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Created Dec 03, 2010 07:01PM PST • Edited Dec 03, 2010 07:01PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Exceeded my low expectations. I went in to this not expecting much from this M. Night Shyamalan flick, but I was pleasantly surprised with a decent fusion of mythology and straightforward character drama. If nothing else, Lady in the Water holds your interest and keeps you wondering what’s next? The outlandish premise of water beings sent to help humans is semi interesting as far as fantasies go, but throw that in to a Pittsburgh area apartment complex? Ummm, well, you are just going to have to trust me that the outcome is entertaining.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   Paul Giamatti is great in this film. Well, some parts are tedious, but the dude was asked to be believable when talking to water nymphs in one scene, and dealing with the gamut of regular apartment dwellers in the next. Did I say regular? Well, maybe not – crotchety old Asian ladies, potheads, geeks, lonely old men, and precocious 20-something women all have a role to play and Mr. G tied it all together. Great stuff.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    Shyamalan goes out of bounds with Lady. Well, at least for my experience. His other films are pure fantasy-mythology, while Lady tries to mix this in with semi-normal life. The results are mixed. On one hand, it is as interesting as hell, and on the other – you sometimes are left thinking “no way” – even for a fantasy.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.1

17. Sex Innocent 1.1

18. Violence Gentle 1.1

19. Rudeness Polite 1.1

21. Reality

    Fantasy 4.4

22. Circumstantial Fantasy 4.4

23. Biological Fantasy 4.4

24. Physical Fantasy 4.4