Gone Baby Gone

"When I was young, I asked my priest how could you get into heaven and still protect from all the evil in the world.
He told me what God said to his children.
'You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves.' "

5 Stars

I had heard from so many that this was good and they were right. I honestly didn't know much about it except what all the buzz it got during Oscar season.
It was Ben Affleck's directorial debut starring his younger brother Casey, and that's pretty much all I knew.

I was intrigued during that time about this actress I had never heard of before Amy Ryan, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. My good friend was certain she would win, and could not stop talking about how impressed he was with her accent considering she's a Broadway star from New York. Apparently so was the crew.
I read that her accent was so convincing that security wouldn't let her on set the first day of shooting thinking she was a fan on the street. When a crew member finally recognized her and let her through, she knew she had the dialect down.

The talent in this film is phenomenal. Above directing, I was glad to see Ben Affleck wrote the screenplay for it as well and he did a great collaborative job. Casey is quickly becoming a bankable actor for drama.
And a heartthrob...
He did such a good job as a man under pressure who had genuine concern for this lost girl.
I loved his fast thinking during a hold up at the bar. Great scene.

A young married couple serve as detectives to their small Boston neighborhood. When a little girl goes missing, her aunt seeks their help to find her, aside from the police.
The mother of the girl is supper trashy, and it seems as though she doesn't really get, or care that her little girl could be in serious danger, or even dead! Which is only one side of this story that makes this girl's disappearance so intriguing.

When I talk to people who have seen this movie I ask them, after the many praises we give it, "What was the right thing?" And the usual response is a hefty sigh and the same answer I have, "I don't know."

The end of this film really left me asking what would I do, and could I actually follow through with either side.
Is the right thing, always the right thing?
I go back and forth on the out come. At times I think it was a very selfish decision, and other times I feel the injustice had to be exposed.
Anything that makes me think this long, and makes me question my own choices, is just brilliant.

There Will Be Blood

"Give me the blood,
so I can get out of here!"

5 Stars

Okay, when I first walked out of the theater I was very impressed with Daniel Day-Lewis' performance, and wasn't too thrilled with the movie as a whole telling my boyfriend "It' wasn't the best movie I've ever seen."
(It has been hyped a whole lot.)
But as the days pass since I've seen it, I am more and more interested, intrigued, and excited about this movie.

On the radio I heard a reviewer say, "that you wouldn't think a movie about the oil industry in the early 1900's would be interesting." He felt it was more about a father and a son. To some extent I would agree, but there are for me so many facets that are close to home.

Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) is an oil prospector finding new oil lands and buying them up with this young son H.W. at his side.
As some of you may know, I work at my families pawnshop founded by my grandfather, ran by my mother, and sees me as VP. Just as H.W. cooed in his basket at the oil drill as a baby, I was taking naps between the VCRs that were in loan as a kid. And little is different for my mother as well. I know what it feels like to see business go on around you with youthful eyes. I may not have known exactly what was going on, but I knew it was real, and it was important.
Love a scene where Daniel tells H.W. about his plans for a pipeline. I know the feeling of having the business click for me as it did for H.W. right then.
"So we can save on shipping costs."

When Daniel decides to buy some profitable land he has to oblige the locals. He ends up butting heads with a preacher named Paul Sunday, played by Paul Dano from Little Miss Sunshine fame. When I saw him in that I looked up all I could on him, and knew he had it in him to be a good actor. Even though The King sucked, Dano was great in that too.
Come to think of it, he played a religious freak in that one too! Hmmm.
I felt the Paul Sunday character wanted to be a star, and used the stage of the church as his theater. He starts to act like a bratty celebretard too, until Daniel put him in his place.
One thing's for shure, that kid can play car-azy!

Now lets talk about the man. Daniel Day-Lewis is.. man, I'm trying to think of a way to say it without sounding like a movie poster! "Phenomenal. Chilling. Powerful. Astonishing."
As I was watching this I was genuinely concerned for the actor opposite Day-Lewis. I just kept thinking if that were me I would be Frightened to hear these words, with that much power, with that much intensity looking right into my eyes!
I think I might pee a little.

