Movie Review~Paradise Kiss (Japanese)

Title: Paradise Kiss

Screenwriter: Kenji Bando

Based on: Paradise Kiss manga by Ai Yazawa

Director: Takehiko Shinjo

Producer: Shinzo Matsuhashi, Toshiya Nomura

Main Cast: Keiko Kitagawa as Yukari Hayasaka, Osamu Mukai as Jouji Koizuma, Yusuke Yamamoto as Hiroyuki Tokumori

Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy

Release Date: June 4, 2011

Running Time: 116 minutes

Language: Japanese

Links: IMDb ~ Wikipedia ~ Movie Site

Synopsis: Yukari Hayasaka is a high school student who has become tired of her life of constant schooling. She then comes across a group of student fashion designers in need of a model for their "Paradise Kiss" clothing label. Yukari knows nothing about the fashion world and is taken back by the group's eccentric ways, but she soon comes to admire their free thinking ways and ability to pursue their dreams with a one track mind ...

Trailer: 

Paradise Kiss Live Action Trailer English... by iheartsha

My Rating: 9.5/10

My Thoughts: I loved this movie! It was so cute and fun!

Picture Credit: exolimpo

Story: I've noticed that usually movies based on manga are pretty good in terms of story and characters. The stories seem complete and well thought out. It was the same with ParaKiss. It had a really good story. There was humor and funny situations but it also had serious themes about finding yourself as a person and standing up for yourself. It was about friendship and passion. It made me laugh and it made me cry but more than that it made me think about my life and if what I was doing was what I actually wanted to do. This movie is something I think everyone can relate too. It is inspirational.

Picture Credit: asianwiki

Characters: As I said is the case with most manga-based movies, the characters seemed real and complete. They were characters you could relate to. I especially felt very close to Yukari as we were very much alike. I loved how every character had a back story. The side characters were treated like real people not like they were there just for the sake of having them. I think this is something this movie did very right and I am glad it did justice to the minor characters. The major characters were really good too. I loved seeing Yukari grow and change. Jouji was someone with issues and I loved seeing him change as well. The actors did a very good job playing their respective characters!

Picture Credit: asianwiki

Romance: The romance was very sweet and believable. I love how it wasn't overly cute and childish. It was innocent but it was also serious which enabled me to take it seriously. I also love how it was progressed along with the friendships and Yukari's growth and that it wasn't the only main focus and everything else was thrown to the side.

Picture Credit: shoujospain

Overall: I loved this movie and would highly recommend it if you are in the mood of a rom-com or just want  to watch a movie with which you can relax. This movie has the perfect blend of different themes and is executed really well. 

Mini Drama & Movie Reviews

I have finished a couple of dramas and watched a few movies but didn't think I had enough content to write a review. It feels wrong to just leave them be so here are some mini reviews:

~DRAMAS~

1. Sly & Single Again

This was such a fun drama to watch! It was light and cute and it really helped take off some of the exam stress. I really liked the acting! The story was okay if you don't take it to seriously, which I didn't. It was a good drama to just relax and enjoy.

2. Emergency Couple

I was addicted to this drama in the beginning! I loved the cast, the story, everything! But then somewhere along the way it turned into a melodrama and I got bored. I signed up for rom-com, not melo! It did come back to rom-com but I wasn't able to love it like I loved it before. Even then, it was a really enjoyable drama! And the best thing? It has the cutest baby in the whole wide world! Baby Gook <3

3. Secret Love Affair

I was blown away by this drama! It left me speechless! This drama is phenomenal! The acting is so true and amazing! While I didn't understand the business stuff in the drama (me being a med student and all) I did get the gist of it. I loved the romance! It never felt wrong or dirty. It was mind blowing, the chemistry these two actors had! And they are almost 20 years apart! I was expecting this drama to make me feel uncomfortable but I was rooting for these two from the get-go. Their love was beautiful! :')

~MOVIES~

1. Codename: Jackal

How hot is that poster?! It looks so good, right? Unfortunately, the movie wasn't that good. Sure I enjoyed looking at Kim Jae Joong. It's a good thing most scenes include him or I wouldn't have watched the movie at all. It's a shame Song Ji Hyo doesn't look as gorgeous as she does on the poster. There is a story... I think. But it is weird and just for the sake of having it. There is no mystery. I think this movie was made to show how good looking Jae Joong is and the other stuff they added just for the sake of it. Even then, I enjoyed it. Why? Well it was good entertainment! Gorgeous boy, funny scenes, a little mystery. It was a light, relaxing movie.

