Post by TF Admin on Aug 25, 2006 23:19:38 GMT -6
Went tosee M. Night Shamalamadingdong's latest tale. Overall, not too bad, not too good either.
Basically it's being sold as another one of his "SCARY" flicks, it's not, it's like a Children's fairy tale or bedtime story, which BTW is the self-aware plot device used throughout the film.
Most of the movie just plodded along with no real surprises, except one. Paul Giamatti is by far one of the best actor's working in Hollywood right now. He is so believable no matter what he is doing, even in that silly "American Splendor" Indie flick. He is good at portraying an everyday, normal, but likeable guy.
Lady in the Water is indeed a fairy tale with references to "Narf's" and the like. There are monsters that grow grass on their backs, and HUGE "Lord of the Rings" type Eagles that soar through the air picking up good little Narf's and carrying them to the Blue World. If all this sounds strange and boring...well, it is, kinda.
Shamalamadingdong has come quite a way as a story-teller. I read where this was a very personal film to him, and it is. Why is it that filmmaker's or artist's or writer's who put there heart and soul into a particular piece of work, find themselves on the other side of the looking glass. Audiences tend not to like that work, or find it just OK. This film falls into the just OK territory.
The visual style, odd camera angles, out of focus scenes, etc. just did not work with this kind of film. Maybe this was some experimental stuff Smalamadingdong wanted to try, but it just didn't make sense within the story. Maybe I'm getting too old for these kind of films, cause my inner child just didn't scream for joy on this one.
This movie is a rental at BEST. Kids can watch it although scenes with the monster are fairly intense. I'd give it a 6 out of 10 stars.
TF
Basically it's being sold as another one of his "SCARY" flicks, it's not, it's like a Children's fairy tale or bedtime story, which BTW is the self-aware plot device used throughout the film.
Most of the movie just plodded along with no real surprises, except one. Paul Giamatti is by far one of the best actor's working in Hollywood right now. He is so believable no matter what he is doing, even in that silly "American Splendor" Indie flick. He is good at portraying an everyday, normal, but likeable guy.
Lady in the Water is indeed a fairy tale with references to "Narf's" and the like. There are monsters that grow grass on their backs, and HUGE "Lord of the Rings" type Eagles that soar through the air picking up good little Narf's and carrying them to the Blue World. If all this sounds strange and boring...well, it is, kinda.
Shamalamadingdong has come quite a way as a story-teller. I read where this was a very personal film to him, and it is. Why is it that filmmaker's or artist's or writer's who put there heart and soul into a particular piece of work, find themselves on the other side of the looking glass. Audiences tend not to like that work, or find it just OK. This film falls into the just OK territory.
The visual style, odd camera angles, out of focus scenes, etc. just did not work with this kind of film. Maybe this was some experimental stuff Smalamadingdong wanted to try, but it just didn't make sense within the story. Maybe I'm getting too old for these kind of films, cause my inner child just didn't scream for joy on this one.
This movie is a rental at BEST. Kids can watch it although scenes with the monster are fairly intense. I'd give it a 6 out of 10 stars.
TF
