The Shape of Water (2017)

[Gaith]

It means I'm not impressed with awards. Lots of bad movies win Oscars and lots of great ones don't even get nominated. It's more fucking political than anything to do with merit.

I fucking agree with you on that point, but, your ego notwithstanding, your personal disinterest in the Oscars doesn't mean everyone who does take an interest in them is stupid for doing so. If a Best Picture win inspires someone to check out this or any other such movie, there's no need to passive-aggresively insult them.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I fucking agree with you on that point, but, your ego notwithstanding, your personal disinterest in the Oscars doesn't mean everyone who does take an interest in them is stupid for doing so. If a Best Picture win inspires someone to check out this or any other such movie, there's no need to passive-aggresively insult them.

Hey, if you felt stupid because you don't share my opinion, that's your own thing.

 

[Set Harth]

And it literally just came out. How does it even qualify for the Oscars, let alone win?

Anything that came out in 2017 qualifies.

 

[Gaith]

Hey, if you felt stupid because you don't share my opinion, that's your own thing.

If you're going to insult people based on your personal preferences, have the honesty to not deny your own arrogance.

 

[HarryCanyon1982]

great movie, my fave of 2017 and what an experience seeing it on the big screen

 

[suarezguy]

I was very disappointed, it seemed too drawn-out and heavy-handed-the monster is actually good! And the Military-government-authority, they were actually bad, you should know that they were actually bad, really really bad!!!!!! Why wasn't this admitted before, it should have been!?!?!

 

[feek61]

I liked the movie, it was interesting although it felt like it was trying too hard to be artsy but that's just my opinion.

 

[publiusr]

I was very disappointed, it seemed too drawn-out and heavy-handed-the monster is actually good! And the Military-government-authority, they were actually bad, you should know that they were actually bad, really really bad!!!!!! Why wasn't this admitted before, it should have been!?!?!

That can get old.
Putting him in a tub can be seen as more cruel.

I seem to remember a write-up on E.T. where it was suggested that the kids did damage by hiding the ET.

Perhaps a better story can be found in Kaitlin R. Kiernan's Love is Forbidden, We Croak and Howl , from Ellen Datlow's compilation LOVECRAFT'S MONSTERS--

 

[Awesome Possum]

I loved the movie. It was also nice to see the cliches of 50s sci-fi and monster movies turned upside down. The monster is the romantic lead, the female lead loves him instead of the usually square jawed white man, the people who at the time were at the bottom of social order are given all the attention and sympathy, and white man who is part scientist, part military official is a raving madman trying to destroy everything because he considers himself made in the perfect mold of God. Basically more or less how we see that time period for what it was, an awful time that we shouldn’t try to glorify.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I finally got to watch Shape of Water, and it was really good. It's a period piece set in the early 60s, and nothing jumped out at me that would prevent it from being another sequel to Creature From The Black Lagoon, either in terms of continuity or theme. Once again, the Creature is being exploited by evil people when all it wanted to do was go swimming. This time it's competing teams of US and Soviet agents, with the antagonists doing their best to demonstrate that McCarthyists and communists have more in common than not. The protagonists are all likeable and heroic and prevail against all odds. There are a few over-the-top plot points-- the rescue, the flooded bathroom, and the dream dance-- but nothing that doesn't pass muster for what is essentially a big-budget B-Movie. Of course, there are significant differences in production from the original Creature movies-- it's in color, the monster costume is more elaborate, there's some (very nice) nudity, and the violence is ramped up-- but it still feels consistent with the Universal Monster universe. I think moreso than Universal's attempts to revive their own properties. Anyway, I loved it and I'm eagerly looking forward to The Shape of Water Walks Among Us.

 

[theenglish]

Personally I think that Del Toro does this type of movie much better than straight up action movies. Pacific Rim left me bored. Pan's Labyrinth is still a favorite, as is the original Hellboy.

I really enjoyed this movie and its universe. It was as much a tribute to the old Creature movies as it was a reimagining.