Laberinto del Fauno, El (Pan's Labyrinth) - 6 Oscar Nominations!
http://www.panslabyrinth.com
A word of warning! We're slightly prejudiced in this film review... We went to see our friend, Doug Jones (http://www.thedougjonesexperience.com/pan.htm) in Pans Labryinth as Fauno and The Pale Man. Doug also had a co-starring role in Carnies (which we are helping produce) and it was his rare role being without heavy makeup. The anticipation of seeing our friend's performance did, in no way, prepare us for the cinematic feast upon which Reggie and I gladly engourged ourselves for 119 minutes!
Our other friend, Guillermo del Toro directed and wrote the screenplay. (It makes me wanna give up trying to write!) Like Guillermo, I'm quite fond of fairy tale illustrations. Not the cleaned up versions we get here in America. The orignal source of any story far outways the watered down version it becomes through telling and retelling. They are raw and inspiring and scarier than any film I could imagine. They all have purpose and a moral.
This movie was so awesome but is SO NOT for anyone under 13 years as it is written in a very realistic setting and there is violence and language.
"The year is 1944, and a small family moves into an old house in Spain after the rise of Fascism. Captain Vidal, a brutal Fascist officer sent to quell rebels in this remote area, has brought his fragile and pregnant wife and her 12-year-old daughter Ofelia with him. Neglected and disliked by her step-father, Ofelia discovers a ruined labyrinth beside their old home and meets the guardian of the labyrinth - an ancient being, a Faun, beguiling ... teasing ... deadly ..."
SPOILER: There's a scene where a character get's shot in the face and his eyeball rolls back in his head. WOW! Another where his face is sliced open at the mouth AND then he SEWS IT BACK! HOLY CRAP! To say that the SFX were to DIE for is an unjust understatement. They were amazing. Guillermo Navarro (DP) and Eugenio Caballero (production design) have such an amazing eye for detail in each and every scene. wow.
I'm a big fan also of young people in films. Ivana Baquero (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1419440) was AMAZING as Ophelia, a little girl whose innocence is lost as she must accomplish her three major tasks to become the new Queen of the Udnerground. You can see it in her eyes, her peformance, her very being, maturing before our eyes on screen. BRAVA, Ivana! BRAVA!
(FYI Look at the credits and you'll see that the two fairies who meet their demize are called "Cheech and Chong, May they rest in Peace.")
In a word "Laberinto del Fauno, El (Pan's Labyrinth)" was... beautifully shot (oh, that's two), artistic... beguiling... and AMAZING. A faiery tale for grown up kids. TWO SNAPS AND A TWIST!
Oh, and Dougie? We're speechless. You were amazing, are amazing, and a lovely man.
Vampi