Jan 28 - Del Toro is in

gideon · Feb 5, 2008

On PANS LABYRINTH ..... I felt the best scenes in the movie were the non fantasy ones of the Spanish fascists and the struggle for the soul of the country. The Captain was a fascinating evil character and the actor was tremendous. The fantasy stuff was uneven and bordered far more on horror than anything I can see translated to the fantasy world of HOBBIT.

Del Toro is a very good director who has an obviously good eye for composing a scene. He needs to develop a bit more subtlety in his writing - for example the idea that the woman Mercedes was going to eventually knife the Captain with that paring knife she rolled in her apron was loud and clear long before it happened.

But all in all it is a very good film. I just don't see a direct transference to HOBBIT. But you can say the same for Jacksons pre-LOTR films also.

Red · Feb 5, 2008

Nice post Gid.

Yes although i enjoyed the movie i wasnt blown away like most of the reviews i read although since some joker had posted the ending that probably had a great deal to do with it.
I agree that the fantasy was just ok and there was more interest in the battle with the rebels.Maybe if i watch it a later date i might feel more of a connection with the main character.Anyway fingers crossed that DT comes through and we have two flicks that are anything close to LOTR in their own way of course.

tomandshell · Feb 5, 2008

Because of the advertising, I was expecting much more fantasy sequences in PL than we actually got--that impacted my impression of the film. I kept waiting for it to become the movie that I was expecting instead of just enjoying the movie as it was. I actually enjoyed it more the second time, knowing what to expect and appreciating it more fully.

Kuzeh · Feb 6, 2008

I think the advertising was misleading,
and the fact that people aren't used to this type of cinema and were expecting a Hollywood-esque fantasy film.

I honestly was blown away when I saw it, even though it borrows elements from movies like Alice in Wonderland, Labyrinth and Mirrormask, but in a completely different setting with a very creative environment. And things go deep emotionally, and deals more on how a children tries to survive a hostile environment by creating their own world and the ending just show you how reality bites.

I honestly think it's a masterpiece, and that Del Toro will make the Hobbit an amazing movie, but as always, some people will like it, some people won't.
Just as it happened with PJ's LOTR trilogy.

Red · Feb 7, 2008

Will definately be watching it again to see if i enjoy it more the second time around.With PJ and DT we cant go wrong can we?

spaceman · Feb 9, 2008

Redman said:
Will definately be watching it again to see if i enjoy it more the second time around.With PJ and DT we cant go wrong can we?

I hope not

I've been a little bummed that PJ isn't the main man, and have avoided most news/discussion on the project. But a lot of the creative team is intact, and PJ is overseeing it all (hopefully from not too great a distance). So - I've decided to have a little faith.

I agree mostly with Gid on Pan's Labrynth. Dramatic scenes will not be a problem.