Pan's Labyrinth :::THE MOVIE:::::

[daveymark]

If you just want to post "OMG I saw this it was GREAT", use the other thread for that.


THIS THREAD CONTAINS

:::::::::::::::SPOILERS:::::::::::::::::::::


Anyone have any unanswered questions? let me know.

 

[toekramp]

not really a question, but god, when that guy smashed that guys face in with the wine bottle... holy awesome

 

[BooGiMaN]

i saw the movie and thought it was a good movie, but i never thought it was the greatest movie ever like a lot of the comments.

it was a bit distracting at first because even though i understand spanish i still kept reading the subtitles for some reason...anyone else do that with a subtitiled movie in a language they know or am i just weird.

 

[daveymark]

Was all that stuff make believe?

 

[slag]

movie was ok..

not superb or anything.. the best part it had going for it was the effects.

the ending was a big letdown.

out of 10 popcorn boxes, i would give it 7.

 

[daveymark]

it's interesting, that's for sure.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Yeah I thought it was an interesting movie too, just not super-terrific-happyhour good like of the other reviews seem to have it. I like the mix of violence and fantasy, it's something I would never expect to see in an American-made movie actually, at least not to the extent this one was. But yeah, I would also like to know if any of Ofelia's adventures actually happened or if they were just in her mind.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Yeah I thought it was an interesting movie too, just not super-terrific-happyhour good like of the other reviews seem to have it. I like the mix of violence and fantasy, it's something I would never expect to see in an American-made movie actually, at least not to the extent this one was. But yeah, I would also like to know if any of Ofelia's adventures actually happened or if they were just in her mind.

the reason I think it was all made up in her mind:

1) The captain did not see the faun

2) Ofelia reunited with the kingdom before she died, not after.

I think the reason some people were let down was because they show the ending sequence in the trailers and on the posters...no one expected the movie to be a history piece as well

 

[Kirby64]

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Yeah I thought it was an interesting movie too, just not super-terrific-happyhour good like of the other reviews seem to have it. I like the mix of violence and fantasy, it's something I would never expect to see in an American-made movie actually, at least not to the extent this one was. But yeah, I would also like to know if any of Ofelia's adventures actually happened or if they were just in her mind.

the reason I think it was all made up in her mind:

1) The captain did not see the faun

2) Ofelia reunited with the kingdom before she died, not after.

I think the reason some people were let down was because they show the ending sequence in the trailers and on the posters...no one expected the movie to be a history piece as well

You make a reasonable point about the captain not seeing the fawn, however when Ofelia is running from the captain in the labyrinth, how did she manage to go through the vines and evade the captain for the 3-4 minutes?

Assuming the fantasy is fake, how is that explained?

However, there are some things against the fantasy being real. The chalk next to Ofelia's bed was still there near the end of the movie and a few other things.

Good movie though.

 

[AUMM]

Originally posted by: Kirby64

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Yeah I thought it was an interesting movie too, just not super-terrific-happyhour good like of the other reviews seem to have it. I like the mix of violence and fantasy, it's something I would never expect to see in an American-made movie actually, at least not to the extent this one was. But yeah, I would also like to know if any of Ofelia's adventures actually happened or if they were just in her mind.

the reason I think it was all made up in her mind:

1) The captain did not see the faun

2) Ofelia reunited with the kingdom before she died, not after.

I think the reason some people were let down was because they show the ending sequence in the trailers and on the posters...no one expected the movie to be a history piece as well

You make a reasonable point about the captain not seeing the fawn, however when Ofelia is running from the captain in the labyrinth, how did she manage to go through the vines and evade the captain for the 3-4 minutes?

Assuming the fantasy is fake, how is that explained?

However, there are some things against the fantasy being real. The chalk next to Ofelia's bed was still there near the end of the movie and a few other things.

Good movie though.

also, that plant she put under her moms bed that was thrown into the fire... I do not think it was just in her head

 

[Oceandevi]

I believe

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: Kirby64

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Yeah I thought it was an interesting movie too, just not super-terrific-happyhour good like of the other reviews seem to have it. I like the mix of violence and fantasy, it's something I would never expect to see in an American-made movie actually, at least not to the extent this one was. But yeah, I would also like to know if any of Ofelia's adventures actually happened or if they were just in her mind.

the reason I think it was all made up in her mind:

1) The captain did not see the faun

2) Ofelia reunited with the kingdom before she died, not after.