2. The Clue

I really liked this movie! It was a bit absurd though how everyone reacted to the student's death. But still, it was enjoyable. I loved the mystery and the humor! I loved loved loved Kang So Ra! She was really good in this movie! I even liked the romance. It was very enjoyable! If you are in the mood of a light mystery movie, with some comedy and romance, I would highly recommend The Clue.

3. A Werewolf Boy

I watched this movie with a friend when I spent the day at her house. This movie is so cute and adorable! I can't think of any other words to describe it. It reminds me of the book Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. The romance was so sweet! Amazing acting by Song Joong Ki! I loved this movie!

Movie Review~To Each A Flower

Title: To Each A Flower

Main Cast: Mario Maurer as Boyfriend

Genre: Life, Romance

Release Date: 2011

Running Time: 20 minutes

Language: Chinese

Links: My Drama List ~ Viki

Synopsis: Two very moving tales that both revolve around the common theme of love. For anyone who has ever felt the passion and heartbreak of love, these stories will move your heart. “To Each a Flower” is a 2011 Chinese Web short film.

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts: Almost all the reviews I have read of this movie have been negative. And I also get why they were negative. But I on the other hand really loved this movie!

This short movie is about relationships. About a cheating boyfriend and a girl who has this image in her head of the kind of boyfriend he should be. This movie, though, isn't that straightforward. It has metaphors which you have to understand yourself. Some people would say it makes the movie complicated. I say it makes the movie more beautiful.

The camera work and acting aren't that good but it isn't that bothersome. There aren't many dialogues and body language is more important. In such a short movie, the story is the main focus. Music plays a big role in this movie. I think this movie is at least worth a watch. And if you don't like it, looking at Mario's gorgeous face isn't a complete waste after all. ;)

Movie Review~Sunny

Title: Sunny

Writer: Kang Hyeong Cheol

Director: Kang Hyeong Cheol

Producer: Ahn Byeong Ki

Main Cast: Im Na Mi: Yoo Ho Jeong (Adult), Shim Eun Kyung (Teen); Ha Chun Hwa: Jin Hee Kyung (Adult), Kang Sora (Teen); Kim Jang Mi: Go See Hee (Adult), Kim Min Yeong (Teen); Hwang Jin Hee: Hong Jin Hee (Adult), Park Jin Joo (Teen); Seo Geun Ok: Lee Yun Kyung (Adult), Nam Bo Ra (Teen); Ryu Bok Hee: Kim Sun Kyung (Adult), Kim Bo Mi (Teen); Jung Su Ji: Yoon Jung (Adult), Min Hyo Rin (Teen); Joon Ho: Lee Geung Young (Adult), Kim Shi Hoo (Teen).

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Release Date: 4 May 2011

Running Time: 124 min

Language: Korean

Links: IMDb ~ Wikipedia ~ Amazon 

Synopsis: New high-school transfer student Na-Mi comes from a small town in Jeolla Province to her new school in the capital city of Seoul. When she is nervous, her small town dialect comes out & she starts to shake. On her first day at her new school she is bullied by others. Coming to her help is a group of girls. The girls are Choon-Hwa - known for her strong sense of loyalty & excellent fighting skills, heavyset Jang-Mi - who badly wishes to have plastic surgery to get double eye-lids, Jin-Hee - excellent when it comes to spewing profanity, Geum-Ok - interested in literature, Bok-Hee - dreams of one day becoming Ms. Korea and Su-Ji - always arrogant. Na-Mi quickly becomes part of their group. When the group confronts rival girls known as Sonyeo Sidae ("Girls Generation"), Na-Mi spews curse words she picked up from her grandmother. Because of Na-Mi the girls are able to avoid a crisis. These seven girls then form their own group named "Sunny". They also vow to stay together forever. The girls then prepare for a performance at an upcoming school festival, but on the day of their performance a terrible event occurs leading the girls to eventually going their own separate ways. Twenty five years later, Na-Mi is married to a successful businessman and has a beautiful daughter. Her life seems perfect from afar, but there's something lacking in her life. One day, Na-Mi bumps into high school friend Choon-Hwa in the hospital. They are ecstatic to see each other, but Na-Mi receives a phone call and has to leave. On her way out she ask Choon-Hwa if there is anything she can do for her. Choon-Hwa at first says no, but after a moment of reflection she makes a simple request to Na-Mi. Choon-Hwa asks Na-Mi to find the other members of "Sunny," so she can see them one more time. 

