Lady in the Water

Name: Lady in the Water
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
Released: July 21, 2006
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 36
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Paul Giamatti

2006

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 450 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 450 Ratings

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Lady In The Water

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 21, 2006 | PG-13

Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Paul Giamatti

Summary: M. Night Shyamalan's bedtime story comes to the big screen.

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 110 min

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Critic Reviews

Desson Thomson

If the ultimate goal is entertainment, then Lady in the Water enthusiastically rises to the task. In a movie laden with enough symbolism, shamanism and mythic lore to make Joseph Campbell dance a tribal jig, Shyamalan never forgets to have fun. Read full review

Shawn Levy

The man has gifts -- but acting and, it's increasingly clear, storytelling aren't among them. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

One of the more watchable films of the summer. A folly, true, but watchable. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Lady doesn't work. Although he detonates a few terrific frissons involving the scrunt, the stabs at comedy are lurching and arrant. The spreading of tension from one character to many dilutes the mood. The would-be rapturous Spielbergian ending is on the wussy side. Read full review

James Berardinelli

This is sloppy filmmaking, and it's likely to wipe away whatever luster still remains to Shyamalan's reputation. Read full review

Michael Sragow

If you're not a fan of M. Night Shyamalan's convoluted, teasing thrillers, you'll find that getting into this movie is like cracking a puzzle in which the constructor keeps breaking his own rules or grabbing new ones from ultra-thin air. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

This cloying piece of claptrap sets a high-water mark for pomposity, condescension, false profundity and true turgidity -- no small accomplishment for the man whose last two features were the deadly duo "Signs" and "The Village."

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User Reviews

MireC.

Jul 26, 2006

Good, amazing, original, I love this kind of suspense and the tales made for the kid inside of me always looking for surprises.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DianaG.

Aug 11, 2006

One of best this year, but not a movie for all kind of people ( critics for example ). A wonder tale, film made of heart.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ShereefE.

May 8, 2007

I believe the people reviewing this movie are too sick to understand the truthness of Night's movies. You all seem to judge Night's movies on the basis of them being Horror movies. BUT THEY ARE NOT HORROR MOVIES!! As some, who may sometimes be able to open their minds to new I believe the people reviewing this movie are too sick to understand the truthness of Night's movies. You all seem to judge Night's movies on the basis of them being Horror movies. BUT THEY ARE NOT HORROR MOVIES!! As some, who may sometimes be able to open their minds to new ideas, may have noticed, all of his films relate to a certain important topic on life: such as religion, self-hate, self-ignorance, society and it's corruption on people, and even politics. If one just looks at the trailer, thinking that Night takes on the Horror genre at full, and runs to watch a movie they hope will present headless ghouls, bloody beasts, gruesome monsters and all the like (IMO this type of horror film is disgusting, and it has evolved in the last 10 years devastatingly, perhaps to keep the people's minds off what is truly horrible in this world), it is only normal that they will be dissapointed. However, if one goes into the Theatre with a clear conscience on his mind, he will soon realise the pureness of the film. This review is not only for The VIllage, but also for all the other Night movies that I feel were undoubtedly underrated, such as The VIllage or Signs. Some people are unable to understand that Night does not undertake the Horror genre as his dominating genre, he simply uses it to spice up his film and make it slightly more enticing and eye-grabbing for the people. And again, one must always remember that the horror genre has moved to heights that were before unimaginable. So to compre Night's horror with these new horrors would be to compare something non-comparable. That is all I have to say. I hope you will take this review seriously, and remember that I am not writing this review in hate towards the mainstream reviews, but simply in anger towards how they rate such movies that do not comply to one genre alone. Peace to you all.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

GregoryB.

Jul 22, 2006

I can't believe this got such low reviews from critics, but I can see why. M. Night, isn't really liked by them in the first place, cast himself a small part in his own movie, and even had a critic character in this that was made fun and says in the movie, "there is nothing I can't believe this got such low reviews from critics, but I can see why. M. Night, isn't really liked by them in the first place, cast himself a small part in his own movie, and even had a critic character in this that was made fun and says in the movie, "there is nothing original anymore." Well if that critic would have stepped out of the screen, he would have seen something that was. If you liked the village, you will like this. It is a beautiful story that is intriguing as it is hypnotic. It is "slow" as there isn't anything blowing up every 5 seconds, but who wants that 24/7. The acting is superb and as I don't think he should have necessarily cast himself in this, he does a good job. GO SEE IT. My fiancee and I love his movies and were talking for an hour after this one. Critics should drop their biases and grudges and see this movie for what it really is, a compelling and thought provoking tale.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

DanN.

Jul 31, 2006

Contrary to most of the media critics on here I actually enjoyed the movie. Part of the problem is that in the previews it was billed as a scary movie which it certainly is not. It's more fantasy than anything and should be viewed as such. Just relax and watch a decent bedtime story.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

I_love

Jan 31, 2019

There just is too much going on , plus it is boring and sped up at time, while it has some good qualities, the monsters were a bad touch

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarkC.

Jul 21, 2006

What a bunch of hooey! MNS has gone totally over the edge if he thinks this is at all 1) interesting, 2) intriguing, 3) scary, 4)other worldly. In fact, it's none of the above. It's just plain stupid and a complete waste of celluloid! MNS, it's time to try a new genre.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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15	#15 Most Discussed Movie of 2006
74	#74 Most Shared Movie of 2006