Read Negative User Reviews for The Shape of Water

2

cibreoFeb 12, 2018

Pretentious twaddle. A ridiculously overblown and ultimately empty muddle. Great actors wasted: Michael Shannon reprising Boardwalk Empire and Octavia Spencer in danger of being stuck doing The Help and Hidden Figures for life. Two stars forPretentious twaddle. A ridiculously overblown and ultimately empty muddle. Great actors wasted: Michael Shannon reprising Boardwalk Empire and Octavia Spencer in danger of being stuck doing The Help and Hidden Figures for life. Two stars for the design - putting glitter on a tu*d.… Expand

16 of 18 users found this helpful162

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2

PJPazJan 24, 2018

Amélie meets The Beast. It's the La-La Land of 2017: tedious, overrated, bloated, fatuous and cliché-ridden. We've seen this film - done better - before. A waste of good acting talent. Run away.

20 of 26 users found this helpful206

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0

FilmLover83Jan 12, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I adore fantasy, monster movies, unusual and different stories. I HATED this movie. I created this account to review this movie. In 'Splash' Tom Hanks - your everyman guy gets the stunning mermaid. It's cute, fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. In this film, the ordinary girl gets a slimy cat-eating creature from the Black Lagoon (or rather, he gets her) and it takes itself very seriously in some artsy intensely annoying self-indulgent way which absolutely misses the mark. Guillermo del Toro pounds us over the head with his water theme (we get it already) and creates a female lead without understanding anything about women. She's childlike and annoying as hell, skipping down the corridor like a giddy child, implausibly falling for a monster not long after mopping up blood after he bites off and spits out human fingers (their 'falling in love' montage *could* possibly have been made believable, but absolutely was not), masturbating in the bath every morning (sorry guys - sure women masturbate, but not in the bath to an egg timer - del Toro put this in to heavy-handedly enforce his water theme and that's absolutely how it came across. She can do NOTHING without the help of every male character around her and is quite pathetic when she *could* have had an arc (the shy cleaner falls in love and rises in confidence, orchestrating and pulling off a rescue mission. But oh no, childlike and helpless she achieves nothing and the men around her have to save her mission at every turn). The film plods on forever with a second and third act that left me squirming in my seat and desperate to leave and finally ends anti-climatically and predictably. It didn't surprise me when Guillermo del Toro came out afterwards (this was an industry screening) and talked for 2 hours about his masterpiece and how profound it was, and how he dreamt it up as a child, because every boy without a girlfriend wants to imagine that even if he as an ugly amphibious monster, he could still score sex with a willing female with a size zero figure. Whatever!! It felt like sexist tripe from a self-indulgent man with no clue about women.
One of the worst films I have ever seen, made so much worse by how much it takes itself seriously. Classic Emperor's New Clothes situation here.… Expand

24 of 40 users found this helpful2416

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1

nj06Dec 23, 2017

DO NOT BE FOOLED. This is a dreadful movie, that you will regret wasting your time on (as I am regretting it right now). I loved "Pan's Labyrinth" and I can not believe that the same person directed this delusional self-congratulatoryDO NOT BE FOOLED. This is a dreadful movie, that you will regret wasting your time on (as I am regretting it right now). I loved "Pan's Labyrinth" and I can not believe that the same person directed this delusional self-congratulatory unwatchable mess. In addition to being somehow both irritatingly stupid and seriously boring at same time, other problems with this movie are..., never mind, stupid and boring is enough to describe it, so I will leave it at that.… Expand

25 of 44 users found this helpful2519

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1

marco34laDec 16, 2017

This movie was awful. How much did the studios pay the critics on this one. It's an absolute ridiculous BORE. 3 people walked out and i soon followed.

22 of 57 users found this helpful2235

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2

robtoMar 12, 2018

This is pretty much every creature movie ever. Misunderstood creature with magical healing powers befriended by a powerless woman who tries to help him escape - has been done much better in Frankenstein, King Kong, ET, etc. In case you didn'tThis is pretty much every creature movie ever. Misunderstood creature with magical healing powers befriended by a powerless woman who tries to help him escape - has been done much better in Frankenstein, King Kong, ET, etc. In case you didn't get the point, let's make the powerless woman mute and throw in some other powerless outcasts: a gay man (this is the 1960's) and an African-American woman. A cartoonishly bad bad guy - haven't we gotten tired of the evil scientist cliche? - some cartoonish Russians, complete with bungled silly passwords ("The eagle takes the pigeon for its prey"), and a creature that looks like a guy in a rubber mask. Lord of the Rings had plenty of guys in rubber masks, but they had actors that could turn them into believably alien creatures. Here it just looks like a guy in a rubber mask. And don't get me started on all the plot absurdities (cleaning women allowed free run of a room with a secret and dangerous creature, for example). With all the hype and awards, I expected much, much more.… Expand

