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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Lady in the Water (2006) in Movies
Aug 14, 2019
M. Night Shyamalan has crafted a true modern day Fairy Tale with his surprisingly delightful film Lady in the Water.
The film stars Paul Giamatti as Cleveland Heep, a property manager at a Philadelphia apartment complex known as “The Cove”. Cleveland spends his days maintaining the complex as well as interacting with the guests who reside there.
Cleveland is a very unassuming man who has a stutter that often causes him embarrassment when he is trying to hold a conversation. Life is busy but not very social for Cleveland who spends the majority of his free time in his apartment alone, and seems to have no social connections beyond his tenants.
All this changes when he discovers a young woman swimming in the pool after hours Cleveland is concerned what the tenants might think, but takes the young lady into his apartment as he suspects that she may be in trouble.
The lady is names Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), and she seems to possess an almost innocent naivety about her that belies her gentle nature. When Cleveland attempts to take the sleeping Story outside to rest on a lawn chair, he is confronted by a creature whose very nature exudes menace and danger which forces the duo to make a hasty retreat into his apartment.
Cleveland learns in time, that Story is a being from a fable that is here to contact an important figure in order to inspire them. Such inspiration is said to be a catalyst for events that will improve the future for mankind.
Naturally there are evil forces that wish to stop her from doing this and will take any opportunity they can to harm the frail Story and keep her from completing her task and returning home. This is a shock to Story, who thought she has completed her mission, and as such, under rules established by her people and the evil powers, is exempt from attacks and allowed to return home once a task has been completed. When this is not the case, and story is attacked as she prepares for her magical return, Cleveland draws upon the compassion of fellow tenants to protect Story.
Cleveland learns from a Korean tenant and her daughter about a legend that seems to underscore Story and her mission, and becomes eager to know more about the legend all the while keeping Story a secret as well as out of harms way.
In time it is learned what her true mission is and that a series of people are required in order to fully protect Story from the evil and allow her to accomplish what she is there to do, which in turn allows Story to connect with them and help many of them address the fears and concerns that they have thus inspiring and healing them with her magical abilities.
With a deadline rapidly approaching, Cleveland and the tenants must band together in order to help story complete her mission, and to determine which role each of them is supposed to play in order to keep her from harm and return her to her people.
While the film does have some scary moments, it is at its very core a fantasy film. The performances of Howard and Giamatti are strong and underscore that both are talents on the rise with bright futures ahead of them.
Shyamalan keeps the film moving at a nice pace that results in a tight film that does not drag on unnecessarily. Shyamalan is also plays a key part in the film and does solid work in front of the camera as well as behind it.
While the film may have a few plot holes and at times requires leaps of faith from the audience, it is a very warm film that blends humor and drama to create a very effective and enjoyable film.
The film stars Paul Giamatti as Cleveland Heep, a property manager at a Philadelphia apartment complex known as “The Cove”. Cleveland spends his days maintaining the complex as well as interacting with the guests who reside there.
Cleveland is a very unassuming man who has a stutter that often causes him embarrassment when he is trying to hold a conversation. Life is busy but not very social for Cleveland who spends the majority of his free time in his apartment alone, and seems to have no social connections beyond his tenants.
All this changes when he discovers a young woman swimming in the pool after hours Cleveland is concerned what the tenants might think, but takes the young lady into his apartment as he suspects that she may be in trouble.
The lady is names Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), and she seems to possess an almost innocent naivety about her that belies her gentle nature. When Cleveland attempts to take the sleeping Story outside to rest on a lawn chair, he is confronted by a creature whose very nature exudes menace and danger which forces the duo to make a hasty retreat into his apartment.
Cleveland learns in time, that Story is a being from a fable that is here to contact an important figure in order to inspire them. Such inspiration is said to be a catalyst for events that will improve the future for mankind.
Naturally there are evil forces that wish to stop her from doing this and will take any opportunity they can to harm the frail Story and keep her from completing her task and returning home. This is a shock to Story, who thought she has completed her mission, and as such, under rules established by her people and the evil powers, is exempt from attacks and allowed to return home once a task has been completed. When this is not the case, and story is attacked as she prepares for her magical return, Cleveland draws upon the compassion of fellow tenants to protect Story.
Cleveland learns from a Korean tenant and her daughter about a legend that seems to underscore Story and her mission, and becomes eager to know more about the legend all the while keeping Story a secret as well as out of harms way.