I think the reason some people were let down was because they show the ending sequence in the trailers and on the posters...no one expected the movie to be a history piece as well

You make a reasonable point about the captain not seeing the fawn, however when Ofelia is running from the captain in the labyrinth, how did she manage to go through the vines and evade the captain for the 3-4 minutes?

Assuming the fantasy is fake, how is that explained?

Well, if the fantasy is fake, every sequence is made up, including the scene where the vines open up.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Made a Pan's Labby YTMND today, this scene was crazy!

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: Kirby64

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Yeah I thought it was an interesting movie too, just not super-terrific-happyhour good like of the other reviews seem to have it. I like the mix of violence and fantasy, it's something I would never expect to see in an American-made movie actually, at least not to the extent this one was. But yeah, I would also like to know if any of Ofelia's adventures actually happened or if they were just in her mind.

the reason I think it was all made up in her mind:

1) The captain did not see the faun

2) Ofelia reunited with the kingdom before she died, not after.

I think the reason some people were let down was because they show the ending sequence in the trailers and on the posters...no one expected the movie to be a history piece as well

You make a reasonable point about the captain not seeing the fawn, however when Ofelia is running from the captain in the labyrinth, how did she manage to go through the vines and evade the captain for the 3-4 minutes?

Assuming the fantasy is fake, how is that explained?

Well, if the fantasy is fake, every sequence is made up, including the scene where the vines open up.

yea but it doesnt explain how the mother and the captain were able to see and hold the plant/baby creature that ofelia placed under her mother's bed

i think it was real and not just in her mind. But the faun and everything in the underworld are only visible to the real underworld princess

 

[Aharami]

also anyone else think Mercedes knew the whole underworld/faun story that Ofelia was telling her? At one point Ofelia tells Mercedes about the fairies and faun visiting her. At that point it seems like Mercedes thinking back to something from her childhood before telling Ofelia that all those things dont exist. Another thing that makes this more evident is toward the end of the movie, when Mercedes and her brother+rebels come to rescue Ofelia from her room, they dont find her there. But Mercedes sees the chalk drawing of the door Ofelia made on her wall. And at the next scene, Mercedes is at the labyrinth. How did Mercedes know that Ofelia would be at the labyrinth. Something tells me that Mercedes had gone thru all this when she was a little girl and knew the correlation between the chalk door and the labyrinth.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

it's all in her head. it's her way of coping w/ all the 'bad things' in the adult world (war, etc). That's what makes the ending a bit sad. she smiles at the end, just wanting to be w/ her own fantasy world, and away from harsh reality.

That's why we go to movies, or read books, or watch TV shows no? We want to watch nice stories to take us away from our realities.

 

[Rachael]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
it's all in her head. it's her way of coping w/ all the 'bad things' in the adult world (war, etc). That's what makes the ending a bit sad. she smiles at the end, just wanting to be w/ her own fantasy world, and away from harsh reality.

I understand the argument that it's a coping mechanism, and do indeed think that it can be interpreted in that way.

However, I think that there were several parts in the movie that speak to the fantasy elements being real. Already spoken of- the plant, the vines, etc. It would have been quite a cooincidence indeed if the plant had no magical properties and yet the mother began to die again right after it was thrown into the fire. Also, at the end of the film the narrator says that the princess has left "signs" of her time in this world for those who would care to look, and shows the blooming white flower on the branch where she had left her dress.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: Kirby64

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Yeah I thought it was an interesting movie too, just not super-terrific-happyhour good like of the other reviews seem to have it. I like the mix of violence and fantasy, it's something I would never expect to see in an American-made movie actually, at least not to the extent this one was. But yeah, I would also like to know if any of Ofelia's adventures actually happened or if they were just in her mind.

the reason I think it was all made up in her mind:

1) The captain did not see the faun

2) Ofelia reunited with the kingdom before she died, not after.

I think the reason some people were let down was because they show the ending sequence in the trailers and on the posters...no one expected the movie to be a history piece as well

You make a reasonable point about the captain not seeing the fawn, however when Ofelia is running from the captain in the labyrinth, how did she manage to go through the vines and evade the captain for the 3-4 minutes?

Assuming the fantasy is fake, how is that explained?

Well, if the fantasy is fake, every sequence is made up, including the scene where the vines open up.

yea but it doesnt explain how the mother and the captain were able to see and hold the plant/baby creature that ofelia placed under her mother's bed

i think it was real and not just in her mind. But the faun and everything in the underworld are only visible to the real underworld princess

The plant was real. the plant moving and cooing like a baby was the fantasy part of it. If the captain saw the plant moving around like a baby, he would have freaked out. All he saw was a stinky plant in a bowl of milk.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: Rachael

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
it's all in her head. it's her way of coping w/ all the 'bad things' in the adult world (war, etc). That's what makes the ending a bit sad. she smiles at the end, just wanting to be w/ her own fantasy world, and away from harsh reality.

I understand the argument that it's a coping mechanism, and do indeed think that it can be interpreted in that way.

However, I think that there were several parts in the movie that speak to the fantasy elements being real. Already spoken of- the plant, the vines, etc. It would have been quite a cooincidence indeed if the plant had no magical properties and yet the mother began to die again right after it was thrown into the fire. Also, at the end of the film the narrator says that the princess has left "signs" of her time in this world for those who would care to look, and shows the blooming white flower on the branch where she had left her dress.

ya true. it can be interpreted both ways; kind of like calvin and hobbes. in one end you got reality, in the other, you have a childhood fantasy world. wishful thinking dictates that we really want to believe in the fantasy world, and the author/director leaves room for ambigiuty and hopeful/wishful thoughts for the audience in the end.

keeping it a bit open ended like that spurs discussion, and keeps us hopeful of Ofelia's true fate.

I tend to lean towards the whole thing being in her head, but my wishful thinking wants her to have a happy ending in her kingdom.

Also, the narration at the beginning shows how there was a girl who left her kingdom and it was told that she would come back. During this narration, we see Ofelia dying. It is as if that beginning narration was derived from Ofelia herself to justify her adventures prior to her being shot.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Originally posted by: Rachael

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
it's all in her head. it's her way of coping w/ all the 'bad things' in the adult world (war, etc). That's what makes the ending a bit sad. she smiles at the end, just wanting to be w/ her own fantasy world, and away from harsh reality.

I understand the argument that it's a coping mechanism, and do indeed think that it can be interpreted in that way.

However, I think that there were several parts in the movie that speak to the fantasy elements being real. Already spoken of- the plant, the vines, etc. It would have been quite a cooincidence indeed if the plant had no magical properties and yet the mother began to die again right after it was thrown into the fire. Also, at the end of the film the narrator says that the princess has left "signs" of her time in this world for those who would care to look, and shows the blooming white flower on the branch where she had left her dress.

ya true. it can be interpreted both ways; kind of like calvin and hobbes. in one end you got reality, in the other, you have a childhood fantasy world. wishful thinking dictates that we really want to believe in the fantasy world, and the author/director leaves room for ambigiuty and hopeful/wishful thoughts for the audience in the end.

keeping it a bit open ended like that spurs discussion, and keeps us hopeful of Ofelia's true fate.

I tend to lean towards the whole thing being in her head, but my wishful thinking wants her to have a happy ending in her kingdom.

Also, the narration at the beginning shows how there was a girl who left her kingdom and it was told that she would come back. During this narration, we see Ofelia dying. It is as if that beginning narration was derived from Ofelia herself to justify her adventures prior to her being shot.

The other strange thing, was the blood was moving back into her nose in the opening sequece. what was that about?

 

[yowolabi]

I just want to know why she both opened the wrong door with the key and ate the food. Also, why was their no consequence to opening the wrong door?

 

[Rebasxer]

Does anyone remeber Ofelia taking her medicine, my first thought was that it was some sort of trance-inducing drug.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Originally posted by: Rachael

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
it's all in her head. it's her way of coping w/ all the 'bad things' in the adult world (war, etc). That's what makes the ending a bit sad. she smiles at the end, just wanting to be w/ her own fantasy world, and away from harsh reality.

I understand the argument that it's a coping mechanism, and do indeed think that it can be interpreted in that way.

However, I think that there were several parts in the movie that speak to the fantasy elements being real. Already spoken of- the plant, the vines, etc. It would have been quite a cooincidence indeed if the plant had no magical properties and yet the mother began to die again right after it was thrown into the fire. Also, at the end of the film the narrator says that the princess has left "signs" of her time in this world for those who would care to look, and shows the blooming white flower on the branch where she had left her dress.

ya true. it can be interpreted both ways; kind of like calvin and hobbes. in one end you got reality, in the other, you have a childhood fantasy world. wishful thinking dictates that we really want to believe in the fantasy world, and the author/director leaves room for ambigiuty and hopeful/wishful thoughts for the audience in the end.

keeping it a bit open ended like that spurs discussion, and keeps us hopeful of Ofelia's true fate.

I tend to lean towards the whole thing being in her head, but my wishful thinking wants her to have a happy ending in her kingdom.

Also, the narration at the beginning shows how there was a girl who left her kingdom and it was told that she would come back. During this narration, we see Ofelia dying. It is as if that beginning narration was derived from Ofelia herself to justify her adventures prior to her being shot.

The other strange thing, was the blood was moving back into her nose in the opening sequece. what was that about?

i guess to justify everythign that happened prior to being shot. She is probably thinking about that narration, and the whole time-moving-backwards bit was to tell herself THAT narration in the beginning of the movie. It was to complete her own story. Throughout her imaginative story, she was a bit clueless as to what direction her story was taking her, but her death gave her the realization that she was indeed the lost/dead princess whom her fantasy king/father was waiting for.

besides, the queen was her real mom, and she enthusiastically said "papa!" when she saw her father. Wether that is her biological father in her life or her fantasy father remains a bit ambigious, but throughout the movie, she always remembered her biological father.

her yelling out "papa!" at the end while her biological mother was next to her hinted to me at least that both were her real biological parents that she wanted to be with forever.

War and other cicrumstances prevented this dream, so she'd rather live in it at the time of her death.

 

[Rachael]

Originally posted by: yowolabi
I just want to know why she both opened the wrong door with the key and ate the food. Also, why was their no consequence to opening the wrong door?

She stuck the key into the door that the faeries pointed out and shook her head "no"- I assumed it didn't fit. Now, why the faeries pointed out the wrong door, I don't know.. but the one she opened must have been the correct one, since it gave her the knife. At the end though- when her refusal to spill the blood of her brother turned out to be the right action, the fawn's attempt to persuade her to do it a test, it seemed that she was being rewarded for thinking for her self and judging the right course of action independantly. So maybe the doors have something to do with that too- she didn't freeze up when the door that the faeries showed her didn't work, instead she kept trying. I don't know, just a thought.

I was definitely wanting to yell at her for eating the food too- makes me wonder if perhaps the food was enchanted to make it very difficult to resist or some such.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: Rachael

Originally posted by: yowolabi
I just want to know why she both opened the wrong door with the key and ate the food. Also, why was their no consequence to opening the wrong door?

She stuck the key into the door that the faeries pointed out and shook her head "no"- I assumed it didn't fit. Now, why the faeries pointed out the wrong door, I don't know.. but the one she opened must have been the correct one, since it gave her the knife. At the end though- when her refusal to spill the blood of her brother turned out to be the right action, the fawn's attempt to persuade her to do it a test, it seemed that she was being rewarded for thinking for her self and judging the right course of action independantly. So maybe the doors have something to do with that too- she didn't freeze up when the door that the faeries showed her didn't work, instead she kept trying. I don't know, just a thought.

I was definitely wanting to yell at her for eating the food too- makes me wonder if perhaps the food was enchanted to make it very difficult to resist or some such.

hehe ya, but i just thought she was just adding it to her own story to add suspense and mystery she wants to prolong her story since she just got locked up in that room, and she thought "mmm, i'lll probably be her awhile, might as well spice up my story.."

she couldn't go outside anymore so...ya.