RojoPan's Labyrinth
Wow! That’s all I can say about Pan’s.
A visual symphony, a delight to behold, and optical feast. Great performances though I did find the little girl a bit wooden but shit that’s me trying to fault her and she is a kid, god does smile on the child actor with talent.
The villain is a great juxtaposition on Hannibal in that there is nothing redeeming about him whatsoever, a pure bad guy, truly malevolent, a right cunt (excuse the language, but how evil is the scene with the farmers and the bottle).
But, yes there is a but.
On the cover the blurb read something about this being like Alice in Wonderland, I was like cool she enters the labyrinth and becomes a princess, but no. She has to perform three tasks in the real world, this is where for me the movie was a let down. I thought that she would enter into another world and there was going to be amazing creatures around every corner.
Ok that is my only real gripe, apart from that the Oscars attained for Cinematography and Art Direction were richly deserved, actually I can’t think of another movie that had anywhere as good Art Direction (people a good movie needs a good script, next is Art dept it’s vital). Barry Lyndon is one that jumps to mind but that’s me searching for a film.
People this is a must see if you say “oh it’s got sub-titles” I suggest you not read my column anymore, or “but it’s about a kid, it must be a kids movie” shit man Madagascar has references to American Beauty, kids movies are made for adults to take there kids to not for kids to go alone, and this ain’t a kids movie this is a family movie that to be honest would have given me nightmares as a child (the creature with eyes in his hand, creepy.)
Do yourself a favour get this out, download it, whatever you have to just watch it. Now I don’t want to seem like I’m a stoner or a advocate of pot but I do love to have a little toot on some of the wacky tobbaccie before I watch movies (short attention span) and this is one of those movies that the guru prescribes a cone for. Not like Fritz the Cat or Allegro non Tropo type stoned up film, it’s one to just a lay back and enjoy a beautiful piece of work before you.
7.5/10
