The Shape Of Water

If you’ve ever watched typical romantic movies and felt like there was something missing, this movie is for you. I loved it, but to be fair I love all of Guillermo del toro’s films and this one was no exception.

There are many ways to tell a truth. It can be directly, through symbolism, or simply from satire. The cinema, in its narrative omnipotence, appropriated them and has played to mix them in all possible ways. From great directors we have seen a few good combinations, and one of them is, without a doubt, Guillermo del Toro.In 2006 we were surprised by del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno), a fable set in midst of the Spanish Civil War. Twelve years later, the Mexican director is back in form, this time with The Shape of Water (La Forma del Agua). The film may very well be this year's best, but not only due to the Academy's 13 nominations.This fable, although with suspicious similarities in his narrative technique with Pan's Labyrinth as the two share a similar "structural formula", makes you fall in love and invites you to reflect upon its extraordinary script and cast. Of the latter stand out Sally Hawkin, Olivia Spencer, Richard Jenkins and the wonderful Doug Jones, the man behind the "creature".Things from this world have a common place, an "aleph", a space/time where they gather and be one and all at the same time. The history of the United States in the sixties. The Cold War, the not-so "cold wars": the struggles for civil rights, the unstoppable technological innovation, the entertainment industry, the American dream... that being the case, Guillermo del Toro could not find better setting for The Shape of Water."Silence" has a strong symbolism in this film as those who literally cannot speak are the two main characters: a mute woman (Elisa) and an non-speaking aquatic creature that fall in love. Little by little it is revealed that their friends (a black woman, a gay man and a scientist tied to ideological commitments) are also mute in a society that does not accept them.Elisa elegantly sums up all the others "good" characters, but del Toro takes her further and turns her into the hero of the story, one with no power other than the will to smash her loneliness. The silence remains in the film as a child of loneliness and not as an evil in itself.The monsters of Guillermo de Toro always have something interesting to say, especially this one, although it cannot speak. The Shape of Water are not only two hours of pure joy and entertainment, but an opportunity to immerse oneself in our thoughts through its symbolism. The word "immerse" has probably never been better used.

I’ve heard so many people — both media pundits and personal friends — refer to this dismissively as “the fish-f***ing movie”. And then I wonder, how many of them have actually watched it all the way through? Because it is so much more than that! It is a modern take on an archetypal water-god myth, with allusions to the Biblical story of Moses and the ancient Middle Eastern legends of Oannes; it is a new interpretation of “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” with a sympathetic view of the creature; it is a poignant meditation on the loneliness of being an outsider; and it is all brought together by Guillermo del Toro’s visually stunning magical realism.If you watch it solely for the shock value —expecting to see explicit creature-on-human sex scenes — then you’re missing the point. (And you’ll be disappointed anyway, as that notorious scene is actually a beautifully filmed, tasteful and fantastical celebration of abundant life and a love that transcends words.)In truth, “The Shape of Water” is a richly imaginative modern fable, with a message common to many thought-provoking films, but few that express it so eloquently: We are all outsiders in our own way, each of us looking for a kindred spirit to share our loneliness and give it meaning, no matter how great the cost.

I can't believe I've only watched this movie for the first time today. This movie is now one of my all-time favorite movies. I wish there were more movies like this of a monster and a human falling in love. The way the story unfolds is fantastic. I really enjoyed the pacing and flow of this movie. I was seriously on the edge of my seat during certain parts of the film. The writers and director of this movie really know how to keep the viewer engaged in the story throughout the whole movie. I prefer romance movies like this over any other kind of romance movie.

I've already seen this movie twice on YouTube in the past month sadly it's just off someone's phone camera on YouTube when I saw it on Amazon for cheap I had to buy it, such a heart string tugging movie I'm so glad to have an actual copy of it.

Una extraordinaria película de Guillermo del Toro en el que se le nota todo el cariño y el amor que tenia por este proyecto. Una hermosa fabula adulta que es una experiencia. La película llego en muy buenas condiciones, con su slipcover precioso.

La edición en si es muy bonita, caja metálica sin más con la película. Los extras estan bien pero no he visto que hubiera ninguna edición con más así que esta edición es genial y más por el precio.

A great thought provoking movie. Love the steelbook cover. Like all Del Torro’s work this is of the usual calibre you expect from him.

Love this film