We thought the multiple, detailed trailers had ruined it--thankfully, we were wrong

Rating: 10/10 (21 February 2018)

My best friend and I pay to see movies in theaters several times a month, and, when we saw the first trailer for "The Shape of Water," months before it was to open, we couldn't wait to see it. But then new and even more detailed trailers started being shown, and, frankly, we felt we had to have seen the entire plot and most of its twists in those trailers, and decided to skip seeing the film. After it was awarded multiple awards from various organizations and associations and ultimately nominated for 13 Oscars (and it was a dry week for finding something to see) we decided to give it a shot--and we were both so glad we did. It's now turned out to be one of our favorite films of 2017, and has had a lingering effect after viewing as well. While yes, the trailers were too detailed, and some twists we wish we hadn't known about are shown in them, "Water" is so detailed with beautiful production design, excellent acting, an absorbing adult fairy tale story, and such a powerful, satisfying conclusion that it triumphs over those trailers and thankfully offers much, much more than we expected.