Another massive misfire by M Night Shyamalan because The Lasy in the water is a pretentious mess. This is the biggest misfire of M. Night Shyamalan's career, including his pre-Sixth Sense movies. In addition to being dull and uninvolving, the film fails to draw in the viewer sufficiently to facilitate suspension of disbelief, which allows the plot to resemble a rejected Ed Wood screenplay. For those who though Shyamalan was stretching and not playing fair in The Village, you ain't seen nothing yet. For the most part, the dialogue is embarrassing. It's also difficult to determine how much of the film's humor is intentional and how much is unplanned. Maybe all the bad lines and funny words are supposed to be funny (in a campy way). For the most part, however, Lady in the Water comes across as a movie that's too bad to be good, and not bad enough to be so bad that it's good.
Reviews
14 Reviews
Chimera Strain
(2018)
Finest career performances in this film
18 March 2019
Maurice Haemms's debut film is an overall winner in my book. The first time producer-director (and also the writer here) helms this movie confidently and is helped all the way by his talented actors. Both Quinlan and Ian Cusick are no strangers to cinema goers, but to see how an actor shines in low budget indies you can see them both give some of their finest career performances in this film. A note of mention for the exquisite set designs and the gorgeous cinematography. Chimera Strain is a fantastic entry in the thinking man's science fiction sub-genre.
Casper
(1995)
Nostalgia goggles were made for films such as this
10 January 2019
This is a nostalgic ridden film and anyone in my age range will react fondly to it. I can say that the movie was very good, not because that is based on a cartoon that I love, but because it has a good combination of an effective story, great special effects (a jump up from Rogger Rabbit's combination of animation and live-action) as well as great performances from the leading cast. Christina Ricci shines as the stressed and lonely teen Kat Harvey looking for a friend, and so does Bill Pullman, who plays Dr. James Harvey, an unconventional Psychologist looking for "spirits with unfinished business", and believes that his late wife Emilia is one. Cathy Moriarty, who plays Carrigan, a strong-willed woman who tries to snatch a treasure in the abandoned Whipstaff manor in Maine-- and the home of the 4 Ghosts and the previous two humans-- is a riot.
P2
(2007)
Low budget indie competently made
12 November 2018
P2 is a serviceable gore-minded thriller - a competent execution of a premise that ultimately becomes hampered by its inherent constraints. For about the first two thirds of the roughly 90 minute running time, this is a solidly made motion picture, combining white-knuckle tension with black humor. However, as the movie accelerates toward its inevitable conclusion, things become increasingly silly and over-the-top. The creepy atmosphere evaporates. P2 doesn't crash and burn, but its finale is more generic than what the effective first hour leads us to hope for. However for the director, of whom this is the first film he has helmed, the film provides a sense of efficiency in the technical elements.
Dino-mania continues
9 October 2018
The Lost World is a fine film on its own and a good sequel to the awesome Jurassic Park. Spielberg is back at the director's chair- though not many knew at the time he'd never helm a Jurassic film again- and the script is sound. Many criticize the last segment when it becomes a sort of King Kong with Dinosaurs aka a T-Rex loose in the city but I didn't mind it. The effects are great, acting is good though no one really cares about the characters as long as there are dinos chewing people and the direction is sound. The Lost World may not be as good as Jurassic Park but it's a good sequel.
Sex, Lies, and Videotape
(1989)
Soderberg's arrival on the big scene
27 September 2018
This is a very good independent film- Sex, Lies and Videotapes took the film world by storm on release by winning the top prize at the Cannes film festival that year and shot Steven Soderberg to fame and glory- and to be fair he deserved it. He's only grown better with each film, one of the true auteurs of the modern age of cinema. Special mention to James Spader who is excellent as the troubled lead. Every actor is exceptional and that is down to the director again. You should give this film if you like edgy independent films.