Trailer: 

My Rating: 10/10

My Thoughts: I just watched the most amazing movie ever! No seriously, this movie was fricking awesome! It made me laugh, it made me cry and I just adored every moment of it! It's definitely one of the better Korean movies I've seen and it made it to my favorites list. I can't believe I waited so long to watch it!

This movie is about friendship and it is very close to reality. I think that is why it made me cry so much, both happy and sad tears. It made me miss my friends and made me wonder what will happen in the future.

The story is really good! The way they switched between past and present was really cool and the movie was very well directed. The costumes and music of the past were done really well. The camera work was really good. And it was a lot of fun to watch.

The acting was very good, of both teen and adult actors. I saw Sora for the first time on We Got Married. She's completely different from how she was there! Here she is a bad-ass leader of Sunny and I loved her! The other girls were pretty good too. Na Mi reminded me somewhat of Velma from Scooby Doo :P

They cast the adult actors pretty well too. The faces matched and it was like they were the older versions of the teen actors. So props to the casting directors for doing such a good job. Also, the situations in which all of the characters were, were very real. That's what I loved the most about this movie, it was very close to reality.

Either Kim Shi Hoo-ssi loves to play characters from the past or he has that kind of a face that the directors cast him as a 80s boy. He played the same kind of role in Love Rain and I was pleasantly surprised to see him in this movie. The crush thing was so cute! It brought back memories of my first crush :P

I would highly recommend this movie even if you don't watch Asian movies. This movie is really well done, the acting is really good, the story is amazing and touching and it is definitely worth your while.

Mini Movie Reviews~Seducing Mr. Perfect, My Little Bride, Baby & Me

I watched a couple of really good Korean movies last month and I thought I'd share my views with you guys. :)

Seducing Mr. Perfect stars Daniel Henney (from X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Uhm Jung Hwa. It was a very funny and cute movie. Though the story was a very typical rom-com movie story, what sets this one apart is that Daniel's character speaks English throughout the movie while Miss Uhm's character speaks Korean. I know it may sound weird, but it doesn't seem that weird while watching the movie. In fact, it's pretty cool. The basic overview is that Daniel is the girl's boss. The girl has a very complicated love life; she gets dumped again and again and again. Daniel is a playboy type of guy and he helps her become like him. I really loved this movie and if you are in the mood for a rom-com, with pretty funny scenes and a gorgeous male lead, I'd recommend watching Seducing Mr. Perfect.

My Little Bride was a really cute movie! Though the male lead was not that gorgeous, his character was really sweet. Yes, he was a pervert, but how he loved his wife... that was the cutest thing ever! And the girl was really cute! I really liked the story. The story is that the girl's grandfather wants the boy and girl to get married. The girl is 15 and she doesn't want to get married yet nor does she want to marry this boy. But some such circumstances arise that they have to get married and then the story follows... It was a cute and funny movie and definitely worth the watch! I loved Kim Rae Won & Moon Geun Young's chemistry!

Baby and Me/Baby and I is the cutest movie ever! Jang Geun Suk looks so cute in this movie! I wish he would change his current hairstyle to the one he had in this movie. He'd look so much better! When I started watching this movie, I had no idea the guy was JGS. He was unrecognizable! Or maybe I was just too used to his long hair... But I had an inkling that it was him, so I searched online and found out that it really was him! And the baby!!!! Oh my God, he's the cutest thing ever!! And the faces he made! He's a born actor, I tell you! The story... At first I thought the story would be like in all these baby-dad movies. And it kinda was. But I loved how with all the humor they also showed the reality stuff. Like responsibilities. Poverty. Love. They touched these serious topics too and some scenes did bring tears to my eyes. I'll tell you in brief what the movie's about. JGS is a rebel-type 18 year old who's parents leave him to fend for himself and he gets a baby in a supermarket with a note that says that the baby is his. The movie then follows the story of how he takes care of the baby and how he slowly starts to love him. I really loved this movie, it doesn't have much romance in it but it is really funny and a bit touchy.

