Lady in the Water
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 21, 2006
6.3
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 451 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
251
Mixed:
70
Negative:
130
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
DavidRJan 28, 2007
A masterpiece. Shyamalan proves he is a superb actor. I can only imagine how much better The Sixth Sense and Signs would have been if Shyamalan would have starred instead. I'm interested in seeing where he goes from here. His work is A masterpiece. Shyamalan proves he is a superb actor. I can only imagine how much better The Sixth Sense and Signs would have been if Shyamalan would have starred instead. I'm interested in seeing where he goes from here. His work is clearly far ahead of it's time and the critics simple-minded opinions.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
DylanG.Feb 14, 2007
Super heart warming. I worked for years in a rep-movie theatre and have seen all kinds of indie films and I very much enjoyed this one. While this movie seems to have been hated by the critics I loved it. It breathed a freshness into both Super heart warming. I worked for years in a rep-movie theatre and have seen all kinds of indie films and I very much enjoyed this one. While this movie seems to have been hated by the critics I loved it. It breathed a freshness into both the way the story unfolds and its handling of fairytale cliches making somehow seem fresh all over again.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
VxDxFeb 22, 2008
Simply beautiful. I don't understand why people are so stupid as to think that just because the director made a horror movie or two in the past, his next movie is also a horror movie. Lady in the Water is not a horror movie - and imo, Simply beautiful. I don't understand why people are so stupid as to think that just because the director made a horror movie or two in the past, his next movie is also a horror movie. Lady in the Water is not a horror movie - and imo, even Night's previous movies were not horror movies. Since people ( especially critics ) are so used to categorizing every movie they see into one of the genres, they are not ready to think out of the box with a movie like this. And Night's bash on critics is just brilliant! One of the wonderful things about this movie is that there is not 'fantasy world' here. There is only reality through and through.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
SteveFJun 15, 2008
Seeing most of the reviews for this movie I can see that you will either love it or hate. I love it!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
ChrisM.Jun 27, 2009
Shyamalan's faithful audience has been supporting him since the Sixth Sense's wonderful surprise but this is no such movie!He overloaded the film with numerous character's,confusing ideas,mythic creatures and stupid Shyamalan's faithful audience has been supporting him since the Sixth Sense's wonderful surprise but this is no such movie!He overloaded the film with numerous character's,confusing ideas,mythic creatures and stupid anti-critic allegories as if he is trying to prove how imaginative he can be,turning it into a chaotic mess with no substance or purpose,It's to immature even for a child to watch and the attempt of making a bedtime story is no excuse.The worst thing is that he tries to even lure humoristic moments out of it.An undeniable mind-f*ck!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
baoDec 26, 2006
An okay film, although it moves like a snail. See it if you want to be like a kid again..nor not.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
ChristopherW.Dec 26, 2006
If this turkey doesn't win the top Razzie award this year, then there is no justice in the world. I once respected Shyamalan and looked forward to his next project, but 'The Village' and this embarrassment will surely, OK, If this turkey doesn't win the top Razzie award this year, then there is no justice in the world. I once respected Shyamalan and looked forward to his next project, but 'The Village' and this embarrassment will surely, OK, hopefully, force him to reconsider a new profession. What a shame!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
MetalMan95Sep 13, 2010
Critical reviews for a movie that, if you just checked your brain at the door, you could've enjoyed it. This movie is so far out there and is a fun movie. Don't incorporate logic, if you do you wont like it. It is a movie for kids, and anyoneCritical reviews for a movie that, if you just checked your brain at the door, you could've enjoyed it. This movie is so far out there and is a fun movie. Don't incorporate logic, if you do you wont like it. It is a movie for kids, and anyone with a fantasy. Watch it, enjoy it, but don't incorporate logic, that would be a huge mistake.… Expand
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0
billrullerAug 17, 2012
I've said my personal opinion of M. Night Shyamalan's movies. The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs are personally my favorite's from him. But his movies started to get to bland, boring, and silly. This film....is unbelievably boring. TheI've said my personal opinion of M. Night Shyamalan's movies. The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs are personally my favorite's from him. But his movies started to get to bland, boring, and silly. This film....is unbelievably boring. The plot is boring, the characters are boring, the dialogue is boring, THIS MOVIE IS BORING!!! I can't remember one thing about this movie with falling asleep.… Expand
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7
Tss5078Feb 24, 2013
OK, what kind of drugs is M. Night Shyamalan on and how can I get some!? This is one weird, tripped out movie! Overall it's was good, but just very very weird. It has Shyamalan's typical, dark, methodical, presence, as well as his uniqueOK, what kind of drugs is M. Night Shyamalan on and how can I get some!? This is one weird, tripped out movie! Overall it's was good, but just very very weird. It has Shyamalan's typical, dark, methodical, presence, as well as his unique brand of humor. What's not typical thou is this story. I don't give spoilers, so let's just say the whole movie I was either saying WTF?!?! or WOW that's cool! It's a strange one, but unique and imaginative. It took me a little while to figure out, but ultimately I decided, I liked it!… Expand
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1
CooterPatooterMar 3, 2012
Another step in the rapid implosion of Shyamalan's career. After Unbreakable, Signs (not bad but only so-so), The Village, The Happening, this awful mess, The Last Airbender and Devil (even if it's just his name slapped on it, he's gottaAnother step in the rapid implosion of Shyamalan's career. After Unbreakable, Signs (not bad but only so-so), The Village, The Happening, this awful mess, The Last Airbender and Devil (even if it's just his name slapped on it, he's gotta take some credit for it), I don't expect to be hearing much more of this one-hit-wonder again.… Expand
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5
SpangleJan 5, 2016
Eh, Lady in the Water feels better than this, but this rating also feels a tad generous. I do not really know. On the surface, the story is incredibly dumb, many things occur that are incredibly far-fetched, and the film even (ironically, butEh, Lady in the Water feels better than this, but this rating also feels a tad generous. I do not really know. On the surface, the story is incredibly dumb, many things occur that are incredibly far-fetched, and the film even (ironically, but stupidly) explains itself and story structure. The characterization is odd and people are far to willing to accept that this sea nymph stuff is legit. However, if you look at as a fable, it does come together better and makes you suspend some of that belief. Even better, it really makes you feel something and has a great message in it. However, some of the character actions are incredibly dumb. I think critics took this one purposely due to the characterization the critic, so I feel as though their reactions were a little too harsh, but Lady in the Water certainly stops short of being good, even though I wish it was better.… Expand
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0
TheWalrus2000Mar 9, 2013
This film should be retitled "Forgetting M. Night Shyamalan."
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6
BrianMcCriticJul 10, 2013
No question this film is the start of a drop off for Shyamalan, but call me crazy I still enjoy watching this film as a ridiculous, bizzare, and overall nonsensical bit of fun.
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6
InlikeflynnJun 8, 2014
I don't know what kind of mind set was the director on when writing the script but he must have been way over his head...

