First released in December 2006, Guillmero Del Toro's Pan's Labryinth is a very interesting film and particular great example of World Cinema. The film is set in 1944 during the Spanish Civil War in Spain, where Ofelia (the film's protaganist) has moved into a remote town along with her pregnent Mother, in the company of Ofelia's Stepfather a ruthless military commander. However all the while this is occuring Ofelia is told by a Faun(the kind of creature she fantasises about)that she is a reincarnation of a princess/Queen of a magical kingdom, where the Faun comes from. However in order for this to happen, Ofelia has to perform three tasks, which result her in encountering several other magical and bizzare creatures such as a Gaint Toad and the Faceless Man, as well as crossing paths with her cruel facist Stepfather.
The film does a wonderful job of juxtiposition in the narrative, with the harsh and gritty reality of the Civil War contrasting with Ofelia's surreal adventure, of which as Children we've dreamt about. This in fact reflects Del Toro's childhood, escaping particular unpleasentries in life through his fasinaction in fairytales and monsters. The film is very enjoyable (depending if you have preferences to subtitles or not), with there being several memorable scenes such as the gruesome toture scenes with the Stepfather, Ofelia's encounter with the Faceless Man (quite disturbing actually) as well as the dramatic climax, which leaves the viewer interpreting whether or not its a happy or sad ending for Ofelia.
I feel that the film is a beautiful mixture of light fantasy and dark realism, which almost echoes the challanges of growing up as a child, beginning to see both the good and bad sides of life. The film is accessible for a large audience particulalry those who enjoy other mainstream films that have a similar genre such as 'Lord Of The Rings', 'Harry Potter' or 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which does have some very close parrallerls. Overall, 'Pan's Lab' is a uinque gothic fairy tale, which deals with escapism from the real world and its problem, being perfectly told by us thanks to Guillmero Del Toro, seeing that the film is right up his alley.
4/5
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Textual Analysis of 'Pan's Laberyinth' and 'Volver' Trailers
Pan's Laberyinth Trailer
The Trailer for Pan's Laberyinth displays many codes and conventions of Western/UK film trailers, it is most particularly noticeble is how the pace and editing increase speed towards the end of the trailer, somthing that is seen quite often in todays trailers particulalry those of suspense, thrillers or action films, bearing in mind that this is a Spanish film.
It must also be noted how the trailer pays more attention to the Fantasy elements of the narrative and plot rather then the Civil War contextual drama, with the choice of this most likely being that this will (and certainly has) catch the attention of the target audience, fans of Harry Potter etc. A feature that may give away the film's Spanish origin and roots is the fact that theres no narration throughout the trailer, though there is text, narration however is a common feature in Western fantasy films.
The trailer also notes the film's director Guillmero Del Toro who had previously directed Hellboy and Blade II, two films that were not only targeted to more mainstream audiences, but also have roots in the Western comic book industry, this also helps to draw in UK auidence members to see Pan's Laberyinth as they may have possibly seen the films mentioned above. Another convetion used for the film's trailer is that use of a classical/orchestral score,which again builds up along with the pace and intensity towards the end.
Overall, for a Spanish film, Pan's Laberyinth's has a very traditional UK/Western trailer, its obvious that there was intention for the target audience to be wided to larger UK auidences as well as more local or focues Spanish and World Cinema auidences.
Volver
For Volver, I was able to compare both the original Spanish and UK trailers. As I expected, the two versions do have a few similarities and a couple of differences when compared to one another. The Spanish trailer gives away alot of the film's entire plot, where as the UK trailer only explores one side of the film's plot (the fact that the mother of Raimunda ,played by Pene'lope Cruz, has seeminlgy returned from the dead) though in fairness, this was mostly likely done due to the fact that this is the film's main plot. Both trailers indicate to the audience that the film is a piece of world cinema, rather then a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster, as seen through the English subtitles.
One particular noticeble difference between the two trailers is how they open and introduce the film's story, with the Spanish trailer opening in a more calmer and slower pace compared to the UK trailer, which opens much more in the style of a suspenseful thriller.
The UK trailer also shows then intention of the film being marketed to serious film fans , with several awards, achivements and praise that the film has recived, such as a reviews from several London papers, this causes to influence the audience to go and see it with the expectation of it being a good film.
The Trailer for Pan's Laberyinth displays many codes and conventions of Western/UK film trailers, it is most particularly noticeble is how the pace and editing increase speed towards the end of the trailer, somthing that is seen quite often in todays trailers particulalry those of suspense, thrillers or action films, bearing in mind that this is a Spanish film.
