Lady in the Water Predictions and possible spoilers

[Mark Chance]

Yet I would say critics are more than entitled to judge the quality of the finished product, regardless of the artist's intentions.

I didn't say anything about judging quality. I specifically mentioned judging intention and metaphor. Sort of like complaining that The Village was a lousy monster movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make a monster movie. Or complaining that Signs doesn't make any sense as an alien invasion movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make an alien invasion movie. Or, perhaps more pointed, to complain that the characters in Shaolin Soccer don't play soccer according to the FIFA rules of the game.

 

[frankthedm]

Only very briefly. The bedtime story involves a sea nymph who has only a few days to awaken the spirit of a writer whose work will lead to great social change in the future. The various quirky characters who live in the apartment building become involved in protecting the nymph from the monster who seeks her destruction. This monster is not a wolf, not a werewolf, and at no point in time is bidepal. Many of the quirky characters have special roles which are awakened by the sea nymph's presence. LitW is part screwball comedy, part fairy tale, part melodrama, and part monster movie. As always, M. Night's characters are strongly written and richly human.

Sounds very Changling:The Dreaming and a hint Athurian.

Sort of like complaining that The Village was a lousy monster movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make a monster movie. Or complaining that Signs doesn't make any sense as an alien invasion movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make an alien invasion movie. Or, perhaps more pointed, to complain that the characters in Shaolin Soccer don't play soccer according to the FIFA rules of the game.

Shaolin Soccer made no lies it was an over the top wuxia comedy. Signs and The Village did lie, using deceit in the actual movie to appear as a genre it was not.

 

[Mark Chance]

Signs and The Village did lie, using deceit in the actual movie to appear as a genre it was not.

Even assuming you're right (and I'm not saying you are), that still doesn't change the fact Signs an alien invasion movie nor was The Village a monster movie. That someone fell for the "lie" might be reason to be upset, but only adds fuel to the fire that the artist succeeded in being smarter than his reviewers.

 

[Crothian]

I specifically mentioned judging intention and metaphor. Sort of like complaining that The Village was a lousy monster movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make a monster movie. Or complaining that Signs doesn't make any sense as an alien invasion movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make an alien invasion movie.

If the artist fails to make his intentions known to someone watching the movie, it's not fair to blame the viewer. Viewers are not mind readers and should not be expected to be.

 

[Crothian]

Even assuming you're right (and I'm not saying you are), that still doesn't change the fact Signs an alien invasion movie nor was The Village a monster movie. That someone fell for the "lie" might be reason to be upset, but only adds fuel to the fire that the artist succeeded in being smarter than his reviewers.

Not really. I can say this post is about bunnies when in reality my intention is the post is about ham. If I don't give any real hints the post is about ham and everyone beleives it is about bunnies, that doesn't make me smart.

 

[Aesthetic Monk]

I didn't say anything about judging quality. I specifically mentioned judging intention and metaphor. Sort of like complaining that The Village was a lousy monster movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make a monster movie. Or complaining that Signs doesn't make any sense as an alien invasion movie, which completely ignores that the artist's intention wasn't to make an alien invasion movie. Or, perhaps more pointed, to complain that the characters in Shaolin Soccer don't play soccer according to the FIFA rules of the game.

For the record, I did mostly like "Signs," and I think it works pretty well as a parable or a meditiation on faith. I'm not sure whether I felt "lied to" or not by it; I guess I was willing to roll with it OK. I'll admit that those darn critics scared me away from The Village.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Not really. I can say this post is about bunnies when in reality my intention is the post is about ham. If I don't give any real hints the post is about ham and everyone beleives it is about bunnies, that doesn't make me smart.

Unless you are talking about devil bunnies. And that is what MKS did with his movies. With some things (like Event Horizon) I agree false advertizing is bad but with a MKS movie if you can probably figure that there is another level/meaning that has nothing to do with the genre it is wraped in.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I've seen one M. Night whatshisname's movies... 6th Sense... and I didn't mean to watch it. My wife brought it home and the cable was out, so there was nothing else to watch.

 

[reanjr]

I really liked the Village. Like Unbreakable, certain parts of the movie were really inspiring in the teutonic quest sort of manner.

 

[Crothian]

Unless you are talking about devil bunnies. And that is what MKS did with his movies. With some things (like Event Horizon) I agree false advertizing is bad but with a MKS movie if you can probably figure that there is another level/meaning that has nothing to do with the genre it is wraped in.

I think people though hear him say there is connections and then believe it. I never heard anyone around hewre say Signs had demons in it until someone linked to an interview. I get that movie is about faith, but faith doesn't mean demons anymore then it means aliens. In past threads on his movies I always asked posters to point out in the movies were the other level/meaning is and no one ever could point it out. Frankly it reminds me of going to an art exhibit and listening to people repeat intelligent things about the art that they had heard or read without any real understanding to explain it themselves.