There are many things here that don't click together: i mean, there are some memorable character traits and theI don't know what kind of mind set was the director on when writing the script but he must have been way over his head...

There are many things here that don't click together: i mean, there are some memorable character traits and the directing is actually competent, but the whole movie is stuck in it's own state of mind that is hard to fully sympathize with the circumstances, for example: why prolong the movie with unneeded conversations? they pretty much add nothing to the film, that doesn't classify has "character development", why all the weird editing and camera positions? they just make the movie silly to watch and what's up with shyamalan casting himself has the choose one? is he pretending to be the best? is he trolling us...?

The movie is memorable, has a nice soundtrack and the directing effort is where it counts, with it's actors who all do a good job in my opinion... however I can't help but scratch my head at all the weird choices and ridiculous style that make the movie more off a comedy than anything else. I can at least say that the movie made me watch it until the end and I can appreciate that the director wanted to break the common rules of storytelling.… Expand
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2
MichaelBagameryApr 19, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I consider it a minor miracle I actually stayed awake for the entirety of this movie. Questions arise within the viewer that M. Night never seemed to consider: Why does the eagle-creature not come earlier in the story? Do these Scrunts prey upon its kind? Wherefore the negligible character development? Why and how does the kid engage in divination with **** cereal boxes? And of course, why did M. Night cast himself as the indirect savior of humanity? I’ll come clean: I had never actually seen any of his other movies before this one, so I’m rating all his other films more cautiously as a rule.

The correct adjective for this would be SOPORIFIC.

