Decided to check out the Oscar winner.

I'm a huge fan of GDT so I expected good things.

It's filmed in the usual extravagant style you've come to expect and features a lively central performance from the mute lead.

That was where the positives ended for me. I found it absolute drivel.

A very boring, poor man's Beauty of the Beast wrapped up in typically repellant Marxist/Liberal propaganda.

Just one of those films that you can't for the life of you work out why someone would like it.

Pure garbage. Gave me a couple of laughs due to the absurdly of it, but that was it for me.

Regrettably I'm very much at odds with what's considered good storytelling these days.

I loved it, fits my liberal sensibilities perfectly and it is beautifully shot as well, so I must be in sync with what's considered good storytelling at the mo ;-)

Heard a few people make Beauty & the Beast comparisons... don't buy it at all, the only plot similarities are there's a monster (ridiculously common trope) and a woman who falls for him (ridiculously common trope) and an antagonist who want to kill the best (RCT).

In B&B the beast is a man who's been turned into an animal for being bad, in SoW the monster is a river god, so there are no real similarities there. In B&B the female (Belle) volunteers to serve the beast to save her father, no such thing in SoW. In SoW she helps the monster escape and they go on the run, in B&B the end is vastly different.

I'm sure there are films that influenced this (what stories aren't influenced by others?), but I'd suggest that you need look no further than Hellboy 2 to see the genesis of the idea and even one of the key casting decisions.

GDT should be applauded for doing something different, and he has been.

Pan's Labyrinth is my favourite movie of all time so I wanted to love this, I really did.

Got to say I agree that it was a steaming turd, I mean WTF?

I would never watch this again, and definitely wouldn’t recommend anyone check it out.

Which is what makes the world such an interesting place, differences of opinions, and I've already seen it 3 times ;-)

I loved it so much.

I loved the characters.

I loved the monster. I loved the irony in that the man was more a monster than the monster.

I loved the mute character.

The cinematography was beautiful to me.

The monster was a little hokey looking but it worked for me. :)

I would watch it ten times.

Totally agree Dena ;-)

Quoted from Warren Pan's Labyrinth is my favourite movie of all time so I wanted to love this, I really did. Got to say I agree that it was a steaming turd, I mean WTF? I would never watch this again, and definitely wouldn’t recommend anyone check it out.

Yeah, it was terrible on every level, from the clichéd predictable plot, to the lame lala land nostalgia, to the awful one dimensional characters and the complete lack of anything like a coherent story (they seemed to be experimenting on a fish man to get ahead in the Space Race.. Wtf?).

That's without mentioning all the laughable plot holes and the politics that you're bashed over the head with (Communists are great guys, forget the hundreds of millions that are dead... It's White America that's the big problem).

I watched it with four other people and everyone was gobsmacked at how retarded it was.

If Trump wants to make America great again, he should start with Hollywood.  ;D

Some of the reviews have given me a good laugh, though.


My favourite was seeing it described as not Finding Nemo, but Grinding Nemo.

There's always a silver lining.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion... but Scar are you sure you watched the same film?

The film very clearly sets out to show that the Communists are just as bad as Conservative America, neither side care about the creature both are more concerned with one-upping the other to the point that both will quite happily kill the sentient being.

It's people, not regimes, that are the focus of the story.

Never heard of it. If it's an Oscar winner then it's definitely a pile of shite... goes without saying. They're a bunch of pretentious, bullshitty, vampiric pricks. What do they know outside of their little bubbles? Like an Oscar actually means something. It's something used as a political instrument... just a part of the propaganda we're constantly brainwashed with.... and that's what's so sickening about hardcore 'liberals'. It's the biggest hypocrisy of all. At least the Far Right are more honest. Not that they aren't mentally fucked too. They're mentally fucked because they have chosen a side... selected one of the options on offer... on offer by our glorious government and the society created off the back of slavery. Not just black slavery, but economic slavery. By controlling the economy of the world we essentially allot every citizen on the planet a value. This is also what fiat currency is based on... it's not based on fresh air as some believe but, rather, the value of human life.

