A question for anyone that saw LADY IN THE WATER

[bartleby]

When does it stop being completely insufferable?

[FredC]

About the halfway mark when the credits run.

Oh wait...

[Ryan Elliott]

What a tweest!!

[bradical]

22 days after final credits.

[Brad N.]

So.....yeah, what was the deal with that flick? someone who saw it gimme the gist with spoilers and all.

[FredC]

So.....yeah, what was the deal with that flick? someone who saw it gimme the gist with spoilers and all.

Paul Giamotti stutters his way around an apartment complex which he maintains. He soon comes upon a naked woman in the pool, who is hiding from a horrible grass-demon-dog thing that can blend in with grass.

Hijinx ensue. Then all is saved when the guy which the huge right arm hits the dog thing, I think, and then some grass-monkey-men with... wings maybe? They come down and attack the grass-demon-dogs too, and all is well. Also a film critic is killed.

[JMP]

When M. Night starts accepting outside writing help.

[Brad N.]

Paul Giamotti stutters his way around an apartment complex which he maintains. He soon comes upon a naked woman in the pool, who is hiding from a horrible grass-demon-dog thing that can blend in with grass.

Hijinx ensue. Then all is saved when the guy which the huge right arm hits the dog thing, I think, and then some grass-monkey-men with... wings maybe? They come down and attack the grass-demon-dogs too, and all is well. Also a film critic is killed.

Oh good lord am I glad I didn't give Shymalamadingdong another fucking dime of my loot. I swore I was done after hating Signs (apparently I was alone since that film made like 800 billion domestic) but somehow I managed to see The Village anyway. Ugh was that enough to make me wish death upon the hacktacular M Night.

[FredC]

Oh good lord am I glad I didn't give Shymalamadingdong another fucking dime of my loot. I swore I was done after hating Signs (apparently I was alone since that film made like 800 billion domestic) but somehow I managed to see The Village anyway. Ugh was that enough to make me wish death upon the hacktacular M Night.

I liked Signs myself, but yeah. This movie was no good.

[costello]

So.....yeah, what was the deal with that flick? someone who saw it gimme the gist with spoilers and all.

It's written exactly like a folktale. If you read any book of Irish folktales or Grimm Fairy Tales it plays out in the exact same manner. The story doesn't really unfold--it's more all right there on the surface for you to see. The twist is minimal and the characters are wooden and one dimensional. I liked it, but I was studying folktales at the time and went into the theater knowing that was exactly what it was. Expecting anything else would be extremely disappointing.

[Brad N.]

I liked Signs myself, but yeah. This movie was no good.

Yeah, my buddies all did too. My wife and I liked it up until the final half hour or so but there was enough poop there to ruin it all for me. I hated all the crap with his wife and Joaquin's backstory, but forgave all that. My biggest gripe? Let's see here, these aliens managed to master interstellar space travel and had the power to enslave the human race YET somehow chose the one planet that was made up of 70% the one thing that can kill them in water? I just thought it wasn't remotely plausible anymore as even an idiot could have worn a poncho and managed to call Phoenix a pussy then beat him to death with his own precious bat.

[Ryan Elliott]

Yeah, my buddies all did too. My wife and I liked it up until the final half hour or so but there was enough poop there to ruin it all for me. I hated all the crap with his wife and Joaquin's backstory, but forgave all that. My biggest gripe? Let's see here, these aliens managed to master interstellar space travel and had the power to enslave the human race YET somehow chose the one planet that was made up of 70% the one thing that can kill them in water? I just thought it wasn't remotely plausible anymore as even an idiot could have worn a poncho and managed to call Phoenix a pussy then beat him to death with his own precious bat.



Well, just becuase they're more advanced than us doesn't mean they're THE most advanced out there. Maybe they're the country cousins of the REALLY advanced aliens.


And, having probably NEVER been exposed to Earth water, with the theory above, it's all perfectly plausible that they wouldn't have known about their own weakness.

[Ryan Elliott]

Or, maybe they were arrogant and thought us too primitive to be able to discover their weakness.

[bartleby]

My biggest gripe? Let's see here, these aliens managed to master interstellar space travel and had the power to enslave the human race YET somehow chose the one planet that was made up of 70% the one thing that can kill them in water? I just thought it wasn't remotely plausible anymore as even an idiot could have worn a poncho and managed to call Phoenix a pussy then beat him to death with his own precious bat.


Napoleon had pretty much conquered all of Europe, but when he tried to invade Russia, his military was pretty much wiped out because they weren't prepared to deal with the weather.


There's also the possibility that the aliens had never encountered water anywhere else is space so they had no idea what effect it would have on them.

[Brad N.]

Well, just becuase they're more advanced than us doesn't mean they're THE most advanced out there. Maybe they're the country cousins of the REALLY advanced aliens.


And, having probably NEVER been exposed to Earth water, with the theory above, it's all perfectly plausible that they wouldn't have known about their own weakness.

True, but I would think if you managed to find a propulsion system that allows you to travel from galaxy to galaxy as they did even if you suspend disbelief you would have to know that water can kill you. H2O is a basic element and water is water all over the universe no matter where you are. No such thing as "Earth" water or "Zantauri 5" water. It's all the same Hydrogen and Oxygen elements. That these aliens wouldn't know H2O was deadly to them or they wouldn't at least wear a suit of some type before venturing out to the surface requires WAY more suspension of disbelief than it should. I just thought that ending was a weak ass cop-out, that's all.

[Brad N.]

Napoleon had pretty much conquered all of Europe, but when he tried to invade Russia, his military was pretty much wiped out because they weren't prepared to deal with the weather.


There's also the possibility that the aliens had never encountered water anywhere else is space so they had no idea what effect it would have on them.

But the question is...did Bonaparte build a spaceship?

[Ryan Elliott]

True, but I would think if you managed to find a propulsion system that allows you to travel from galaxy to galaxy as they did even if you suspend disbelief you would have to know that water can kill you. H2O is a basic element and water is water all over the universe no matter where you are. No such thing as "Earth" water or "Zantauri 5" water. It's all the same Hydrogen and Oxygen elements. That these aliens wouldn't know H2O was deadly to them or they wouldn't at least wear a suit of some type before venturing out to the surface requires WAY more suspension of disbelief than it should. I just thought that ending was a weak ass cop-out, that's all.



Well, that just goes back to my less advanced aliens theory. More advanced then us doesn't mean they are the MOST advanced out there.


They even leave their own wounded behind.

[bartleby]

But the question is...did Bonaparte build a spaceship?

No, but there are lots of societies with highly advance technology for their time period who ultimately fell because of some unknown environmental element that they had reason to plan for.

[TheTravis!]

I loved Lady in the Water.

[Brad N.]

No, but there are lots of societies with highly advance technology for their time period who ultimately fell because of some unknown environmental element that they had reason to plan for.

I highly doubt that was taken into account. I also agree with what you're saying, I know and I understand that. BUT, I am saying again that any species capable of flying through space across galaxies to get here would not only HAVE to have encountered H2O at some point, but probably known it would kill them. AND, if they didn't they would have to be smart enough to run a few tests first when they got here. I think Shyman was more like "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if they destroyed stuff then got killed by water? What a great twist!"

[Brad N.]

I loved Lady in the Water.

Where da fuck youse been lately?

[Brad N.]

Well, that just goes back to my less advanced aliens theory. More advanced then us doesn't mean they are the MOST advanced out there.


They even leave their own wounded behind.

I never said that. I'm only saying you have to be pretty fucking advanced to master propulsion systems that allow interstellar space travel. It really beats the hell out of the Model T you know? Being that advanced could just be the tip of the intelligent iceberg, but I still don't buy that they wouldn't have work protection before stepping onto the Earth.

[RyanP]

I'm avoiding this movie like I'm avoiding a cock in my mouth.

[Brad N.]

I'm avoiding this movie like I'm avoiding a cock in my mouth.

so you'll be seeing it every day then?

Awww, snap!

