GDT's The Shape of Water

[Jinzo Ningen]

It's just the heavy-handedness of everything that's such a shame. As I mentioned above, everything else is so great... lighting, sets, cinematography, score, pacing, etc., it makes the obviousness of the (very-limited) character development and the wholly un-subtle message poo such a bummer.

[eabaker]

[tbeasley]

You guys realize it's meant to be a fairy tale with broad themes right, that's kind of del Toro's thing, repurposing classical ideas in an 'adult' setting. Have we seen Pan's Labyrinth? The Captain smashing the guy's face in with a bottle is supposed to come out of nowhere. It shows the real world is far scarier than anything in a fantasy. The sex and violence all have a purpose, for the good characters and the bad. It shows everything about the character in an intimate, visual way, I don't think subtlety even came into the equation.

[lhb412]

^ Yeah, GDT always pitches things heightened and melodramatic. In fact, GDT cited Douglas Sirk melodramas as a key inspiration for Shape.

[eabaker]

I have no problem with heightened and melodramatic.

What I have problems with are condescension and redundancy. You can make your themes broad and clear without having to stop and spell them out.

[Gwangi]

[lhb412]

^ I recall the commentary track for Young Frankenstein where, during the monster's speech near the end of the movie, Mel Brooks defends having the characters straight up monolog about the theme of the story: "If you got a good theme, just say it!" (or something to that effect)

[Mac]

I found this incredibly cloying and adolescent. Not much of a GdT fan, but I thought he was on an upwards swing with his past three films. This is one of his worst.

[Moonlight SY-3]

[Mac]

Yes, it will be remembered fondly among such films as Spotlight and The Artist.

[jellydonut25]

Well, I actually agree it's not one of GDT's BEST...but that just means it's not as good as Pan's Labyrinth (5/5), Devil's Backbone (5/5), Pacific Rim (5/5), Blade II (4.5/5), Hellboy II (4.5/5), Hellboy (4/5).

But it's better than Mimic, Cronos, and Crimson Peak.


I also think it'll be remembered a little more than The Artist and DEFINITELY more than Spotlight. That felt like an intentional 'swerve' just to make it less predictable. Spotlight was an EXTREMELY average movie. It's the kind of movie your grandfather would tell you he was watching on TVLand or USA during the day and you'd feign interest but secretly think, "Yeah, but you can't even remember the name of it, Pops...or anyone in it...how good could it have been?"

Shape of Water certainly has more character and personality than Spotlight. Whether you like it or not.

[lhb412]

^Speaking of GDT, broad melodrama, and Blade II: that moment where Nomak dramatically uses his super strength to force open the impenetrable gate doors while screaming "FATHER!!!" while sparks rain down around him?

That's friggin' aces.

[Jinzo Ningen]

[Jinzo Ningen]

[mr.negativity]