Pan's Labyrinth
tinuviellen, valancy_s, Tinuviellen's Husband Charming and I just went out to see "Pan's Labyrinth" over at the mall movie theater. Little did we know as we were cooing over the cuddly, loveable golden retriever puppies in the pet shop window what was in store for us.
In spite of the movie's beginning, which showcased the death of the main character, Ofelia, I cherished some small hope that "Pan's Labyrinth" would end well. Perhaps this was due to the lingering aftereffects of seeing the sleeping puppies, or maybe due to the fact that I was out at a movie for the first time in ages and determined to enjoy it. Needless to say, about 20 minutes into the show much of it became unwatchable--pretty much every time Captain what's-his-name came onscreen and did something horrible to someone, like beating their nose into their face with a bottle. That was the last horrible thing I saw him do, because after that I covered my eyes. A lot. A great deal of the violence was purely unwatchable for me and those with me.
The foley artists of "Pan's Labyrinth" went completely overboard with every little sound. My shoulders and neck grew so tense after Ofelia's encounter with a strange, flying insect (each tap of the insect's legs made with distinct, echoing loudness, each buzz of its wings shivering the delicate hairs off of my eardrums) that I nearly needed a muscle relaxant, which I believe the theater was offering next to the six dollar box of Junior Mints at the concession stand. And yes folks, that's just the BEGINNING of the movie. I was foleyed, make no mistake.
Additionally, the numerous disturbing scenes of people's noses being beaten with hammers or bottles, or creatures whose noses simply didn't exist, gave me phantom nose pains that linger even now.
I would write about the weird, noseless, baby-eating monster with eyes in its hands, but I've got to try to get some sleep after writing this entry. Although this may sound indelicate, that thing is going to have me crapping myself in my dreams for months to come.
At one point valancy_s left to go to the bathroom, and later confessed that she was tempted to just go back and look at the puppies again. We all reflected afterwards that the film had no concept of "suggesting" violence instead of showing it, or when it would be appropriate to cut away from scenes of horror. No thank you movie, I don't need to see that knife slice through the Captain's cheek; I don't need to see the tortured guy's mangled face and hand, or the guy getting shot in the face, or the blood pouring out of that woman's uterus.
It's tough when your favorite bit of a movie is the part where someone doesn't die or isn't horribly mutilated by the hated villain. I mean, it was a RELIEF when Ofelia's mother dies in childbirth, because you can tick her off the list of potential victims of the Captain.
Afterwards, we were trying to find meaning in the film; what we took away from it to think about afterwards. Giving up one's life for another; the triumph of innocence; choosing to question instead of to mindlessly obey; and perhaps to take a moment to delicately stroke one's own nose, thankful that it is in one piece and protruding reasonably in the center of one's face.
In spite of the movie's beginning, which showcased the death of the main character, Ofelia, I cherished some small hope that "Pan's Labyrinth" would end well. Perhaps this was due to the lingering aftereffects of seeing the sleeping puppies, or maybe due to the fact that I was out at a movie for the first time in ages and determined to enjoy it. Needless to say, about 20 minutes into the show much of it became unwatchable--pretty much every time Captain what's-his-name came onscreen and did something horrible to someone, like beating their nose into their face with a bottle. That was the last horrible thing I saw him do, because after that I covered my eyes. A lot. A great deal of the violence was purely unwatchable for me and those with me.
The foley artists of "Pan's Labyrinth" went completely overboard with every little sound. My shoulders and neck grew so tense after Ofelia's encounter with a strange, flying insect (each tap of the insect's legs made with distinct, echoing loudness, each buzz of its wings shivering the delicate hairs off of my eardrums) that I nearly needed a muscle relaxant, which I believe the theater was offering next to the six dollar box of Junior Mints at the concession stand. And yes folks, that's just the BEGINNING of the movie. I was foleyed, make no mistake.
Additionally, the numerous disturbing scenes of people's noses being beaten with hammers or bottles, or creatures whose noses simply didn't exist, gave me phantom nose pains that linger even now.
I would write about the weird, noseless, baby-eating monster with eyes in its hands, but I've got to try to get some sleep after writing this entry. Although this may sound indelicate, that thing is going to have me crapping myself in my dreams for months to come.
At one point valancy_s left to go to the bathroom, and later confessed that she was tempted to just go back and look at the puppies again. We all reflected afterwards that the film had no concept of "suggesting" violence instead of showing it, or when it would be appropriate to cut away from scenes of horror. No thank you movie, I don't need to see that knife slice through the Captain's cheek; I don't need to see the tortured guy's mangled face and hand, or the guy getting shot in the face, or the blood pouring out of that woman's uterus.
It's tough when your favorite bit of a movie is the part where someone doesn't die or isn't horribly mutilated by the hated villain. I mean, it was a RELIEF when Ofelia's mother dies in childbirth, because you can tick her off the list of potential victims of the Captain.
Afterwards, we were trying to find meaning in the film; what we took away from it to think about afterwards. Giving up one's life for another; the triumph of innocence; choosing to question instead of to mindlessly obey; and perhaps to take a moment to delicately stroke one's own nose, thankful that it is in one piece and protruding reasonably in the center of one's face.