313
    April 11, 2012
    cosmo313
    Okay, so this isn't quite the complete and utter failure that I had been led to believe that it was...but still, it is pretty bad. The film is basically a fairy tale bedtime story concerning Cleveland Heep- the superintendent of an apartment complex who discovers a sea nymph who ... read moreentered into our world through the pool at the apartment cocmplex. She tries to get back to her world, but she's threatened by menacing creatures, and requires help from Cleveland and the various colorful tenants of the building.

    Just looking at the broad concept (a supernatural thriller/fairy tale sort of bedtiem story thing) this isn't too bad. It's kinda unique, though the execution of it all is where there's trouble. The specific story itself is a little hokey, the script is atrocious, the cast, while notable, give some really dry, wooden, and downright awful performances, and to top it all off, the jokes suck, the film is unintentionally funny, there's tons of cliches, the bits where the 4th wall is broken really fall flat and induce facepalms, and it's all a bit of a bore and I didn't care too much. Also, Shyamalan really shows his narcissism here, but I won't spoil it by detailing specifics.

    But, since I did give it a barely passing grade, that means it's not all bad. LIke I said, good cast, terrible work. The cinematography is quite wonderful (as should be expected), the direction is decent (I've always felt that Shyamalan was a far better director than a writer) but he's been far better, and I do think Howard is pretty, even if she often gets miscast or misdirected.

    So yeah, bottom line, this film does mostly live up to its reputation. I liked some aspects of it, but it is essentially a really poor misguided piece of work.
  • spielberg00
    April 4, 2012
    spielberg00
    All I keep hearing about director M. Night Shyamalan is that he was phenomenal with his debut, THE SIXTH SENSE, but after that his films began to plunge down an endless slope. I loved THE SIXTH SENSE so much that I couldn't bring myself to believe it. It's one of those times when... read more seeing actually is believing. I fully agree with that statement I've heard all too many times after seeing LADY IN THE WATER, a total disaster.

    The first problem with LADY IN THE WATER is the script. It's hard to tell if this was intended to be funny, but I laughed very hard in some parts. Let me give you an example of one of the worst scenes. It's when one of the characters is faced with the dog-like creature. The character is a film critic (is that Shyamalan trying to earn some critical respect?), and he states that it's like a moment out of a horror movie. (Seriously, are you M. Night Shyamalan or Mel Brooks?) He rambles on and on about how it's the moment when the side character is about to be attacked, and that he's going to run through the door behind him and the dog will barely miss him. He has rambled on so much that not only is it incredibly predictable when the dog slaughters him, it's excruciatingly funny.

    http://themoviefreakblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/review-lady-in-the-water/
  • jamers2011
    June 9, 2011
    jamers2011
    One of the few M. Night Shyamalan films that I enjoy. Some of the acting was a bit ridiculous though.
  • CreedsDelight
    January 30, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Another disaster from M. Night Shyamalan.

    Grade: F
  • ythelastman89
    October 16, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I think it's a good movie regardless of what most people say. It's sort've like an urban fairytale and is very successful at capturing a particular mood. It's not too scary, but it's definitely a lot more dark than it could've been. Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard are both ... read morereally good in this and I loved their relationship progression throughout the story.
  • ironclad1609
    September 6, 2010
    ironclad1609
    This is one of the rare cases where I do not quite see what I loved about the film the first time I watched it. Sure, the fable-like introduction sets up an interesting premise, but later the movie is oddly torn between taking itself a bit too seriously and making fun of the aspe... read morects of storytelling. The acting is top notch, especially by Paul Giamatti, and some of the minor characters are wonderfully odd and unusual. If you're able to suspend disbelief and take is as the fairy tale that it is, there is some fun to have with this film. The solution feels somewhat random though and the aspect of fateful peaces falling into place has already been part of Shyamalan's "Signs" and so much better there, too. Still, an entertaining and somewhat charming film, for what it's worth. But somehow it touched me more the first time I watched it.
  • Stickykk
    August 1, 2010
    Stickykk
    Lady in the Water is a M. Night Shyamalan movie who did the movies "The Sixth Sense" and "Signs" which were both good movies. Lady in the Water . . . . not so much. In fact Lady in the Water is so bad that it makes The Village enjoyable. The movie is just stupid . . . enough said... read more.

