Monday, July 27, 2009

Pan's Labyrinth




I saw the trailer and clips of this movie on YouTube, and the Pale Man scene was riveting. I'm going to watch it if I can find a copy at the library.

The visuals look stunning, but it's the story which seems most intriguing - the power of myth and magic, the horror of the labyrinth's denizens (and those of the real world) against the courage of a child, and an ending which is sad and hopeful at once. If anyone else has seen it, what did you think?

18 comments:

JH said...

Watch it, it's great.

Marian Perera said...

Well, if you say so...

Sarpedon said...

I'm surprised you haven't seen it. Its one of my favorites. Lots of people were angered by it because they thought it was a children's movie, but its not. The Captain is one of my top movie villains, right up there with Brick Top and Darth Vader. The pale man is not nearly as scary as the Captain.

Spartezda said...

I love it ridiculously. Even my mother, who isn't much into fantasy, was captivated the entire time by the story. Just wonderful.

Marian Perera said...

I just got back from the library, where I had my name added to the waiting list for the DVD.

I'm number 23. :|

Anonymous said...

Even the technique of Pan's Labyrinth is breathtaking. The writers, the director, and the artists and designers did a fabulous job on that movie. It's one of my all-time favorites.

That said, it's powerful enough that I've only watched it three or four times. The intermeshing of historical war and fairy tale really contrast the two aspects: fantasy makes the war even more realistic, and the violence is short, utterly believable, and leaves me with my hands ready to cover my ears whenever I know one of those scenes are coming up (because the sound is far worse).

I don't want to spoil anything, really, so I'd better end it there. I will say that crossing the two genres the way they did gives Pan's Labyrinth a really unique flavor. It's also whimsical, violent, and completely in Spanish (do NOT watch it dubbed).

If that's at all appealing, I'd say skip the library list. For the few times I've seen it, I've never regretting buying this one blind.

Marian Perera said...

It sounds great, elizaw, but I recently quit my job to go back to school and am trying to economize as much as possible. So buying DVDs is out, I'm afraid. I don't mind waiting to borrow it, though.

Sarpedon said...

Orly? What are you studying now?

Marian Perera said...

I've been accepted at the Michener Institute of Health Sciences. First, though, there were a lot of medical tests.

So I went to a lab (owned by the same company I worked for) where they drew eight tubes of blood, and after that was done, I fainted quietly in a chair and came around to find three anxious technicians wiping my face. Though once I told them I was having the tests so I could become a medical laboratory technologist, they all laughed. :)

Anonymous said...

I love the film. Bought it here in Germany. Unfortunately, it came without any English subtitles, so I couldn't understand all the dialogue. But I got enough of it.

A very dark film- yet also with hope. Highly recommend it.

Sarpedon said...

That reminds me, its nearly time for me to give blood again. Huzzah!

8 of those little tubes, huh? That must be pretty close to your total.

Marian Perera said...

No kidding. I was nearly exsanguinated.

bermudaonion said...

My son loves this movie!

Marian Perera said...

Since I don't know any Spanish other than "Que?" a la Manuel from Fawlty Towers, I really hope the library's copy comes with subtitles.

colbymarshall said...

Want to see this, too! Let us know what you think!

Venus said...

The story of Pan's is mesmerizing and goes far deeper below the surface than a simple unfolding of events. The blurring of reality and illusion in particular is so majestically done that you feel transported into a dream world without the slightest sense of qualm about leaving strict reality behind. It is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Love it. Watch. I don't know enough of your taste to know what you like but I would be very surprised if you didn't find something in it to move you.

rosemerry said...

This movie is simply amazing. My fiance and I own it. The captain is a truly bad guy.

Marian Perera said...

I read some of his dialogue online. Delightfully vicious.