Pan's Labyrinth

[Alex]

I agree with what the last several people have said. It isn't a deciding factor, just a case of the director taking sides where it isn't (in my opinion) important to do so.

I've found several people now that I'm reading more reviews who viewed it as the del Toro explicitly answering the question (including Mick La Salle of the San Francisco Chronicle).

It just struck me as an unnecessary moment. Since that is pretty much my biggest quible it just highlights how satisfying the movie was.


Steve, is it possible that the subtitles are impacting your ability to enjoy the movie? I know you don't like subtitles.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Steve, is it possible that the subtitles are impacting your ability to enjoy the movie? I know you don't like subtitles.

Absolutely, they did. No doubt about it. And they will be a problem for me even when I watch the film again, which I haven't had a chance to do ... it's out on loan (my pleasure, ChernaJoe).

I also had a problem with the violence and brutality mixed with even so dark a fantasy world of a child. That's an element that just didn't sit right with me and weirded me out ... but now that I'm aware of it, I'll simply accept the film on its own terms when I get to re-watch it.

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I also had a problem with the violence and brutality mixed with even so dark a fantasy world of a child. That's an element that just didn't sit right with me and weirded me out ... but now that I'm aware of it, I'll simply accept the film on its own terms when I get to re-watch it.

I think the violence wasn't gratuitous -- the real world needed to be so scary that Ofelia had to try and escape (into the fantasy world, or into her own mind...).

(Plus those old fairy tales are REALLY disgusting, actually)

Again, this is not a happy tra-la-la fairy story.

Spoiler:

Though if Tinkerbell got her head gnawed off by the Pale Man, that'd be pretty fuk'n cool