In time it is learned what her true mission is and that a series of people are required in order to fully protect Story from the evil and allow her to accomplish what she is there to do, which in turn allows Story to connect with them and help many of them address the fears and concerns that they have thus inspiring and healing them with her magical abilities.
With a deadline rapidly approaching, Cleveland and the tenants must band together in order to help story complete her mission, and to determine which role each of them is supposed to play in order to keep her from harm and return her to her people.
While the film does have some scary moments, it is at its very core a fantasy film. The performances of Howard and Giamatti are strong and underscore that both are talents on the rise with bright futures ahead of them.
Shyamalan keeps the film moving at a nice pace that results in a tight film that does not drag on unnecessarily. Shyamalan is also plays a key part in the film and does solid work in front of the camera as well as behind it.
While the film may have a few plot holes and at times requires leaps of faith from the audience, it is a very warm film that blends humor and drama to create a very effective and enjoyable film.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Other Typist in Books
May 10, 2018
3.5 stars...I received this book from the publisher for review. I was given the uncorrected proof....
Rose Baker is a typist with the New York City Police Department. She is a very plain woman who does what she is supposed to and never what she shouldn't.
One day, a new typist is hired and from the start, Rose was mesmerized by Odalie. Odalie dressed and acted quite differently than Rose. Quite differently from most people that Rose knew.
Odalie and Rose became fast friends. Even moving Rose into her hotel apartment. She immersed Rose in her world and it was that immersion that sent Rose's life into a tailspin.
Set in the 1920's when there was very little work for women and even fewer things for them outside of the home, this book will have you wondering what is going to happen next.
Rose Baker is a typist with the New York City Police Department. She is a very plain woman who does what she is supposed to and never what she shouldn't.
One day, a new typist is hired and from the start, Rose was mesmerized by Odalie. Odalie dressed and acted quite differently than Rose. Quite differently from most people that Rose knew.
Odalie and Rose became fast friends. Even moving Rose into her hotel apartment. She immersed Rose in her world and it was that immersion that sent Rose's life into a tailspin.
Set in the 1920's when there was very little work for women and even fewer things for them outside of the home, this book will have you wondering what is going to happen next.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2478 KP) rated The Wrong Girl (Jane Ryland, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This is the second book about reporter Jane Ryland and Boston detective Jake Brogan. This time around, Jane is helping a former co-worker find out if she was sent to the wrong woman while trying to track down her birth mother. Meanwhile, she is also covering a murder that Jake is investigating. A woman is found murdered. Two kids under 3, both alive, are in the next room. It looks like a simple domestic dispute except the woman has no ID anywhere in the apartment.
I loved the book. It started fast and never let me go until I reached the end. The characters were great as well, and I had a blast spending time with all of them.
I got the book via Amazon Vine.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-wrong-girl-by-hank.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I loved the book. It started fast and never let me go until I reached the end. The characters were great as well, and I had a blast spending time with all of them.
I got the book via Amazon Vine.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-wrong-girl-by-hank.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Clare Parrott (294 KP) rated Bare It All (Love Undercover, #2) in Books
Feb 13, 2018
OK so after the wait this book finally arrived and I wasn't disappointed. The story continues the day after Run The Risk . And centres around Alice and Reece with all the characters from the last book too and also Trace from A Trace Of Fever
Reece knows Alice is hiding a secret past and would like to get to know her a little better but she blanks him at every opportunity until Alice is drawn to Reece's dog Cash. Reece soon realises that Cash is a bit of a hand full and so asks Alice to help with the dog sitting during the day while he's at work. Alice eagerly agrees and when the bad guys turn up at Reece's apartment its Alice that helps to save the day.
A really good read and I can't wait for the next one, Getting Rowdy
http://adventuresofabookreviewer.blogspot.co.uk/
Reece knows Alice is hiding a secret past and would like to get to know her a little better but she blanks him at every opportunity until Alice is drawn to Reece's dog Cash. Reece soon realises that Cash is a bit of a hand full and so asks Alice to help with the dog sitting during the day while he's at work. Alice eagerly agrees and when the bad guys turn up at Reece's apartment its Alice that helps to save the day.
A really good read and I can't wait for the next one, Getting Rowdy
http://adventuresofabookreviewer.blogspot.co.uk/
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