I liked it. The "Mermaid" acting troupe was interesting
931701
I liked it.  The "Mermaid" acting troupe was interesting, and the inclusion of disabled characters was well done.  The premise was unusual, but made sense (especially with the way the Science Channel has gone) and everything tied together well.  Spoiler:  The gender dimorphism reveal at the end was unnecessary and made little to no sense.  The story would have been better off without it.
3996886
From my wife Sarah: From the previews I expected a silly slapstick romance, but found that this was a drama, romance and comedy rolled up into one movie. It had surprising depth, character and story development. It was kind of a believable story. There were times I was touched enough to be tearful, and there was some decent chemistry between the leads. There were some laughs as well.

It was good, but was it fantastic? Not so much. Honestly, it wasn't strong enough for me as either a comedy, romance or drama to be terrific. Regardless, it was entertaining, moving and worth seeing.
4256300
I thought it was very good I learned the characters [there were quite a few] and it was a bit weird but I do like weird .Some of what was considered misfits formed a family or group by association in hard times,religion played into this movie kept my interest all the way to seasons end.
833837
Interesting story that keeps your attention.  Apparently this was based upon a true story and that helps make it more interesting.  The actors for the most part were well cast - and the costumes were beautiful, while the wigs were pretty amazing and somewhat comical.  It's worth a watch.
392549
The movie was an improv or so I read. It was really quite good and funny in some parts. It mainly was sad showing how stripers were lonely using drugs to fill all the empty spaces, or men, or just plain dreams that never seemed to materialize. The acting was overall pretty good considering that this was all done without having an exact script. I was surprised to see some of the faces in the film, such as Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Tilly. These girls took on some really scary stuff, by getting up in a roomful of men and stripdancing. The dances were very intense and erotic and because I am a girl and was in an audience of mostly men I felt a little, no alot, uncomfortable. There were alot of dances with very little clothing because that was what the movie revolved around, unlike Striptease with Demi Moore, where there was I think maybe one or two times that she actually danced. This movie has endless dance sequences with all the major stars and some minor ones as well. There are also lap dances but they are not as intense as some I have seen in other art films. There was one movie I saw that had the most erotic lap dance ever, it was a movie called The Center of the World. These scenes in the Blue Iguana did not sizzle. But thats ok, I think the movie didn't want to show that side as much as it wanted to show how lost and unhappy these girls were. Some were just plain angry, trapped in a lifestyle they could not escape from. There were some beautiful poems in the film which enhanced the theme of the film. It is definately worth checking out, just be aware there is alot of female nudity! I wouldn't give it 5 stars because there were some parts that dragged, overall I rated it 4 stars.
Lisa Nary
929577
I enjoyed it! Good costumes--very futuristic makeup.  And as for plot--finally a new idea! Decent cinematography, also. Streaming quality was very goog
2714762
I thought Halle Berry did a great job playing a woman with multiple personalities.  I really enjoyed her performance.  I thought that Stellan Skarsgrd (the guy that stole the case in Ronin lol) was great as her doctor.  The story was OK.  The subject matter was interesting.  I would give it 3.5/5 stars if I could.  I would have enjoyed it a bit more if I didn't actually have to rent it. :-P
366490
I really enjoyed the movie, a new take on hansel and gretel. I wished I would've seen in at the theater.
4197240
It is hard to maintain a nonstop performance where you are portraying a cast of thousands-not to mention diverse works; plays and sonnets included. It did not make the transition from live theatre to film. Perhaps too big an ask as it requires improvisation and audience participation to flow. When the interaction between performers and audience fired, then it was enjoyable, with some good belly laughs. But the routines became a sameness and it lost its spark. Replaying Hamlet was clever. If you have seen this group live, this may be a good reminder of their skill and ability.
2253333
It was a very interesting adaptation of Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew, but it's storyline lacked trace of reality. Yes, it's storyline was quite cheesy, and for the most common among other teen movies. Where the geek is never too ugly to become a prom queen, and become girlfriend to the most popular guy in school, of course. The characterization was amazing, the movies characters were very realistic, though that didn't seem to do it. I like the movie a lot, but looking at the bigger picture I realize that it was quite a week storyline, just as a lot of other teen movies have.
2458360
This is my first exposure to this author from a free promotion. I am glad I chose this book to try. It was so different to have the merman's point of view, although I was unsettled at how the mermaids treated their mates and children. I especially enjoyed the concept that merpeople sing to communicate! Wouldn't that be lovely. Imagine thoughts and emotions communicated with notes and music instead of words that get misinterpreted. A lovely little love story. I look forward to reading about the other monsters in the series.
553078
It's pretty good.  I love the concept, and the acting was pretty good.  That said, I didn't by the chemistry between the leads.
2428193
3.5 stars

The Mermaids of Lake Michigan did not at all play out the way I expected. And thats not really a bad thing. Just different.

I had in mind that Id be reading something a la Sarah Addison Allen and Lost Lake.  And while there IS the teeniest bit of magical realism at the end, its really not the focus of the book at all. Yet, the theme of mermaids carries on at a deeper level than first anticipated as well.

Though not a literal mermaid, Elise is certainly a fish out of water among her family and peers. Later, as she sheds her figurative fins for walking legs, she  much like the most famous of mermaids  discovers life on land isn't quite as perfect as shed imagined.

This is a short novel, a quick read, but it never feels rushed. The authors writing style flows smoothly, and she keeps the reader engaged with the story at every turn. Each character that Elise encounters has a purpose, whether its a brief meeting or a family member. These characters, as well as excellent examples of foreshadowing, all serve to advance the plot and to add more layers to Elises character.

No spoilers  but I felt a certain scene toward the end of the book seemed out of place. I get why its in there, but it threw me. And it just didn't fit with the tone of the story up until that part. Without it, I think the ending would have been just as poignant. Maybe even more so.

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a coming-of-age story that appeals to adolescents, young adults, and less-young adults, The Mermaids of Lake Michigan proves a compelling choice. It takes place around the 1970s so its not really contemporary, not really historical, but somewhere in between. Different than I expected at first glance, it continued to take me by surprise but overall I enjoyed this read.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
2428211
I caught this little gem on netflix. Its a Serbian movie that was shot on location. I thought that it would be a waste of an hour and a half. The first thing that I noticed was how good the cinematography was. The acting was pretty good for a cast of unknown American and Serbian actors. This one has it all, bad guys, nazi's, babes in distress, murder and a cabalistic mermaid.
2723566
Good show, noticed some actors and actresses that are in it that went on to do other shows and or movies. Language was a little hard to understand at times but maybe that's how they spoke then.
4664938
I thought it was an interesting mini- series.
873430
It was an interesting story. The little girl was a fabulous actress. Reminded me a bit of a Toni Morrison magical type of story. Sometimes it was hard to figure out what was real and what was not.