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Where Shape of Water Fails - A Video Essay
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- čas přidán 16. 08. 2024
- The Shape of Water was one of the most acclaimed films of 2017, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as Best Director for Guillermo del Toro.
In this Video Essay, I'd like to explain where I think Shape of Water doesn't quite work, and how del Toro's other most acclaimed film Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno), succeeds.
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Clips Used:
- Creature from the Black Lagoon - Jack Arnold, Universal Pictures
- The Devil's Backbone (El Espinazo del Diablo) - Guillermo del Toro, Sony Pictures Classics
- Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) - Guillermo del Toro, Warner Bros. Pictures
- The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro, Fox Searchlight Pictures
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- Twitter: / filmeye1
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- Patreon: / filmeye
0:00 Introduction
1:16 1 - Deconstructing Guillermo del Toro
2:13 2 - How each Film Works
3:38 3 - Structure is Everything
7:17 Conclusion
Huge Guillero Del Toro here, great video man you have tons of potential, if you ever want to do some sort of collab let me know!
Thank you so much! I'd be very interested in that!
I've actually watched a few of your videos in the past, and I like your stuff! We can sort something out for sure!
I think the definitive aspect of Pan's Labyrinth is that it is a "Disobedient Fantasy". For me, The Shape of Water was never designed to be a disobedient fantasy, it was designed to be a disobedient romance; with science fiction, fantasy, and classic 1950s elements. But at its core, it's still a romance. So if we look at it that way, it is unfair to compare it to the Pan's Labyrinth.
I chose Pan's Labyrinth because it's the most well-known example of my points, but The Devil's Backbone works the same way for example...
How DARE YOU make a smart and thoughtful critique of MY BOY Del Toro! The NERVE!
I don't think that he was going for that reality/fantasy juxtaposition. Pan's Labyrinth was closer to Alice in Wonderland where there is a clear and separate "real world" and "fantasy world." I think, with The Shape of Water, he was making the whole thing a fairytale. Closer to something like urban fantasy. In Beauty and the Beast, the Beast and Belle live together in the same fantasy world. It is one world. I see the same thing here.
The Shape of Water is on my "Ten Worst Movies" list. I greatly enjoy Del Toro's movie (Pan' Labyrinth is fantastic), but when I left the theater for this one, I was angry for having lost two hours of my life.
I felt the same way, it`s a hard feeling when almost everyone loves this movie.
I think i couldn`t get over the fact that the cleaning ladies had full access to cold war military secrets, that just killed my vibe.
Though stunning in its art direction it just turns into a liberal wet dream of virtue signaling ... pity really.
Discovered your channel because of your Tintin essay and I can’t wait to see it grow! I love both but you have made some good points. What are your thoughts on Del Toro’s next film? It’s a stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio set in Facist Italy and based on Gris Grimly’s design of the character.
Well, based on the fact that he's been trying to make that film for ages, and it always seems to get waylaid for something else... I guess we'll have to see...
In all fairness, I am intrigued by the idea, specifically of it being stop-motion. Del Toro's fantastic creature design and visuals could really benefit from the total control that stop-motion provides...
Great essay. I liked the shape of water, just not as much as pan's labyrinth, but I just could't quite point my finger on why. Still enjoy both for their beautiful magical realism though, no one does that better than del Toro.
Great narration btw, left a sub!
Del Toro is very distinct as filmmaker, for sure. Thanks for enjoying the video and subscribing! I hope you enjoy the rest of my content!
Good essay, but I think you are making the mistake of assuming that because Del Toro's films *generally* fit a certain form, every one of his films must. As you say, Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth work by contrasting brutal historical realism with childlike fantasy, and you're right that in Shape of Water the fantasy is more pervasive throughout every element of the film. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just a different thing. It works in its own way -- the Cold War and homophobia aspects aren't as harsh and shocking as the Spanish Civil War was in Labyrinth, but that doesn't make it a bad movie. It's less about subverting reality and more about telling a grand, fantastical historical yarn.
Fair point, but if Shape of Water isn't trying to establish such a harsh and cruel reality as those others, I don't see the need to focus on cruel scenes like Strickland torturing the Soviet Spy, for example. Heck, why even include that element? If the focus is the romance, why include a character so disparate from Elisa and the monster?
I'm not saying his films must film that form, but that seeing as the film includes all the elements for a "traditional" del Toro subversion, if you will, then why not actually do it? Wouldn't it make the arrival of the creature and the blossoming of the romance more impactful?
You may disagree, but I personally think that it would've strengthened the overall fantastical element of the romance if it were contrasted with the reality more harshly in the beginning.
Then again, that would delay the introduction of the creature itself and possibly harm the organic growth of their relationship... It's a give and take, obviously.
It's all really up to personal preference, and to me, I prefer Pan's Labyrinth's balance better.
Thanks for giving your opinion!
I agree with some of the comments below. This is a love story, so it's not about subversion; the two worlds are not juxtaposed, they are more alike than the "outside world" wants to believe, and in the end, it's about the two worlds merging. I get your point but I believe del Toro structured the movie the way he did intentionally. Thank you for the video 😊
Isn't this kind of just complaining that "Shape of Water" isn't "Pans Labyrinth" - which is a given.
I liked everything about The Shape of Water, besides the romance story. =)) It just didn't click on me... Great video! Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Some great points. I really enjoyed this film but it didnt really stick with me like his other stuff.
As with so many critiques about structure, this feels like a failure to meet your own personal expectations rather than a failure to work with the audience. Or at least the vast majority of film-goers. Your reaction is valid--but it does not seem to be to function very well as a general critique.
I completely agree with the video's premise - It feels a bit nuts to hate on something by this director as he is pulling in the right direction for sure but in this case I can concur and found it distracting. I'll still give whatever he makes next a chance!
The creature fails equally as a romance and a monster movie character for the exact same reason:
He cant carry the woman!
Del Toro is one of my favorite directors, but he really dropped the ball on Shape of Water. It's a shame, because it has so much potential.
His biggest misstep was trying to make an _Important and Timely Film_ ™ that covers all the trendy issues that _Really Matter_
As a result, the audience is constantly hammered with these caricatures of racism, sexism, and homophobia that lack any nuance or human truth. The romantic, whimsical, and horrifying elements of the film (three areas where Del Toro is a master), are constantly interrupted the _Important and Timely Statements_ ™ that come off as a kind of hamfisted moralizing. Del Toro's depiction of cold war America does not feel like a real (or imaginary) place; it feels like a backdrop for someone who has something _Important_ to say. It's an incredible backdrop, but it's always playing second fiddle to Del Toro's commentary (and as great a director as he is, he's not a particularly gifted cultural commentator --- at least not when he is this explicit).
As a result the movie is overloaded with all these disparate elements that never really gel. I agree structure was part of it. Pan's Labyrinth was so successful because the audience accompanied the protagonist on her retreat from reality into imagination, and despite the gnawing discomfort at the real darkness of the plot, the protagonist takes us on a fantastical journey and ultimately escapes, succeeds, frees herself. If Pan's were made today I'm afraid Del Toro would gum up the works with a bunch of commentary about how bad fascism is, and totally kill the fantastical element (and therefore kill the film).
In the end it worked for him superficially --- Hollywood and the journalist class are quick to celebrate this type of thing --- but it's actually one of his worst movies artistically.
Nice video
Pronuncias genial los nombres en español.
Será porque soy madrileño jajaj
@@FilmEye ahora todo cuadra 🤣
Pues entonces pronuncias genial el inglés.
P.D: Me encantan tus análisis. No podría estar más de acuerdo contigo respecto al vídeo de Tintín. Está infravaloradísimo.