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

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0

budokaiMar 26, 2018

Aside from looking good, this movie feels incomplete, the narratives feel forced and the characters are underdeveloped. So here we are again, yet ANOTHER high profile movie that wants to beat us over the head with self-righteous platitudesAside from looking good, this movie feels incomplete, the narratives feel forced and the characters are underdeveloped. So here we are again, yet ANOTHER high profile movie that wants to beat us over the head with self-righteous platitudes about how white men are responsible for all evils. I mean, was there ANY other morale to be taken away from this story? It's a sad, sad day when a great, original filmmaker like GUILLERMO DEL TORO succumbs the current day groupthink that has contaminated and ruined so many movies that have had such great potential. Instead, we get this regurgitation of pop culture, progressive rhetoric designed to brainwash the masses against actually forming opinions based on empirical evidence and independent thought.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

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0

FranKenweenieMay 29, 2018

okay first of all i give the point for the visual effect but how the f... you made fast paced movie and boring at same time, the nude scenes was cringey the main character not just mute she is also stupid this is not just "fantasy" its alsookay first of all i give the point for the visual effect but how the f... you made fast paced movie and boring at same time, the nude scenes was cringey the main character not just mute she is also stupid this is not just "fantasy" its also beyond unrealistic… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

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1

ElthorNov 4, 2018

This movie is seriously overrated.
There is no denying the striking visuals. From dingy apartments to dream-like underwater scenes, the cinematography is beautiful. That gets the movie a 1.
Unfortunately, the plot is thin as water and theThis movie is seriously overrated.
There is no denying the striking visuals. From dingy apartments to dream-like underwater scenes, the cinematography is beautiful. That gets the movie a 1.

Unfortunately, the plot is thin as water and the pace is leaden. The length of the film is twice as long as this short story full of caricatures requires.

The movie's biggest flaw is that we are supposed to feel something for the fishman because he is 'intelligent'. Instead he is portrayed as feral with a smaller vocabulary than Koko the gorilla or your family dog... neither one of which should you want to see anyone have sex with.

The romance is imaginary and one sided. Towards the end we see Elisa pour her heart out to fishman who doesn't stop eating to even pay attention.

This movie is for really lonely women who may find it moving. I found it as romantic as a woman with box of frozen fishsticks and want my two hours back.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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2

travis_flFeb 22, 2018

Damaged heroes, cartoon villains: derivative and cliched at every level. Dead last on my Oscar list.

11 of 13 users found this helpful112

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3

GittoploFeb 7, 2018

Poor script, rubbish plot bad actors and poor acting. Boring, lacklustre, insipid and on and on. I am surprised Mark Kermode liked it. In the same category as Get Out - absolute modern day rubbish.

For true cinema lovers, I stronglyPoor script, rubbish plot bad actors and poor acting. Boring, lacklustre, insipid and on and on. I am surprised Mark Kermode liked it. In the same category as Get Out - absolute modern day rubbish.

For true cinema lovers, I strongly recommend the following hidden gem: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055844/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Watch and compare. Taste the difference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf5HA6GIJQI… Expand

10 of 13 users found this helpful103

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0

IVMFeb 19, 2018

It was horrible.
A total waste of money and time.
I hated it. It was a struggle to finish watching that awful movie. Seriously, I am not a troll. I never write reviews. But this one was so awful that I had to do it..

12 of 16 users found this helpful124

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3

AkumaJackFeb 14, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Elisa have sex with a fish.
She has sex with a fish. That's disgusting. That overshadows everything else. Disgusting and gross.… Expand

8 of 11 users found this helpful83

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0

pdw123Feb 7, 2018

Biggest disappointment of the oscar season, by far! Del Toro is truly becoming lamestream/mainstream like other directors have o'er the years, take the money and run.
Doug Jones just playing the same typecasted character and one of the worstBiggest disappointment of the oscar season, by far! Del Toro is truly becoming lamestream/mainstream like other directors have o'er the years, take the money and run.
Doug Jones just playing the same typecasted character and one of the worst Michael Shannon films to date. Too bad, since Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth had plots and storylines that were original, and used WWII historical references that were involving and meaningful. These cold war references weren't even utilized well, although it is a style vs. substance film that critics often fawn over, or are obviously being bribed for. And, for icing on this crap cake (have to call a spade a spade here and just like I see it and have seen the film), Richard Jenkins---another incredible actor--delivers one of the worst lines I've ever heard. "I wish I would've f###ked more in my earlier life." Oh please, in America, the land of sexual harassment and Tronald Dump we don't need that also. Another flippant sexual reference in a film about love and depth that really wasn't that at all, enough!! "I Tonya" and "3 billboards..." made their grades and thensome, but this film overhyped as hell....… Expand

12 of 17 users found this helpful125

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1

iseenthefutureJan 27, 2018

This movie was awful. How much did the studios pay the critics on this one. It's an absolute ridiculous BORE. 3 people walked out and i soon followed.

13 of 19 users found this helpful136

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1

Ave8Feb 22, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was bored out of my mind, unimpressed by lackluster visuals and incredibly repetitive scenes. But most of all I felt no "magic" at all, which was supposed to be the whole point of the movie. The gigantic plot holes (how can a cleaning lady access the most prized asset of a top secret facility at will, by just opening the door?), the cliché characters (the bad general, the helping friend, ...), and the overall uninteresting story made sure that any ounce of poetry was nipped in the bud as soon as it peeked.
How this movie gathered more awards than the master piece that was Dunkirk is beyond me. Surely the professional critics know something I don't. Or do they? Maybe they just have a tendency to get overly excited as soon as anything original pops up, because they're so tired (aren't we all) of seeing the same things over and over again.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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0

MikefromAngusMar 19, 2018

What an awful movie! Predictable, boring, with unrealistic under developed characters.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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3

cjhjFeb 27, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't usually write movie reviews, but I was 'inspired' to do so because of how disappointed I was by this movie. It's not that it's bad -- it's OK, in my opinion -- but for the life of me, I cannot understand why it was nominated for a best picture Oscar (which was the whole reason I saw it in the first place -- damn you, Oscars!).

