This film right here is a journey! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Have a PUNISHER SEASON 2 Episode on Friday and True Detective Season 1 on Saturday Enjoy the day!
It was a fantastic film. What jumps out to me was the idea that there was other stuff going on during WW2. As we see here Spain was going through it's own civil war. It's also when Picasso painted Guernica (a village in Spain).
On the brutality of the scene where the guy gets his face smashed in; There were a string of murders by some teenagers in Ukraine who became known as the Dnepropetrovsk maniacs who leaked video of one of their murders, they had dragged a man into the woods and smashed his face in with a hammer and impaled his wounded face with screwdrivers, stabbing his eyes and such, until they had enough of torturing his gurgling, gasping for breath body and smashed his brains in.
You should definitely check out The Devils Backbone when you get the chance, it's also set during the Spanish civil war but a ghost story in an orphanage this time.
@@seanellis7882 He did the subtitles himself to make sure they conveyed what he meant instead of farming them out. He did that with a previous movie and got burned.
This was actually the first foreign film I ever watched and that’s when I realized it didn’t matter what language the film was in, a masterpiece is a masterpiece
@@pantlessreactions man I haven’t seen it yet it’s been on my watchlist forever tho it’s pretty much on every “the beauty of film” type of montage videos
The 2000s was when American moviegoers really started exploring foreign language films in theaters. Others in this category are Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Passion of the Christ, & Letters from Iwo Jima.
For context: this film is set during WWII, when the fascist General Francisco Franco rose to power during the Spanish Civil War with the help of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. These soldiers are Nationalist forces under Franco's command hunting down "rebels". Also, back in the days before Disney, fairy tales were extremely dark, they were meant as cautionary tales to children to avoid the dark places of the world where evil creatures and magical beings were thought to have lived. It wasn't until very recently that fairy tales became the light-hearted drivel we know today. It was also a common trope of these tales that adults could not see these magical beings, only children were innocent enough to do so, hence why the Captain doesn't see the Faun, so it's left up to the viewer to decide, is it real, or is she really just imagining it all? The legendary Doug Jones plays both the Faun and the Pale Man in this. I don't know how fantastical creatures would be portrayed if we didn't have this wonderful man.
Hey thanks for actually sharing knowledge about this rather than bashing me for not speaking on it. I honestly had no clue about the historical event pertaining within the film so I didn’t want to mislead anyone with a comment that wasn’t accurate. Just appreciate you for providing context rather than a backhanded reply, because people have done that.
@@JamesVSCinema Of course dude, my goal is to educate and enlighten, people who trash others for not knowing things are kind of worthless. I've been around the block a few times and I've gathered quite a bit of knowledge, always happy to share, anytime you need info just let me know :D
The Spanish Civil War is a little pre-ww2. More during the rise of fascism in Europe. 1936-1939. Franco was backed by the Nazis and Italians while the Republicans had Soviet and international volunteers(Hemingway and George Orwell to name a couple of famous ones), while most nations remained neutral. It was a fascinating and sadly brutal war. The German-Soviet non-aggression pact was signed because of it after Stalin decided the Western democracies wouldn’t ever actually fight the fascists. Regardless of the civil war, the movie is incredible
To my understanding, it was all supposed to be real. Though Guillermo del Toro left it up to the viewer to decide in the end. He tried to make it as ambiguous as possible through the film, to "blur the line" between the fantasy and reality and really make you look for clues to make up your own mind. There are several things to suggest it was real, but the one most people think of is the door she drew while locked in a room with no escape. There simply wasn't any way for her to get out, except the door she drew. “If you view it and you don’t believe, you’ll view the movie as, “Oh, it was all in her head.” If you view it as a believer, you’ll see clearly where I stand, which is it is real. My last image in the movie is an objective little white flower blooming in a dead tree with the bug watching it. So…” - Guillermo del Toro.
During the monster dinner scene, it is hinted that due to ruining her dress earlier, her mother didn't let her have dinner. And with Ophelia being a kid, her eating the grape makes a lot more sense. Also the monsters roar is literally the screams of the children it ate
Another historical note is that grapes during the Spanish civil war times were extremely rare and expensive. That combined with the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes on New Years Eve were the historical reasons behind why Ofelia chose grapes rather than other foods.
It's also worth mentioning that Del Toro was offered a huge budget by a major studio on condition that he film it in English, but he wanted it to be as authentic as possible; the film is set in Civil War Era Spain, so he wanted the characters speaking in Spanish. So he had it financed independently instead.
You can definitely have a literal reading of the film. But for me, Ophelia's fairytale is an expression of her imagination to cope with the horrors of the world around her. The movie opens with her reading a book of fairytales. She then sees an insect that looks like the fairy in her book, and from there, she creates a fantasy world in which she can find some kind of escape. And in the end, in death, she is reunited with her father. Also, on a side note, fairytales used to be pretty dark affairs before Disney came along, so Del Torro is really more embracing traditional fantasy here rather than subverting it.
exactly how i saw it. she has serious ptsd and an overactive imagination is her coping mechanism. i love how del toro made it just vague enough to be ambiguous like any good fairy tale.
The beauty of the movie is there is different ways to see it and there is no "true ending" against another. Del toro said even if he has his own interpretation, both main ways you can see the end ("all was real and she rejoined her familly in the magic world"" or "all was in her head and she died") are valid
Del Toro also said the he stands for it being real, having provided three clues for that. Interview from 2006: screenanarchy.com/2006/12/pans-labyrinthinterview-with-guillermo-del-toro.html
What they were going for with this movie is precisely what you were saying about the two plot lines intertwined; the contrast between the horrible reality and the (made up?) fantasy that the girl was living to escape it all. Wich I find so awesome. It leaves up to the spectator to decide whether or not Ophelia's adventure was real.
@@JamesVSCinema Del Toro says he personally believes that it was real, but that he left it up to the viewer to make up his own mind. If you catch my other comment, this film is a Christian allegory (with Ofelia as the Christ figure) which makes leaving it up to the beholder that much more... soul-touching.
@@MrMmmooose Did Del Toro give an opinion, on the matter? Can you cite it? Most directors when they purposefully leave things ambiguous, don't undo that work in interviews. But I've been curious of his thoughts on the subject and was wondering if you have any proof of your claim?
The injuries are the most realistic I've seen in movies. When some gets shot there is no blood exploding everywhere as if humans were liquid from the inside, instead you can feel the projectile coming through solid body and flesh, that's noteworthy.
Agreed! That scene with the farmers damn near traumatized me. There’s something about sudden and unexpected violence like that in film that makes it way more visceral than the typical action movie fare. I’d say someone else who does this masterfully is Scorsese. It’s always jarring, realistic, and hits somewhere in your stomach.
