pan's labyrinth
for a very fresh take on fairytale's, pan's labyrinth is really a good change from all the hype and saturation of hollywood.
"a fairytale for adults" is what it's been hailed.
and i can't agree more.
i went in expecting a pretty decent film, since i didn't know at that point of time how good it really is. and boy, did it surprise me.
the first scene already depeicts a typical fairytale start where they tell of a story of a princess, who lived long, long ago in an underworld kingdom, who escaped from her keepers to seek out the sun and feel the earth. once above, she lost all memory of who she was and disintegrated. the king, saddened, still held hope that one day, the soul of his precious daughter would return, in another time, another entity.
and he would wait for her return, till his last breath.
i felt like a small girl again. the story of Ofelia, a spanish girl, really manages to bring out the innocence and naivety that is of a child. alongside the storyline of Ofelia's adventures, runs the plot of her stepfather, Captain Vidal. the adult in all of us will be able to analyse his character and agree with his ruling or spite it with all rationality.
the creatures that Ofelia encounters intruigued me. and the only downside i immediately noticed was, "how is a girl of her age and naivety, be able to be bold and unafraid of these mythical creatures that exist in the dark and eerie labryinth?" i for one, know i would shit in my undies.
there's not much to complain about this fantasy film. but then again, that's all up to interpretation. my boy, for example, found it "okay".
watch it for yourself. you just might be surprised. :)
*note: for an excellent review of the fim, click here. it sums up what i've said, and what i wish my half-ass english capabilities could express. bravo!