[Ryan Elliott]

I never said that. I'm only saying you have to be pretty fucking advanced to master propulsion systems that allow interstellar space travel. It really beats the hell out of the Model T you know? Being that advanced could just be the tip of the intelligent iceberg, but I still don't buy that they wouldn't have work protection before stepping onto the Earth.



I understand that, but like I said before, they could be the inbred country cousins of the Universe.


And were just really stupid among their peers or race or whatever.


Like you know how almost EVERYBODY can drive around here? Well, there are those who JUST know how to drive, but aren't Brain Surgeons.


You know what I'm saying? Like these aliens JUST knew how to drive, but weren't really brain surgeons. Know what I mean?

[Fourthman]

Here's what ya do. Just say to yourself, "it wasn't the water, it was something in the water" and when yourself asks what it was - make something up, because the aliens Signs were made up too. I'll give you that it's not the airtight logic of say, using human beings as batteries to power a shared hallucination, but it seems silly to judge a film on the logistics of the pretend.

[silverboy]

I didn't hate this movie as much as most people. I thought it was ridiculous, but if you look at it like a fairy tale, then its kind of cool how all the pieces fit together. Definitely not as strong as Night's earlier pictures, though. I also really liked how it referenced the tactics of writing screenplays. Cute.

[bradical]

I never said that. I'm only saying you have to be pretty fucking advanced to master propulsion systems that allow interstellar space travel. It really beats the hell out of the Model T you know? Being that advanced could just be the tip of the intelligent iceberg, but I still don't buy that they wouldn't have work protection before stepping onto the Earth.

seriously, stop by ron jon's, pick up some wet suits, then take over the world whose abundance of water is the reason it teems with life! space idiots!

[silverboy]

Well, that just goes back to my less advanced aliens theory. More advanced then us doesn't mean they are the MOST advanced out there.


They even leave their own wounded behind.

Invisible, silent, untraceable spacecraft sounds pretty advanced.

[Brad N.]

seriously, stop by ron jon's, pick up some wet suits, then take over the world whose abundance of water is the reason it teems with life! space idiots!

Well, that or they could have stolen a trash bag from a hobo and used that. Anything for fucks sake, but it's one of three things: 1) These were the most arrogant, stupid or both species in history, 2) they had incredibly bad luck or 3) M Night is a hack. I'll leave it up to my pals here to decide....

I choose 3.

[bartleby]

Invisible, silent, untraceable spacecraft sounds pretty advanced.

I can drive a Ferrari, but that doesn't mean I would have the first inkling of how to design one.

[silverboy]

I can drive a Ferrari, but that doesn't mean I would have the first inkling of how to design one.

So are you saying they borrowed technology from a more advanced space culture, that they didn't actually have any knowledge of how to build or maintain?

...really?

[Ryan Elliott]

Invisible, silent, untraceable spacecraft sounds pretty advanced.



That could be a Gremlin to them. And there could be even BETTER ships.

[Ryan Elliott]

So are you saying they borrowed technology from a more advanced space culture, that they didn't actually have any knowledge of how to build or maintain?

...really?




It could have been a rental by our standards.

[bradical]

So are you saying they borrowed technology from a more advanced space culture, that they didn't actually have any knowledge of how to build or maintain?

...really?

it was obviously pirated klingon tech! c'mon, man, open your eyes!;-)

[Brad N.]

So are you saying they borrowed technology from a more advanced space culture, that they didn't actually have any knowledge of how to build or maintain?

...really?

THAT is an awful lot of reaching here over a film that really doesn't deserve it in my opinion. I honestly don't think the Nightman thought about anything like this at all and all the people I know who defend these points are thinking harder about Signs than he did making it. I really think he just thought it would be a neat twist if something as "normal" as water was their weakness, that's all.

[Ryan Elliott]

I'm just theorizing about why they weren't protected against our water.



They were basically morons of outer space, most likely.



Again, just theorizing.

[silverboy]

It could have been a rental by our standards.

So these aliens somehow contacted, communicated with and made a deal with a superior foreign alien race to borrow a space vehicle?

...really?

