tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post7933072105853886595..comments2024-03-17T02:20:03.772-05:00Comments on Riding With The Top Down: Pan's Labyrinth. . . do you need to see it?Kathleen Eaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-59188878286399638042007-02-06T17:27:00.000-06:002007-02-06T17:27:00.000-06:00The twenty-something sons of my neighbor looooved ...The twenty-something sons of my neighbor looooved it. They've each seen it twice and are big film/game guys. My friend (a woman of my age) saw it and was disturbed by the violence.<br /><br />I'm not sure if I'm going to see it, but my curiosity is getting stronger, Betina.Christie Ridgwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17036552271272402052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-30656439744307670492007-02-06T15:19:00.000-06:002007-02-06T15:19:00.000-06:00Oops, sorry, posted twice! I did want to add...at...Oops, sorry, posted twice! I did want to add...at the very end when the princess is 'wherever the kingdom is', (which I expected to be Hell), but it obviously wasn't, that's when I think I could have screamed, because during the whole movie I was believing one thing, then it didn't mesh for the final shot. Aggh!<br />MMichele Haufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12255612473985897103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-19630830213742285102007-02-06T15:16:00.001-06:002007-02-06T15:16:00.001-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Michele Haufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12255612473985897103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-89614368849084396692007-02-06T15:16:00.000-06:002007-02-06T15:16:00.000-06:00Betina, I blogged about this last week, and I feel...Betina, I blogged about this last week, and I feel exactly the same as you do. Was it worth it? What was I supposed to come away from the theater with? I just didn't get it.<br /><br />This is my take. At the beginning, during the narration, I took it to mean that the princess came from a netherworld, and to me that was Hell. So when the Pan was trying to tempt her to rescue his kingdom, I was thinking 'he wants her to open up Hell'.<br />And her adventures were Hellish, so that worked for me. <br />And in the end, innocence sacrificed, and yet, the brutal soldier (whom I viewed as the King of Hell) walked out of the labyrinth with the Prince of Hell, the baby, because innocents' blood had spilled into their realm.<br />Now, that's how I understood it, but trust me, things like plot points can whoosh over my head fairly easily. So while that's my interpretation, I don't think it's exactly right.<br /><br />As for how the faery tale stuff meshed with the real world, I didn't get that at all. Seemed like two different movies to me, and I sorely wanted much more of the fantasy. Enough of the torture stuff. I had read enough reviews, though, to know to look away when I sensed a torture scene coming on.<br /><br />What was the purpose of the girl's quest in relation to the real-life stuff going on? I need to know!<br /><br />And yes, what did the director want us to take away from this flick? <br /><br />Sure, it was visually stunning, but I too, do not see where the award-winning stuff comes into play.<br /><br />Sigh... I love movies that make a person think and ask questions, but this one was too much. It hurt my brain a little bit, and I'm getting a headache now just thinking about it.<br /><br />MicheleMichele Haufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12255612473985897103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-19061913732134159152007-02-06T12:36:00.000-06:002007-02-06T12:36:00.000-06:00I think this may be one of those movies for the re...I think this may be one of those movies for the real "cinema" people. The artistes among us.<br /><br />And I don't mean that to sound surly or envious or patronizing. People who enjoy the artistic development of films and like to explore the boundaries would probably love this movie. There is a lot of boundary-pushing and the line between real and fantasy is totally obscured. An artfully made movie.<br /><br />But my feeling is that it appeals far more to Hollywood-genre-jaded critics and people who appreciate the technicality and seamlessness of the achievement. For people who love a good story and mostly go to films to be entertained, it's a bit much.<br /><br />Also. . . the line on the poster about innocence overcoming evil. . . hmmm. If that's supposed to be the theme, I'm still left cold. Because in my lexicon innocence is really just lack of exposure, lack of wisdom, lack of experience. And, honey, none of those things is likely to help you if you're confronting true evil.<br /><br />It takes a lot more than a wide-eyed ten-year-old to confront and defeat fascist cruelty. At the end of the movie it is LOVE and COURAGE that make a difference in the world, not innocence.<br /><br />So, I'm still left wondering and wishing I could sit down for a heart-to-heart with the director and the writer!<br /><br />:) BetinaBetina Krahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11379124690406269848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-69194731894841984772007-02-06T10:58:00.000-06:002007-02-06T10:58:00.000-06:00Betina-- I haven't seen it yet for exactly the re...Betina-- I haven't seen it yet for exactly the reasons you've mentioned. I'm not in the mood for an ambiguous film. My first reaction was "oh what a beautifully-shot fantasy! Can't wait!"<br /><br />And then the reviews began to come in and I realized the film was not at all what I thought and began to back away from my enthusiasm.<br /><br />I'm sure I will at least see it when it hits NetFlix, but I'm not sure I want to toddle to the theater to see it!Debra Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992776098849029414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-29939664750538893742007-02-06T10:47:00.000-06:002007-02-06T10:47:00.000-06:00Betina, I haven't seen it and it sounds fascinatin...Betina, I haven't seen it and it sounds fascinating but for the gruesome violence. I have to admit, the older I get, the less I can tolerate in that arena.<br /><br />I actually left the theater in the middle of King Kong. Couldn't stand how over the top they took that story.<br /><br />Sounds like I might have to pass on this one.Helen Brennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680081195181747377noreply@blogger.com