I'm not really familiar with the director's other films, but based on what I read about them, I was expecting something dark, quirky and mysterious. For me, this movie was none of those things. It was bland and predictable (overall). I mean, there were some nice moments (yeah, I laughed at a few of those jokes and felt sorry for the water-man) and some solid 'mise-en-scène' elements (as we used to say in film class). But I found the story to be somewhat simplistic and childlike, which -- in my opinion -- lead directly to the entirely predictable and 'perfect' ending. (Or perhaps the director was going for a childlike fairy-tale type story? Possible, but there's a lot of 'reality' in there too [i.e., graphic sex & violence], so difficult to make that case). Also -- as some other viewers may have noticed -- the tone of the movie seems off in some parts. Like the people in the audience cracked up sometimes when it seemed to be a serious moment, which was confusing. (I should also add that I laughed out loud on three separate occasions during the movie, while some in the audience did so about 10 more times than that, further adding to my confusion.) To be honest, the story seemed to drag through much of the film. Like, it was interesting and I didn't mind watching it (although I did check my watch a couple times), but I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat or running as fast as I could back from the bathroom, if you know what I mean. Which brings me back to the beginning of this. Why is this movie being touted as the front runner for the best picture Oscar?! Mysterious indeed. I mean I could see this coming on TV in a few years and someone thinking, 'Wow, weird flick about a woman falling in love with a fish-man, but I've got some other things to do' -- CLICK. I've seen Lady Bird, Phantom Thread, The Florida Project and Darkest Hour recently, and I can understand why they've been nominated for various awards, but I'm having some trouble wrapping my head around this one ... oh well, I guess differences of opinion make the world go round.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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3

RealMuthaFMar 11, 2018

To be honest, the whole premise of a love story between a woman and some weird merman seemed unattractive to me to begin with, but the Oscars did their advertising job in the end. And my intuition did not fail, Shape of Water is boring,To be honest, the whole premise of a love story between a woman and some weird merman seemed unattractive to me to begin with, but the Oscars did their advertising job in the end. And my intuition did not fail, Shape of Water is boring, weird, and overly-sweet all at the same time.

To start with the good things - visually it's well-filmed and the 60's are stylishly presented. It's nothing ground-breaking, but overall solid. The second good aspect are the actors, everyone plays their roles convincingly. I would point out Michael Shannon in particular, he proved that he can be a great antagonist before, and he's done it again, I was actually rooting for his character throughout.

However, the story is a dull bizarre mess. To begin with, it is overwhelmingly unoriginal - the sheepish sugar-sweet lonely protagonist, the captive creature that is tortured instead of being communicated with, the army man antagonist. The movie is just a drag, and everything is as predictable as it can be.

Now I can buy the ancient overused trope about the protagonist empathizing to some captive intelligent creature, but explicitly having sex with it? And yeah, there's actually plenty of unnecessary nudity (Shannon shags his wife. Ok.) and allusions to the creature's penis. Well, whatever gets you that Oscar, I guess. I mean I'm no prune, but in my opinion nudity is justified when it helps to convey some point and flesh out the story. But this, this just looks like Del Toro's sick creepy sexual fantasies brought to life. Sorry, but my suspension of disbelief just doesn't cover the "woman gets turned on by slippery scaly aquatic monster" thing. What's your next move, Del Toro, a movie about furries?

To add to that, there's an absolutely redundant meaningless side plot about a gay old man failing to hook up with another guy, and couple of scenes dedicated to showing that Shannon's character has a sexual fetish for silence. That's when you thought this movie couldn' get any more creepy.

And since we're at it, I would really question how realistic it is that some random cleaners are allowed access to classified assets in a top-secret research facility. There's also an uncomfortably stereotypical black woman who overcompensates for the muteness of the main character, never managing to finally shut the hell up. Also at one point the movie has a musical number in it, like in some Disney flick. That was also the moment when my facepalm intensity peaked. Yeah, and isn't this merman's design very reminiscent of some sidekick of Hellboy in Del Toro's own movie? Pathetic.

So, as they say, best movie my ass. I've recently also watched "Three Billboards...", and it's miles ahead than this trash.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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1

RickBellMar 27, 2018

So creepy and weird. Very contrived and unrealistic in so many ways, even if you try your best to suspend your disbelief. Gratuitous unnecessary nudity that is off-putting. Hard to believe that this movie won an Oscar.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

JudMar 23, 2018

This movie has a magical opening that made me want to believe in it so much but then it constantly assaults us with ridiculous plot twists and characterizations that I just couldn't relate to or believe, mo matter how much I wanted to. ThisThis movie has a magical opening that made me want to believe in it so much but then it constantly assaults us with ridiculous plot twists and characterizations that I just couldn't relate to or believe, mo matter how much I wanted to. This is not a Best Picture, not even close. No wonder more and more people are panning the Academy Awards each year.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

ajukeoJan 31, 2018

As a massive fan of Guillermo Del Toro, I was eagerly looking forward to seeing another of his magical yet unusual creations with great characters and compelling story but that was not what I found.