I would give this movie 1/10 only, but it does get an extra point for predicting America’s future president as being a Midwestern orator, and two years and change after this movie was released, guess who…… Expand
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9
lukechristianscAug 26, 2015
Who cares if the story is fleshed out or Shyamalan's Greek-mythology bed time story is confusing, but "Lady In The Water" is mystical, magical and peaceful also scary, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan keeps us interested into the charactersWho cares if the story is fleshed out or Shyamalan's Greek-mythology bed time story is confusing, but "Lady In The Water" is mystical, magical and peaceful also scary, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan keeps us interested into the characters and the Greek-mythology, be glad he didn't make the film boring. A building manager Cleveland Heep (played by Paul Giamatti) rescues a woman named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) from danger he discovers she is a narf a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make a treacherous journey from our world back into hers. Cleveland and his tenants discover that they are also characters in the bedtime story. Cleveland starts to fall in love with her he works together with his tenants to protect her from deadly creatures called "Scrunt" from preventing Story to go home to the "Blue World." WARNING: This isn't a family film. It's cliche'd and the story is silly but who cares, but this is Shyamalan's biggest ample imagination I have ever seen. Maybe this isn't Giamatti's best work but he and Howard did tried and that's all the credit I can give them. This fantasy film is magnificent and striking. Grade A-… Expand
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7
DanBurritoSep 29, 2015
We all know that M. Night Shyamalan's career started plummeting at a certain point but he gets unfairly criticised for movies like this. I mean sure, it's a bit silly but it's also intruiging. Paul Giamatti was brilliant as usual and BryceWe all know that M. Night Shyamalan's career started plummeting at a certain point but he gets unfairly criticised for movies like this. I mean sure, it's a bit silly but it's also intruiging. Paul Giamatti was brilliant as usual and Bryce Dallas Howard was really good too. My biggest complaint was that there's this character who only works out one half of his body (so one arm is more muscular than the other) and while the character isn't forgotten or anything, you'd expect that detail to come in important. But still, it was an interesting movie, definitely better than some of the Shyamalan disasters.… Expand
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2
EpicLadySpongeApr 7, 2016
M. Night Shyamalan returns again to direct another film and this time, we're going to the water to find the Lady in the Water. This seems to be a simple project for the entire movie cast to see where Shyamalan might live for the rest of hisM. Night Shyamalan returns again to direct another film and this time, we're going to the water to find the Lady in the Water. This seems to be a simple project for the entire movie cast to see where Shyamalan might live for the rest of his eternity no matter dead or alive.… Expand
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5
JPKJul 11, 2019
Pretty Boring
This in my opinion is Shymalan’s first misfire, It has some alright parts but the film was pretty boring.
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7
DubeauJun 23, 2018
Seen this movie many times now. For me it's a tale for children and adults. The way the story is told is really interesting because it unveils itself like a puzzle. The acting of Giamatti is amazing, and Bryce isn't bad. Some of the secondarySeen this movie many times now. For me it's a tale for children and adults. The way the story is told is really interesting because it unveils itself like a puzzle. The acting of Giamatti is amazing, and Bryce isn't bad. Some of the secondary characters are funny and they should have more space in the movie. The filming isn't always good. Bad angles and poor lighting are everywhere. The FX are decent but are very static in their presentation. The music has some very interesting tracks. Shyamalan went into another style of movie, and I think peoples were expecting much of the same. I give the movie a 68%. Giamatti and Howard saved that movie in my opinion. It's not that bad actually but visually it can be boring.… Expand
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5
FilipeNetoFeb 13, 2018
A touching story.

This fantasy film talks about the appearance of a sea nymph in the pool of an apartment complex where Cleveland is caretaker. The nymph, Story, will then change the lives of all residents, need to help them to fulfill herA touching story.

This fantasy film talks about the appearance of a sea nymph in the pool of an apartment complex where Cleveland is caretaker. The nymph, Story, will then change the lives of all residents, need to help them to fulfill her mission and return to her world. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan (who also is one of the leading roles), has Bryce Dallas Howard as the protagonist. M. Night Shyamalan has accustomed us to stories with a touch of fantasy and imagination. Its as if this remarkable filmmaker refused to grow and would like to make his films with the imagination of a child playing with a camera. And, in this movie, its pretty much what happens, having himself gone head to the front of them and "playing" with the story that he's creating (as he also wrote the script). But don't think that this movie is bad. It's a good movie has touching scenes and reaches the audience for our children's side, the child that we all have within us. We would like that the plot was real and could be a creature so kind and innocent as that nymph. We would like to see people collaborate as in the movie on several occasions. And that makes us enjoy the film.… Expand
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4
I_loveJan 31, 2019
There just is too much going on , plus it is boring and sped up at time, while it has some good qualities, the monsters were a bad touch
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8
MagicBuns1992Jul 17, 2020
I felt inspired to write a review for this movie because it is so unfairly rated by the critics! Is it a brilliant movie? No, it has it's flaws such as not always being consistent but it's good! Is it childish? Yes, but it's story was clearlyI felt inspired to write a review for this movie because it is so unfairly rated by the critics! Is it a brilliant movie? No, it has it's flaws such as not always being consistent but it's good! Is it childish? Yes, but it's story was clearly influenced by a children like fairy tale - it's meant to have that element! One of the things that truly stood out for me in this movie was that it did not play on the usual tropes, in fact the best twists in the movie work on this finely. The role the male protagonist is an example of this, the actor who plays him (Giamatti) isn't exactly a model. No, instead he's a typical man in an extraordinary situation and his "purpose" becomes one of the most heartwarming features of the movie.

This isn't a horror, it's a fairy-tale. It has a few funny jokes, the acting is strong enough to hold, it has some heartwarming moments and it also has a message. It may not be for everyone but I personally felt it had a heart-warming ambience; it's unusual and it truly gives of the feel that this is a an art piece that Shyamalan wanted to express.

Give it a try, you may just enjoy it.… Expand
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10
Mack9393Jan 30, 2023
This movie proves critics are full of it. This is great storytelling and deserves more love. Is it perfect? Nope, for me it’s Paul Giamatti’s stutter isn’t very good and takes me out of it, but he’s still a pro at drama. The lore leaves meThis movie proves critics are full of it. This is great storytelling and deserves more love. Is it perfect? Nope, for me it’s Paul Giamatti’s stutter isn’t very good and takes me out of it, but he’s still a pro at drama. The lore leaves me wanting more.… Expand
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