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Guillermo Del Toro's 'Pan's Labyrinth'

Roboplegic Wrongcock

By Roboplegic Wrongcock,
in Film, TV & Radio

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holly

holly

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Linkster and I got round to watching this last night, and I have to agree somewhat with the disappointed faction, but probably only because the film was far over-hyped. It's not the best film I've seen in ages, and it's certainly not in my top 10 of all time. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, but I did end up feeling a bit disappointed, because I didn't think it was that good.

I think it's mainly because although the magic parts of it were interesting and well done and all that (I liked the

guy with the eyes in his hands

and

the mandrake root was ace

), there just wasn't enough of it, and the real-life parts just weren't all that interesting. Although, I did think, great use of CG when the captain was

stitching up the side of his mouth

, that's what CG ought to be used for, doing things you can't do in real life.

Well, anyway, I did enjoy it, but have ended up feeling a bit meh about the whole thing. Don't think I'd be rushing to see it again.

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Paradigm

Paradigm

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Interesting that people are talking about the movie being hyped etc. I've probably been going to the cinema 2-3 times a week since the year began and have been watching pretty much anything that looks interesting (and in a cracking year for movies the worst I've seen is Babel!). I've tried to avoid hype as much as possible and don't read threads in this folder (usually) until I've watched the film. I'm not necessarily suggesting that anyone is approaching a movie with the wrong mindset - especially considering I'm not sure it's true of myself - but approaching a movie with a blank slate and without Kermode's review ringing in your ears must surely be a better experience?

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holly

holly

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approaching a movie with a blank slate and without Kermode's review ringing in your ears must surely be a better experience?

Well yep, that's my point - I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't had the disappointment of it not being one of the best films I'd ever seen. But then even if I hadn't heard anything about it beforehand, I don't think I would have been one of the people raving about it.

So the disappointment of it not being fantastic has somewhat overwhelmed the fact that it was quite enjoyable. I'm probably being a bit harsh, like I said, I did enjoy it.

I never saw any trailers for it, incidentally - did people think from the trailers that it was going to have more of the fantasy elements in it? I can imagine going in knowing nothing but the name and still ending up a bit disappointed on that front.

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therealjohnpeat

therealjohnpeat

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Watched this last week and I'm hovering in the 'it's OK but not brilliant' camp...

I'd been told that the fantasy imagery which the film is 'sold on' doesn't make up a lot of the film - but to be honest, I think it makes up 'enough'.

It's not exactly hugely imaginative - there's nothing really 'new' in there - and the section with 'Mr Eyes in his Hands' actually made me laugh, which I don't think was the intention.

Most human characters are too 'wooden' as well - it's a kids film but with adult violence - although I'm reasonably sure it's only a 15 on DVD (was an 18 at the Cinema I think?) which surprised me as I thought knives/stabbing was an automatic 18 tbh...

It's not a BAD film by any means - it's just that he's missed his audience by making an adult film with the main human characters aimed at kids...

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Despin

Despin

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Hey there.

I recently read the Hellboy 2 script. Man. Del Toro loves his magical creatures doesnt he?

Anyone let down by the extras on the Pan's DVD? Compared to some of his other dvds. They were a real let down.

Despin out.

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holly

holly

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Most human characters are too 'wooden' as well - it's a kids film but with adult violence - although I'm reasonably sure it's only a 15 on DVD (was an 18 at the Cinema I think?) which surprised me as I thought knives/stabbing was an automatic 18 tbh...

The DVD was a 15, I don't know why it would have been reclassified from the cinema but then I don't know how DVD classification works. I was surprised it was a 15, to be honest - there were a few pretty nasty bits.

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Laine

Laine

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Well I did wonder why it would have done. Don't you think it's a bit vicious for a 15 though?

Sorry holly, that was aimed at john rather than you.

Yep, it's definitely very violent. I could hardly watch some of it.

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therealjohnpeat

therealjohnpeat

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My understanding is that DVDs are re-rated to consider the fact that there's no "box office" stopping people from seeing films they shouldn't - and the concept of 'accompanied by parents' doesn't really make sense either.

Generally tho, it does mean DVDs are often HIGHER rated than Films - but there are exceptions...

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holly

holly

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Yep, it's definitely very violent. I could hardly watch some of it.

lol, we had one of those moments while he was

sewing up his mouth

. Although whilst being very impressed with the use of CG :) I did have to stop looking after a bit though.

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Laine

Laine

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My understanding is that DVDs are re-rated to consider the fact that there's no "box office" stopping people from seeing films they shouldn't - and the concept of 'accompanied by parents' doesn't really make sense either.

Generally tho, it does mean DVDs are often HIGHER rated than Films - but there are exceptions...