[bartleby]

So are you saying they borrowed technology from a more advanced space culture, that they didn't actually have any knowledge of how to build or maintain?

...really?


The thing is that we don't know anything about the aliens, their society, or their intents. You're assuming that this is an invasion organized by the governing body of the alien civilization. But for all we know, these aliens could be the equivalent of some teenagers that borrowed their parents' car and went out playing mailbox baseball.

[Fourthman]

Really, who's to say it wasn't something in the Earth's water? I'll buy that water is common to the universe, but even on this planet, it rarely tastes the same coming out of two different sources. No scientists were consulted in the story of the film - why is it such a leap to think that it was something in our water, or perhaps something in our atmosphere that made them vulnerable to water? It's made up, it could have been anything. And frankly, it's not that important.

[Ryan Elliott]

The thing is that we don't know anything about the aliens, their society, or their intents. You're assuming that this is an invasion organized by the governing body of the alien civilization. But for all we know, these aliens could be the equivalent of some teenagers that borrowed their parents' car and went out playing mailbox baseball.



Exactly.



"Just becuase they are more advanced then us doesn't mean they are the most advanced out there."

[silverboy]

The thing is that we don't know anything about the aliens, their society, or their intents. You're assuming that this is an invasion organized by the governing body of the alien civilization. But for all we know, these aliens could be the equivalent of some teenagers that borrowed their parents' car and went out playing mailbox baseball.

I understand what you're saying, but it was a fairly elaborate invasion--the crop circles used as a map telling the aliens where to invade. That kind of thing takes considerable premeditation and some study of the planet, doesn't seem likely by any group less ambitious than a governing body, or at least some well orchestrated organization.

[Ben]

I had no problems with this movie. Yeah, lots of it was silly, but it was very enjoyable. People that bash it need to get a life.

[Ryan Elliott]

I understand what you're saying, but it was a fairly elaborate invasion--the crop circles used as a map telling the aliens where to invade. That kind of thing takes considerable premeditation and some study of the planet, doesn't seem likely by any group less ambitious than a governing body, or at least some well orchestrated organization.



So, maybe realtors?

[Fourthman]

I understand what you're saying, but it was a fairly elaborate invasion--the crop circles used as a map telling the aliens where to invade. That kind of thing takes considerable premeditation and some study of the planet, doesn't seem likely by any group less ambitious than a governing body, or at least some well orchestrated organization.
"We'll be greeted as liberators."

[Fourthman]

I had no problems with this movie. Yeah, lots of it was silly, but it was very enjoyable. People that bash it need to get a life.

Which movie?

[bartleby]

I understand what you're saying, but it was a fairly elaborate invasion--the crop circles used as a map telling the aliens where to invade. That kind of thing takes considerable premeditation and some study of the planet, doesn't seem likely by any group less ambitious than a governing body, or at least some well orchestrated organization.


It seems complicated relatively to our society. But there are still places in this world where people would look upon a television as magic. Not knowing anything about the alien's society, cutting crop circles into corn fields to them may be as easy as turning on a flashlight would be for any of us.

[Ben]

Which movie?Umm... the Lady in the Water movie. Did people start talking about other movies? I only read the first post.

[Fourthman]

Umm... the Lady in the Water movie. Did people start talking about other movies? I only read the first post.

Yeah, it's a Signs thing now.

[joespam]

I took the water in Signs to be a nod to HG Wells War of the Worlds. If it was good enough plot device for one of the founders of Science Fiction, why not use it? Does everyone hate that story (and all the adaptations that don't star Tom Cruise) as well? Does everyone hate Alien Nation since saltwater was like acid to those aliens?

Let it go.

[bartleby]

I took the water in Signs to be a nod to HG Wells War of the Worlds. If it was good enough plot device for one of the founders of Science Fiction, why not use it? Does everyone hate that story (and all the adaptations that don't star Tom Cruise) as well? Does everyone hate Alien Nation since saltwater was like acid to those aliens?

Let it go.

Yeah, don't get me wrong. I hate SIGNS for lots of reasons that have little to do with the aliens being vulnerable to water.

