Shape Of Water, The

Love this movie, very glad I added to collection

I went into this film not expecting to like it, but it just blew me away. I’ve now watched it five times in the last two weeks. With a lovely musical score that grows on you, one is quickly drawn in to the story of the lonely young woman and her unexpected discovery of love in a place where you would least expect it. Her growing and unlikely attachment to the creature is built piece by piece so this improbable, implausible story actually becomes believable. You cheer for her as she overcomes one hurdle after another in the name of love. For the haters out there, I acknowledge that this film will not be for everyone. I think you have to approach it with an open mind and be in the right state of mind to get the most out of it. But c’mon, calling it a porn film? It is apparent you have never seen a real porn film. The nudity is handled tastefully, and the “sex” scenes (at least with the creature; Strickland is another matter) are sensitively depicted. The brief masturbation scenes are merely suggested and are intended to show Elisa as a young woman with real needs and desires. There is quite a bit of violence also, but to me it never seemed gratuitous; it always served the purpose of advancing the plot. So, yes, sex and violence. The films is rated “R” after all. I feel sorry for those who walked out on the film; you missed a wonderfully cathartic ending. Watch with preconceptions left behind, and you are in for a magnificent, though wildly unusual, love story.

I’ve heard so many people — both media pundits and personal friends — refer to this dismissively as “the fish-f***ing movie”. And then I wonder, how many of them have actually watched it all the way through? Because it is so much more than that! It is a modern take on an archetypal water-god myth, with allusions to the Biblical story of Moses and the ancient Middle Eastern legends of Oannes; it is a new interpretation of “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” with a sympathetic view of the creature; it is a poignant meditation on the loneliness of being an outsider; and it is all brought together by Guillermo del Toro’s visually stunning magical realism. If you watch it solely for the shock value —expecting to see explicit creature-on-human sex scenes — then you’re missing the point. (And you’ll be disappointed anyway, as that notorious scene is actually a beautifully filmed, tasteful and fantastical celebration of abundant life and a love that transcends words.) In truth, “The Shape of Water” is a richly imaginative modern fable, with a message common to many thought-provoking films, but few that express it so eloquently: We are all outsiders in our own way, each of us looking for a kindred spirit to share our loneliness and give it meaning, no matter how great the cost.

Polarizing. I've seen some reviews comparing this to Beauty and the Beast. Hmm - if you go to this movie expected a childish movie experience, or that the director or cast is going pull back to pacify your sensitivities, you will be disappointed. This is NOT a movie for children, it is NOT cutesy or weak. If you want cutesy, there are tons of projects out there that will meet your needs. So - let's look at THIS movie. What is love? We open with a study of a lonely woman, living a life of quiet desperation? Her routine is the same, get up, boil eggs, masturbate - [though contrary to many of the reviews - this latter is shown only as her with a leg out of the bathtub]. Of interest within the overall context of the movie is boiling eggs. [After all, it is the Shape of Water]. We see this opening scene twice and it establishes who our main character is. She has an interesting apartment. Her neighbor has been discarded by a system he wants back into, and she is a janitress at some government facility. No, the government is not painted as "your friend" - the conversation between the "bad guy" and his boss shows exactly how "the government" thinks of it's people. It's a BIG movie - it brings in pieces and parts of our communal past - in ways that are not flattering. That is true. Our main character is plainish... not drop dead gorgeous but she has HEART and this is, at it's core a movie about HEART and the things we value. The "bad guy" is interesting, in a train wreck kind of way. He has gotten to where he is [where ever that is] by unswerving devotion and fanatical pursuit of doing what is asked of him. And by doing so, has achieved his version of the American dream. There are several key players, Bob, Zelda... her neighbor and in an odd way, the Creature. We are told it is "him" but that is not apparent. Yes, I was totally put in mind of Abe Sapien crossed with the Creature from the Black Lagoon [sidebar - in the CftBL, the Creature is after the woman - is is cause she is crunchy and tastes better or something else? In this movie, the chaser is the woman] OK - so what is this anyhow? An examination of the relationships in our lives and weighing out - what is really important. If you hang up on the "sex" - spoiler alert... she gets naked - you can see her bottom! you can see her top! and then.... they hug] We are presented with a dichotomy in the relationships of our protagonist and those of the antagonist and how they treat and are treated by those around them. As you can tell, this can go on and on. That said, there are some scenes that are hard to take yet each moves the movie - the sandpile and the cat. One from ignorance, one from fear. Our primary characters are the woman, her antagonist [hereafter known as the stinky guy] and to a slightly lesser degree, her friends. The stinky guy, though drawn with a broad, black brush still turns in a slightly nuanced performance. In the midst of serving his masters at the cost of his soul, reading a self -help book. We are forced to ask - if he truly believed in the life he is leading, what purpose does this book serve? Are there flickerings of conscience bubbling up? But these are hints and images seen through a glass darkly. This is not a movie for everyone. It is uncomfortable in many ways and unflinching in it's depiction of events. When lesser films would have pulled back to preserve our illusions, this one does not. This film is dense and packed with allegorical imagery. It walks the line between too much and just enough. It tiptoes up to slapstick but then shines a "and this is what actually happened" light on the scene. Is it perfect? Hmm... it's really very very good [what I thought was the weakest scene is probably not what you thought :)]. As Creature from the Black Lagoon reflected the sensitivities of the time, this film, based in OUR zeitgeist, looking back on that Golden Age reflects a different reality. Our heroine, plain though she may be, still has adult desires which are not met as most men [with one exception] can't see past her muteness to the person within. She is lonely and shares her loneliness with her neighbor who is also alien in 1962. At heart this is perhaps an exploration of different and how different fits together to form the quilt of reality. The general is different, Bob is different, the lab boss [what was his name again?] is different. Is the creature a god? Was everything that happened part of some larger design? Where did the woman come from? What is up with her scars? If you feel that a good film presents questions in an interesting way and encourages us to look for answers, you will probably like this film. If you feel that the purpose of a film to reaffirm only those aspects of life you feel are of value, you probably will not. There is enough ambiguity in key areas to let you fill in the blanks. And it is what YOU fill those blanks in with that will determine whether you like or dislike this movie.