This movie totally stimulated my love for everything turn of the 20th century.
The costumes, the very dangerous working and living conditions, and most importantly the teeth!! No pearly whites in this one, A+. Not mention the best hangover scene. Ever.

Yup, Biggy was right. "Mo money, mo problems."

13 Tzameti

"We don't force anyone into this shit."

5 Stars

I hate this phrase but I'm gonna say it...
a must see movie.
You just have too! I said "Oh my god" out loud so many times while covering my nose and mouth with my hands.
I just rented it on recommendation, and knew nothing about it. Which if you plan on watching it is best. I watched the preview on the disc just to see what's doin', and the preview alone was enough to literally make my skin hot, cause I was so nervous.
SO GOOD.

The beginning is kinda slow, very french cinema. A young guy begins work on the roof of an odd couple's house. He overhears the husband speak of coming into big money by means of doing a "job" for a day. After receiving his "job summons" in the mail he is dead, and the info lands in the hands of the young roofer. There is no indication of what the job is, but with his family in dire need of money, he follows the instructions. Unknowingly he is now a volunteer in the most ruthless underground game, that wagers the highest stakes a man can make.

When this game starts to unfold, I was panicked!! I kept thinking "No way.
They can't be... Oh shit, I think they are." The story telling is great because it really put me in his perspective. I was looking around each room to see where I was, and I was so curious as to who the rest of these men were, and why are they here. And how the hell did I get here?!

Filmming it in black and white was perfectly cold. It took all the warmth out, and made the matter that more bone chilling. I found that the scariest parts were not at the game so much but the quiet times between the games. That's when a man's mind can race, and to see how each one has their own way of coping is so heartbreaking. Simply heartbreaking.

I've always been intrigued by secret societies and the like.
I've always wanted to be a part of one.
I know they're out there. I don't know if they're as drastic as this, but it just fascinates me the question of what makes a person feel like they have to go to these measures?
Is sex not enough, are drugs not enough, is fighting not enough?
After this film I am filled with questions concerning the secret desires of man.
The desires we will never utter, but have all thought.

I wonder...

The Great Happiness Space

"To girls we are products."

5 Stars

This documentary is like nothing I have ever witnessed. I guarantee no one else has seen this movie and it's contents will make for the best conversation starter.

This compelling film explores the rarely seen world of Japanese host boys, men who are paid to entertain wealthy women in exclusive nightclubs. Almost but not quite gigolos, more akin to male geishas, the host boys of Cafe Rakkyo share their secrets in
Jake Clennell's first documentary.

Purely fascinating. I watched it twice and may have to immerse myself in it one more time.
This boy host thing is a real part of Japanese culture, people just don't talk about it much. Young, well dressed (and tressed) men pick up girls on the streets with lines like "You look like my grade school teacher. You don't understand, I loved my grade school teacher." It looks so strange to see men street hustling for women. Once they lure these girls into the club to have a drink with them, the girl can choose from a photo menu of men as if ordering something from KFC.

And these men aren't cheap. The interviews with some of their female clients reveal that they can have spent $1,000 up to $7,000 in one night! The hosts themselves can make a salary of $10-50,000 a month.
Majority of that money is spent on champagne. These guys (and girls) down the stuff like frat kids!
Issei (above) is heavily profiled in the film and rightly so, he is Osaka's number one host boy. He says about the heavy drinking he does daily while entertaining, "I drink I throw up, I drink I throw up. I think my liver is fucked."

Sex? Yeah, they have it if the girl pays. But that's not their job. As one host put it, "If I have sex with her, at that point there won't be anything else I can give her." They chat, flirt heavily, and are great company for these women. "We try to heal them," they say is their main objective.

