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Redjake · 02-11-2007, 07:58 AM

Very interesting movie.

I think the reason I'm not exploding with joy after seeing this movie is because I thought it was an "Alice in Wonderland" deal like everyone seems to be saying. The thing is, this movie has about 15 minutes total of "fairy tale and dream" scenes, and the rest is the dark, gritty realism of fascist Spain circa WWII. Totally didn't expect that. I expected something along the lines of "first 10 minutes of the movie, girl enters some sort of 'labyrinth' and is wisked away into a new, amazing universe with Neverending Story-esque creatures that are either friend or foe, she finds her way back at the end, is changed for life, etc." but it's definitely 100% not that. It's 85% realism, 15% fantasy. I wish it were the complete opposite.

The movie was great, just not what I expecting - I know you can't rate a movie on "expectations" as far as the storyline goes, but the advertising is really misleading, me thinks.

I agree with Halx, as well - some of the CGI was a little out of date. Guillermo doesn't enjoy using CGI (most of the monsters/creatures, including the guy with no eyes, and the faun, were costumes), but when he did in this movie, 50% of it wasn't up to par - close, but could've been better. I'm particularly reminded of the huge frog (alternated between good cuts and bad cuts of the CGI frog) and the scene at the end with the emperor or whatever (sitting on the high-up seats). Ophelia seemed to in a CGI world, similar to Attack of the Clones (which was a travesty in filmmaking), instead of immersed in a "real fantasy" world. Short scene, but could've been much more effective if they used real props.

I give the movie 8.5/10. Pace could've been a bit better in the "real world." Wonderful acting. Needed more of the "good stuff" (fantasy). Not a LOT more, just a bit more to speed things a long in the movie. I recommend it.

02-11-2007, 07:58 AM	#24 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	Very interesting movie. I think the reason I'm not exploding with joy after seeing this movie is because I thought it was an "Alice in Wonderland" deal like everyone seems to be saying. The thing is, this movie has about 15 minutes total of "fairy tale and dream" scenes, and the rest is the dark, gritty realism of fascist Spain circa WWII. Totally didn't expect that. I expected something along the lines of "first 10 minutes of the movie, girl enters some sort of 'labyrinth' and is wisked away into a new, amazing universe with Neverending Story-esque creatures that are either friend or foe, she finds her way back at the end, is changed for life, etc." but it's definitely 100% not that. It's 85% realism, 15% fantasy. I wish it were the complete opposite. The movie was great, just not what I expecting - I know you can't rate a movie on "expectations" as far as the storyline goes, but the advertising is really misleading, me thinks. I agree with Halx, as well - some of the CGI was a little out of date. Guillermo doesn't enjoy using CGI (most of the monsters/creatures, including the guy with no eyes, and the faun, were costumes), but when he did in this movie, 50% of it wasn't up to par - close, but could've been better. I'm particularly reminded of the huge frog (alternated between good cuts and bad cuts of the CGI frog) and the scene at the end with the emperor or whatever (sitting on the high-up seats). Ophelia seemed to in a CGI world, similar to Attack of the Clones (which was a travesty in filmmaking), instead of immersed in a "real fantasy" world. Short scene, but could've been much more effective if they used real props. I give the movie 8.5/10. Pace could've been a bit better in the "real world." Wonderful acting. Needed more of the "good stuff" (fantasy). Not a LOT more, just a bit more to speed things a long in the movie. I recommend it. __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.