@@mnomadvfx Del Toro himself is Mexican, but agree with you 100%. The backdrop of the Spanish civil war is what makes this movie for me and what gives it its impact. Right up there as far as artistic representations of the war go, along with Hemingway and George Orwell.
As my grandfather grew up in the exact same part of Spain being exactly as old as Ofelia, this movie means everything to me. I was able to show him this movie shortly before his passing and it was beyond priceless to be granted a look into his past with him beside me. Apart from that personal fact this movie is a story told absolutely flawless. It explodes of symbolism. Its combines so much of this worlds art into one big message. Its dares you to think deeper about the harsh reality of fascism and how important it is to hold on to the child in one self. To me, the most brilliant movie of all time. I actually named my daughter Ofelia after this.
What.. nobody mentions the outstanding portrayal of that douche dicatator by Sergi Lopez. When you hate a character with all your heart, you know the actor behind it outdid himself.
I'd highly recommend Devils Backbone from Del Toro, in some ways its a companion piece to Pans Labyrinth. These films almost seem like a brother and sister to me, you'll see what I mean if you watch it. It also gives a little more background to the civil war conflict in Spain and fascism in Europe at the time.
@@JamesVSCinema Great commentary/review/reaction to one of my favorite movies.👍🏼 At some point you might want to check out The Devil’s Backbone from 2001.
Yeah, he was planning to do an adaption of Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness but it never came to fruition. I would have loved to have seen his take on Lovecarftian monstrosities. It would have looked amazing, no doubt
Doug Jones plays the satyr Pan, but his schtick is playing incredible monsters. As you mentioned, his costume is mostly practical with some minor CGI for his backwards-bent legs. Most incredibly is that he doesn't speak a lick of Spanish - he memorised the words and scene phonetically and his recital is what you hear in the film!
If you'd like a comparison of him with his somewhat normal voice, he also plays Commander Saru on Star Trek: Discovery. It's so crazy how versatile he is.
The reason why Ophelia takes food from the table is given in a deleted scene, due to the stress of everything going on around her she hadn't eaten in a while and this is pointed out to her, Del Toro is on record saying that he wishes the scene was not cut.
That's interesting, but I never felt the need for an explanation. I just took it as normal fairy tale logic. There are always rules, which the character breaks and has to suffer the consequences.
The greatest movie ever. I wrote an in-depth analysis on this film for one of my college classes (I studied Media Design & Production) and you correctly noted the fantasy elements of this film mirroring Ofelia's real-world situations - it's Ofelia's need for escapism but also her way of processing the real-world horrors around her. I could talk about this movie forever, but some symbolism I love: The toad living in the tree and killing it by doing so mirrors Ofelia's brother killing her mom during childbirth (and being able to prevent it with magical elements like the stones for the toad and the Mandrake root under the bed). There's even the crossover moment when the book Ofelia gets fills with blood just as her mother starts bleeding. The pale-man scene mirrors the scene prior to it with the captain, as you noticed. Having the food on the table is symbolic to the Captain having the stockpile of food, and Ofelia snatching just a small bit of it mirrors the rebels stealing from the stockpile. Also, Ofelia snatching the food ended up with 2 of the fairies being killed. The supplies being stolen from the stockpile ended with the captured soldier being killed as well as the doctor. I'll stop there, but this movie is packed meaningful elements - it's definitely worth researching and analyzing. Thanks for another great reaction video!
Labyrinth: "a complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way". Ophelia never enters an actual physical labyrinth, the one she has to wander is a moral one. The Pan gains her trust to the point where she follows his commands, but at last she refuses to hurt the innocent. She found the exit.
I always go back and forth on the ending. Sometimes I'm happy she found a way to escape the horrors of the civil war and see it as a triumph, a private place within herself that couldn't be touched by the captain, but sometimes I'm simply devastated to basically watch the killing of an innocent kid who's only defense is to pretend it isn't happening, because that is an equally legitimate way to read the film too. I think it's most accurate when I feel both at the same time.
I never thought of it the way you [James] described it, but it makes absolute sense now: the Captain is parallel to Ofelia, experiencing his own fantasy but as as a twisted foil to hers. Definitely gives some added depth to how they both perceive the world to their bitter ends.
YO! I'm so happy you're reacting to this movie. I absolutely loved this movie when it came out and recommend it to everyone who would consider themselves a movie buff.
Doug Jones is a well-respected creature actor who plays both the Faun and the Pale Man, he and Del Toro have worked together a lot. He played Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies, ghost in Crimson Peak, The Asset in Shape of Water, and The Master in The Strain.
The man is a legend. A true performer who can convey such believable emotion without even seeing his face. He occupies a part of my brain like Kevin Conroy where I'm so not used to seeing their faces that when I do it just feels so unnatural 😂.
I met him at a comic con and he put his 10ft wingspan around my whole family for a picture. Dude is legit the nicest celebrity I've ever met. Got the pale man and Abe pictures autographed
You should read the Brothers Grimm collection of fairy/folk tales. The original versions of fairytales were DARK & certainly not “children” stories. Example, in the original Cinderella the step-sisters cut off their toes or heels to make feet fit into the glass shoe.
There's a quote from Neil Gaiman: “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
@@lydia1634 Indeed, I later discovered that. I thought it was Gaiman because I read it in an article by Gaiman but then discovered he was quoting Chesterton. So it goes.
@GriffinPilgrim It's that whole chain of influence, too. Gaiman stands on the shoulders of Lewis, who stands on the shoulders of Chesterton. Following that chain both directions is so good for artists to learn and grow.
I remember reading an article when this movie came out explaining that Guillermo Del Toro grew up hearing the stories of family friends who had fought in the Spanish Civil War against Franco's regime (Del Toro is Mexican, but these family friends moved to Mexico after leaving Spain). So these stories of resistance fighters and the horrors they witnessed were a part of his childhood, perhaps that's why the protagonist in this film is a young person. I was absolutely taken with this film (the story) when it was first released, how it weaves reality and fantasy. It feels very Mexican to me in its aesthetic sensibility, even though the story is set in Spain and features Spanish characters.
Fantastic pick! Pan's Labyrinth blew me away when it came out. You brought up something interesting when you commented about everyone ordering Ophelia around. I think there's a theme in this film about when to follow orders, and when to draw the line and think for yourself. Note that both Ophelia and the doctor die because they refused to follow unethical orders they were given. As I understand it, the US military actually has.a rule in place saying that if a superior officer gives an order that you feel is unethical, you have a duty to not follow that order.
You mentioned imagining Lord of the Rings in this style - we came close to seeing that because Del Toro was originally slated to direct The Hobbit as a two-part movie before dropping out & Peter Jackson stepped back in and made it as a trilogy.
