Friday, January 19, 2007

El Laberinto del Fauno

Saw it last night. Definitely list-worthy.

One of the most memorable aspects of the movie is the minor sound effects. The buzzing of a fairy's wings, chalk scratching on a porous wall, and most of all, the slight squeak of the evil Captain's tight-pulled leather military uniform. Each effect is crisp and easily detected - a little bit exaggerated. It reminds me of the sounds you hear when characters are fighting hand-to-hand in Kill Bill. Those sounds give every detail in the movie a little more bite and character.

Then, of course, there is the movie. A few of the details are derivative - the Faun, for example, is a composite of characters from Lord of the Rings, just as his underground lair is exactly like the entrance to the Mines of Moria. But there is no denying that the movie is highly original. I particularly like the giant and revolting toad that lives under the fig tree, and, of course, the guy whose eyes are in his hands instead of his face.

If I could only take one movie of 2006 with me to the desert island, it would still be Little Miss Sunshine, but this was a very solid piece of film-making. I'd buy the DVD. On Half.com.

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