Movie Review~Kimi ni Todoke (Reaching You/From Me To You)

Title: Kimi ni Todoke (Reaching You/From Me To You)

Writer: Based on the manga by Karuho Shiina. Script is written by Rika Nezu and Naoto Kumazawa.

Director: Naoto Kumazawa

Producer: Takahiro Sato

Main Cast: Mikako Tabe as Sawako Kuronuma, Haruma Miura as Shota Kazehaya, Misako Renbutsu as Chizuru Yoshida, Natsuna Watanabe as Ayane Yano, Mirei Kiritani as Ume Kurumizawa, Haru Aoyama as Ryu Sanada

Genre: Romance, Drama

Release Date: 25 September 2010

Running Time: 128 Minutes

Language: Japanese

Links: IMDb ~ Wikipedia ~ Amazon 

Synopsis: Sawako Kuronuma's one wish in life is to make friends. That's a difficult proposition when everyone who meets her cowers in terror, due to her resemblance to Sadako (after whom they nickname her) from the Japanese horror movie series The Ring. Shunned by her classmates, her life starts to change after she befriends her classmate, Shōta Kazehaya, a popular, easygoing and 100% refreshing guy who is nice with everyone, even with her.

Trailer: 

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts: I really liked this movie. It was so sweet! I watched the anime but it was too slow so I decided to watch the movie. I do not regret my choice :) Even though the movie was kind of slow too, it was worth the watch.

The cast in this this movie was spot on! They were exactly like they are in the anime/manga (except, maybe, Kazehaya). It was uncanny how much they matched! The only exception was Kazehaya. But I like the movie Kazehaya better. He's cuter ;) The acting was pretty good too.

Though I felt the story dragged on, it had some important lessons on friendship and love. Sawako was so innocent and sweet! You couldn't help but like her. Her friends were really nice, I would really like friends like them! The side stories were nice too. Like Chizu and Ryu's almost-love-story.

The humor was pretty good. The movie made me LOL at times. But I think in this aspect, the anime was better. 

Kazehaya is the perfect boyfriend! He's so nice and sweet and caring. He's an all-around nice guy. And he has the cutest smile ever! I would love for him to be my boyfriend! No wonder girls liked him so much. And it's so sweet how much he trusted Sawako. How much all of them trusted her. 

Sawako was a unique character and I really liked watching how she grew. Maybe I'll read the manga to see what happens next :)

My favorite scene was the last one when Kazehaya finally "reaches" Sawako. Yup, they used the title! And I love it when they do that! =D Oh and when Kazehaya angrily grabs Sawako's hand and takes her outside the gymnasium. Love me some jealous boy!! 

Pictures:

Movie Review~I Give My First Love To You (Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu)

Title: Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu (I Give My First Love to You)

Writer: Kenji Bando. Based on the manga by Kotomi Aoki

Director: Takehiko Shinjo

Producer: Mitsuru Komiyama, Mika Nakamura, Hiroyasu Murakami, Fumihiro Hirai

Main Cast: Masaki Okada as Takumi Kakunouchi, Mao Inoue as Maya Taneda

Genre: Drama, Romance, Tragedy

Release Date: 24 October 2009

Running Time: 122 Minutes

Language: Japanese

Links: IMDb ~ Wikipedia ~ Amazon 

Synopsis: As a child Takuma is diagnosed with a heart condition that requires care from a cardiologist. He soon becomes friends with his doctors young daughter Mayu while being treated at the hospital. One day Mayu overhears her father saying that Takumas condition is serious enough that he most likely wont live beyond the age of 20. Takuma isn't aware of this himself, however, so at 8-years-old he makes a promise to marry Mayu when they turn 20. Later in life, Takuma becomes aware that he wont be able to keep this promise and he begins distancing himself from Mayu in hopes of protecting her.

