Lady in the Water

M. Night Shyamalan can't catch a break, it seems.

His latest release, "Lady in the Water," has been met with nothing but criticism from film reviewers and moviegoers. Most of the criticism is focused on the "silly, made up language" and "childish tale" that he weaves in the film.

Make no mistake, M. Night clearly warns the viewer from the very beginning of the movie that this is a fairy tale...a bedtime story for children, performed by adults. The movie opens with a crudely drawn, animated backstory to this fable. Later, there is even a retelling of the fairytale, from a character's mom, to a childlike, Paul Giamatti.

So, we are given ample opportunity to suspend our sophisticated notions of realty cinema. We are forced to watch the film as children. And, if watched through the eyes of a child, the magic of the story does take hold.

Paul Giamatti plays a troubled, but kind-hearted soul, who takes care of the unwitting "Narf" Queen, Bryce Dallas Howard (hot). Both performances are quality, and totally believable even as nonsensical words flow from their mouths.

All of the characters in the film have a role to play in the fairy tale, and their lives take on new meaning.

I am not embarrassed to say that I enjoyed the tale very much. It did force me to put on my kid lens...but when I did, I was rewarded with a completely unique cinematic experience.

Give it a try!&09;