Re: Review: Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

David Wright wrote:
res197va@xxxxxxxxxxx (Randall Coleman) wrote in

Why does a film have to have meaning? I thought The Departed was a beautifully plotted movie - but meaning? Babel had pretensions of meaning
(which were ridiculous) but, again, it was a beautifully made move. Each film has to be taken on its own terms. In Bunuel, Bresson, Godard,
Resnais I expect a point, but I can equally enjoy a film too if it's well constructed and beautifully told.

Randall coleman

A good film doesn't have to have meaning, as the original Anderson wrote. However, I think a great film does. And I think I said this was a good film. But it could have been great if it had some meaning.

Actually, to be more specific, I think this film should have meaning, at least more than it does. Why? Because of the imagery, the fantasy, the depth of characters and script, the attention to realistic detail and photography. All of this seems to indicate that there is meaning somewhere.

Now, since I wrote the above post, I have thought about the decisions that the maid makes, and how she does not succumb to fear, even in the gravest of cicrumstances, but that is a theme among a thousand movies. What makes this movie special is the counter story with the fantasy elements - even though these are just a dream (that does not involve Bob Newheart).

The review I cited from Rotten Tomatoes -- the only negative review I spotted the day I was searching -- said this:

"But any serious discussion of Pan’s Labyrinth has to begin and end with this question: beyond the del Toro fanboys and slumming Frodo fans, who is it for? Too adult for children and too simplistic for most adults – with nothing of serious import to say about war or innocence – it ultimately leaves us with some of the prettiest cinematic pictures of the year. And nothing more."

That, and your insight on how the film promises meaning (or at least some degree of intellectual depth) but doesn't deliver, pretty much sum up my reaction.

--
Bill Anderson

I am the Mighty Favog
.

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