It Was a Movie Night, By God!

I was supposed to go to friends home for the weekend (I think I'll head up tomorrow morning), but I felt like shit this whole day; a nagging headache and some unexplained nausea. Just the usual bullshit. So, the other half and I decided to do some serious movie watching. A wonderful evening talking shop and catching up w/ friend Karyn last night, reminded us that we had yet to see Pan's Labyrinth. I just want to say right off the bat; that yes, it was visually stunning, the story was very engaging; and the performances (particularly by Maribel Verdu, "Mercedes") were moving...but, I think the hype may have effected my final verdict. It took me a good hour before I actually started to become invested in what was happening. But eventually, I think it was successful. A few highlights: The grape/hourglass sequence (while straight out of The Cell) was horrifying and wonderfully eerie. The bottle smashing into the face of the "rabbit peasant" was particularly gruesome. Mercedes reunion w/ her brother (after her incredible escape...those horrible wounds from her little knife...ugh) was highly emotional. Also, the gent playing Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez) was more that a little bit "do-able"; in a creepy evil-Ralph Fiennes-Schindler's List sort of way. In the end, however, it didn't engage me as much as I had expected; or hoped. Frankly, I liked one of Guillermo del Toro's earlier efforts; The Devil's Backbone; much better. I feel a bit guilty for not liking Pan's Labyrinth more; not that I didn't enjoy it a great deal. Hell, I don't know. Hmmm.

The other half was up for another one; so we dug up one of our other newer purchase; Notes on a Scandal. Wow. Wow. Wow. Tension. Lesbianism (apparently an ongoing theme this week). And a hot young guy. I checked; Andrew Simpson (Steven) is pushing (or has he reached?) the legal 18 year old mark. Don't arrest me. He had a nice, cute Prince Harry look to him. But, I digress. Judi Dench was brilliant. So devious and frightening. Cate Blanchett. Shit. I so suck at reviews; and each time I try to comment on a new flick I've seen; I begin to sicken myself w/ my lack of reviewing skills. Don't hire me for your newspaper column. I stink. At any rate, I adored Notes on a Scandal. See it. Rent it. Buy it. Do something; so long as it ends w/ you seeing this movie. Truly scandalous. There; how's that for a crappy review? Well, as far as crappy movie reviews go; that was pretty sweet.