---Possible Spoilers ---Was it predictable? Yes. Is it derivative? Yes. None of that matters though because it is an enchanting fairy tale with an enchanted creature (albeit not the most handsome creature), and an enchanted "princess." That is what fairy tales are ... that is what we ask them to be.. Visually stunning - the color green glows throughout most of the film. As a kid I absolutely loved the "Creature From the Black Lagoon" and if memory serves - that creature had a bit of a crush on the female lead. I mention this to remind everyone here "freaking out" about beastiality - we had "Splash", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Creature From the Black Lagoon" to name a few - nobody cried Ahhhh "BEASTIALITY!" Sally Hawkins delivers as usual - making us believe that she (a lovely human woman) could fall in love with a sea monster. I did not notice any of the CGI complaints some have made - it was too lovely a picture to look for all the flaws. The commentary on the times - white men ruled the earth - is just that - plain and simple. Don't believe it watch an episode of "Mad Men." I suggest not getting caught up in the perceived political/social implications if that is something that irritates - just watch is for what it is - a lovely fairy tale about a lonely woman, and the creature with whom she falls in love. Highly entertaining. Sally Hawkins absolutely deserved an Oscar nod for this film.

My review may be biased for I’m a fan of Dough Jones and Guillermo del Toro. It’s got an excellent cast. ‧˚₊*̥(* ⁰̷̴͈꒨⁰̷̴͈)‧˚₊*̥ Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon too. (*’∀’人)♡ I’m not good at remembering actors names (anime and international preferences) except, those that take me and bring a film to life before my eyes. So yeah, it was amazing this actors were all in one spot! Seriously, Richard Jenkins! Wow!! And David Hewlett from favorite sci-fi shows and movies. Wowed 💗 This was one “Beauty and the Beast” that had me in tears the very end. Couldn’t stop after from joy. The best way to put it, it’s a fairy tale with the monster of the blue lagoon. A movie I watched in the 80’s in Cuba as a child on tv. Never forgotten. The Shape of Water was classy, elegantly done, it was like a 1940’s or 50’s flick on HD! Yeah, my 13 year old DID turn his head at the nudity. What got his and my 16 year old sons, was the music score. 🎼 Since they’re into video gaming, the 1940’s sound was an arrow through the heart (mine too)! That’s one I’ll be getting next paycheck. (I couldn’t convince them to wait until I said okay). Already got the book and Audible. I hated not all theaters were playing it. Glad, because I’d be embarrassed walking out with teary eyes, runny nose and a smile from ear to ear!! 🙄 Got it on digital video out of one click happiness. Definitely will be a collection at home!! ❤️ 💕

