Shape of Water for the OSCAR!

I watched it a couple of weeks ago and liked it but didn't love it, I thought the central relationship was underdeveloped, especially in its early stages.

I'd like to speak in defence of Pacific Rim, but I fear that if I start typing then it'll descend into ranting really fast. Let's just say I spent much of my formative period watching Japanese giant robot cartoons, and therefore Pacific Rim really speaks to my soul in a way that logically one would think it shouldn't. I am unbelievably excited for the sequel (even though Del Toro, Ramin Djawadi, and some key cast members aren't returning), and just as I appreciate everyone isn't coming from my perspective, I would ask you to take it on faith that if you *are* coming from my perspective, then Pacific Rim is a genuine work of goddamned art.

I'm also really excited about The Shape Of Water, but I am first and foremost a Pacific Rim stan and I will never be apologetic about that.

Curzon is offering members' previews but when I read more about the content, it put me off. I've seen the trailer several times (possibly more than one version), but it doesn't show the parts which sounded objectionable to me so I'm glad I did some research or I might have booked.

I saw this last week and it was just beautiful. Surreal at times but incredibly moving. I’m a big fan of GDT (including Pacific Rim, which I see being debated above!) and this one is no exception.

Saw this last night and thought it was OK, without being anything spectacular. Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins and Michael Stuhlbarg were all excellent, but I just thought the film missed that certain something to make it really come to life.

Personally I think Phantom Thread, Three Billboards and Dunkirk are all better films, but I can see this being the sort of thing the Academy really going for come Oscars night.

Is/was it anything to do with...cats?

I decided to see this after all, to see what all the fuss was about, as I could fit it in yesterday, "free" as well as the usual plays and the film I most wanted to see (Lady Bird). So yes, it really wasn't my sort of thing (I won't try to pin down the genre and I read one review where the writer listed multiple types, but the major elements for me were fantasy and sci-fi, both of which I dislike - hence my original disinclination to see it), but I can see why it would appeal to others and that there's a lot to admire.

It didn't exactly drag but I did check my watch after what seemed quite a long interval and was surprised to find that the film was only half-way through and though the cat incident wasn't particularly disturbing for me (you don't actually see it but are still left with a graphic impression of what has happened), I was surprised by how gruesome and violent some of the content was.

Just come out of the cinema and I’m speechless. It’s one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen - fantastically directed by GDT. Sally Hawkins needs every award for that - I’ve never seen a performance say so much by saying nothing. Absolutely fantastic. 5 stars from me

Can we get over the idea that endings have to be surprising to be any cop? We knew the Titanic would sink, we knew Romeo and Juliet would kill themselves, we knew Satine was going to die less than five minutes in. Stories are about the journey FAR more than they are about the destination, and storymakers forget about this at their peril.

I liked Pan's Labyrinth but this didn't work at all for me, I think having the child's perspective in PL helped draw you in.

Limited psychological insight or development, all very inert, at times outright silly, the tone was all over the place, the subplots went nowhere, and the villain was cartoonish.

Three Billboards is flawed too but miles better.