That's not the scary part. With the onset of AI and robotic slavery, the value of human life has dropped, which means that billions will have to die. If that is true, and push really comes to shove... which side are you on? We're already responsible for killing millions of Africans and keeping much of the Middle East effed up so we can harvest the resources easier. The surplus just aren't dying fast enough. Tried ebola, but it started coming over here so we needed to make a cure... what can be done? How can billions be wiped out and it look natural? War, perhaps? But, really, why? Why should the developed world need to destroy each other, when the undeveloped world is brimming with peeps?

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Everyone is entitled to their opinion... but Scar are you sure you watched the same film? The film very clearly sets out to show that the Communists are just as bad as Conservative America, neither side care about the creature both are more concerned with one-upping the other to the point that both will quite happily kill the sentient being. It's people, not regimes, that are the focus of the story.

Dmitri, the Soviet spy.

Dimitri is defined by his humanity, not that he's a spy, he rebels against his handlers as they are no better than the Americans who are supposed to be his enemy.

Still a lousy Commie. ;)

;-)

Well, I enjoyed it. Loved it, even.

That said, I tempered my expectations well beforehand, having been horribly, horribly disappointed with Del Toro's previous effort (Crimson Peak).

I thought The Shape of Water was extremely well-made. You could really feel that it was a passion project. Every single character, major and minor, had their own distinctive and memorable narrative arcs, which I feel is regrettably becoming a bit of a lost art, particularly in genre pictures. They're all defined by the flaws in their humanity, not by their archetypes or their professions (though some of the characters, I think, would prefer that). There's no obvious canon fodder in the film, and I love it for that.

The ending was a bit of rip-off of The Shadow Over Innsmouth (or the movie "Dagon," if you're more familiar with that). But it didn't bother me too much, since the entire film was really a Lovecraftian tribute with a romantic and political spin.

Anyone expecting a straight up monster flick from this will be woefully disappointed, but I'm familiar enough with Del Toro's work that the film I got was exactly the film I expected to get.

That said, I don't think it's a perfect film. It's predictable at times, and the relationship between the lead and the fish-man didn't feel as strong as it could've (more scenes devoted to them before they fall in love would've been welcome). Del Toro's politics also shine through it quite strongly and frequently, which I feel will inevitably repel some viewers. Personally, I've come to terms with the fact that I just don't always agree with the man, his politics rarely ever affect my enjoyment of his films.

I do have to scratch my head a bit at the people straight up saying it's a turd or total shit. At the very least, one would be remiss not to mention the movie's impeccable attention to detail, cinematography, and aesthetic quality. Truly bad movies simply don't have that level of care put into them. And yes, I do get it -- differences of opinion and all, but... a turd? Total shit? Really? I'd truly like to know if you're speaking in hyperbole or if this is truly worse in your eyes than any summer blockbuster or C-grade horror flick out there? I'm trying to "start" something or anything; I'm genuinely curious.

Quoted from ReaperCreeper I do have to scratch myhead a bit at the people straight up saying it's a turd or total shit. At the very least, one would be remiss not to mention the movie's impeccable attention to detail, cinematography, and aesthetic quality. Truly bad movies simply don't have that level of care put into them. And yes, I do get it -- differences of opinion and all, but... a turd? Total shit? Really? I'd truly like to know if you're speaking in hyperbole or if this is truly worse in your eyes than any summer blockbuster or C-grade horror flick out there? I'm trying to "start" something or anything; I'm genuinely curious.

I'm happy with my original assessment. I really didn't enjoy it and for me personally I don't think it's a valid argument to say that at least it was detailed and looked good. That does not make a good movie. A good movie, I think, is all about the story. Whether it has a billion dollars worth of CGI and the best cinematography or has no effects and the shots are pretty standard, if the story isn't there you have nothing.

This was an unusual take on a done story with the lead having sexual relations with a fish. Yes I know there was a fair bit more to it, but none of it made me feel anything for anyone.