Director Jake Clennell does a great job of building this story and the facade of this operation. Showing the realism and guilt that comes along once the glam wears off, and true human emotion is exposed. These hosts are constantly talking about being tired and drained all the time. If you think about how much energy and confusion it takes for one man to chat up a single woman. Imagine if that man had to do that all day long with numerous women and be just as charming as the first time they met. And they are different men to different clients. "I get confused what my real personality is."

I can't stop thinking about these guys. Skinny, pale, and edgy? Where's my checkbook?!
But more than that, the service they provide is much more than some drinks and company for these women. Watch it.


Man, I need to go to Japan.


Plot summary courtesy of Netflix

Paper Moon

"Now, eat your Coney Island."

5 Stars

I am really enjoying watching movies that I know absolutely nothing about. When Tatum O'Neil was on Dancing with the Stars last season, E! played her True Hollywood Story, and I got interested. They talked so much about Paper Moon, and how her life changed after the film.
So next day I put it in my Netflix queue, and here it is. No wonder why the country fell in love with this girl. She is so cute, smart, and sneaky, that I had to watch the film twice. I didn't want it to end.

We meet a young girl named Addie (Tatum) whose mother just passed and since she's never known her father the only family she's got left is her aunt who lives in another state. When Moses Pray (Ryan) comes to pay his respects at the funeral he is persuaded to deliver this girl to her aunt. Addie quickly figures out that this man is a con artist, and in her opinion not a very good one. Together they hustle the best of 'em.

There's one scam they pull a couple times, and it took me a some friends of mine a few viewings of it to really see what they were doing. Something like, "Can you change a $5?" turns into, "Look, I've got too many ones, can you just give me a five dollar bill?", turns into "Here, just give me a $10.". In the end, we figured out they make 5 bucks and some change ...I think. But now I'm really watching myself and others when giving out change.

I was also happy to see it was a depression era film. While these two were driving, they passed folks on the side of the road with all of their belongings, or just walking to nowhere with their families. It was like seeing the Joad family from The Grapes of Wrath making a cameo.

This film seemed timeless. It was so well made. I watched all the special features the disc offered. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, he made good use of long seamless shots. He also made sure that everything in frame was in focus, the heightened depth of field really puts you in the movie.
He had a great antidote about working with Madeline Kahn, who has a role as Trixie Delight.
There is a line where she says, "Why don't you let Miss. Trixie sit up front with her big ole tits?"
Now, according to Bogdanovich during rehearsals she refused to say the word "tits". She just couldn't.
Right before shooting the scene, Bogdanovich whispers to her, "Come on, just say 'tits'.", and she did.
Playing the scene over he said when she chuckles, that's not Trixie that's Madeline. She was genuinely embarrassed that she said it. It's very cute. Funny thing though, later that night I watched History of the World : Part 1, where she deliverers the line, "My tits are falling off!". I guess she got over it.

Men of Honor

"Goddammit Cookie, move your ass,
I want my TWELVE!"

5 Stars

I love this movie! I've seen it so many times, and it moves me to tears of inspiration every single time I see it. Why haven't I bought this one yet?

The true story of, Carl Brashear played by Cuba Gooding Jr., a black man from rural Kentucky wants more than anything to join the Navy in the early 1950's. At that time black solders were only allowed to cook, but by breaking the rules to show his talent as a swimmer, he was able to get the attention of the upper class men and got the job of a rescue swimmer. With time and a little help from his friends, he was able to enter and graduate from the U.S. Navy Diving and Salvage School to become a diver in the U.S. Navy.

During his training under the instruciton of Leslie Suday, played to perfection by Bobby D., he had to fight through the prejudice of the day over and over again. He was part of the first integrated class to graduate from diving school.
This man's story is just so amazing, I apologize if I'm rambling. I just get so excited about this film.

His ultimate goal is to become a Master Diver. In the 50's their diving suits were the Mark 4. They always remind me of the opening sequence of the Scoopy Doo cartoons. All together the suit weighed 190 pounds. It's thick, heavy, bulky, and the diver has such limited visibility. I don't know how they got anything done in those! Watching this I always sigh and am thankful how far we have come in modern technology. New suits, and gear make this job so much safer for these men and women.

After much success as a diver in the Navy, he then looses his leg! And he still is determined to become a Master Diver. This is the best montage scene ever. I just noticed the song playing this time while he was training. "I Wish It Would Rain" by the Temptaions. The words to this song as he's working, and breaking his body is powerful. ....Chills.

Not only was Brashear the first African-American Navy Master Diver, but he was also the first amputee diver certified or recertified as a U.S. Navy diver.

You've got to be made of stone if this movie does not move, or inspire you to do great things. Carl Brashear wasn't trying to make history as a black man who who was the first, but simply a man who was the best.

Babel

"My mom says Mexico is dangerous."
"Yeah, it's full of Mexicans."

5 Stars

How fortunate have I been lately to have seen two 5 Star movies so far this month! I was so wrong about this movie. From the previews I thought this was some political terrorism movie. No way. This film is deep.

When an American couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) vacationing in Morocco fall victim to a random act of violence, a series of events unfolds across four countries that demonstrates both the necessity and impossibility of human communication. Director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu artfully weaves together three seemingly disparate stories of strangers in strange lands.

Why the hell do people go to these third world countries to "vacation". Blanchett's character is ripped right out of a Ralph Lauren ad, and in the Moroccan desert is slathering Purel on her hands after touching anything. After being shot on their tour bus she is forced to seek some frontier medicine from the local medicine man who sews her up with a rusty needle and hands black with days of caked on dirt. This scene is awsome.

The story of the two young boys of a poor goat herding family is nail biting as well. These two boys get a hold of a gun, and treat it like a toy, until real life consequences change their ways. The boys will be boys thing reminds me of stories my boyfriend tells me about him and his brothers doing bad things, then getting into trouble, and soon trying to get back out of trouble. A real brother thing.

We then meet an angst Japanese teenager who needs just a molecule of attention. She feels her handicap isolates her terribly, along with the frustrations of being a teenage girl anyway I could just feel this girls dark, dark hurt. Very well done.
Great scene of her going to a nightclub with friends. Really puts you in her shoes.

Nobody told me Gael Garcia Bernal was in this movie! And why not, he's been in half of all Alejandro's films. This director knows, and shows real Mexican culture. The Nanny/Housekeeper for the traveling couple in Morocco takes their children across the border to attend her son's wedding. Talk about culture shock. It was nice to see a blond haired blue eyed little girl who wasn't Dakota Fanning for once.
Hecka Mexican scene : the kids are at someones place in Mexico, and their entertainment? "Go chase the chickens!"

I found a running theme in this movie : invitation into homes. Or at least the places people call home. A tour guide on the bus in which Blanchett's character is shot says, "I will take you to my town." and invites her and her husband in his home to "heal". The children of this couple are taken out of their home, and invited into their nanny's family home. In the home of the Japanese student lies the nucleus of her pain, and she invites a detective into her home, hoping he may show her love. The goat herders invited a gun into their home, and changed the course of all these character's lives.

I really was never going to see this movie. Yet, after a couple people whose suggestions I really trust told me I absolutely had to see this movie, I did. It's unfortunate that the previews were so misleading. If you too aren't sure about seeing it, you've just got to try it. Now I sound like them.

The Departed

"I'm gonna smoke. You don't smoke? One or those fitness freaks, huh? Go fuck yourself."

5 Stars

I wasn't too sure what to rate this movie. I originally wanted 4.5, but after a night of sleeping on it, I had to give it a 5. The truth is, this movie made me physically nauseous I could feel the stress that each of these characters were burdened with, and it made me sick. I loved it!

To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise in Martin Scorsese's crime thriller. While an undercover cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) curries favor with the mob kingpin (Jack Nicholson), a career criminal (Matt Damon) rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.

I love Marty (Scorsese. Yeah, we're close. That's why I get to call him Marty.), I watch Goodfella's, and Casino on a regular basis, and catch Cape Fear, or Gangs of New York whenever it's on the tube. After watching these films over and over I find even in this movie he uses pretty much the same soundtrack on each. But it doesn't bother me, it makes it more of a Marty movie. I'm so happy to see Marty back with the gangsta shit.

Right out of the gate your are invested in these characters. And when the title finally hits, you know "it's on!" I feel Matt Damon is such an under rated actor. He did a flawless job. Proof : The most tense cell phone call between him and Leo you will ever see.
Leo as well did a fantastic performance. I like Leo older. He's hot, especially when he's beating people up. Is that wrong? It was getting to be really painful and hard to watch him lie over and over again. I think that's when my stomach started to turn. There are also so many other people are living these double lives in this story. It's crazy! It's really "who do you trust", along with a lot of "oh shit" moments. Believe me, you'll know 'em when you see 'em.

Alec Baldwin is perfect, you gotta love him in this role. Nickolson does a good job being...well, Nickolson. I love the whole Boston Irish scene. I was saying "cawksicka" all week. I may have to buy the sound track as well, for the theme song alone. A hardcore theme for a hardcore movie. When you see the name Scorsese you know you are in good hands. Love that little man with the big eyebrows.

Plot summary courtesy of Netflix

Ocean's 11 : Spring Pick

"I'm gonna drop you like 3rd period French."
5 Stars
Spring Pick

Whenever I really want to feel like I'm in Vegas, I pull this movie out. As one of the set directors said, "We wanted to make it look like the Vegas we all wish it was." Done.
I feel it's the heist movie of heist movies. Primo cast, great director, witty writing, and modern glamour has made this franchise so successful. Director Steven Soderbergh said while making this movie he did not in any way want to "re-invent" the Rat Pack. As he put it, there is and will only be one Rat Pack, so he didn't even try to emulate those men. In his own way though he's created the Modern Cool.

Simple plot. Ace criminal rallies professional crime buddies to steel over $160 million from three Las Vegas casinos. "That is the sexiest thing I have ever seen." For Mr. Ocean there is more to gain than just a couple bucks.

Roll call looks like this, if you don't know. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia,
Julia Roberts, Bernie Mac (AKA Ramon Escalante), Elliot Gould, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Carl Reiner,
and Don Cheadle who I feel really gives this movie class. A great example of his subtle powerful acting is in one look he gives. When the crew is reviewing the plan, Rusty (Pitt) answers a question in English from Yen who only speaks Chinese. Sitting on the couch next to Yen is Basher (Cheadle). The look he gives to both of them makes me laugh every time! I don't even think it's meant to be noticed much, but it has become one of my favorite scenes. This cast is the best! I'm so glad they all keep coming back, and then some.

I love how the viewer isn't in on everything. Like their personal, "inside" lingo is only for them. What is a "Boskey, a Jim Brown or not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald ever"? As if they don't even trust us.
What does Rusty whisper to Saul at the race track that makes him join? It almost doesn't matter. It makes them that much cooler.

The locations are amazing as well. The moment I saw Ruben's house which the movie says is Las Vegas, I knew which house it was in Palm Springs. One of the pioneer modern homes called the J.J. Robinson house. It was like seeing a friend I knew in a movie!
The extras are great to watch. The best featurette is "The Look". Even if you aren't into fashion it's a great look at how these characters were built. It doesn't explain why Rusty (Pitt) is always eating in his scenes.

I can't talk about this movie enough. It really is exciting for me everytime I see it. It's also a great boost for me when I know I'll be going to Vegas soon. Loves it!

Zodiac

"Who better than me?
'The Marked Man.'"

5 Stars

For having no real action scenes, this is one of the most exciting movies I have ever seen! I'm not too into the whole Zodiac phenom, but this movie had two elements that have me saying, "I'm in!".
1. It was shot in the Bay Area.
2. Directed by David Fincher!! Who also did Fight Club, Seven, and The Game which was also shot in the Bay Area.

This film recounts the murders, and the ongoing investigation of the Zodiac killer. Spans about three decades starting in the 60s. Focusing on the SF Chronicle where the Zodiac sent his creepy letters, and the cartoon artist played by Jake Gyllenho, who really wants to solve this case.

Within the first 15 minutes I am in love with Robert Downey Jr.. No one can deliver a line like he can. When he uttered the above quote, I was the only one laughing. Loved it! Also watch for a great scene of him and Gyllenho at the bar for the first time. Hi-larious!

I could feel how much research went into this film. Fincher's use of 911 calls are chilling, and fascinating.
One element I could do without, were the hour by hour text at the bottom of the screen. When you're dealing with years, and years of incidents it doesn't matter how many hours have passed since the last scene.

What a hard job these and other detectives have. I've scene enough Cold Case Files on A&E to know that an unsolved murder can haunt these men forever. Their marriages suffer, and personal relationships as well, and this was truly conveyed in the film.

I saw an interview with Gyllenho on Good Morning America during the press push for the movie. He made the observation that if only these cops just had cellphones the investigation would have gone smoother. As I was watching I realized he's right. Man, we've really become reliant on technology.
There's one scene in particular that three police departments are trying to share information, and since only one department has a "telefax", they have to resort to the good ole post office.

And since majority of the movie is set in the 70s there are some great scenes depicting that too.
A mother is driving along the highway with her newborn in the front seat with no car seat! Good times!

This movie left me wanting to know more about the Zodiac killer, and it left me wanting to smoke really bad too. The call in TV show. Did that really happen? And what was up with the squirrels? (Caution: If you have a genuine fear of squirrels, you may want to close your eyes.) In the end I really believe that he is dead. But it is going around that when you watch the movie at theaters, the Zodiac could be sitting right next to you. So you may want to rent it instead. Just to be safe.

Raising Arizona : Early Spring Pick

"Son, you got a pantie on your head."

5 Stars

This week I've probably watched this one about 5 times start to finish. I can't get enough!
It's just perfect for this weather, and hell...it makes me laugh!

Raising Arizona is the story of H.I. McDunnough played by a young good lookin' Nicolas Cage. In and out of prison for armed robbery, he falls head over heals for Ed "Short for Edwina. Turn to the right!" played by Holly Hunter. Soon after they marry she discovers she's baron, and they decide to kidnap a baby from Nathan Arizona who's wife gave birth to quintuplets.

The Coen Brothers are brilliant. I am really curious why they are so fascinated with the deep south, and John Goodman who has been a staple in many Coen Brother films. And why not? He's perfectly cast in each one.

It was so hard to pick just one quote from this movie. Check back, it might change from time to time.
Every time I see it I get a new favorite.

If you've never seen this one now is the perfect time of year. There's just something about the dusty desert landscapes, and the gritty southern characters. Not to mention the theme song. I can whistle that one for hours! Come July when I get my new cell phone this song will me my ring tone.

Marie Antoinette

" I have enough diamonds."

5 Stars

Simply breathtaking. So far these reviews have been easy to write. They just flow.
But with this movie my thoughts run wild and I'm having a hard time figuring out where to start.
So this one may be a little sporadic.

First thing you hear is the music. Gang of Four, New Order, Air, Aphex Twin, and Bow Wow Wow.
The most impressive to me were the use of The Cure, and Siouxsie and The Banshees.
A ballroom scene where everyone is dancing, and drinking like only the 18th centurions could do is accompanied with Siouxsie's "Hong Kong Garden". And it strangely fits! Maybe because my generation grew up on 80's music videos where powdered wigs were paired with keyboards, and new wave make-up.
One song in particular that was too much for me was The Cure's "Plainsong". My best friend and I have had a long relationship with The Cure in our young teenage years, and this song even now I felt is the most romantic song I've ever heard. I kid you not, when I heard those chimes that sound as familiar as my own name play, while watching the prince be crowned king, and seeing Antoinette painted like a picture, my heart hurt. I had pain! Too beautiful for my body to handle.