From the unnecessary opening to theAs a massive fan of Guillermo Del Toro, I was eagerly looking forward to seeing another of his magical yet unusual creations with great characters and compelling story but that was not what I found.

From the unnecessary opening to the bizarre and out of place scenes, this movie felt like Del Toro just went with every first idea that came to his head and didn't think of where it would lead. Each scene was disjointed and the characters were not compelling in the slightest, I have never left the cinema so speechless in trying to describe what I had just witnessed.… Expand

13 of 20 users found this helpful137

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1

sightseeJan 25, 2018

What a mess--slow moving, poor dialogue, dreadful editing. The story has been told before and trying to cobble together 60's America, dancing with the Beast, racism, love, hackneyed politics (Russians so stereotypical it's laughable),What a mess--slow moving, poor dialogue, dreadful editing. The story has been told before and trying to cobble together 60's America, dancing with the Beast, racism, love, hackneyed politics (Russians so stereotypical it's laughable), etc.,etc. into one movie just doesnt work. Jenkins, a marvelous actor, says his lines without being there. The villian is at least a villian. The mute, well, gee, she doesnt talk. That leaves little else and the 60's aura and cool special effects don't save this rambling mess.… Expand

11 of 17 users found this helpful116

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0

locusmaximusFeb 21, 2018

I am not mute like the main character, but after watching this film a few minutes, I wished I would be blind and deaf. The main protagonist works as a cleaner and her daily schedule is to eat something, then masturbate in the bathtube. AfterI am not mute like the main character, but after watching this film a few minutes, I wished I would be blind and deaf. The main protagonist works as a cleaner and her daily schedule is to eat something, then masturbate in the bathtube. After that she is going to work. There is a non specified fishman, both fall in "love" with each other. In her own words: "because he is like me". Yeah, handicapped and mentally retarded. That is the true definition of love in this movie. I give him eggs and later I spread my legs. So instead of masturbating, she uses her fishman as a lover. They don't have any topics to talk about, since they can't talk. lol. So there is not a big deal of a consitent story here. The fishman eats the head of the cat of the gay "friend" of the mute retard,but he quotes: "Well, he is like he is. It's not his fault." Cool comment, bra! This film is just rubbish, don't waste your time and money on this pervert, mad film. You'll find a lot of good movies about love......elsewhere… Expand

7 of 11 users found this helpful74

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0

LudwigvanFeb 4, 2018

liberal garbage. The cast is a Democratic party coalition-of-the-fringes against a generic evil white man. Generic evil white man prevents alien "other" from screwing a white woman. Democratic party coalition-of-the-fringes gangs up on evilliberal garbage. The cast is a Democratic party coalition-of-the-fringes against a generic evil white man. Generic evil white man prevents alien "other" from screwing a white woman. Democratic party coalition-of-the-fringes gangs up on evil white man to save the day for miscegenation. That is literally what this movie is about, pure political propaganda.… Expand

8 of 13 users found this helpful85

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0

jonnajonnaFeb 22, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It would have been a pretty good movie if it didn't have any of the following.
- Showing the naked body in a bath scene is always unnecessary. We all have an imagination and I would rather use mine. -I don't think it's at all interesting or necessary to show someone masturbating. If they had left that out, the whole love scene with the creature would have been less gross and disgusting. And more innocent and beautiful. This backfired of them. - The animal cruelty. I cannot believe that they got away with having the creature eat the cat. And that they showed the cat's half eaten body. This was just wrong. Why couldn't they have stopped the creature before the cat got attacked?? Once again cruelty and images that were simply UNNECESSARY. - The way the sex scene with the security guy and his wife was filmed was also just really pointless. They couldn't have been under the blanket? Come on!

It's always sad to see how all of the things that made the movie rated R, also ruined the whole experience. Because of the things I mentioned above, the movie lost its beauty. Nothing was even as funny as it could have been. I was just waiting for the movie to be over so I could find out how it ends. But it was NOT worth it.… Expand

6 of 10 users found this helpful64

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1

zerosubstanceFeb 26, 2018

I experienced this film as a tedious, plodding, infuriating endurance course of "lush visuals" and precious whimsy. The critics suckered me into seeing "Pan's Labyrinth," and as with that movie, "The Shape of Water" is blunt in its insistenceI experienced this film as a tedious, plodding, infuriating endurance course of "lush visuals" and precious whimsy. The critics suckered me into seeing "Pan's Labyrinth," and as with that movie, "The Shape of Water" is blunt in its insistence that tinkly fantasy interspersed with jarring scenes of gore is refreshing and significant.

No spoilers here, but it wouldn't matter; there are no surprises. I won't fault a film for lack of originality if it's otherwise rewarding to watch. This was not. By the predictable end, contrivances and pacing had worn away whatever sympathy I'd felt obliged as an audience member to try to feel for the characters.