I read a review where it said that Pan's Labyrinth was the best GDT had done but now there was something to equal it. I'm sorry but even putting this in the same league as Pan's is ridiculous.

I think there were much more deserving nominations, of the ones I've seen there would be at least four films I thought were better. I was hoping it was another mess up, I was waiting for the "oh wait the actual winner is..."

“Dunkirk”
“Get Out”
“Lady Bird”
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Aesthetics are a given with a big budget. They were fine.

Hell boy plus Hollywood nostalgia. It all felt very hokey to me tbh.

For me, I go to the cinema to be entertained. Even a C Grade horror flick is usually entertaining.. Indeed sometimes a very poor horror film is wildly entertaining... Although not so much these days in this world where everything is so serious.

Shape of Water was among the most boring films I've ever seen at the Cinema . I was bored from the start,  all the way to the predictable end. At home, it would have been fast forwarded to the end after ten minutes when it was obvious what was going to happen.

The characters and plot were all so obvious...standard Marxist tropes. Men are stupid, heterosexual white men are also misogynistic, racist, homophobic and a bit rapey.  The only good men are gay etc. As is now standard for Hollywood, whole scenes are put in not for dramatic or thematic effect, but just as political propaganda.

The only pleasure I got from it at all was the type of pleasure you get from the very worst films... Laughing at just how bad it was. From the bestiality, to the absurdity of the main plot, to the child like politics and the ham-fisted attempts at characterisation.

But it was the fact it was so dull is why I hated it so much.

If you've seen the poster... You've seen the film.

That single frame tells you everything you need to know. Everything else in the two hours is silly.

There was not one plot twist, or interesting development throughout. No idea to think about as its world view is so narrow minded.

I'm sure there were worse films around this year. But I can't think of one.

I've got it, we'll keep the 'war' in the undeveloped countries and only use them as soldiers, much like we've always done, but this time, go all out. No Western World soldiers at all, aside from to press a few buttons and watch the war on a monitor. It's possible also that we could get India and Pakistan to nuke each other. Sorted. Bring on the new, freer world. Sure, we'll regret the past and promise never to do it again, but we'll be in flying cars. Flying cars! Gotta be worth killing a few billion people (ahem), I mean they killing each other. Tragic... but, flying cars!

I haven't watched it but read the script a while ago. I thought it was pretty simple for my tastes. No plot twists, no nothing. So the script didn't engage me much. A bit of a fun villain character but that's about it.
Then I talked about it to someone who watched and liked the movie. He told me that films are not about twists and turns and holes etc. It's about connection with the audience. That plot is pretty straight forward but it connected with him. So now I believe I have to watch it to decide for myself.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Never heard of it. If it's an Oscar winner then it's definitely a pile of shite... goes without saying. They're a bunch of pretentious, bullshitty, vampiric pricks. What do they know outside of their little bubbles? Like an Oscar actually means something. It's something used as a political instrument... just a part of the propaganda we're constantly brainwashed with.... and that's what's so sickening about hardcore 'liberals'. It's the biggest hypocrisy of all. At least the Far Right are more honest. Not that they aren't mentally fucked too. They're mentally fucked because they have chosen a side... selected one of the options on offer... on offer by our glorious government and the society created off the back of slavery. Not just black slavery, but economic slavery. By controlling the economy of the world we essentially allot every citizen on the planet a value. This is also what fiat currency is based on... it's not based on fresh air as some believe but, rather, the value of human life. That's not the scary part. With the onset of AI and robotic slavery, the value of human life has dropped, which means that billions will have to die. If that is true, and push really comes to shove... which side are you on? We're already responsible for killing millions of Africans and keeping much of the Middle East effed up so we can harvest the resources easier. The surplus just aren't dying fast enough. Tried ebola, but it started coming over here so we needed to make a cure... what can be done? How can billions be wiped out and it look natural? War, perhaps? But, really, why? Why should the developed world need to destroy each other, when the undeveloped world is brimming with peeps?

Then it should be the autonomous. The goal should be imo to bring some characteristics to them and such hated worldview, since those are our line of defense, and there's not much left.

