Napoleon Bonaparte once quipped, "What is history but a fable agreed upon?" In the hyper-realistic world of cinema, many fable-based plots are too far-fetched. But every now and then, you find one with enough substance and meaning to create a fantastic viewing experience that immediately sucks you in for the duration.

In Lady in the Water, an intricate tale written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village), Paul Giamatti (Sideways) plays Cleveland, a doctor-turned-apartment manager hiding from the truth in his personal life. One night, while inspecting the swimming pool on the property, Cleveland makes contact with Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), a magical underwater nymph that is sent to find a blessed writer who can help her save the world. Of course, the task is not that easy.

As the story unfolds, more characters emerge -- the most dangerous of which is an ugly blood-sucking jackal-like creature out to get Story. To protect her, Cleveland assembles an eclectic group of residents, each with their own individual strengths and abilities to live up to specific roles such as interpreter, healer, symbolist, and guardian.

As the story progresses, the vigilant group throws a nighttime soirée around the pool to scare away the menacing beast and help Story get back to the Blue World. But as the party continues, the stress builds and confusion takes over. As a result, a well-crafted horror scene beings to unwind.

In addition to the many humorous moments in the film, Lady in the Water works particularly well because of its nice development of characters, deep messages, and a wonderful mixture of cast members that includes Giamatti, Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Freddy Rodriguez, and even Shyamalan, a director known for making cameos in his own movies.

With the reoccurring water theme in mind, a delicious wine to pair with the film is the Leacock's Rainwater Madeira ($15*), an intriguing medium bodied fortified wine that features fruity flavors of apricot, melon, and papaya, layered notes of orange rind, nutmeg, raw honey and toasted nuts, and an elegant touch of creaminess on the finish.

Since the 1700s, this unique style of fortified wine has been made on the island of Madeira off the coast of Portugal. With a taste profile similar to tawny port or a medium sherry, this style of wine became popular with sailors and colonists moving to the New World because it did not spoil when kept in barrels for long periods of time. Thus, the term "rainwater" refers to the way the barrels could be diluted by rain when kept on the top level of a ship. Today, it simply refers to a medium-dry style.

This wine is best served slightly chilled either by itself or with a nice cheese plate, nuts, and fruit. And if you don't finish the bottle, don't worry. Simply pop the top back on and it will last indefinitely. Think of it this way: if it worked for seafaring travelers before movies were invented, it can work for you as well!

* Prices quoted in U.S. dollars