I made the mistake of reading reviews, hoping to find some insight into why movies like these are so celebrated critically. But professional critics, in real publications, seem unable to write positively of these sorts of movies in anything other than a prose matching the grandeur of the "lush visuals" therein. It's as though a sea creature's spiny appendage pierced through their skulls and deposited a sense not only of the film's significance, but of their own.

I'd give it a zero, but some acknowledgement will go to the effort put into the stagnant, boring visual compositions that critics love (and which I don't care about, but take skill to achieve, I would assume), and to the actors for keeping a straight face.… Expand

6 of 10 users found this helpful64

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0

DancukaApr 28, 2018

The worst movie I have seen in years. Incredibly predictable, boring and filled with plotholes. Shallow characters and rushed pacing with cringy dialogue. Did not care about the fish-dude at all. I felt like they didn't even try to make itThe worst movie I have seen in years. Incredibly predictable, boring and filled with plotholes. Shallow characters and rushed pacing with cringy dialogue. Did not care about the fish-dude at all. I felt like they didn't even try to make it relatable in any way. There was nothing even shown from his perspective. The movie is also extremely saturated with political and liberal propaganda in the most blatant way possible. Its not even trying to be subtle or clever about it. Its like they had a checklist while writing the script. "First of all, lets bash Christian values every chance we get. Lets make the "villains" quote the Bible cus that's edgy right? Also lets clearly show that bible-movies suck with empty theaters showing them.. (whut why?) Moving on: Lets have the girl masturbate a couple of time on screen cus its also super edgy. Make sure the nipples are on screen: Check. We need some unnecessary sex scenes ofc here and there: Check. Oh, we can not forget the obligatory gay-character with a tragic story: check. While at it, lets have some racial themes mixed in too. Make sure we have the stereotypical sassy black-woman act going on. And finally to top it off, we need to have FISHSEX. Oh yeah baby, they are gonna love it. Bestiality, hell yeah right? They are gonna eat it up and win us the Oscar." I want my 2 hours back please. I don't even care that much about the propaganda, but this movie just sucked so hard I cant believe I watched it all the way till the end. And nudity? Sure whatever, if it fits with the context no problem. Might even make the movie better. Here it's totally unnecessary and just feels weird. I have lost all respect for Del Toro with this crap. He is the most overrated director of our time. This movie should have bombed so hard. Can't believe how brainwashed critics are these days.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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3

LaineyFeb 28, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is a beautiful paradox --- a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I adore Guillermo del Toro's work, but it appears in this case as he is writer/story creator/director, that his angers have melted his own fabric.

Parts of this movie are really mind-blowingly beautiful ---

The intro (wow what imagery!!!) whether-or-not you think it works, the lady's complexity, her buddy, and the monster's skin and movements ( and breathing in that suit... which doesn't look like a suit to me ), the art throughout the movie in drawings // cinematography // set dressing ... leaves me breathless, the acting and care to echo the look of the original monster... Or to be more exact: Doug Jones acting as the monster, Sally Hawkins soulful mute, Octavia Spencer's perfectly timed humor, Michael Stuhlbarg's subtle inner conflictions ... Richard Jenkins, well, I just love watching his acting ....

.. the love. Two people - beings - getting together because they get each other.

BUT : and it's a big but :

[ spoiler alert ]

Del Toro writes-in such a livid attack on America ( the US ) and the American Military, along with questionable points of view -- RE: the sex scenes on mental desire for rape (and actual minutes of burning film with its play-reenactment), and through-out the film specifically outlining the American military and all white Americans as cruel, unjust, and selfish, to the tenth power/squared/cubed... !!!!!!

Yes - there was sexism, racism, and a whole bunch of bad stuff ( mafia... ) - there still is in this world.

Google "racism in Mexico". Try "white Irish treated as apes in America 1800s".

Even Malcolm X noted racism is the black-white issue in the US - but religion was the culprit of overseas (reference Alex Haley's "Malcolm X").

But it was highlighted as the *only* way of life for these 2-3 people - it was the gay man, the mute girl, and the black community, against the selfish white American Military and ignorant white American store keeper.

This is a fable, "the creature from the black lagoon" -- not : the creature vs selfish white United States.

It just slowly twists and twists that point --- and leaves me with a what-the-heck-is-this-film-about bad taste after viewing.

So gorgeous -- and so .... eeeech ....

Ummmm.... what does that have to do with the creature from the lagoon?

And okay -- you want to deal with the racism at the time -- show it in all its colors (pun intended) : the Irish being treated as apes and not given jobs, the "whites" who did stand up for equality and weren't gay or mute, the Military people that fought for our country to be what it is: free, so we can then duke out the further freedoms of the present day for women's rights, men's rights, animal/land/building rights and you name it....

HE is allowed to do films here -- because it's America !!!

Del Toro has a lot of anger spatting out in this film, in one sided ways.

I wish there were ways to click and say "here here!!" to Rex Reed's review... I saw the movie and a dear friend and I can totally understand what he is talking about. Unfortunately he might be so overwhelmed with its problems (been there myself if that is the case) that some points which make this movie a miss are not noted as well as some points which make it a win, perhaps under Reed's shock and questioning of how so many adore.

I can see why people love this -- what a gorgeous film... What a beautiful joining and complexity of mutual love.