People writing bad things about this movie either didn’t actually see it or cannot get past their own bigoted biases to appreciate the beauty, cultural messages and relevance of this wonderful film. Those who were especially appalled by this film probably see their own cruel and callous heart reflected in the film’s monster (Strickland, played by Michael Shannon). I don’t usually like to watch movies multiple times and the movies I do watch multiple times, like V for Vendetta or the Harry Potter movies, I only watch once a year. However, I saw this movie 4 times in theaters and bought it as soon as I could. I like that this comes with a Blu-ray, dvd and digital copy. As for the actual film content.... where to start? This is a gorgeous story about empathy, compassion, friendship, love, who is (de)valued in society, who is considered human, and who we are (dis)allowed to love. The story, like any satisfying encounter, starts slow but firm, slowly building until the climax, which will leave you hanging st the endge of your seat, rooting for the main characters, ultimately leaving you with a deep sense of satisfaction and relief. There are many reasons why this film was nominated for (and won) so many oscars, as well as earning over a 90% across film critic sites. The soundtrack is magnificent, it’s been stuck in my head for months and I listen to it while studying and sometimes before bed, as I find it incredibly enjoyable and calming.

I can't deny that this is a beautiful story. The plot centers around the growing relationship between a mute woman and a humanoid amphibian initially locked up in a secret facility in Baltimore in the early sixties. From this part of the story's angle, it has almost a Disneyish quality to it. Beauty and the Beast and Shrek may come to mind where one of the lovers is transformed into the other's shape and they can live happily ever after. This story, however, is an adult version of Disney because it shows the sexual dimensions of these characters, and there is nothing wrong with this. On the contrary, it shows characters that are more realistic. The only reason I give it a three (perhaps, 3 1/2) is precisely because I felt that in spite of permitting their sexuality to be part of the story, I thought the characters were too unidimensional. I would expect that from Disney, but not from a Guillermo del Toro film which also tries to address other realities in this film: racial and gender discrimination as seen in a coffee-shop scene where Giles is reminded that "this is a family" establishment; Soviet espionage; the space race; and the growth of the suburbs in Baltimore as seen through Strickland's economic rise (he purchases a house and a brand new "teal-colored" car). In spite of all these themes placed throughout the film, I am persuaded that the original story could live without them. Strickland's character, in my opinion was too unidimensional, too cruel, too much like Cruella De Ville. His villainy, which strikes that of a Disney character, doesn't fit in this fantastic/realistic setting. Although the actor does a good performance, I just couldn't find the character's hatred believable in this film's context. Even a Doctor Kornbluth is more credible in the comedy Splash ( a Disney romantic-fantasy film for adults done in 1984). Also, the way the General in the film favors Strickland's vivisection approach to the creature over the one of studying doesn't seem too credible. Besides these characters working in the lab, a few scenes showing the "pie guy" telling a black couple to purchase their pie and eat it out and telling Giles to leave in response to his revelation about his true sexuality are things that add nothing to the film's plot. Yes, Del Toro wants to show us a society full of restrictions, but the center plot does this job already. It is enough to see the life of restrictions of Elisa (the mute girl) and Giles (the frustrated painter) to make this point. The Soviet scientist seemed more real to me with his love of science and being part of the rescue was a great twist in the film; and yet, the other plot point of Dimitri's conflict with his own peers, Soviet spies who always meet at a Russian restaurant seem like another distraction that doesn't add much to the film's plot. Thus, in the end, I have watched a story with a true love that breaks social restrictions regardless of all the subplots seen in it. Even as I saw Strickland's deserved end in the story, for some reason I felt that it was about time he had died. I wasn't bored by the picture, but I knew already what was going to happen. The good girl and the whole-hearted beast stay together. Zelda and Giles will stay in their constrained worlds, their conflicts being unresolved. Other than the romance, one thing I loved about the picture were the constant references to musicals from the thirties and forties: Bill Robinson and Shirley Temple tapdancing down the stairs; Alice Faye singing "You'll Never Know" and "Hello Frisco" from Hello, Frisco, Hello; Carmen Miranda, Glenn Miller, and many other performances in musicals from that period. The dance sequence in a dream is staged in a scenario belonging to a Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers film, Follow the Fleet although they dance to lyrics sung by Alice Faye. The music, considered a universal language, serves to unite these two creatures in the film. Undoubtedly, the film is crafted with imagery (the use of green for the restrictions placed by superficial desire - the lime pie, the green gelatin, the teal Cadillac, the green candy ) and film references from the past that compliment the plot and the characters. On the other hand, its use of other themes and the villainy of characters who represent the establishment or centers of power are artificial devices that just add scenes that may have been unnecessary to watch in order to enjoy a wonderful tale of freedom of restrictions to love and exist regardless of how different we may look. I didn't care much for the private life of Strickland (which gets disgusting at times) or Dimitri's rivalry with his bosses. Zelda is valuable because she serves as an interpreter and helps her a lot, and Giles, of course, tells the story. This edition has a DVD and Blu-ray editions which is good.