That's why DVD's become 12, instead of a 12A, but that's about it. I've never heard of a DVD release being re-rated lower than the cinema release was, ever. Especially something like an 18 to 15, there are shops staff to uphold the BBFC regulations. Unless maybe a film that's 50 years old being rated again for release on DVD or something.

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Andsom

Andsom

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lol, we had one of those moments while he was

sewing up his mouth

. Although whilst being very impressed with the use of CG :) I did have to stop looking after a bit though.

Interestingly, there actually nothing computer generated in those shots. Just some great make-up and a tiny little bit of colour keying. It looks great.

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Andsom

Andsom

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My understanding is that DVDs are re-rated to consider the fact that there's no "box office" stopping people from seeing films they shouldn't - and the concept of 'accompanied by parents' doesn't really make sense either.

Generally tho, it does mean DVDs are often HIGHER rated than Films - but there are exceptions...

This isn't the case. The only exception, as stated above, is with the 12A - 12 thing. Often DVDs get a different rating based on the special features (as these also need to be submitted for classification). So some bad language in a commentary for instance could bump the rating up. But a barebones release film will be the same rating as the cinema classification unless a lot of time has passed and the film is submitted for reclassification.

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DJK

DJK

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This isn't the case. The only exception, as stated above, is with the 12A - 12 thing. Often DVDs get a different rating based on the special features (as these also need to be submitted for classification). So some bad language in a commentary for instance could bump the rating up. But a barebones release film will be the same rating as the cinema classification unless a lot of time has passed and the film is submitted for reclassification.

Yeah but it normally says on the back of the box if a rating has been raised due to the special features like on the Dodgeball or Jaws DVDs. I can think of a couple of films which were rated 15 at the cinema but are 18 on DVD - Wes Craven's New Nightmare & Starship Troopers - I don't think it's because of the special features (well the New Nightmare DVD doesn't even have any!) so I always figured they raised the ratings because there was more chance of someone under-age seeing the films on DVD than sneaking into the cinema (which doesn't really make any sense, but hell it's the BBFC - though they have improved slighty over recent years).

On topic, I have the Pan's DVD sitting on my shelf but not watched it yet so, er....yeah.

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mindgames

mindgames

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Interestingly, there actually nothing computer generated in those shots. Just some great make-up and a tiny little bit of colour keying. It looks great.

:) Thats amazing if so, I watched that bit a couple of times marvelling at the flawless use of CGI. :)

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jon_cybernet

jon_cybernet

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That's why DVD's become 12, instead of a 12A, but that's about it. I've never heard of a DVD release being re-rated lower than the cinema release was, ever. Especially something like an 18 to 15, there are shops staff to uphold the BBFC regulations. Unless maybe a film that's 50 years old being rated again for release on DVD or something.

Terminator was downgraded from an 18 to a 15.

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Andsom

Andsom

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Yeah but it normally says on the back of the box if a rating has been raised due to the special features like on the Dodgeball or Jaws DVDs. I can think of a couple of films which were rated 15 at the cinema but are 18 on DVD - Wes Craven's New Nightmare & Starship Troopers - I don't think it's because of the special features (well the New Nightmare DVD doesn't even have any!) so I always figured they raised the ratings because there was more chance of someone under-age seeing the films on DVD than sneaking into the cinema (which doesn't really make any sense, but hell it's the BBFC - though they have improved slighty over recent years).

On topic, I have the Pan's DVD sitting on my shelf but not watched it yet so, er....yeah.

Hmmm. Having a look on the BBFC site does confirm that you are right with regards to both those films. They were both rated for video years ago and there doesn't seem to have been any resubmition for either. Quite interesting. Things don't work that way now but it has been over a decade since New Nightmare's classification.

Just out of sheer interest I'll email them and find out why.

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Aardvark

Aardvark

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Happens occasionally. It's a 15 because the violence isn't gratuitous, I would guess.
Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and brief.

I think the violence in Pan's Labyrinth fits that description. Yes the guy gets bottled to death, but it's not dwelt on.

Stitching the razor cut was far harder to watch anyway if you ask me.

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Andsom

Andsom

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Don't be silly, of course there was CG involved in that shot:

http://www.fxguide.com/article395.html

In the special features on the DVD they show it being done. In the shot where he is sewing his face up there is nothing computer generated. It's a combination of practical makeup and a little bit of colour keying. There's nothing in the artical you posted to dispute that.

EDIT: I should state that by 'computer generated' I mean they haven't added anything that wasn't there. The needle is actually going through makeup which was applied to the actors face. All they have done is key out a small piece of green makeup to extend the slash, and they obviously used a computer to do that but there's no additional 3D modelling involved.

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