I enjoyed every minute of your reaction/analysis! This film is a tragically beautiful masterpiece that boldly reshaped the fantasy genre. The themes, colours, visuals, music, costumes, strong female role, EVERY single detail took my breath away. I’m so glad you enjoyed it also!! 🥰
I still remember seeing this film in theatres. There was a mom that brought her kids thinking it was a traditional fairytale movie, clearly she didn't know what she was bringing them to.
I really really enjoy watching your videos!! You have a great balance of natural comedy and thoughtfulness regarding the piece. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Rewatch the film on the premise that the girl makes up her own “reality” to cope with her life and ultimately her death. Then you might think this was not a good ending.
I don’t know, the other option is that she just dies and that’s kinda true but also lame. Haha, I’d rather think she died at least a happy death and met with her parents in her own world. Hence, why it was shown.
@@JamesVSCinema I don't agree with the lame part. It makes it a very well told tragedy, and tragedies aint nothin' to sneeze at. I'm pretty sure I'm quoting Shakespeare there, I think ;-p
I remember going to a Blockbuster here in Brazil, many many years ago, obviously, and I picked up this film. The lady who worked there asked if the movie was for me and I said yes. Then she said "well, a lot of kids or parents rent this movie thinking that is a childish fantasy, but this movie has really adult content ok? We always make this disclaimer". When I watched the bottle scene she came through my mind and I was thinking "oh yeah, I know what you mean now". I think this was the first really explicit scene I've ever watched on a movie. This was also the first time I specifically noticed a soundtrack. Since then I became very interested in knowing who did the score for the movie and I love hearing some of my favorite while working. Those was good days, thank you for making me remember that.
I watched this movie when i was in grade 7. Needless to say I never saw fairies the same way ever again, and the hand-eye monster is forever engraved into my brain. Great movie, would scar myself again. Also! James! I highly recommend a movie called Taegukgi. A war film based on the Korean War. It's similar to Saving Private Ryan, so definitely give it a shot if you can off or on camera!
Great movie selection, another one of my all time favorite. Guillermo’s best. First time I saw it was in Spanish class in high school and I’m pretty sure the teacher wasnt aware of the rabbit hunter scene.
Funny I just finished watching this. Perfect timing. Definitely one of the best fantasy movies I've seen and one of Del Toro's best films. Keep up the great work James! 👍
I still chuckle to this day when I went out to buy new DVDs, and I chose this, Apocalypto, and Flags of our Fathers, and none were in English, and I had to read my movies that night... 🤪
"This is a fairy tale, but not a *kid's* fairy tale!" Try reading some of the original Brothers Grimm FairyTales. I remember one where a guy got sealed into a barrel filled with nails, and rolled downhill into the river. And Cinderella's step mother mutilated her daughters' feet, in order to fit into the special slipper. "When you are queen, you won't need to walk! You'll take carriages everywhere!"
I think David Lynch is another one of those directions who’s not only a director, but just an amazing artist. He’s a painter, donates to good causes and even writes about a type of meditation. Twin Peaks: the return is my favorite show, but you really gotta watch the whole show sometime! Love Pans Labyrinth! Saw it in… 4th grade..
@@guen4413 yup, it sure was lol. My dad and I thought it was like a fairy tale with maybe some cursing and war, that’s what my dad remembered from when he had watched it earlier. Then the rabbit scene happened…
Three things 1. This movie is so great that not only did it receive a forty minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. But after watching the Pale Man scene during a private screening for him, THE Stephen King had nightmares for days! 2. I've watched this movie several dozen times and it STILL holds up, in my book. 3. People everywhere have debated over whether or not the fantastical moments of this movie were real or if they were all just in Ophelia's head. To be honest, I think it WAS real; how else would she have been able to get out of that locked room, if the chalk wasn't magic.
Read the original Grimm's Fairy Tales or Hans Christian Andersen. They are pretty dark. Was she just creating a fantasy in her head? I hate to say it, but I think she was. The scariest monsters in the land of fairies were nowhere near as scary as the Captain.
It's "important" (if you care) to remember that Del Toro grew up in Mexico City, immersed in Catholic stories and images. The film is an utterly devastating and beautiful Christian allegory and, while you needn't view it through that prism, it may help to consider that.
This is my favorite Guillermo Del Toro movie! The Faun and the slender man (eyes in the hands) were played by Doug Jones. Doug Jones is in many Del Toro movies. One story I liked - when Pan's Labyrinth premiered in Los Angelis, Guillermo was sitting next to Steven King. When Steven King saw the slender man, he really squirmed. Del Toro said to creep out Steven King was akin to winning an Academy Award
This is one of my favorite films. I am a grown-ass man, but I cry every time I see the final labyrinth scene, then again at the last sequence. I, too, enjoy films in a foreign language. Hollywood makes great movies, but not all of 'em. There's no doubt in my mind that this was the best film of 2006. That was a very strong year for film (Little Miss Sunshine, The Departed, Babel, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Queen, Borat, Children of Men, Happy Feet, The Lives of Others, United 93...that's a short list). Strong movie year.
I love this movie, I like the fact that you had the same reaction I did, it's a beautiful movie. I know people who think I'm crazy saying that about a movie that is so dark and brutal. I was just waiting for you to notice the nuances of Doug Jones acting as the faun and all the details that were added to everything including the sound. So glad you liked it, I was pretty sure you would appreciate this movie.
del Toro tweeted about the Pale Man, saying: “The Pale Man represents all institutional evil feeding on the helpless. It’s not accidental that he is a) Pale b) a Man. He’s thriving now.” He added, “These are Pale Man times.” This was February 2017.
I worked at a local video store when this film hit dvd and we had to post warnings on the shelf saying that it is NOT for kids and subtitled. So many people rented it not knowing what they were getting into.
This was my fav movie of all time for YEARS. The first time i saw it BAWLED my eyes out when she got shot, then i watched the whole movie again, then again.
cool fact doug jones the actor who played bith the fauno and the pale man also played the silver surfer, the amphibian man in shape of water and abe sapien in hell boy (in the first one they changed his voice, but he was the man behind the costume in the second film he both acted as the character and voiced him if i remember)
Hands down...one of my top 10 fave films of all time. It evokes so much emotion and feelings from within. Artistically a Masterpiece. Thanks for reviewing!
Del Toro is one of few directors that have such a distinctive style and perspective yet it does not hamper their ability to do any type of movie or theme.
Can only imagine the Lovecraftian Eldritch nightmares they would've unleashed had they got the chance to work together on P.T. Silent Hills. I don't even like horror games like that but was still hyped about the news before its cancellation.
Man I remember watching this movie and when it ended I was bawling like a baby. I just couldn't stop. It was so beautiful but so, so sad at the same time.
Really glad you enjoyed this man! Recently rewatched it myself and I agree about the themes of disobedience that I hadn't picked up on before, and GDT's creature design is just stellar. Disappointing about Silent Hills, but if you want Kojima and Del Toro together, check out the PS4 game Death Stranding :)
At the premiere, a man sitting beside del Toro was visibly disturbed seeing the Pale Man. Told del Toro this was one of the most frightening monsters ever. That man…was Stephen King.
"I can't believe this is all in Spanish!" Might be the most American reaction ever. It's a Spanish film with Spanish actors and a Spanish director! 😅 Loved your reaction though, it really is a dark fairy tale, and one of the best made in cinema. This is the kind of dark foundation most of the European folklore and fairy tales originally had. The rosy sheen of Disney and the like is quite American.
I remember seeing this the first time that it came out in 2007. I was sitting in my room - and when the film ended, I had to take a deep breath. it left an emotional impact on me and I had to rewatch it. by far one of my favorite movies and I dont think I've seen it since. lol
I love love love this movie. I've seen it 3-4 times, and it always impresses me. Brilliant, thoughtful, mesmerizing. Creative on a level beyond all expectation.
Everyone tells her fairy stories aren't real but the fantasy reflects and symbolises what's going on in the "real" world, which is exactly what good fantasy does. This is a great film. The fantasy is so mysterious and sinister, like myth and folklore is. The "real world" stuff is so gritty and intense. It's a real classic.
I just watched a short documentary about Doug and the various creatures he has played throughout his career. It’s so impressive what he’s able to express underneath the heavy prosthetics
Saw this on release in a cinema with 5 or so other people. Absolute magic and it was clear right from the jump that this would eventually become "one of those foreign films that smashes through the boundaries to a broader audience" like, say, Train To Busan.
I borrowed this from a friend, and liked it so much I went and got my own copy. The directors commentary is terrific. Then I discovered the earlier release had different commentary! Luckily, the video store had that copy. The main thing I remember is that some of the freedom fighters were in a different Del Toro movie called "The Devils Backbone" about a ghost haunting an orphanage during the Spanish Civil war. That movie was filmed 5 years earlier that "Pan's..." Del Toro said that in his mind, the actors from both movies are the same characters, making Pan's.. a sequel to backbone
The ending is only happy if you view all of the fantasy elements as actually happening (and only she being able to see/witness). However, if you view it as it all being in her imagination as a way to cope with the horrible things going on in her life and around her, then the ending is just her hanging on to her fantasy as she dies from the gunshot wound.
@@JamesVSCinema That's very true, actually. It's like the end of Inception when Dom is with his kids: it doesn't matter if the top is still spending, he is happy in his reality. It's the same here, she's happy with where she is at that moment, so whether it's real or fantasy is irrelevant.
This is a REAL fairie-tale, like in the olden days. Disney make fairie-tales into cute children's stories. But if you read the original Grimm's Fairie Tales, where Disney got all their stories from, they are brutal. For instance, at the end of the original Snow White, the evil Queen is stuffed into a barrel filled with nails and rolled down a hill... something they left out of the Disney version. Fairie-tales were supposed to be scary lessons, not whimsical musicals.
This film right here is a journey!
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Have a PUNISHER SEASON 2 Episode on Friday and True Detective Season 1 on Saturday Enjoy the day!
I would love for you to watch the Alex rider tv show
It was a fantastic film. What jumps out to me was the idea that there was other stuff going on during WW2. As we see here Spain was going through it's own civil war. It's also when Picasso painted Guernica (a village in Spain).
On the brutality of the scene where the guy gets his face smashed in; There were a string of murders by some teenagers in Ukraine who became known as the Dnepropetrovsk maniacs who leaked video of one of their murders, they had dragged a man into the woods and smashed his face in with a hammer and impaled his wounded face with screwdrivers, stabbing his eyes and such, until they had enough of torturing his gurgling, gasping for breath body and smashed his brains in.
The biggest and most frightening monster in the whole movie is a human man.
You should definitely check out The Devils Backbone when you get the chance, it's also set during the Spanish civil war but a ghost story in an orphanage this time.
I was scared that it might be the dubbed version for a second, then I remembered who I was watching
I’m so happy you said this hahaha
I didn’t even know there was a dubbed version!
It’s not an official release, Guillermo specifically wanted to avoid dubs 😂 but there are unofficial dubs out there
@@seanellis7882 He did the subtitles himself to make sure they conveyed what he meant instead of farming them out.
He did that with a previous movie and got burned.
This was actually the first foreign film I ever watched and that’s when I realized it didn’t matter what language the film was in, a masterpiece is a masterpiece
Agreed!
Think the first i saw was "Hero", the Chinese film about the first emperor with Jet Li. Visually stunning movie
@@pantlessreactions man I haven’t seen it yet it’s been on my watchlist forever tho it’s pretty much on every “the beauty of film” type of montage videos
@@mistahmata yeah it deserves its spot believe me bro go watch it
The 2000s was when American moviegoers really started exploring foreign language films in theaters. Others in this category are Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Passion of the Christ, & Letters from Iwo Jima.
For context: this film is set during WWII, when the fascist General Francisco Franco rose to power during the Spanish Civil War with the help of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. These soldiers are Nationalist forces under Franco's command hunting down "rebels".
Also, back in the days before Disney, fairy tales were extremely dark, they were meant as cautionary tales to children to avoid the dark places of the world where evil creatures and magical beings were thought to have lived. It wasn't until very recently that fairy tales became the light-hearted drivel we know today. It was also a common trope of these tales that adults could not see these magical beings, only children were innocent enough to do so, hence why the Captain doesn't see the Faun, so it's left up to the viewer to decide, is it real, or is she really just imagining it all?
The legendary Doug Jones plays both the Faun and the Pale Man in this. I don't know how fantastical creatures would be portrayed if we didn't have this wonderful man.
Hey thanks for actually sharing knowledge about this rather than bashing me for not speaking on it. I honestly had no clue about the historical event pertaining within the film so I didn’t want to mislead anyone with a comment that wasn’t accurate. Just appreciate you for providing context rather than a backhanded reply, because people have done that.
@@JamesVSCinema Of course dude, my goal is to educate and enlighten, people who trash others for not knowing things are kind of worthless.
I've been around the block a few times and I've gathered quite a bit of knowledge, always happy to share, anytime you need info just let me know :D
The Spanish Civil War is a little pre-ww2. More during the rise of fascism in Europe. 1936-1939. Franco was backed by the Nazis and Italians while the Republicans had Soviet and international volunteers(Hemingway and George Orwell to name a couple of famous ones), while most nations remained neutral. It was a fascinating and sadly brutal war. The German-Soviet non-aggression pact was signed because of it after Stalin decided the Western democracies wouldn’t ever actually fight the fascists. Regardless of the civil war, the movie is incredible
To my understanding, it was all supposed to be real. Though Guillermo del Toro left it up to the viewer to decide in the end. He tried to make it as ambiguous as possible through the film, to "blur the line" between the fantasy and reality and really make you look for clues to make up your own mind. There are several things to suggest it was real, but the one most people think of is the door she drew while locked in a room with no escape. There simply wasn't any way for her to get out, except the door she drew.