But a political hatred spews forth.. the wolf in sheep's clothing, melting a gem.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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3

yosemiteJan 2, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film is the standard bearer for inaccurate movie reviews. The artsy crafty Harvard Square crowd rate it 80-85 or 90 approval rating. Its the type of film making they dissected in college. As for the real world, it sucks ! Let me make a profitable movie. I'll start with a plain looking mute who supports herself scrubbing floors. Although she frequently masterbates, she has a heart of gold. She feels badly for a Black Lagoon look a like who is being held captive by the U.S. military. She arranges for the creature to escape. I could go on but its rubbish. If you want to drop $8-12 dollars and pretend you are an intellectual, go for it . Another choice is take that $$$ , but yourself a sub sandwich and watch the Breaking Bad marathon on AMC… Expand

12 of 21 users found this helpful129

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0

JPTJan 28, 2018

If you would like to see a soft porn musical, with a touch bestiality, this movie is for you! Whatever drugs the creator /script writer/director/producers etc. took before taking on this project, I want some!

10 of 18 users found this helpful108

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yatesyMar 4, 2018

The only film that I've paid to watch where I walked out halfway through to my dismay. After hearing The Shape of Water won Best Picture at the Oscars I felt compelled to leave a short review about this "film". I like Del Toro's work, butThe only film that I've paid to watch where I walked out halfway through to my dismay. After hearing The Shape of Water won Best Picture at the Oscars I felt compelled to leave a short review about this "film". I like Del Toro's work, but words can't do justice just how awful this film was. Truly in every sense of the word the plot is bizarre and not in a good why like 'Pans Labyrinth' it was BAD, BAD, BAD! Troll 2 was a better piece of film making - I'm not even joking. Avoid at all costs.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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3

AxeTJan 12, 2018

All of the season's fare is sickeningly over-rated by the critics herd to a level that's become ridiculous, and somehow this is even worse than expected and maybe less deserving than the rest in that absurd over-praise. There's no setup,All of the season's fare is sickeningly over-rated by the critics herd to a level that's become ridiculous, and somehow this is even worse than expected and maybe less deserving than the rest in that absurd over-praise. There's no setup, tone is wrong, music is wrong (that it's won some awards is just further proof) and most annoyingly the understood to be silly story is simply a strange foreign nerd's contrived excuse for childishly overt social sentiments instead of an actual thoughtful movie, and let me just say: I myself am a romantic and longtime monster movie fan!… Expand

12 of 22 users found this helpful1210

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0

DOUGKJan 30, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is one of the worst movies ever. I hate to agree with Rex Reed but this is a ridiculous story from start to finish. Everything about it -- the monster, the evil villain, all of the good people, the Russians, the situation, the plot -- ridiculous in the extreme. I am not pro military but when you make military people arbitrarily evil for no possible reason, you go beyond all rational and believable positions. The monster looks like he was designed by a 5 year old. The fact that this film is winning many awards shows that we have fallen into cultural decay. Lady Bird was horrible, this was worse.… Expand

7 of 13 users found this helpful76

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2

candycamalDec 30, 2017

Visuals are evocative & nicely moody - settled in thinking I'd love this movie, but ugh... was primarily shameless emotional manipulation. I liked Sally Hawkins, no complaint there, but nothing was subtle or interesting - flat - everyVisuals are evocative & nicely moody - settled in thinking I'd love this movie, but ugh... was primarily shameless emotional manipulation. I liked Sally Hawkins, no complaint there, but nothing was subtle or interesting - flat - every character: 'Good' / 'Bad'. As Rex Reed noted - villains were straight from central casting. Octavia Spencer: convenient 'prop'; someone had to translate mute woman's sign language. Magical realism: kinda, but not quite. Gratuitous female masterbation scenes. Sledge hammer subtlety illustrating sad, sympathetic, sweet, old, insecure gay man encountering a young, ugly, ignorant homophobe. And romance where a big, very manly monster from the deep and sweet, silent, delicate & damaged little woman find each other - ah geez - it was all just too painfully predictable. Then... to end with a classic chase scene & shoot out. Nope. Didn't much care for this movie.… Expand

8 of 15 users found this helpful87

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0

UlldieMar 7, 2018

Worse film I have ever went.
I must say the actors were ok. Image was ok...
But the story was so flat... Also the rasism problem, homosexual and a sex with fish?! Srsly.... I thought it is a fantasy movie not a propaganda story... Sorry notWorse film I have ever went.
I must say the actors were ok. Image was ok...
But the story was so flat...
Also the rasism problem, homosexual and a sex with fish?! Srsly....
I thought it is a fantasy movie not a propaganda story...
Sorry not for my. Waste of time and money.… Expand

