Shush
I’ve seen Pan’s Labyrinth at the cinema three times, it’s so frigging beautiful. When you watch it, remember to bring your glasses. Many moviegoers are not aware that it’s in Spanish—an understandable mistake since the director also did Blade 2 and Hellboy in English.
The second time I watched it was with Ricky, who will not stand for talking or texting at the movies. Naturally he is always surrounded by people who won’t shut up at the cinema. Years ago, at a screening of Ocean’s Eleven, he found himself sitting in front of a bunch of women who would giggle every time Brad Pitt appeared on the screen. Brad didn’t even have to say anything to get them all excited. When Ricky could stand it no longer, he turned around to yell at the women, only to find that they were nuns. Nuns with a crush on Brad Pitt—what can you do?
Anyway, we were watching Pan’s Labyrinth when the couple to the left of us started yakking. We could hear every word. Apparently the woman could not bear to see violence onscreen, so the man had to describe what was happening. I tried shushing them but they wouldn’t stop. Finally Ricky got up and went over to them. “Please keep your voices down, we’re trying to watch the movie.” The woman said, “We’re just whispering.” “We can hear every word!” Ricky cried. “You ridiculous people!”
Ten minutes later, the people to the right of us started up. Their topic was linguistics, viz. “Oy, ayuda daw, parang Bisaya!” This time we couldn’t do anything because they were senior citizens and were probably hard of hearing or something. “There’s no escape!” I laughed. “We get it in Sensurround!”
Here’s the shocking part. When the movie ended and the lights went on, the guy to the left, the one who was describing the movie to his girlfriend, came over to apologize. “Sorry about the talking earlier,” he said. “Sorry.” I was so shocked that someone would actually admit his fault, I said, “Alright. Thank you.” I’ve gotten so used to uncouth jerky behavior that when I hear people say “You’re welcome”, I almost do a double-take.
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April 30th, 2007 at 07:06
I started to comment on Pan’s Labyrinth yesterday but I had to give up because I ended up blubbering, unable to get the right words to tell you how much the movie thrilled me. I never really watch movies. I have to be dragged kicking and screaming inside a theater or else strapped to the bed, the DVD forcefed a movie people say I absolutely must watch. I have a 20-minute internal critic when it comes to movies. If I begin to fidget, snort, and get this screaming need for a nicotine fix within the allotted time, then the movie’s lost to me. And there’s been far too many sucky stuff through the years to make me swear off the world’s favorite pasttime (next to texting, of course).
But Pan’s Labyrinth. Boy, it reminded me of the fairy tales I read as a child. Not the Disneyfied version but the real frightening bits that came before “happily ever after” – Rapunzel’s prince getting his eyeballs punctured when he falls to the brambles, Cinderella’s stepsister cutting off her foot so it would fit into the glass slipper, Bluebeard.
Even the muddy look of movie – so very analog compared to the digitized perfection of Tim Burton’s gothic oeuvres – recalls the childhood sensation of sinking into a story both horrifying and redeeming.
I also loved the way the movie didn’t try coerce me into finding meaning or parallels between the brutality of Ofelia’s real world vs. her equally brutal fantasy life. Both just happened to happen at the same time. If I wanted to find meaning, I could, but so what if I didn’t. In short, it was refreshingly un-Hollywood-like.
Jesus, and I almost went to see Perfect Strangers instead.
April 30th, 2007 at 15:04
I’m sorry, but Pan’s Labyrinth is overrated. Mas maganda pa ang Children of Men.
Anybody seen Grindhouse? sana yung mga independent filmmakers natin gumawa rin ng “Grindhouse style” films and show it exclusively sa mga old crumbling theaters sa recto. of course, dapat pakiusapan nila ang mga theater owners para linisin ang loob ng sinehan.
May 1st, 2007 at 19:55
pan is one of the best this year. this is the kind of movie people should be watching. i know…you can’t seem to stay put now that spidey’s here again. but people, please try to see this film. it really is awesome
May 3rd, 2007 at 18:15
i loved the film!! been waiting for it since last year. :) the last part almost made me cry. :)