“If you view it and you don’t believe, you’ll view the movie as, “Oh, it was all in her head.” If you view it as a believer, you’ll see clearly where I stand, which is it is real. My last image in the movie is an objective little white flower blooming in a dead tree with the bug watching it. So…” - Guillermo del Toro.
George Orwell was among the many foreign volunteers who fought in the Spanish civil war against the fascists.
During the monster dinner scene, it is hinted that due to ruining her dress earlier, her mother didn't let her have dinner. And with Ophelia being a kid, her eating the grape makes a lot more sense.
Also the monsters roar is literally the screams of the children it ate
Another historical note is that grapes during the Spanish civil war times were extremely rare and expensive. That combined with the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes on New Years Eve were the historical reasons behind why Ofelia chose grapes rather than other foods.
It's also worth mentioning that Del Toro was offered a huge budget by a major studio on condition that he film it in English, but he wanted it to be as authentic as possible; the film is set in Civil War Era Spain, so he wanted the characters speaking in Spanish.
So he had it financed independently instead.
And I'm glad he did. The result is perfect.
To say no to those who offer you fame and money better person than I am.
This is Del Toro's masterpiece and, in my opinion, flawless filmmaking.
And I don't use the term "masterpiece" lightly.
It's my No.1 favorite of his movies...with Shape of Water being a close second
Yes it is undoubtedly a masterpiece
2 years later and it STILL holds up
You can definitely have a literal reading of the film. But for me, Ophelia's fairytale is an expression of her imagination to cope with the horrors of the world around her. The movie opens with her reading a book of fairytales. She then sees an insect that looks like the fairy in her book, and from there, she creates a fantasy world in which she can find some kind of escape. And in the end, in death, she is reunited with her father. Also, on a side note, fairytales used to be pretty dark affairs before Disney came along, so Del Torro is really more embracing traditional fantasy here rather than subverting it.
Most definitely can see it that way!
exactly how i saw it. she has serious ptsd and an overactive imagination is her coping mechanism. i love how del toro made it just vague enough to be ambiguous like any good fairy tale.
Of course you are correct. It's not to be taken literally, the film is a parable.
The beauty of the movie is there is different ways to see it and there is no "true ending" against another. Del toro said even if he has his own interpretation, both main ways you can see the end ("all was real and she rejoined her familly in the magic world"" or "all was in her head and she died") are valid
Del Toro also said the he stands for it being real, having provided three clues for that. Interview from 2006:
screenanarchy.com/2006/12/pans-labyrinthinterview-with-guillermo-del-toro.html
What they were going for with this movie is precisely what you were saying about the two plot lines intertwined; the contrast between the horrible reality and the (made up?) fantasy that the girl was living to escape it all. Wich I find so awesome.
It leaves up to the spectator to decide whether or not Ophelia's adventure was real.
Awesome! Happy I was able to get some of it
@@JamesVSCinema Del Toro says he personally believes that it was real, but that he left it up to the viewer to make up his own mind. If you catch my other comment, this film is a Christian allegory (with Ofelia as the Christ figure) which makes leaving it up to the beholder that much more... soul-touching.
I think it was real, hence the chalk that colonel found
@@MrMmmooose Did Del Toro give an opinion, on the matter? Can you cite it? Most directors when they purposefully leave things ambiguous, don't undo that work in interviews. But I've been curious of his thoughts on the subject and was wondering if you have any proof of your claim?
@@sfodd1979 He did. You can read it here: rossonl.wordpress.com/2007/02/08/pans-labyrinth-real-or-imagined/
The way Del Toro presents violence in his films is something else! Horrific but impressive and captivating nonetheless.
The injuries are the most realistic I've seen in movies. When some gets shot there is no blood exploding everywhere as if humans were liquid from the inside, instead you can feel the projectile coming through solid body and flesh, that's noteworthy.
I remember in an interview he said he wanted to show how horrific violence can really be, instead of glorifying it. I think he just nailed it.
More so in this film because the history in this hits closer to home in his backyard of Spain.
Agreed! That scene with the farmers damn near traumatized me. There’s something about sudden and unexpected violence like that in film that makes it way more visceral than the typical action movie fare. I’d say someone else who does this masterfully is Scorsese. It’s always jarring, realistic, and hits somewhere in your stomach.
@@mnomadvfx Del Toro himself is Mexican, but agree with you 100%. The backdrop of the Spanish civil war is what makes this movie for me and what gives it its impact. Right up there as far as artistic representations of the war go, along with Hemingway and George Orwell.
As my grandfather grew up in the exact same part of Spain being exactly as old as Ofelia, this movie means everything to me. I was able to show him this movie shortly before his passing and it was beyond priceless to be granted a look into his past with him beside me. Apart from that personal fact this movie is a story told absolutely flawless. It explodes of symbolism. Its combines so much of this worlds art into one big message. Its dares you to think deeper about the harsh reality of fascism and how important it is to hold on to the child in one self. To me, the most brilliant movie of all time. I actually named my daughter Ofelia after this.
What.. nobody mentions the outstanding portrayal of that douche dicatator by Sergi Lopez. When you hate a character with all your heart, you know the actor behind it outdid himself.
For real
I'd highly recommend Devils Backbone from Del Toro, in some ways its a companion piece to Pans Labyrinth. These films almost seem like a brother and sister to me, you'll see what I mean if you watch it. It also gives a little more background to the civil war conflict in Spain and fascism in Europe at the time.
@Brupcat was going add that it was intended to be a successor. Part of his Spanish civil war trilogy
Guillermo Del Toro has such a way with how his creatures look! He did a great job with this, Hellboy & Pacific Rim!
Oh snap I loved Pacific Rim, forgot he did that!
& The Shape of Water monster
@@JamesVSCinema Great commentary/review/reaction to one of my favorite movies.👍🏼 At some point you might want to check out The Devil’s Backbone from 2001.
Yeah, he was planning to do an adaption of Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness but it never came to fruition. I would have loved to have seen his take on Lovecarftian monstrosities. It would have looked amazing, no doubt
@@JamesVSCinema yes it’s great!!
Doug Jones plays the satyr Pan, but his schtick is playing incredible monsters. As you mentioned, his costume is mostly practical with some minor CGI for his backwards-bent legs.
Most incredibly is that he doesn't speak a lick of Spanish - he memorised the words and scene phonetically and his recital is what you hear in the film!
If you'd like a comparison of him with his somewhat normal voice, he also plays Commander Saru on Star Trek: Discovery. It's so crazy how versatile he is.
he plays the pale ogre as well-and the fishman in shape of water
He’s also Abe in each of the Hellboy movies!!
He was also the ice cream truck man in "Legion"
He was also one of the Gentlemen in the episode Hush of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His hand movements are unmistakable.
The reason why Ophelia takes food from the table is given in a deleted scene, due to the stress of everything going on around her she hadn't eaten in a while and this is pointed out to her, Del Toro is on record saying that he wishes the scene was not cut.
That's interesting, but I never felt the need for an explanation. I just took it as normal fairy tale logic. There are always rules, which the character breaks and has to suffer the consequences.
@@donaldb1 My child brain:"Dude, why not eat some yummy grapes? Guy won't even see me do it, his eyes are on a plate, doh!"
I've always said, it's a fantasy film for adults. The real world is beyond cruel, brutal, and violent.
You are correct
Especially with the way things are now
The greatest movie ever. I wrote an in-depth analysis on this film for one of my college classes (I studied Media Design & Production) and you correctly noted the fantasy elements of this film mirroring Ofelia's real-world situations - it's Ofelia's need for escapism but also her way of processing the real-world horrors around her.
I could talk about this movie forever, but some symbolism I love:
The toad living in the tree and killing it by doing so mirrors Ofelia's brother killing her mom during childbirth (and being able to prevent it with magical elements like the stones for the toad and the Mandrake root under the bed). There's even the crossover moment when the book Ofelia gets fills with blood just as her mother starts bleeding.
The pale-man scene mirrors the scene prior to it with the captain, as you noticed. Having the food on the table is symbolic to the Captain having the stockpile of food, and Ofelia snatching just a small bit of it mirrors the rebels stealing from the stockpile. Also, Ofelia snatching the food ended up with 2 of the fairies being killed. The supplies being stolen from the stockpile ended with the captured soldier being killed as well as the doctor.
I'll stop there, but this movie is packed meaningful elements - it's definitely worth researching and analyzing.
Thanks for another great reaction video!
both the soldier and the doctor didn't die as a result of stealing from the stockpile though?
Labyrinth: "a complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way". Ophelia never enters an actual physical labyrinth, the one she has to wander is a moral one. The Pan gains her trust to the point where she follows his commands, but at last she refuses to hurt the innocent. She found the exit.
I always go back and forth on the ending. Sometimes I'm happy she found a way to escape the horrors of the civil war and see it as a triumph, a private place within herself that couldn't be touched by the captain, but sometimes I'm simply devastated to basically watch the killing of an innocent kid who's only defense is to pretend it isn't happening, because that is an equally legitimate way to read the film too. I think it's most accurate when I feel both at the same time.
I never thought of it the way you [James] described it, but it makes absolute sense now: the Captain is parallel to Ofelia, experiencing his own fantasy but as as a twisted foil to hers. Definitely gives some added depth to how they both perceive the world to their bitter ends.
YO! I'm so happy you're reacting to this movie. I absolutely loved this movie when it came out and recommend it to everyone who would consider themselves a movie buff.
It’s so good!
Doug Jones is a well-respected creature actor who plays both the Faun and the Pale Man, he and Del Toro have worked together a lot. He played Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies, ghost in Crimson Peak, The Asset in Shape of Water, and The Master in The Strain.
The man is a legend. A true performer who can convey such believable emotion without even seeing his face. He occupies a part of my brain like Kevin Conroy where I'm so not used to seeing their faces that when I do it just feels so unnatural 😂.
I met him at a comic con and he put his 10ft wingspan around my whole family for a picture. Dude is legit the nicest celebrity I've ever met. Got the pale man and Abe pictures autographed
You should read the Brothers Grimm collection of fairy/folk tales. The original versions of fairytales were DARK & certainly not “children” stories. Example, in the original Cinderella the step-sisters cut off their toes or heels to make feet fit into the glass shoe.
I was looking for a reaction to this movie in this channel not so long ago. Cool to see it finally here.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
The eye monster always freaked me out! Sad ending aswell but I guess it kinda mirrors real life in a way.
I actually really felt like the ending was a bittersweet feeling. Sucks she got capped tho like damn
There's a quote from Neil Gaiman: “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
One of my favorite quotes
Not Neil Gaiman. G.K. Chesterton said that.
@@lydia1634 Indeed, I later discovered that. I thought it was Gaiman because I read it in an article by Gaiman but then discovered he was quoting Chesterton. So it goes.
@GriffinPilgrim It's that whole chain of influence, too. Gaiman stands on the shoulders of Lewis, who stands on the shoulders of Chesterton. Following that chain both directions is so good for artists to learn and grow.
@@lydia1634 Mmm, given how Gaiman feels about Lewis I'd say he went straight from Chesterton.
Doug Jones is the man for bringing del Toro's monsters to life. Always loved his physical work.
I remember reading an article when this movie came out explaining that Guillermo Del Toro grew up hearing the stories of family friends who had fought in the Spanish Civil War against Franco's regime (Del Toro is Mexican, but these family friends moved to Mexico after leaving Spain). So these stories of resistance fighters and the horrors they witnessed were a part of his childhood, perhaps that's why the protagonist in this film is a young person. I was absolutely taken with this film (the story) when it was first released, how it weaves reality and fantasy. It feels very Mexican to me in its aesthetic sensibility, even though the story is set in Spain and features Spanish characters.
Fantastic pick! Pan's Labyrinth blew me away when it came out. You brought up something interesting when you commented about everyone ordering Ophelia around. I think there's a theme in this film about when to follow orders, and when to draw the line and think for yourself. Note that both Ophelia and the doctor die because they refused to follow unethical orders they were given. As I understand it, the US military actually has.a rule in place saying that if a superior officer gives an order that you feel is unethical, you have a duty to not follow that order.
You mentioned imagining Lord of the Rings in this style - we came close to seeing that because Del Toro was originally slated to direct The Hobbit as a two-part movie before dropping out & Peter Jackson stepped back in and made it as a trilogy.
I enjoyed every minute of your reaction/analysis! This film is a tragically beautiful masterpiece that boldly reshaped the fantasy genre. The themes, colours, visuals, music, costumes, strong female role, EVERY single detail took my breath away. I’m so glad you enjoyed it also!! 🥰
Hey thank you so much Kira! This meant a lot to me ♥️✨
I still remember seeing this film in theatres. There was a mom that brought her kids thinking it was a traditional fairytale movie, clearly she didn't know what she was bringing them to.
Guillermo del Toro is so amazing. This is one of my favorites alongside with Crimson Peak (if you haven't seen it, I'd love to see a movie commentary)
I really really enjoy watching your videos!! You have a great balance of natural comedy and thoughtfulness regarding the piece. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Perfect comment. Thank you so much! Try my best to balance entertainment and education for they can go hand-in-hand.
I member being quite shocked how brutal this film was first time I watched this. Now I know better. haha
Super brutal
Saw it in theaters on the first day and that bottle scene got me shook 😆
Rewatch the film on the premise that the girl makes up her own “reality” to cope with her life and ultimately her death. Then you might think this was not a good ending.
I don’t know, the other option is that she just dies and that’s kinda true but also lame. Haha, I’d rather think she died at least a happy death and met with her parents in her own world. Hence, why it was shown.
I'm sure I remember del Toro saying the girl really was the princess
@@yvonnesanders4308 she couldn't have opened the walls to get out of her room and to her brother if she wasn't.
@@JamesVSCinema I don't agree with the lame part. It makes it a very well told tragedy, and tragedies aint nothin' to sneeze at. I'm pretty sure I'm quoting Shakespeare there, I think ;-p
Del Toro says as far as he's concerned the magic is real. But he also said the other interpretation is entirely valid.
This right here is a giant part of my childhood. Alway confused me when I would try and understand how it was related to labyrinth when it isnt lol
I remember going to a Blockbuster here in Brazil, many many years ago, obviously, and I picked up this film. The lady who worked there asked if the movie was for me and I said yes. Then she said "well, a lot of kids or parents rent this movie thinking that is a childish fantasy, but this movie has really adult content ok? We always make this disclaimer". When I watched the bottle scene she came through my mind and I was thinking "oh yeah, I know what you mean now". I think this was the first really explicit scene I've ever watched on a movie. This was also the first time I specifically noticed a soundtrack. Since then I became very interested in knowing who did the score for the movie and I love hearing some of my favorite while working. Those was good days, thank you for making me remember that.
I watched this movie when i was in grade 7. Needless to say I never saw fairies the same way ever again, and the hand-eye monster is forever engraved into my brain. Great movie, would scar myself again.
Also! James! I highly recommend a movie called Taegukgi. A war film based on the Korean War. It's similar to Saving Private Ryan, so definitely give it a shot if you can off or on camera!
Silent Hills / PT would have been incredible. I'm still not over it.
Same :(
My cowardly self would've just watched the playthroughs and enjoyed it that way 😂.
Great movie selection, another one of my all time favorite. Guillermo’s best.
First time I saw it was in Spanish class in high school and I’m pretty sure the teacher wasnt aware of the rabbit hunter scene.
Yeah that rabbit hunter scene was left to scar you
Funny I just finished watching this. Perfect timing. Definitely one of the best fantasy movies I've seen and one of Del Toro's best films. Keep up the great work James! 👍
Definitely top notch!
Same! I believe this is either my first or second favorite film, so beautiful and grotesque 💚
“The Devil’s Backbone” is another amazing Del Toro film that’s a must watch.
I still chuckle to this day when I went out to buy new DVDs, and I chose this, Apocalypto, and Flags of our Fathers, and none were in English, and I had to read my movies that night... 🤪
Hell yes! I jumped out of a Loki reaction to come straight here when I got the notice
Notification gang!
Now you're ready for a couple of his other great films - The Orphanage and Devil's Backbone
"This is a fairy tale, but not a *kid's* fairy tale!" Try reading some of the original Brothers Grimm FairyTales. I remember one where a guy got sealed into a barrel filled with nails, and rolled downhill into the river. And Cinderella's step mother mutilated her daughters' feet, in order to fit into the special slipper. "When you are queen, you won't need to walk! You'll take carriages everywhere!"
I think David Lynch is another one of those directions who’s not only a director, but just an amazing artist. He’s a painter, donates to good causes and even writes about a type of meditation. Twin Peaks: the return is my favorite show, but you really gotta watch the whole show sometime!
Love Pans Labyrinth! Saw it in… 4th grade..
4th grade?!?? I’m sure that was a bit traumatizing
I’m also a big fan of lynch
@@guen4413 yup, it sure was lol. My dad and I thought it was like a fairy tale with maybe some cursing and war, that’s what my dad remembered from when he had watched it earlier. Then the rabbit scene happened…
that Faun blows me away. just absolutely stunning design
The guy with eyes in his hands scene used to scare the hell out of me as a child
Damn, even now, all the suspense
It's perfect
Three things
1. This movie is so great that not only did it receive a forty minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. But after watching the Pale Man scene during a private screening for him, THE Stephen King had nightmares for days!
2. I've watched this movie several dozen times and it STILL holds up, in my book.
3. People everywhere have debated over whether or not the fantastical moments of this movie were real or if they were all just in Ophelia's head. To be honest, I think it WAS real; how else would she have been able to get out of that locked room, if the chalk wasn't magic.
I think it is really cool that Del Toro can have such a unique vision and still be an extremely successful director.
Damn even though I only watched the reaction just a snippet of the ending still made me cry. This was one of my favorite movies growing up.
This is probably my favorite score of all time especially the main theme. It’s just so haunting and beautiful, and there’s an innocence to it
Give credit to Doug Jones; the man is a treasure.
He's phenomenal as Saru on Star Trek: Discovery.
Read the original Grimm's Fairy Tales or Hans Christian Andersen. They are pretty dark.
Was she just creating a fantasy in her head? I hate to say it, but I think she was. The scariest monsters in the land of fairies were nowhere near as scary as the Captain.
Very true. Ultimately no monster conjured from a child's imagination is as frightening as war and fascism.
I dunno, the monster with great hand eye coordination is nightmare fuel.
I don't know if it was mentioned in the full-length, but the tree and Pan's head are actually the shape of fallopian tubes and uterus.
i adore this movie…always makes me cry
It’s so good!
Just watched this for the first time last night, and I’m mad that I hadn’t seen it before lol. Amazing movie
It's "important" (if you care) to remember that Del Toro grew up in Mexico City, immersed in Catholic stories and images. The film is an utterly devastating and beautiful Christian allegory and, while you needn't view it through that prism, it may help to consider that.
This is my favorite Guillermo Del Toro movie! The Faun and the slender man (eyes in the hands) were played by Doug Jones. Doug Jones is in many Del Toro movies. One story I liked - when Pan's Labyrinth premiered in Los Angelis, Guillermo was sitting next to Steven King. When Steven King saw the slender man, he really squirmed. Del Toro said to creep out Steven King was akin to winning an Academy Award
This is one of my favorite films. I am a grown-ass man, but I cry every time I see the final labyrinth scene, then again at the last sequence.
I, too, enjoy films in a foreign language. Hollywood makes great movies, but not all of 'em. There's no doubt in my mind that this was the best film of 2006. That was a very strong year for film (Little Miss Sunshine, The Departed, Babel, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Queen, Borat, Children of Men, Happy Feet, The Lives of Others, United 93...that's a short list). Strong movie year.
I love this movie, I like the fact that you had the same reaction I did, it's a beautiful movie. I know people who think I'm crazy saying that about a movie that is so dark and brutal. I was just waiting for you to notice the nuances of Doug Jones acting as the faun and all the details that were added to everything including the sound. So glad you liked it, I was pretty sure you would appreciate this movie.
Not to bring politics into any of this, but whenever I see Mitch McConnell I think of the Pale Man.
😭😭😭
They have the same jawline. 😂
@@sophiedash4026 Or rather, lack of one :P haha
@@lordmortarius538
Yeah, they both look like their faces melted in a fire. Couldn't have happened to a nicer pair of guys. 😉🔥
del Toro tweeted about the Pale Man, saying: “The Pale Man represents all institutional evil feeding on the helpless. It’s not accidental that he is a) Pale b) a Man. He’s thriving now.” He added, “These are Pale Man times.” This was February 2017.
I worked at a local video store when this film hit dvd and we had to post warnings on the shelf saying that it is NOT for kids and subtitled. So many people rented it not knowing what they were getting into.
This was my fav movie of all time for YEARS. The first time i saw it BAWLED my eyes out when she got shot, then i watched the whole movie again, then again.
One of my most favourite movies , it just hits on another level idk
cool fact doug jones the actor who played bith the fauno and the pale man also played the silver surfer, the amphibian man in shape of water and abe sapien in hell boy (in the first one they changed his voice, but he was the man behind the costume in the second film he both acted as the character and voiced him if i remember)
Hands down...one of my top 10 fave films of all time. It evokes so much emotion and feelings from within. Artistically a Masterpiece. Thanks for reviewing!
My absolutely favorite film! ❤ I'm so happy you reacted to it!
She eats because she was sent to bed without dinner
A nice little touch to explain
I'm not remotely fluent in spanish, for the record, but this is legitimately one of my favorite movies of all time. An absolute masterpiece.
Del Toro is one of few directors that have such a distinctive style and perspective yet it does not hamper their ability to do any type of movie or theme.
This movie reminds me of Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son" and the rest of his "Black paintings"
The movie and the paintings always scared me AF 🙃
The Pale Man (the eye/hands thingy) is Mitch McConnell.
But less monstrous.
This was one of my all time favorite movies
It's really no surprise Kojima and Del Toro are friends because of their weird brains
Can only imagine the Lovecraftian Eldritch nightmares they would've unleashed had they got the chance to work together on P.T. Silent Hills. I don't even like horror games like that but was still hyped about the news before its cancellation.
Everybody gangsta till the bottle scene happens
Sheesh indeed
Del Toro has such a beautifully creative imagination to tell such dark stories such a captivating manner!!
Man I remember watching this movie and when it ended I was bawling like a baby. I just couldn't stop. It was so beautiful but so, so sad at the same time.
Really glad you enjoyed this man! Recently rewatched it myself and I agree about the themes of disobedience that I hadn't picked up on before, and GDT's creature design is just stellar. Disappointing about Silent Hills, but if you want Kojima and Del Toro together, check out the PS4 game Death Stranding :)
Absolutely ♥ this movie! Like how the ending was left open to one's interpretation. Did she live happily ever after? Was it all in her head?
At the premiere, a man sitting beside del Toro was visibly disturbed seeing the Pale Man. Told del Toro this was one of the most frightening monsters ever. That man…was Stephen King.
"I can't believe this is all in Spanish!" Might be the most American reaction ever. It's a Spanish film with Spanish actors and a Spanish director! 😅
Loved your reaction though, it really is a dark fairy tale, and one of the best made in cinema. This is the kind of dark foundation most of the European folklore and fairy tales originally had. The rosy sheen of Disney and the like is quite American.
The director is Mexican
I remember seeing this the first time that it came out in 2007. I was sitting in my room - and when the film ended, I had to take a deep breath. it left an emotional impact on me and I had to rewatch it.
by far one of my favorite movies and I dont think I've seen it since. lol
So beatiful, so important film... wish more ppl see it and understand it!
Facistas não passarão!
I love love love this movie. I've seen it 3-4 times, and it always impresses me. Brilliant, thoughtful, mesmerizing. Creative on a level beyond all expectation.
Del Toro comes up with some of the most enthralling lore for his stories. A true master of his craft.
Devil’s Backbone is my favorite Del Toro movie but I could watch Pan’s Labyrinth over and over and still notice new things.
yeah. At around 7:00 I remember seeing that and thinking the same thing. It really caught me off guard too.
The finale reminded me of Oscar Wilde’s happy prince, absolutely destroyed me😭. Another wonderful film
This movie filled me with so much love , I balled my eyes out through the whole thing .
Everyone tells her fairy stories aren't real but the fantasy reflects and symbolises what's going on in the "real" world, which is exactly what good fantasy does.
This is a great film. The fantasy is so mysterious and sinister, like myth and folklore is. The "real world" stuff is so gritty and intense. It's a real classic.
FYI Doug Jones plays both the main creatures. He’s amazing
I just watched a short documentary about Doug and the various creatures he has played throughout his career. It’s so impressive what he’s able to express underneath the heavy prosthetics
Such an incredible film. Good to see you watching more international movies!
Happy to hear!
Saw this on release in a cinema with 5 or so other people. Absolute magic and it was clear right from the jump that this would eventually become "one of those foreign films that smashes through the boundaries to a broader audience" like, say, Train To Busan.
I borrowed this from a friend, and liked it so much I went and got my own copy. The directors commentary is terrific. Then I discovered the earlier release had different commentary!
Luckily, the video store had that copy. The main thing I remember is that some of the freedom fighters were in a different Del Toro movie called "The Devils Backbone" about a ghost haunting an orphanage during the Spanish Civil war. That movie was filmed 5 years earlier that "Pan's..." Del Toro said that in his mind, the actors from both movies are the same characters, making Pan's.. a sequel to backbone
The ending is only happy if you view all of the fantasy elements as actually happening (and only she being able to see/witness). However, if you view it as it all being in her imagination as a way to cope with the horrible things going on in her life and around her, then the ending is just her hanging on to her fantasy as she dies from the gunshot wound.
It’s horrible for sure, but I find comfort in her dying AT LEAST in her fantasy. I found comfort with that.
@@JamesVSCinema That's very true, actually. It's like the end of Inception when Dom is with his kids: it doesn't matter if the top is still spending, he is happy in his reality. It's the same here, she's happy with where she is at that moment, so whether it's real or fantasy is irrelevant.
This is a REAL fairie-tale, like in the olden days. Disney make fairie-tales into cute children's stories. But if you read the original Grimm's Fairie Tales, where Disney got all their stories from, they are brutal. For instance, at the end of the original Snow White, the evil Queen is stuffed into a barrel filled with nails and rolled down a hill... something they left out of the Disney version. Fairie-tales were supposed to be scary lessons, not whimsical musicals.