Saw Pans labyrinth the other week, and it really knocked me out!
it's so brutal, and yet innocent, spanish civil war and a child's imagination,
wonder if anyone else had seen it, and what they thought.

Yes it's good, but not as good as everyone makes it out to be.

It's a more Europhile version of a Terry Gillian film imo. Certainly better than most Hollywood fare in that area (but what isn't?).

There is a brutality that would prevent me from recommending to everyone. And I think that the brutality overpowers the magic that the film might have. With this in mind, I think that the ending jars. I won't say why as it will be a spoiler if anyone else hasn't seen the film.

Stylistically the film is very impressive. Some excellent visuals, and th direction is very taut.

I have to go by my gut reaction and say that emotionally the film didn't stay with me, and I wouldn't be in a hurry to watch it again. But it is certainly worth viewing if you're ok with taking your light with a very dark shade. And I'm ok with dark films.. but in this instance, there was precious little of the magic by comparison.

It is really dark, i didn't expect it to be so dark, i've heard parents have been going to get if for kids, hope they didn't end up watching it.
It's one of those great occasions when you are blown away by a film.
I think it works so well because of the stark juxtapositioning of the two realities git gives both extra force, light and shade etc.
I know what you mean about gillian, but i think Pan's labyrinth is less surreal- it's more about two coherent parallel worlds co-existing, and for the main part independent of each other, and it's essentially a moral tale, but as you say best not to give too much away.

Yes, I also like films that juxtaspose light and dark.. the same with anything in the arts, whether music, literature, paintings etc.

I just thought that some of the brutality didn't need to be there in order to create this juxtaposition. The film did not focus as much on the main character as I thought that it would, so I do think that there was an imbalance between the light and the dark. I really hope that parents haven't shown it to their children as it is cateogrically not for children! It's very much an adult fairy tale imo.

There are certainly some clever moments in the film, and generally I just love the European style of cinema, full stop, which includes this film. It probably did also deserve the many accolades that it has garnered, as I don't think that there were many outstanding films last year that should have ought to have won instead. It's the same with Little Miss Sunshine: it's a nice little film which has its moments.. but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination.

I haven't seen this film, is it still out?

I saw the 300 last night, and I really enjoyed it :)

I saw it on dvd the other week, i don't think it's still doing the rounds at the cinama's, it's quite moving-but then i watched it with friends and i thought it was brilliant they didn't rate it much.

sorry i meant i saw pan's labyrinth, not 300

God, I adore this film! :bow:
I saw it at this little art house cinema in Bloomsbury and was really pissed off at having to pay 9 quid entry to see it, but it was worth every penny!
I'd heard very good stuff about it from Mark Kermode, the five live film reviewer, but I didn't really expect it to be as good as he said it was. It was just the most beautiful film I have seen in a long time, I completely connected to it on an emotional level (I confess there was a tear or two :cry: - which is v. rare for me)! The cinematography was amazing too.

Just an all round masterpiece! I think you get the picture, lol.

Realise it's a long time since this film was on the big screen,but watched it for first time on dvd yesterday.I thought it was brilliant-thought-provoking,moving,magical and brutal.One of the best films I've seen for ages. :bow:

I loved Pan's Labyrinth! It was one of the few films I've seen in which the violence actually registers.

Currently listening to the Pan's Labyrinth soundtrack.. am very impressed with it..

It's quite dark in places a la Danny Elfman (Tim Burton films. Batman etc) .. but also has a wonderful fragility to it.. nowhere near as generic as a lot of film music.. quite the opposite.. distinctive, powerful and haunting.

Definitely recommended!

Samples of the soundtrack are on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebGorMugbAA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS5p-so3OZg

I really want to see this film, our local vid hire shop only has it in the original Spanish language and German unfortunately.

As it seems to be highly recommended, I think I may hire it to watch one day when Mrs Lex is at work :)

Absolutely fantastic.Fully spanish with subtitles.I was astonuded at how good it was with a great storyline.

Fantastic :ok: