At this point, M. Night Shyamalan’s success is his greatest enemy. Too many expectations for each of his films since the Sixth Sense have unfortunately led to many declaring each of his films since as failures. Years ago he was called the next Spielberg. I strongly disagree with this statement. He is better. His films are masterfully constructed and beautifully shot. This is not to say that there are all cinematic classics, but they all have such care and craftsmanship put into them, ignoring his accomplishments diminishes what these films are. Lady in the Water was an interesting fable, there were many neat ideas within, and in the hands of a lesser director, would have been trite and too fantastic, but instead is a solid film, not only as a modern fable, but as a post-modern self-analysis. Leave aside your expectations, and look at this film with unjaded eyes. And ask yourself how Spielberg would have made this: sappy music, voice-over narrative at the end explaining what happened, Nazis…. I will admit that Night continually impresses me with his original ideas, but I would also be very interested in seeing him adapt another’s work as a director.

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