I used to think there's one thing that works well: the second and third class citizen won't allow those ruling people to come to their place, not without massive protection.  Or do you think G20 dares to come to Liverpool or Dublin or Paris, Marseille, Berlin in our times? They're not welcome. I'm not sure about this position myself... but it's the decision I take for good at the moment.

Looked great, sounded great, fun premise, acted well all around with a hilariously villainous villain.

But so, so, so boring.

I'm all for a good chick flick, but this stuff woulda been stretched thin over 86 minutes, let alone 2+ hours. The whole thing just plays like a smugly foregone conclusion, so much so that they don't even really bother to develop the romance in the first half. Not a lick of suspense, not a single twist, and weirdly for del Toro, not really a very effective "adult fairy tale" feeling either.

On par with Crimson Peak, for me, which is not a compliment.

Quoted from Heretic Looked great, sounded great, fun premise, acted well all around with a hilariously villainous villain. But so, so, so boring. I'm all for a good chick flick, but this stuff woulda been stretched thin over 86 minutes, let alone 2+ hours. The whole thing just plays like a smugly foregone conclusion, so much so that they don't even really bother to develop the romance in the first half. Not a lick of suspense, not a single twist, and weirdly for del Toro, not really a very effective "adult fairy tale" feeling either. On par with Crimson Peak, for me, which is not a compliment.

This was the main reason why it wasn't a great film for me, just a good one (at least in my opinion). I don't think that they didn't bother with it, but considering how their relationship is supposed to be the backbone of the entire narrative, it boggles the mind how much it got overshadowed by the other subplots.

Haven't seen it yet. Will wait for the sequel :)

I definitely side more with the criticisms expressed here.

My biggest issues were the predictable plotting but more so the one dimensional characterisation, particularly Michael Shannon. Nothing to wrestle with there, no nuance or shading. From the first frame you know this guy is pure evil in every way; bigoted, prejudiced, racist, sexist, power hungry, physically abusive, a bully. All boxes ticked and that's it.

The same goes for the wholly good characters, especially Richard Jenkins and Octavia Spencer. Warm, cuddly, romanticized archetypes of marginalised people demanding your sympathy. Manipulative and nothing more.

I get that these are the ingredients for mainstream fair. The majority of audiences like to know where they stand, who to root for and who to boo but the sheer simplicity here felt like something out of a PG fantasy film, for kids or young teenagers and that's fine...but then you have relatively graphic depictions of beastility and masturbation so who is the target audience here?

Evidently, it achieved that balancing act because it has made money, received accolades and critical acclaim but for me, it jarred.

Outside of the, lets call it "unconventional", central relationship, this was as safe and pedestrian a story as they come. Strip that away and you're left with something rather conservative, twee, quaint. A libertarian's celebration of the "other" in one way but playing by the old established rules in all other respects. Each plot point (except the double agent) could be anticipated long in advance until it lumbered to its predictable conclusion.

On the plus side, I did like Sally Hawkins' performance, the dance scene and its visual style but all in all a big disappointment.  

Well the propaganda is running hardcore at the moment. Now all of the Western Powers agree Russia was likely involved in the chemical weapons bollocks on British soil.

It's getting to the stage now where you are classed as mad if you believe otherwise. Frightening Orwellian shit. I sometimes look at the rest of humanity and actually wonder about awareness. Do they really have any? I question my own too. I feel as though I am aware and able to make free choices, but my choices, like everyone else's, are limited. Perhaps I am malfunctioning? I've tried rebooting already.

Soon, it will be a declared truth and the Russian attack treated as an invasion. All the warmongering from the Right, the abuse, namecalling. Comparisons already in the news of Putin to Hitler. Likening the world cup to the '36 Olympic games. We live in a world full of lies, full of bullshit constantly fired into our brains, essentially programming us, manipulating us.

Don't believe for one second that Russia has done this and made it so obvious it was them only to deny it later. No logic there. I just can't see the endgame, we're only just out of the opening. Hopefully, it's just more bullshit that will blow over.