The clothes. Detail, detail, detail. Over the top. A touch of edge to them, but not enough that it takes you out of the period. I am overjoyed that it won this years Oscar for costume design.
The details were also in the food! I saw on the "Behind the Scenes" footage, that Sofia hired a Food Historian for the film. The cookies, the fruit, the meat and vegetables were made not only to nourish, but also to entertain. Everything was so over the top, and wild. As her and her friends run a pool to watch the sunset, I just think to myself "Who's to say it wasn't like that?".

My Mother put it best. She said by watching this movie, she could tell Sofia was making it for herself.
"This is how she sees it." As if she doesn't care if we get it or not, it's for her. I picture a 13 year old Sofia listening to her Walkman, in her big Coppola house, getting lost in her own halls of Versailles. I get it.

Lets see,,,music, clothes, 13 year old girl...Oh yeah, the story!

It seems we all know something about Marie Antoinette. Top of the list is that she got her head chopped off. Which is not in the movie. Some folks had a problem with this, but I don't feel that was the point of the movie. This is about a 15 year old girl. Fifteen! She now has to be prepped to be a Queen and hurry to make babies with an impotent husband who is as young as she is. The pressure this young girl has on her is terrible. Say what you will, women have come a long way.

Soffia did such a great job conveying Marie's daily life. To show the monotony of her day, I love how the same regal song accompanies her day in day out luxurious rituals.

Fun Fact : When people were sent to the guillotine they were silent and "brave". Not Marie. Now remember hangings were an event, especially hers. The guillotine was almost like a sport and was very popular. Because of Marie's kicking, screaming, and pleading the public changed their mind about the guillotine. Hers was one of the last. She made it too human.

As did Coppola with this film, surreal as it was. I was very sympathetic toward Antoinette. She was just trying her best. To be a good wife, mother, and tried to keep her sanity in such a regimented and formal gilded prison.

Pan's Labyrinth

"You're not the first pig I've gutted."

5 Stars

At the end of this movie a single word was running over and over in my head. Beyond.
That's what this movie is. Beyond [place adjective here].

The story looks to be set in the 1940s, and introduces us to a young girl (Ofelia) traveling with her mother to live with her new husband, a Colonel of the Spanish Army that is very Fuhreresque. His duty is to create a "clean Spain". Yikes! And come to think of it, Ofelia looks very Anne Frank.

Since Ofelia is a fan of fairy tale books, she is easily able to spot fairies and other creatures in the forest that surrounds the compound that she now lives on. In the midst of these trees is an old labyrinth that she is lured into by her fairy friend and finds a new meaning to her life.

I absolutely hate giving away too much of a story for others. To reveal more of this plot may hinder you from really losing yourself in it. I can say a few things though.

This movie has got hands down the best foley (or sound effects) I've heard! Every singe of a cigarette, stretch of leather, creaking of wood, tearing of flesh, rain, or breathe is so clear and graphic! At one point when I was really aware of this fact a scene came that involved an amputation. I was quietly chanting "Spare us, spare us, spare us.." even though I totally wanted to hear and see it!
I also can't say enough about the cinematography! Perfect, and breathtaking. Some of the best shots of food are in this movie. Luscious fruits and produce, and roasts you could smell.
Prosthetics and visual effects are equally brilliant.

There are a lot of those "holy shit" moments in this film. A great frog that lives in a tree, a baby eating monster that I was just hypnotized by, and the graphic details of the amputation are a treat comp aired to other scenes. Loves it!!

This movie is in Spanish, such a beautiful language (I love the lisp). Director Guillermo de Toro has had experienc in American film with Hellboy, and Blade 2, but I'm glad he chose Spanish. It made me feel like this story was from a forgotten book on a large bookshelf. Only found on the very top shelf all the way in the corner covered with dust and magic.