"El Laberinto del Fauno"

[orangerful]

This morning, blu_harvest, verdatum, and I went to see 'Pan's Labrynth'. What a movie. People toss the term "modern fairytale" around a lot, but this time they are actually telling the truth! The directing is solid, the acting fantastic, the special effects all so natural. You never *feel* like you're watching a special effect, it just looks real. It all fits in this world that has been created.

The story is so simple, it's deceiving - young Ofelia finds a labyrnth behind the old mill and goes to investigate. She finds out that she might be a long lost fairy princess, but she will have to complete three tasks before she will be allowed back into the fairy realm. Easy enough. Except for the fact that the world around her is that of fascist Spain and she and her mother are living with a Captain who is trying to wipe out the local guerilla rebels. Having these two stories run side by side gave the film a level of depth I'm still processing.

There are some icky moments, and since the film is in Spanish, you'll spend (if you're like me) a small portion with your hands over your eyes, trying to peek thru just to read the subtitles but not see the grossness going on. Though the sound effects were pretty uncomfortable to hear on their own in some of these moments.

Honestly, this movie is still running around my brain right now and I can't find the words to describe it. If you want to see something different, then check it out. It's beautiful and sad and hopeful and tragic and magical all in one. It's probably not for everyone (I was surprised that it had such a solid rating on Rotten Tomatoes!) but it's worth a try.

I told blu_harvest afterwards that I probably wouldn't watch it again, but I just saw a trailer for it on TV and I actually though "I'd like to take another look at that."

Comments

[vertigozooropa.livejournal.com]

That's cool. I just got back from seeing it, too!

Loved it. Well, not loved, but I was definitely into it. Don't know what I'd love in a film right now, but El Laberinto Del Fauno was as close as I think I'll get today.

I am really glad that it was made, and that we got to see it. It's a film about a little girl, and yet it contains some of the most gruesome violence you'll find in any film. American film distributors just don't know what to do with those, and American studios won't make them.

So it's a good thing it got such good word of mouth.

Re: Howdy From Vegas

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

haha cool, glad to hear that you guys are having fun! We just had our first bit of snow here! Doubt it will be enough to get out of work tomorrow, but still, it was pretty. I like quiet little snow showers.

Anyhoo, have fun!

[dstntp1lgr1m.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw this movie twice, and the benefit of the second time around is you get a chance to reassess and process some things that you couldn't before.

I'm also still recovering from this movie. It broke my heart.

Mom had to get out of the theater right away when she saw it and she cried on the way to the car. Then when we got home she sat down and cried some more.

The whole child being stranded without her mother really got to her, and then the end just crushed her completely.

I can't wait to own this. I can't wait to be able to sit at home and escape with it myself.

[bittertwee.livejournal.com]

oh cool- good to see that this movie got your seal of approval, since I've been planning to see it. I skipped your synopsis for the time being, but I'll read it after I see the movie. btw, I made a New Years resolution to see at least two movies a month in a theater and I have already exceeded my quota for this month! Netflix viewing has slowed waaayy down though..

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

that's a crazy new years resolution! Did you ever see 'notes on a scandel'? I kept waiting for a beckanon review but I haven't seen anything! Going to two movies a month you should have SOMETHING to blog about :P

I go thru spurts with Netflix, sometimes I'm crazy and watch a movie every few days, and then (like right now) I have stuff sitting around that I'll get to, but my TV shows are back and I have xmas DVDs to get thru first!