    The movie follows Paul Giamatti who works at a apartment almost like the janitor. He has been getting reports that there has been a woman at night swimming in the pool. Giamatti catches the woman in the pool but accidentally slips and knocks himself unconscious and rolls into the pool. When he wakes up, he finds himself in his house, just outside the pool area, with a woman sitting on the couch. She says that she's from "The Blue World" which I'm guessing is the pool. Apparently a bedtime story from a chinese woman is actually a real story and the "Lady in the Water" is the main character from the story. She's a narf (don't even ask me what the hell that is). I feel bad that Paul Giamatti would actually take this offer in this movie. After his brilliant acting in "Sideways" I thought this movie was garbage to it. The actress who plays the lady is awful. She looks creepy, barely speaks (well I guess that's a good thing) and she didn't even fit the role. As for Mr. Shyamalan, a word of advice: MAYBE THESE BAD MOVIES ARE A SIGN FROM GOD THAT YOU HAVE LOST YOUR TALENT. This movie is bad not just because the story stinks, it's also the fact that this movie drags on too much. There were so many times when the lady was scratched up by the grass beasts (yes I'll get to them in a sec) that she had to be healed and then wait for a huge eagle to come down and take her away. In fact without the four or five times of the lady getting injured this movie is probably sixty minutes long. Now the only thing that can hurt the lady/narf are these beats who are . . . . the grass. Yea so make sure you be careful the next time you mow your lawn. They are trying to kill the lady. Then there's some crap about monkeys being the helpers of the narfs who are tree branches. . . . let me make this very clear to you my readers . . . if you like this movie you have no taste in good movies WHATSOEVER!

    OVERALL: Boy does this movie suck. It's 109 minutes I will never get back. The lady should've just died because that would be a great ending. And there is no twist as big as Shyamalan's previous movies so don't look forward to that. Please save yourself the time and pick up "The Sixth Sense" or "Signs" because this one is dead in the water.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 21, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    not great but interesting in parts but there's nothing special about this movie. C
  • lewiskendell
    June 23, 2010
    lewiskendell
    "Man thinks that they're each alone in this world. It is not true."

    Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard star in this modern day fairy tale about a supernatural woman who has come among us for a special purpose, and is being hunted by a beast that has no intention of allowing h... read moreer to return to her home alive. A group of humans with special powers must be gathered in order to protect her and help her get back to where she belongs.

    This isn't exactly the kind of movie you'd expect from M. Knight. I remember that the first time I saw it, I was very surprised by how dissimilar it was to all the movies that he had done before. Lady in the Water truly is best viewed as a modern day bedtime story. It's easy to believe that Shyamalan made this movie for his kids to enjoy, and other kids, as well.

    I also believe that this is one of the most self-indulgent and masturbatory movies that I've ever seen in my life. Even in Hollywood, this level of narcissism in a film is remarkable. If Shyamalan could have reigned in some of his frustrations at critics and his own sense of self-importance, this could have been a good movie. As it stands, Lady in the Water is an occasionally interesting side-note that stumbles under its own ambition and forced mythology.
  • skactopus
    June 16, 2010
    skactopus
    M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water shows inklings of creative imagination. Not much else.

    For the most part, the entire 100+ minute run time creeps by with a loitering pace. It is a shame because there are some fun ideas behind it all, but the chosen setting, which

    ... read more is one apartment complex, and characters aren't the best way to exhibit them.

    The animation introduction and narration does a good job at setting up the rest of the film; however, it goes downhill from there. The characters are uninteresting, there isn't much in the way of surprises, and the film becomes a bore, despite the amusing concept of the story. On a positive note, the CG effects are rather good for what little visual fantasy elements appear on screen.

    All around, the acting is mediocre at best with Paul Giamatti leading the way. This goes back to the way the characters are written. M. Night even finds the time to cast himself as one of the major supporting characters. That certainly isn't the best move in his career.

    All in all, The Lady in the Water is a bedtime story. It just needs a makeover.

View All Lady in the Water Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jack Mathews
July 21, 2006
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

The story is so convoluted and ultimately preposterous that you're almost embarrassed by the earnestness of the actors trying to carry it off. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
July 21, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

In the end, Shyamalan's stumbling Lady never gives us a reason to believe. Full Review

Liam Lacey
July 21, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Crazy as this might sound, it turns out that self-indulgent ramblings designed to put your children to sleep are pretty much the opposite of art. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
July 21, 2006
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

An act of spectacular (if unwitting) self-immolation.

Steven Rea
July 21, 2006
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

It's a busy made-up universe -- with rules, rituals, and a deity-tree that could give the Hindu hierarchy a run for its rupee. And it's extremely silly.

Roger Moore
July 21, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Lady is the height of folly, an endeavor as wrongheaded as The Postman, as foolish as any 'vanity' project of the past 20 years. Full Review

Lisa Rose
July 21, 2006
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

Viewers may see religious implications in the movie, with its messianic mermaid and chlorinated holy water, but it really isn't worthy of such deep analysis. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
July 21, 2006
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

With his work beginning to seem as insular as the communities he's imagining, Shyamalan really needs to try directing someone else's screenplay. Full Review

Bruce Newman
July 21, 2006
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News

It is yet another of Shyamalan's attempts to wade into the deep end of the profundity pool, where not even chlorine can kill the brackish residue of his design.

Peter Travers
July 21, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The movie is a muddle, burdened with too many characters and a sorry lack of thrills, flair and coherence. Yet Shyamalan's talent is real.

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