Cat People
(1982)
Atmosphere and feel reign supreme in Shrader's Cat People
25 July 2018
Paul Shrader is far better known as a writer (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) but he has also directed a few films and Cat People is one of them. A remake of a 1942 film it tells of an old, ancient time when big cats(leopards to be specific) roamed the lands and humans sent their daughters as sacrifice to mate with them(it is shown more poetically than how I wrote). One such union results in the birth of siblings whom we follow in present day New Orleans. This is a strange film in that it can be classified as fantasy-erotic horror. The atmosphere is supreme and the early scenes in the ancient times are reminiscent of David Lynch's Dune. The acting by everyone from the gorgeous Natasha Kinski to the always sublimely crazy Malcolm Mcdowell to John Heard as the sole "normal "human being is good. This is a good, distinctive horror film.
Moon
(2009)
Great low budget sci-fi hampered by a understudied narrative
18 July 2018
This film is directed by Duncan Jones, who is the son of famed musician Duncan Jones and this is his very first feature film. Now, how good of a film is this? It depends on your threshold of attention. For large spans of time nothing happens. Sam Rockwell is good as the lone astronaut isolated in a facility on the moon, with only a Robot(voiced by Kevin Spacey) for company. Trouble happens when a clone of Sam appears on the scene. Whilst I respect the filmmaker for making such a good looking film on a small budget, the way they go about it is not something I liked. Still definitely worth a watch.
Alien
(1979)
In space no one can hear you scream- the greatest movie tagline ever
4 July 2018
My favorite film of all time Ridley Scott's Alien is a masterpiece of two genres- horror and science fiction. Shot in a studio in England Alien reeks of atmosphere and is a textbook example of talented people collaborating to create something truly special. H.R Giger who designed the alien planet and more importantly the Alien(called the xenomorph) has created works that have become etched in our collective conscious. Ron Cobb's design of the Nostromo is unique and special in that it looks greasy and dirty- totally unlike the sleek futuristic space vehicles science fiction expects to feed us with. Dan O Bannon's script is crisp and lean. The actors are all fantastic- Roger Ebert mentions in his review of the film how they were all older in age than the usual age range of horror movie characters and this adds depth and credence to the proceedings. They were all special and all went onto have great careers. Of course above all is Ridley Scott's direction. This is one of the greatest scifi films ever made(always ranks in the top 10) and you should watch it at any given opportunity.
Cargo
(2009)
Great Swiss sci-fi movie
27 June 2018
Cargo is a great effort. The first science fiction film made in Switzerland by first time directors. The first thing you notice are the amazing sets and look of the film. This is how CGI should be- seamlessly blending in, to an extent you cannot differentiate between what is real and what is computerized. The story is set aboard a spaceship in the future and it is obvious that the filmmakers have been heavily inspired by the likes of Alien and 2001 ASO and the story itself is more cerebral than most science fiction films which are usually categorized as horror or action. Regardless, you should watch Cargo at any cost if you like a good science fiction film.
Flight of the Living Dead
(2007)
Effects aren't bad
19 June 2018
What more can a geek ask for. But this is a genuinely good film despite the lack of star or director power. The effects aren't bad, the pacing is great and most importantly the film never takes itself or the subject seriously, which is what these films need to be. A confined space and flesh-eating zombies have been a staple of horror and science fiction ever since Romero's 1968 magnus opus but its films such as these that make sure the formula never gets old or cliched. (Give Flight of the living dead a chance).
Wind River
(2017)
This film isn't so much about the murder mystery as it is about the inner struggle of the characters
23 May 2018
Wind River is a very good film and it should be- writer/director Taylor Sheridan is fast turning into a master of the action crime thriller genre having already scribed Sicario and Hell or High water. Wind River continues his run with an exceptional character analysis and fine performances by the two leads Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olson. This film isn't so much about the murder mystery as it is about the inner struggle of the characters. Featuring vintage Sheridan American wilderness Wind River is a recommendation. (Great work by a great talent)
John Wick: Chapter 2
(2017)
High octane fast paced action sequences
23 May 2018
John Wick Chapter 2 is pretty much a continuation of the first part in every manner imaginable- the narrative, high octane fast paced action sequences, the dry sense of dialogue- everything is similar, and this isn't a bad thing. The filmmakers knew what made the first film so appealing and decided to not tinker with the formula. Keanu Reeves is pretty much at home now shooting and kicking bad guys and knows the kind of film he is in. The shootouts are intense- especially the final showdown and between this and the Indonesian "Raid" series action fans are having a ball. (Much the same as the 1st part- which is a great thing)
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