M. Night Shyamalan's 'Lady in the Water' Speaks to All

A new way of making film has emerged from Hollywood, or perhaps the old way has resurfaced. After so many disappointing visits to the movies this year it is about time for a true film. M. Night Shyamalan's 'Lady in the Water' stands out from every other film in theatres because it does something that most films forget to do: it speaks. Hollywood lost this touch somewhere after 'Sunset Boulevard' and 'It's a Wonderful Life.' There are no more James Stewarts, Frank Capras or Gloria Swansons to tug at the heart strings; to find fears and joys that are common in every human and to bring it to the screen in a way that everyone understands. However, M. Night Shyamalan has brought this emotion back to the silver screen in the form of a bedtime story.

'Lady in the Water' found its beginnings through Shyamalan's creative genius in the form of a child's story. Shyamalan claims to have told this story to his own children, one that happened to spawn into an A-list summer blockbuster. The tale is Shyamalan's original concept regarding a sea nymph who visits our world in attempt to save our world. According to the myth, these nymphs believe that humans have lost their way and often attempt to rescue us from our decaying way of life, only we don't listen to them. The nymph in this case is Story, a young nymph who knows she has a mission to accomplish but isn't quite sure what it is. Story's portal to the human world is a swimming pool in 'The Cove,' an apartment complex outside Philadelphia. The apartment complex attendant is a man named Cleveland who suffered the terrible loss of his family. Cleveland finds Story swimming in the pool one night, and he begins to uncover the ancient legend of her past and her purpose.

'Lady in the Water' exemplifies what good filmmaking entails: a lot of pre-planning and perfect execution of plot and characters. This film is set apart from all others, and M. Night Shyamalan has reached a whole new standard of modern storytelling. M. Night is a man who obsesses over his work because he knows it makes a difference. The cast and crew of 'Lady in the Water' were so impressed and influenced by his preparation for the film that their roles were easily portrayed in magnificent fashion. This sort of attention to detail has not been attained since films were made in black and white. M. Night Shyamalan still executes his film with all the drama, comedy and suspense that any moviegoer could ask for.

What makes 'Lady in the Water' not only a good story, but a good film is the message that it carries. This film supports the ideal that people still serve a purpose in this world, and that through supernatural power or simply by strange occurence we are where we are for a reason. Even the most insignificant people have a reason to exist. And that is an undeniably comforting truth in a world where one of our greatest fears is to be alone and without a cause to live. That is what makes M. Night Shyamalan a great director, he recognizes a common issue that every human deals with and through a dark theatre, he speaks to all of us in our own way. This type of film is not accepted by some because this is a truth that many fail to recognize. What may seem like the dark styles of M. Night Shyamalan are actually the very issues that haunt our lives: being alone, meaningless, persecuted and discriminated.

M. Night Shyamalan is often put in an exclusive category, sometimes referred to as 'the new Alfred Hitchcock' or 'over most people's head.' But what lies at the base of Shyamalan's creativity are basic, everyday truths concerning human existence. That is M. Night's talent, and his purpose lies not only in telling this story, but every story that comes about as result of his influence.