SPOILER FREE Reviews From The 2006 TIFF
Pan's Labyrinth
Pan's Labyrinth is the tale of a young girl named Ofelia, along with her very pregnant mother, who goes to live with her new stepfather the military tyrant Captain Vidal. Ofelia hates her new life, and refuses to call Vidal "father", despite her mothers wishes. Following what she believes to be a fairy, Ofelia discovers a fawn creature, keeper of the labyrinth near her new home, who entrusts her with three increasingly difficult tasks to complete.
This film is incredible. Despite all the hype I've been absorbing over the past year while anticipating Pan's Labyrinth, I wasn't let down in the slightest. I guarantee this film will live on every DVD lovers shelf, quickly replacing Labyrinth, Legend, and The Never Ending Story as their favorite fantasy film. Director Guillermo del Toro creates a magical world so real that it lives side by side with the real world without issue. His wondrous creatures: fairies, a fawn, and a terrible thing called The Pale Man are brought chillingly to life. His greatest achievement however, despite the inclusion of these creatures, is showing man as the most terrible monster of all.
Guillermo was hilarious in the Q&A after the film. The one thing that struck me as odd was his misunderstanding of one of his inspirations, C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. He even said that Lewis became too Christian for him [paraphrased]. Which I think is hilarious because this film, Guillermo del Toro's magnum opus, is the greatest christian fable I've ever seen on screen, whether that was his intention or not.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Fawntastic! (I feel shame for even considering that to be funny)
Sleeping Dogs Lie
Okay. This is a movie written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. You know, that guy from the Police Academy movies! No, not the black guy who made sound effects, the guy with the funny voice. [This was one of Bobcat's jokes when he intro'd the film]. Still reading? Good. It's a romantic comedy about a girl who gives her dog a blowjob in college (she's in college, the dog isn't ... that I know of). Still reading? Really?
Bobcat had an amazing and fresh idea for a film here. Take an idea that no one will accept (dog-job) and use it to dig yourself a hole. Now get your characters to dig themselves out somehow (dig up stupid!). In doing so, he created a bunch of realistic characters, flawed but amazing people that make mistakes, that you actually care about whether you agree with their actions or not. That's hard to do. Aside from being effective dramatically, it's awkward as hell and very funny. I just wish Bobcat had more of a role than a brief ass-cameo in the film. I can't get enough of that guy!
Part of my dream in life is to make the people who make me laugh, laugh in return. Bobcat has always made me laugh and I got a chuckle out of him in the Q&A after the film when I asked "Did the dog have a fluffer, or a stunt cock on set?". Hee hee.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Spit-take!
Bugmaster
Directed by legendary Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Bugmaster is a departure (though not the first) from his usual work in that it is live-action rather than animation. The story, based on an acclaimed manga by Yuki Urushibara, revolves around a white-haired boy named Ginko who has lost his youth and one eye studying the Mushi, translucent supernatural bug like creatures that cling to the souls of their victims and cause them harm. As a bugmaster, Ginko cures people of their Mushi related problems, while traveling the beautiful countryside.
This screening apparently featured an unfinished version of the film, which renders this review useless. Though sprinkled with some interesting ideas, the film drags what could have been an interesting short film into a painfully boring feature length film. I hope to get my hands on the manga and anime for a better understanding. I also hope that lackluster reviews will encourage Otomo to get back to the drawing board, literally, and create a new animated masterpiece.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Could have been a contender.
Pan's Labyrinth is the tale of a young girl named Ofelia, along with her very pregnant mother, who goes to live with her new stepfather the military tyrant Captain Vidal. Ofelia hates her new life, and refuses to call Vidal "father", despite her mothers wishes. Following what she believes to be a fairy, Ofelia discovers a fawn creature, keeper of the labyrinth near her new home, who entrusts her with three increasingly difficult tasks to complete.
This film is incredible. Despite all the hype I've been absorbing over the past year while anticipating Pan's Labyrinth, I wasn't let down in the slightest. I guarantee this film will live on every DVD lovers shelf, quickly replacing Labyrinth, Legend, and The Never Ending Story as their favorite fantasy film. Director Guillermo del Toro creates a magical world so real that it lives side by side with the real world without issue. His wondrous creatures: fairies, a fawn, and a terrible thing called The Pale Man are brought chillingly to life. His greatest achievement however, despite the inclusion of these creatures, is showing man as the most terrible monster of all.
Guillermo was hilarious in the Q&A after the film. The one thing that struck me as odd was his misunderstanding of one of his inspirations, C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. He even said that Lewis became too Christian for him [paraphrased]. Which I think is hilarious because this film, Guillermo del Toro's magnum opus, is the greatest christian fable I've ever seen on screen, whether that was his intention or not.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Fawntastic! (I feel shame for even considering that to be funny)
Sleeping Dogs Lie
Okay. This is a movie written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. You know, that guy from the Police Academy movies! No, not the black guy who made sound effects, the guy with the funny voice. [This was one of Bobcat's jokes when he intro'd the film]. Still reading? Good. It's a romantic comedy about a girl who gives her dog a blowjob in college (she's in college, the dog isn't ... that I know of). Still reading? Really?
Bobcat had an amazing and fresh idea for a film here. Take an idea that no one will accept (dog-job) and use it to dig yourself a hole. Now get your characters to dig themselves out somehow (dig up stupid!). In doing so, he created a bunch of realistic characters, flawed but amazing people that make mistakes, that you actually care about whether you agree with their actions or not. That's hard to do. Aside from being effective dramatically, it's awkward as hell and very funny. I just wish Bobcat had more of a role than a brief ass-cameo in the film. I can't get enough of that guy!
Part of my dream in life is to make the people who make me laugh, laugh in return. Bobcat has always made me laugh and I got a chuckle out of him in the Q&A after the film when I asked "Did the dog have a fluffer, or a stunt cock on set?". Hee hee.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Spit-take!
Bugmaster
Directed by legendary Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Bugmaster is a departure (though not the first) from his usual work in that it is live-action rather than animation. The story, based on an acclaimed manga by Yuki Urushibara, revolves around a white-haired boy named Ginko who has lost his youth and one eye studying the Mushi, translucent supernatural bug like creatures that cling to the souls of their victims and cause them harm. As a bugmaster, Ginko cures people of their Mushi related problems, while traveling the beautiful countryside.
This screening apparently featured an unfinished version of the film, which renders this review useless. Though sprinkled with some interesting ideas, the film drags what could have been an interesting short film into a painfully boring feature length film. I hope to get my hands on the manga and anime for a better understanding. I also hope that lackluster reviews will encourage Otomo to get back to the drawing board, literally, and create a new animated masterpiece.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Could have been a contender.