It must also be noted how the trailer pays more attention to the Fantasy elements of the narrative and plot rather then the Civil War contextual drama, with the choice of this most likely being that this will (and certainly has) catch the attention of the target audience, fans of Harry Potter etc. A feature that may give away the film's Spanish origin and roots is the fact that theres no narration throughout the trailer, though there is text, narration however is a common feature in Western fantasy films.
The trailer also notes the film's director Guillmero Del Toro who had previously directed Hellboy and Blade II, two films that were not only targeted to more mainstream audiences, but also have roots in the Western comic book industry, this also helps to draw in UK auidence members to see Pan's Laberyinth as they may have possibly seen the films mentioned above. Another convetion used for the film's trailer is that use of a classical/orchestral score,which again builds up along with the pace and intensity towards the end.
Overall, for a Spanish film, Pan's Laberyinth's has a very traditional UK/Western trailer, its obvious that there was intention for the target audience to be wided to larger UK auidences as well as more local or focues Spanish and World Cinema auidences.
Volver
For Volver, I was able to compare both the original Spanish and UK trailers. As I expected, the two versions do have a few similarities and a couple of differences when compared to one another. The Spanish trailer gives away alot of the film's entire plot, where as the UK trailer only explores one side of the film's plot (the fact that the mother of Raimunda ,played by Pene'lope Cruz, has seeminlgy returned from the dead) though in fairness, this was mostly likely done due to the fact that this is the film's main plot. Both trailers indicate to the audience that the film is a piece of world cinema, rather then a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster, as seen through the English subtitles.
One particular noticeble difference between the two trailers is how they open and introduce the film's story, with the Spanish trailer opening in a more calmer and slower pace compared to the UK trailer, which opens much more in the style of a suspenseful thriller.
The UK trailer also shows then intention of the film being marketed to serious film fans , with several awards, achivements and praise that the film has recived, such as a reviews from several London papers, this causes to influence the audience to go and see it with the expectation of it being a good film.
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Volver and Pan's Labyrinth Survey
Well to start off the New Year , here is small survey (to be later updated) on peoples thoughts having watched Volver and Pan's Labyrinth, the first being none other then the head of Canon Palmer Media Studies, Ms Ward.
Volver
1. How did you first come across the film?
'Saw a trailer, possibly in Sky.'
2. How would you describe the film from viewing the trailer?
"Vivid, Intricate and Lovely".
3. Had you heard about Pedro Almodovar (the film's director) previously?
"Yes, I had previously seen All About My Mother.
4. What were your thoughts after seeing the trailer?
"Made me want to see it".
5. What elements of the film, gave it away that the film was a peice of Spanish cinema?
"Subtitles gave it away, but the whole production shows how it is world cinema as opposed to mainstream."
6. And what was your overall thought on the film?
" A visual spectecle, a fairground cruize 4/5" (Pun most likely intended)
Pan's Labyrinth
1. How did you first come across the film?
"Saw a trailer in the cinema, when seeing Harry Potter".
2. How would you describe the film from viewing the trailer?
"Dark, Emotive and Surreal".
3. Had you heard about Guillermo del Toro (the film's director) previously?
"Had heard of Del Toro because Hellboy".
4. What were your thoughts after seeing the trailer?
"Ohhh Whens that out"
5. What elements of the film, gave it away that the film was a peice of Spanish cinema?
"Use of subtitles, particularly the juxtiposition used in the narrative,when somthing bad happended, it contrasts to Ofelia".
6. And what was your overall thought on the film?
"Awe-Inspiring 4/5".
Volver
1. How did you first come across the film?
'Saw a trailer, possibly in Sky.'
2. How would you describe the film from viewing the trailer?
"Vivid, Intricate and Lovely".
3. Had you heard about Pedro Almodovar (the film's director) previously?
"Yes, I had previously seen All About My Mother.
4. What were your thoughts after seeing the trailer?
"Made me want to see it".
5. What elements of the film, gave it away that the film was a peice of Spanish cinema?
"Subtitles gave it away, but the whole production shows how it is world cinema as opposed to mainstream."
6. And what was your overall thought on the film?
" A visual spectecle, a fairground cruize 4/5" (Pun most likely intended)
Pan's Labyrinth
1. How did you first come across the film?
"Saw a trailer in the cinema, when seeing Harry Potter".
2. How would you describe the film from viewing the trailer?
"Dark, Emotive and Surreal".
3. Had you heard about Guillermo del Toro (the film's director) previously?
"Had heard of Del Toro because Hellboy".
4. What were your thoughts after seeing the trailer?
"Ohhh Whens that out"
5. What elements of the film, gave it away that the film was a peice of Spanish cinema?
"Use of subtitles, particularly the juxtiposition used in the narrative,when somthing bad happended, it contrasts to Ofelia".
6. And what was your overall thought on the film?
"Awe-Inspiring 4/5".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)