The Shape of Water

[kevinknapman]

Guillermo del Toro returns with a gorgeous romantic fantasy that marries golden age Hollywood escapism with a Cold War B-movie creature feature which results in a wonderfully strange, endlessly dazzling and decidedly adult fairytale.

Eliza is a mute musical loving cleaner who works in top secret government laboratory.
One day an asset is b*ght to the lab.
Eliza, fascinated by this curious arrival, discovers that it is scaly amphibious merman.
Bringing him food and playing him music, she forms a bond with the creature.

The Shape of the Water is the work of an eccentric and imaginitive filmmaker given free rein to realise his vision. Del Toro grabs this opportunity and runs with it, creating a film that tackles various genres without ever losing sight of the beating heart at its centre.

Key to helping him achieve this is Sally Hawkins who gives a career best, heart-breaking performance as Eliza. Wonderfully expressive without saying a word.
Excellent support too from del Toro regular Doug Jones as the amphibian man, Richard Jenkins as Eliza's closeted neighbour longing for emotional and artistic acceptance, Octavia Spencer as her talkative friend and colleague, Michael Shannon as a monstrous government agent intent on keeping control of his 'asset' and Michael Stuhlbarg as a scientist who oversees the creature.

Fair warning though, Del Toro doesn't shy away from some of the more violent elements of the story either.
This is a wild creature in captivity after all. So expect some blood too.

The film is beautifully shot and impeccably designed with a sumptuous score from Alexandre Desplat.
All of this combines to create a unique and unmissable genre film and that rarest of things, a bold and adventurous studio picture that deserves to find the biggest audience it can.
Plus if you've ever wondered what it would like if the Creature of the Black Lagoon stepped on to the set of a Busby Berkeley musical, this is the film for you.
Don't miss it.

[stuartboy]

What Kevin said....

What a film to see without knowing a single thing (including it's title!) in advance. A true surprise.

A joy.

[The Sparrow]

Guillermo del Toro returns with a gorgeous romantic fantasy that marries golden age Hollywood escapism with a Cold War B-movie creature feature which results in a wonderfully strange, endlessly dazzling and decidedly adult fairytale.

Eliza is a mute musical loving cleaner who works in top secret government laboratory.
One day an asset is b*ght to the lab.
Eliza, fascinated by this curious arrival, discovers that it is scaly amphibious merman.
Bringing him food and playing him music, she forms a bond with the creature.

The Shape of the Water is the work of an eccentric and imaginitive filmmaker given free rein to realise his vision. Del Toro grabs this opportunity and runs with it, creating a film that tackles various genres without ever losing sight of the beating heart at its centre.

Key to helping him achieve this is Sally Hawkins who gives a career best, heart-breaking performance as Eliza. Wonderfully expressive without saying a word.
Excellent support too from del Toro regular Doug Jones as the amphibian man, Richard Jenkins as Eliza's closeted neighbour longing for emotional and artistic acceptance, Octavia Spencer as her talkative friend and colleague, Michael Shannon as a monstrous government agent intent on keeping control of his 'asset' and Michael Stuhlbarg as a scientist who oversees the creature.

Fair warning though, Del Toro doesn't shy away from some of the more violent elements of the story either.
This is a wild creature in captivity after all. So expect some blood too.

The film is beautifully shot and impeccably designed with a sumptuous score from Alexandre Desplat.
All of this combines to create a unique and unmissable genre film and that rarest of things, a bold and adventurous studio picture that deserves to find the biggest audience it can.
Plus if you've ever wondered what it would like if the Creature of the Black Lagoon stepped on to the set of a Busby Berkeley musical, this is the film for you.
Don't miss it.

I'm guessing because if the time you posted this, you decided to see The Commuter?

[kevinknapman]

I'm guessing because if the time you posted this, you decided to see The Commuter?

Yes. I probably should have gone to see this again.

[The Sparrow]

I'm guessing because if the time you posted this, you decided to see The Commuter?

Yes. I probably should have gone to see this again.

Oops. Never mind, it's behind you now

[newdot]

Good, but inter-species sex not my cup of tea and this repulsion stopped a deal of empathy i might other wise have felt for the characters. also, dance scene made me cringe with embarrassment for all involved. Creature was more a cod than a god as far as i could see.

7/10

ps thinking back on this film, i realize that i enjoyed every scene without the creature & none of those with it.

[elixir01]

Managed to avoid reading anything about this film/watching the trailer prior to watching, and absolutely loved watching this film unfold. The score and set design were both memorising. Great supporting cast, and I thought Sally Hawkins was fantastic. Can't wait to see how the Oscars goes down. 8/10

[prettyxcool]

Went to a Den of Geek private screening last night at 20th Century Fox offices. The film is outstanding, especially Sally Hawkins' performance, the supporting cast, visuals, the low-key score & romance. A beautiful and stunning adult fairytale. It is just magical! 9/10

[fanADE]

I saw this last night.... and i thoroughly enjoyed it. As the first reviewer said... set in the age of paranoia and the consumerist culture .. side by side with the growth of american youth culture. The characters were slightly one dimensional apart from Eliza.. Enjoyable film 7/10

[RandomHajile]

saw this yesterday, big fan of del toro but this felt rubbish to me, whole cast seamed to be playing to their typical typecasting, gratuitous nudity, too long blah blah

hes done better movies and this is the one hes gonna win with

2/10 only cos it looked kinda good (still too much teal an orange tho)