Pan's labyrinth
Two supremely amazing movies in a day !
Pats herself on the back. The movie maniac in me suddenly feels alive and blessed.
(I am also thinking of converting this blog into a movie recommendations place!!)
They screened Pan's Labyrinth at school yesterday. I dragged my friends into it. And thank god I did :)
What a wonderful movie! I am drawn towards fantasy fiction, whether in writing or movies. From Potter which I prefer in written format, Lord of the rings, which I liked in graphic format as I could not finish the book, to Eragon series, which I am still reading. I am also a devotee of Sci-fi movies like Independence day, terminator, star wars, but that's not the point here. Some of these movies/books become memorable, unerasable. You derive something from them beyond their fictional value. Pan's Labyrinth is in that category.
Pan's Labyrinth is a beautiful portrayal of the futility of war. It is based sometime in the 1940's during Spanish civil war. It tells the innocent, charming and equally sad story of a 10 year old girl Ofelia (I love the name!!!). Ofelia reads a lot of books and quite like any 10 year old has a fantasy world woven in her mind. When she travels with her pregnant mother to her step father's (Captain Vidal) base camp, she wants to escape the brutal ways of Vidal. She finds a confidante in Mercedes (the servant and sister of a rebel). There Ofelia meets an insect whom she believes into a fairy and follows it to an old labyrinth. There a faun tells her that she is a princess from the underworld, who should return to her kingdom by proving that her essence is intact. He gives her 3 tasks. In order to accomplish those tasks, Ofelia must take care of her mother, unborn brother, face the wrath of her evil father and sustain the difficult times of the war.
What happens is for you to find out.
It has a background score derived from a Spanish lullaby which gives the perfect undertone to the movie. Its shot in dense forests and greenery which is a welcome change to the eyes. Only turn off about the movie is, some scenes are so revolting that you have to close your eyes. Ok I did that, you might not need to do it. :)
Recommended if you like fantasies and highly recommended if you don't want to miss a Mexican gem!!
~nightflier