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March 23, 2007
Pan's Labrynth
I just saw this movie. Oh. My. God.
What can I say? It's gorgeous. Stunning. Breathtaking special effects, amazing story, incredible art design, glorious cinematography, great sound design, really strong acting performances. All in all, a truly great film.
And I love that the hero is a 12 year-old girl. Love that a lot.
I also love the fact that you're never quite sure how much is real and how much is the overactive imagination of a little girl who just wants to escape the bleak horribleness that is her reality.
But. Not a movie for children or those with weak stomachs or overactive imaginations. Because boy is it bloody. And terrifying in places. The images are vivid enough that they're still in my head in full technicolor. A couple of 12 year-old boys who came with their parents had to leave partway through. The violence and the gore and the language were just too much for them. Actually, in several places they were too much for me, and I had to try to figure out how to read the subtitles with my hands over my eyes.
(Interestingly, I had no trouble actually understanding the speakers. Their intentions were clear even when I wasn't reading the subtitles. Which is why I prefer subtitles to dubbing. After the first few minutes, you forget you're reading anyway.)
But if you haven't seen Pan's Labrynth and it comes to an art theatre near you, go. It's a great story well told.
Posted by sally at March 23, 2007 08:45 PM
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