Lady in the Water (DVD, 2006, Widescreen Edition)

M. Night Shyamalan is the cinematic genius that brought us the shocking "Sixth Sense", provoking "Unbreakable" (about superheroes that are real), "Signs" and "The Village". While some felt "The Village" was his first "cinematic let-down", I defended it. I had felt "The Village" had the pace, direction and tension to deliver; (even though I feel/felt, we were let it on the secret of "The Village" too early in the film). -- Mr. Shyamalan's new "Lady In The Water", I'm afraid, is non-defendable. -- Perhaps direction, tension and Shyamalan's cinematic gift of intensity was "NOT" meant to be in this movie., in which case he has therein succeeded; however the end-result has suffered badly. Shyamalan's real gift of storytelling with deeply-drawn twists are his true talent and his success came from that., why change your formula? If the tension and gift for storytelling, with a twist, WAS intended, then he clearly missed the target on this film, sadly. -- Marketed as "A Bedtime Story: From M. Night Shyamalan" we are introduced to a "Narf", (female Nymph"), who has come onto land, from underwater in the swimming pool?? (Nobody noticed this underwater cavern designed to fit about 3 comfortably in a pool about 20 ft x 20 ft??). The Narf is to meet and bring out the future's best in the residents of an apartment complex with characters who all seem lost in the world's maze of life. After "seeing" a man who will write and produce a future major historical leader; (a writer's-blocked writer played by Shyamalan himself), she now must return to her world by having a mystical Eagle/Hawk lift her there, while a demonic "Creature of Grass", similar to an oversized Wolf, stalks her as prey to ensure she doesn't return to her Nymph-World where she will reign as a Queen now. -- Yeah, it's even too absurd for Shyamalan material!!!! -- The apartment complex residents all "Buy Into This Way Too Easy" !!!! And they jump in to assist, as a human "Dungeons & Dragons" game plays out., Without ever-questioning this "Old Fairy Tale Come True"; they all believe it instantly; and without a single seconds hesitation, rally around the "Nymp". Are you kidding me? -- The only features that even attempt to save this film are in fact "The Creatures of Grass". The Wolf is wildly evil and fast....but it needs to be put in his next film., the one he will have to make to save his reputation in Hollywood after this collapse in judgement. -- Don't bother seeing it. Read "Elmo" as a bedtime story., it's far more entertaining. (Fans of Shyamalan: Stick to "Sixth Sense", "Unbreakable", "Signs" and "The Village"., -- "Lady In The Water" is an honest failure. (Mr. Shyamalan, please return to the tension-filled beautifully slow storytelling you mastered. We miss it). -- Skip This In It's Entirety!!!! AWFUL

PLEASE SEE MY OTHER REVIEWS FOR GREAT FILMS !!!!