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

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3

ryecaMar 11, 2018

Not very good. Cliche story, boring, one-dimensional characters, cartoonish acting. Also, aren't we past the whole steam-punk, Bioshock aesthetic yet? Here is every Guillermo Del Toro movie that gets acclaim: Female protagonist faces typicalNot very good. Cliche story, boring, one-dimensional characters, cartoonish acting. Also, aren't we past the whole steam-punk, Bioshock aesthetic yet? Here is every Guillermo Del Toro movie that gets acclaim: Female protagonist faces typical evil in a fantasy world punctuated by moments of gore. Also, the attempts at humor are lame.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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1

donatellaguyMar 11, 2018

A woman falls in love with a monster. This is not romantic at all I don't know what is wrong with people... Heterosexuals are like "Oh two guys in love it's immoral" and they did this weird human - monster sex movie. Oh and just because theA woman falls in love with a monster. This is not romantic at all I don't know what is wrong with people... Heterosexuals are like "Oh two guys in love it's immoral" and they did this weird human - monster sex movie. Oh and just because the woman is disabled it doesn't make the movie unique and totally unnecessary themes in it like Russians, communism etc.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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1

MoeLesterJrApr 17, 2018

Total garbage! I gave it 1 because of the masturbation scenes. I'm sorry Mr Del Toro , this movie sucks!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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0

Wayfarer86Jul 1, 2020

This really is total leftist SJW tripe. The entire movie is about how a straight white patriarchal male is essentially evil. Thats about the jist of it. Interspecie wierd fish sex totally on the menu though.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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0

Idiota150Mar 3, 2018

Silly story about sex-deprived mute woman who can only be pleasured by a fish. Not fun, just sick.

5 of 11 users found this helpful56

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0

thotJan 12, 2018

My dearest and most loveliest of **** I watched this movie under the guise that I, personally, would witness actual human-on-fish person sex. I am disappointed to report that not such thing happened. Sure, they had sex. Sure, the leadingMy dearest and most loveliest of **** I watched this movie under the guise that I, personally, would witness actual human-on-fish person sex. I am disappointed to report that not such thing happened. Sure, they had sex. Sure, the leading protagonist was naked. But did we ever see the Fishs Dick? Nope! We saw that horrible government dude raw his wife, but we didnt get to see Elisa get dicked down by a fish? Despicable! The only thing, in my ope-pinion, that was worse than the lies, was the poor cats death. I expected more from a supposed 'R' movie. Del Toro Resign ****… Expand

8 of 19 users found this helpful811

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0

jenhadFeb 7, 2018

Worse move I have ever seen, and that is saying a lot. I'm very upset that I wasted my time and money on this trash. I guess you would like it if you are into fish/human love stories. that sing and dance scene was hilarious.

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

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0

PoldekFeb 21, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The climate of the film is interesting, but the message is empty, and the sex scene with the lizard is already some kind of cretinism. Certainly crazy feminists had to be charmed. Once they applauded when a white woman gave herself to a Negro or gay love. Today they excite when a woman has sex with an alien. Then all the senses tremble. I'm sorry, this is not a movie for healthy people on the mind.… Expand

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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0

SambadJan 24, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pure propaganda can never be considered art. And it's very difficult to discern this from anything else. The 'characters' are one dimensional at best, and the supposed theme of the film takes a complete backseat to the neo-liberal propaganda the film crams into it's 2 hour running time with all the subtlety of a dead seal in a maternity ward.
Suspicion sets in just at looking at the glut of sycophantic and gushing reviews from once respected publications like The Guardian, who now seem to specialise in pro-war, anti-family radical feminist indoctrination. This one could forgive, if the film was even remotely competent or well made, which it isn't. Guillermo Del Toro is a hugely overrated director anyway, Pan's Labyrinth seeming to be a one-off fluke of a good film. But this execrable and charmless mess is his lowest moment.
Let's take the characters. The 'star' is a deaf woman (played with twee sanctimonious abandon by Sally Hawkins) who cleans a government facility with a black woman (played likeably by Octavia Spencer) who's near every line is about how her no-good husband is bone idle and she has to do everything. These are the first hints of propaganda. Every white man in this film is depicted negatively, except for two, the reasons for these being, one is homosexual, and the other is Russian, but going against his Soviet paymasters. Before going any further, assurances need to be made to the reader that this review is not written by a Trump supporter or alt right activist. But neither is it written by a neo-liberal Soros supporter and thought police advocater. Both the Republican and Democrat party are rotten to the core, but the mainstream media bias and trumpeting of a completely fabricated Russiagate narrative, as well as pro-regime change and deceptively divisive identity politics, make propaganda films like this so difficult to digest. The sympathetic Russian of course dies, he is Russian after all. I'm not 'spoilering' here, everything that happens in this film is as derivative and predictable as the latest known wolf 'Islamist' false flag attack. The biggest bile however is reserved for a character played by the usually good actor Michael Shannon. He is here just a walking epitome of evil, white, straight, 'toxic' family man (by the way, aren't phrases like 'toxic masculinity', and 'smash the patriarchy' genuine hate speech? Are women beyond 'toxicity'? If so, why are 50% of cases of child abuse perpetrated by women? And how come sociopathic mass murderers like Hillary Clinton are held up as virtuous paragons?). With every scene, this guy somehow gets more and more evil, making Skeletor seem more nuanced and subtle. He has a phallic baton he carries around. He doesn't listen to his wonderful wife and covers her mouth when they have sex. Every other line he drops a new racist bombshell, including 'you people' (this script, such originality, such bravery!). I can't begin to think about covering the whole of this embodiment of white male wickedness here, as like the rest of the film, it's relentless. Oh yeah, he believes in God too, so of course this is retrograde and unacceptable, especially to people who believe in nothing deeper than the identity politics that Buzzfeed (a fake alternative news site owned by NBC) tells them to base their lives on. Possibly the most unintentionally hilarious part of the film occurs when the gay character played by Richard Jenkins, comes on to an 'up till now' friendly barman, who suddenly recoils and then goes over and tells a black couple walking into the diner that their kind isn't welcome. Complete character shift due to not wanting to accept advances from an old man. It's hard to imagine actual adults came up with any of this stuff, one imagines it was more likely written by coked up blue haired middle class teenagers who scream 'misogynist' at anyone who uses the term 'he'.
I haven't even touched on the 'story' of a captured amphibian man that the deaf character falls in love with, but this is because it counts for around 7 minutes of the film. Watch Creature From the Black Lagoon instead, who's monster suit this film rips off, badly. The dozens of moronic critics who gave this film 100% have described it as strange (it is if your sole diet of media and literature consists of Simon Cowell and JK Rowling) and warm. This film has no warmth, heart or soul, because the characters are cardboard stereotypes, and the most innovative idea is that everything is 'green' (which actually makes the film look as revolting as it feels). Some films contain elements of state propaganda, or advertising, and can still be deemed with artistic merit. But this is just one long, tedious exercise in social engineering. Shame on everyone involved. You want actual 'social justice'? Watch the badly rated Pirates of Somalia instead. You want anti-Trumpism even? Watch Machete. This puddle of vomit doesn't even make for good hate-watching.… Expand

