Bryce Dallas Howard Movie:

		List Price: $30.98		Label: Warner Bros. Pictures Salesrank: 4596 Released: December 19, 2006
		Our Price: $1.99
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		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: HD DVD

Editorial Review:
Warner Brothers Lady in the Water - HD-DVD
A story The Sixth Sense filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan told his childrenis the basis for this spellbinding plunge into the supernatural. Paul Giamatti plays an apartment manager who finds an otherworld water nymph named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) in the pool, then sets out to help her return to her home, The Blue World. Fierce Blue World monsters prowl nearby, determined to destroy Story and anyone who aids her, including the apartment dwellers who come to realizefulfill those destines forms the amazing heart ofdiscovery in Lady in the Water.

Description of Lady in the Water (Combo HD DVD and Standard HD DVD) [HD DVD]:
Or, if you prefer, I See Wet People. M. Night Shyamalan's attempt at a newfangled mythology--about a depressed apartment superintendent (Paul Giamatti) who discovers a sea-nymph (Bryce Dallas Howard) who may hold the key to humanity's hopeful future--is intriguing enough to capture the imaginations of children and adults who haven't lost sight of their innocent sense of wonder. Cynics, on the other hand, will likely scoff at Shyamalan's awkward fantasy, which includes one victim--a film critic--widely interpreted as Shyamalan's revenge against reviewers who panned The Village. Shyamalan originally improvised this melancholy fantasy as a bedtime story for his children; unfortunately, it still feels mostly half-baked and ultimately ineffective due to a number of plot holes and inconsistencies that a writer as talented as Shyamalan should've been able to avoid. For those wishing to learn more about the film's troubled history, and Shyamalan's petulant split from Disney studios, The Man Who Heard Voices: Or, How M. Night Shyamalan Risked His Career on a Fairy Tale is an interesting read. --Jeff Shannon

Lady in the Water (Combo HD DVD and Standard HD DVD) [HD DVD] Reviews:
Good Effort, But Could Have Been Better
2008-08-26 - I enjoyed Lady In The Water for what it was - a fairy tale. The directing, tone, and score were what I liked most, as usual with M. Night Shyamalan's work. I was impressed at Paul Giamatti's performance. He was funny at times, and especially moving during the climax at the end of the film. I was also impressed by Shyamalan's performance. I don't know why he was so criticized for his acting. He did fine from where I was sitting.

The main thing I would change in Lady is the way the story is told. The story itself is a little too complex, and having the Asian girl tell it in several chunks made it even harder to follow. I would have simplified the story, and would have found a way to tell it all at once. A simple change like that would have made it more concise and enjoyable to watch.

As an M. Night fan I would say that this is probably his worst movie, although still good and worth seeing or owning. Shyamalan may be the most misunderstood writer/director of the last decade. With the exception of The Sixth Sense, all his movies have opened to mixed reviews, and have been largely unappreciated.

One of my favorite movies
2008-07-28 - This is a movie that has been absolutely ripped apart by the critics, and I cannot understand why. Lady in the Water is one of my all-time favorite movies; each time I watch it I not only enjoy it but, moreover, find myself deep in thought.

This is because this film, while being supremely entertaining (the characters are eccentric often to the point of hilarity), has profound implications. At one point a character asks, "Is humanity worth saving?" Shyamalan's answer in this movie is a resounding "yes". Through the interactions of the many characters and their effort to save Story, one gets the sense of an affirmation of the value of human life and purpose. One of the major themes of the movie is that each individual-no matter how insignificant one may seem-exists for a reason, and that it is up to the individual to fulfill this purpose.

Along with the thought-provoking and, ultimately, inspiring implications, the movie is memorable for its host of characters (Paul Giamatti does a particularly outstanding job) and beautiful musical score by James Newton Howard (I also own the soundtrack). If you have not seen this movie, ignore the critics and give it a chance.

Uniquely Beautiful
2008-07-27 - Beautiful. Poetic. Humorous, and a bit scary, too (just enough - don't worry, you can watch it alone.)

UNIQUE.

50 years from now, when the rest of the idiotic movies being produced today are forgotten, M. Night Shyamalan's works are going to be hailed as inventive, creative, and classic, the way Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" is seen today.

"Lady In The Water" even pokes fun at the predictability of other films while beguiling the viewer with its own surprising twists and turns.

I thought "The Village" was wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed this film as well. It is sweet and haunting and thought-provoking. I was cautious about purchasing it due to some negative reviews... but now I intend to purchase Shyamalan's other works immediately.

It's lovely. Ignore the critics.

it's M. Night..You either like the "Twillight Zones" or NOT!
2008-07-11 - Look..I can see the crazy "Two Ends of the Spectrum" on the movie.

It's like Broccoli! You either appreciate his "nutrient-rich potent-intellectual" space he works around or you don't get it!

I have a real good attention span. I even like to watch a movie over and over till I feel I REALLY got it. What did I miss that could explain it better? How was the sound and music production. The special effects. Were they overdone? Was a scene necessary? Did I like that particular angle or shot.

If it's a silly movie like "Canonball Run" or "History of the World pt. 1" then whatever..yes, it what it is. I still watch them over and over for various reasons that I enjoy.

Most people who dig sports (and ONLY sports) are probably not going to like M. Night or anything that challenges a "slower pace"-thought provoking or social commentary arena. These people are not "Onions". They think in binary (black and white) (Winning or losing) (Pork n Beans)

Every time I see an M. Night..I don't expect "Hollywood" entertainment with explosions and action with little plot (that's for the sports fanatics)

So he is what he is. "a Current Day Twilight Zone - Rod Serling style director".

It's like seeing a "David Lynch" film. You either have the 4 dimensional mind to handle and enjoy it..or not!

And by the way..this is nowhere NEAR the worst movie ever made. You forget there are thousands of high and low budget, unknown films made over the past 30-40 years (Best Defense, Ishtar, Night at the Museum) that don't even come close. So please...spare us the immature and in experienced comments such as these.

It really just insults your own intelligence anyway.

Looks great but needs a better story
2008-06-30 - I've enjoyed most all of M Knights films, but this one was agony to get through. I don't understand how a film can look so good visually, while at the same time having some of the most muddled, off-the-wall writing. While you could sortof follow along with the story in 'The Village' and 'Unbreakable', 'Lady in the Water' just made no sense from start to finish. It looked great, and the acting was fantastic, but what on earth was going on here? Nerfs? Shaggy, fake-looking CGI dogs? Ridiculous breath-holding sequences underwater?
No. This wasn't Nights finest.