Once again, Dave reviews a movie!

The Shape of Water (2017)

This is a fable. It is a love story - - lush and romantic; and it is science fiction. Some of the best Science Fiction created. It is a story to lift your spirits and make you believe that there is still good in the world.

Guillermo Del Toro has created beautifully photographed and realized world and puts a heart-breaking array of “rejects” into it. The military man who has forsaken his family for country and ideals and now regrets it. A woman whose muteness isolates her and leaves her friendless and alone. A gay graphic artist rejected by standards of 1962. And the creature, an amphibian both out of place and alone.

In brief, in 1962, a military spy-type (Michael Shannon) has found an amphibian humanoid and brought it to the USA for exploitation as a weapon in the Cold War with the Soviets. A maid (Sally Hawkins) employed at the facility, befriends the creature, falls in love with it and with the help of a coworker (Octavia Spencer), a neighbor (Richard Jenkins), and a Soviet Spy, returns the creature to the water.

The acting is excellent. The movie is lush with detail and setting. This isn’t a story of battling aliens or spaceships whizzing about or a story filled overwhelming visual effects. It is first and foremost, a love story, a precious gift to those who still believe in fables.

Wow, you liked it? I'm thrilled!

Paolo wrote: Thu Sep 27, 2018 3:02 pm Wow, you liked it? I'm thrilled!

My question to any movie and sci-fi movies in particular is what truth to they reveal to us? Do we see some inner truth about our behavior? Some deep abiding goodness? Heroics born from the struggles of life? Is the viewer/reader uplifted?

"The Shape of Water" does that.

As for the way the story in the movie is structured, let me explain it this way:

In "The Life of Pi" the book and movie about a boy adrift in the Pacific Ocean with only a Bengal Tiger as companion, there is a point near the end of the book and movie where the writer, who is interviewing the adult Pi Patel asks "Which story is true?" because by this point in the story, we the viewers understand that there are two possible stories of how Pi Patel survived. And the Adult Pi Patel answers asking the writer which story he believes or prefers. Remember that the writer was told that he would hear a story that "would make him believe in God."

What a burden for mere words. What situation could show such goodness that it inspires faith? Of course the answer is the one with the tiger, the great and grand story we have just seen onscreen or read.

And that is what "The Shape of Water" presents to the viewer -- a story with an uplifting ending and heroes who did the right thing. We accept that the mute girl who was cast out of society for being different is now alive and loved. We believe that the bitter artist rejected by society for being different has been redeemed and made happy again. And last but not least, there isn't vivisection or new amphibious warriors to keep hating and killing.

That is the purpose of Science Fiction - - to present us with alternative realities and new possibilities

I usually get to live where the pertinent reviews are by Joe Bob Briggs' - the world's foremost drive-in movie critic. Movies are noted by bare boobs and gratuitous flatulence.

Actually, I appreciate the thought that goes into your reviews, Dave.