6 of 17 users found this helpful611

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0

WildsongMar 24, 2018

Can't Believe The Greatest Showman Lost to "Splash" feat. ABE SAPIEN... Seriouly the whole movies I had that feeling of Deja Vu. and the Main Character is Dumb as hell. I like Guillermo del Toro movies but this one is not original at all. AndCan't Believe The Greatest Showman Lost to "Splash" feat. ABE SAPIEN... Seriouly the whole movies I had that feeling of Deja Vu. and the Main Character is Dumb as hell. I like Guillermo del Toro movies but this one is not original at all. And don't deserve the biggest prize.… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

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0

sparkymarkyMar 11, 2018

this is possibly the worst movie ever to win best picture oscar. its a a grace to all the wonderful films that are worthy in the oscars pantheon - dont bother its a b movie at best

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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0

tmosley001Dec 27, 2017

This movie is mind control/ on a level humans are unable to Grasp I guess/ since it is all about insulting anyone and everyone without anyone objecting/ It is about programming you to except things you would never except, so you know it isThis movie is mind control/ on a level humans are unable to Grasp I guess/ since it is all about insulting anyone and everyone without anyone objecting/ It is about programming you to except things you would never except, so you know it is about Mind Control/ Means your Carnal mind has lost its ability to discern what is going on.
You are being told what to think/ This is a very sick movie.… Expand

10 of 33 users found this helpful1023

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2

qamasterMar 9, 2018

a good, finely felt drama. deeply thought out and interesting characters. But for some reason every minute of watching this movie becomes all the more dreary and gradually there is such a thought - when this tediousness finally ends?

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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0

BroyaxJun 19, 2021

C’est une gentille bécasse muette (et accessoirement une femme de ménage dans une base de recherches spatiales) qui tombe amoureuse d’un poisson… et ils eurent beaucoup d’enfants sauf que c’était des thons ! mais avant cela, un méchant hommeC’est une gentille bécasse muette (et accessoirement une femme de ménage dans une base de recherches spatiales) qui tombe amoureuse d’un poisson… et ils eurent beaucoup d’enfants sauf que c’était des thons ! mais avant cela, un méchant homme très méchant veut disséquer le poisson pour voir ce qu’il y a dedans parce que le poisson peut marcher er respirer aussi de l’air…!

Et ce sera vachement utile pour aller dans l’espace… oui, un poisson pour aller dans l’espace ! mais personne n’a dit aux scénaristes alcooliques qu’il n’y a pas d’eau dans l’espace… En tous les cas, on dirait un film Disniais bien niais qui dégouline de guimauve à deux dollars et de « vivre_ensemble » progressiste à deux centimes.

Ce machin a une mise en scène à deux de tension et s’avère aussi palpitant qu’un épisode de Derrick, l’inspecteur aux yeux globuleux de poisson. Soit dit en passant, l’actrice anglaise Sally Jenkins n’est pas très jolie mais montre son cul quand même. Et c’est pas terrible.

En dehors de ça, sous ses allures « poétiques » niaiseuses, ce film est non seulement très bête, très neuneu mais également d’un ennui abyssal à dormir debout sous l’eau tout en chiant des briques : il coule à pic comme une grosse enclume de merde, point barre.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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1

SpongyTwinkiesApr 27, 2018

Great. Another anti-American movie that bashes us over the head. The themes aren't even trying to be subtle. Too bad, because there's some decent production and acting in here. And the love story could be okay but this movie tries too hard toGreat. Another anti-American movie that bashes us over the head. The themes aren't even trying to be subtle. Too bad, because there's some decent production and acting in here. And the love story could be okay but this movie tries too hard to be a propaganda flick. Which government funded this schlock?… Expand