[Fourthman]

I took the water in Signs to be a nod to HG Wells War of the Worlds. If it was good enough plot device for one of the founders of Science Fiction, why not use it? Does everyone hate that story (and all the adaptations that don't star Tom Cruise) as well? Does everyone hate Alien Nation since saltwater was like acid to those aliens?

Let it go.

See, I don't see anyone who disliked Signs (for the water thing) reading your questions above and being really challenged by them. I'm a fan of exactly none of the above and I still liked Signs.

[Boris the Blade]

Signs was a metaphor. The water was holy water! The aliens were demons and evils encroaching on his good house! It was all a test from god to... stop me from liking this movie.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Great film, but if it's not recieved well by critics, may it burn in hell.

Get a life.

[Brad N.]

I took the water in Signs to be a nod to HG Wells War of the Worlds. If it was good enough plot device for one of the founders of Science Fiction, why not use it? Does everyone hate that story (and all the adaptations that don't star Tom Cruise) as well? Does everyone hate Alien Nation since saltwater was like acid to those aliens?

Let it go.

I don't see it as a nod to Wells at all, it was Shymalan trying to be brilliant again.

[bartleby]

Great film, but if it's not recieved well by critics, may it burn in hell.

Get a life.



Yeah, cause critics were the only people that hated this movie.

[sans serif]

I really liked Signs until they walked up the steps. I thought it should have ended then.

Lady in the Water sucked. All the characters where just annoying caricatures. Drove me nuts.

[RegularJoe]

i liked it better than the village, not as much as signs, unbreakable and the sixth sense.

[RyanP]

so you'll be seeing it every day then?

Awww, snap!

sick burn.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Yeah, cause critics were the only people that hated this movie. And if lots of people hate it, it's automatically bad and should always be percieved as such.

[Dennis K]

They showed this movie on a flight from Phoenix to New York. Never in my life have I ever wished more for a plane to be kidnapped and flown into the ground. Fucking awful movie.

[joespam]

I don't see it as a nod to Wells at all, it was Shymalan trying to be brilliant again.Why do you think that's more likely than him homaging the end of War of the Worlds?

Granted, it's NOT brilliant or original, and the nitpickers are right - only a stupid conquering race wouldn't protect themselves against hazards like that. But it doesn't wreck the film for me. It seems to be one of the loudest complaints against the film, which annoys me to no end.

[joespam]

Yeah, don't get me wrong. I hate SIGNS for lots of reasons that have little to do with the aliens being vulnerable to water.That's reasonable. You must be in the wrong thread. ;)

[joespam]

See, I don't see anyone who disliked Signs (for the water thing) reading your questions above and being really challenged by them. I'm a fan of exactly none of the above and I still liked Signs.I don't understand. My point isn't that you have to like all of those things if you like Signs; it's that if you think Signs is stupid because the aliens are vulnerable to water, you should probably have the same criticism with the same level of vehemence towards those other two examples. But I don't ever hear that complaint against either of the others. (though Alien Nation isn't the best example)

[Black Roman]

people actually went to that movie?!!! :o

[FredC]

people actually went to that movie?!!! :o

I did. My dad and sister wanted to see it, and they dragged me along with them. :-?

[KAK]

Saw this figuring critics can lick my balls, a lot of time I dont agree with public opinion on movies, and I had liked previous Shyamalan flicks, (unbreakavle and 6th) but fuck me if this wasnt one of the worst/disappointing movies of 2006. Annoying characters, crappy exposition/universe explanations, drawn out, and poorly acted. Horrible end product from talented sourses.

[Scotty]

So want to get into this discussion, but just going to wash my hands and walk away.

[UltimateFactor]

Bah, I liked it. It wasn't awsome, but it was nowhere near horrible either. The way some of the characters and roles were just jumbled in there without too much explanation wasn't all that, but in the end, I came away entertained, and that's all that matters.

[emeraldsundae]

I thought the poster was really pretty... that's about it.

[Ethan Van Sciver]

I feel like I saw the movie now.

[Ryan Elliott]

I feel like I saw the movie now.




Hey Ethan, did you send off that sketch yet?