Trailer: 

My Rating: 9.5/10

My Thoughts: This movie made me cry so much! I've never cried this much while watching a movie since A Walk To Remember. And, though the stories kinda matched (in this the boy had a serious disease, in AWTR the girl did), I think this story was much more sad. Because in AWTR there wasn't really any hope for Jamie to survive. But in IGMFLTY (Yeah, I can't write the whole thing =P) the writer was like "The boy is going to die. No wait, it's ok! He'll be alright. There's still hope... Haha! Just kidding! He really is going to die." So my heart went like "No, he's going to die! But he's so sweet! Why do nice people always have to die?" Then it was like "OMG he can be saved! I knew they wouldn't break my heart like this!" And in the end it was like "Noooo!!! Why do you have to break my heart, stick it together and then break it even harder?!! If you had to kill him, why give me hope first?"

Ok, so I hadn't read the manga before (still haven't) and I have no idea if this has an anime or not. So I didn't know the story at all. I saw this while searching for a movie (I think) and decided to watch it since it looked good. I'm so glad I did! I don't know if the cast is like the people in the manga, but they were pretty good actors. 

The romance was so sweet! Takuma and Mayu were lovers since they were kids and when you've loved someone for so long, it makes it all the more harder to let them go. Takuma was such a sweet, nice and innocent guy. And he had such a positive attitude even when he knew he was going to die. He was a sweetheart ♥ Mayu was a perfect match for him. She was a headstrong girl who didn't give up easily.

When I first saw Kou, I was like "That guy needs a psychiatrist!" But what happened to him was really sad. He may have seemed like a crazy guy, but you could also see that he was good at heart. And he had had a rough life. But that doesn't stop me from wishing that Takuma would've gotten Kou's heart, even if it seems selfish.

My favorite part of the movie was when Takuma awakens for one day to take Mayu to their "honeymoon". I kept laughing and crying throughout because I was happy that they got a special day together but I also knew what awaited them at the end of the day.

This was an amazing movie and I highly recommend it if you are not afraid to watch romantic tragedies. But I must warn you, keep your tissues with you while watching it! 'Cause my tears started as soon as the movie did and ended long after the movie had.

Picture time!

Movie Review~Bokura Ga Ita (We Were There)

Title: Bokura ga Ita (We Were There)
Writer: Based on the manga by Yuki Obata
Director: Takahiru Miki
Producer: Tomoko Yoshida
Main Cast: Toma Ikuta as Motoharu Yano, Yuriko Yoshitaka as Nanami Takahashi, Sosuke Takaoka as Masafumi Takeuchi, Yuika Motokariya as Yuri Yamamoto
Genre: Romance, Drama
Release Date: 17 March 2012 (Part 1), 21 April 2012 (Part 2)
Language: Japanese
Links: IMDb (Part 1, Part 2) ~ Wikipedia ~ Amazon
Synopsis: Nanami Takahashi is a high school student entering her first year. Immediately on her first day however, she becomes the victim of a practical joke by the school's most popular guy, Motoharu Yano, who coincidentally also ends up in her class. While the two get off to a rocky start, they soon find themselves falling in love with one another and begin dating. But their relationship is marred by Yano's past which includes the death of Yano's previous girlfriend, Nana Yamamoto, and the betrayal surrounding her death. To make matters more complicated her younger sister, Yuri, is in the same class as Yano and Nanami. As Yano struggles to come to grips with Nana's death and his unresolved feelings for her, so too must Nanami learn to understand Yano if the two hope to continue their relationship with one another.

Trailer: 

My Rating: 9.5/10

My Thoughts: I loved this movie! I watched the anime first, and this is the first anime that made me cry. After watching the anime, which was half of the story, I came to know that there was also a movie, in 2 parts, which had the full story in it. Since I don't have enough time to read the manga, I decided to watch the movie to know what happens next.

The story is amazing! It's so sad and happy at the same time. Yano didn't deserve what happened to him. But I can't help but feel that in a way, it was his fault. And though Nana irritated me sometimes, I get that she was new at love and that's why she was confused. 

All the characters were great! I had a love-hate relationship with Yano. I felt sorry for him and I knew that everything was out of his hands. But it pissed me off when he ran to Yamamoto again and again. Speaking of Yamamoto, I hate her! She made it to my character hate-list which is a big honor for her since it takes a lot of badness to get there. And she was bad. Sorry for my language but I couldn't help but think that she was a bitch.

I loved Take! I liked him more than I liked Yano and that is why I didn't want him to end up with Nana. He deserved someone who would love him as much as he would love her. And Nana loved Yano too much to ever love Take. So I wanted him to have a happily ever after. And I'm so glad he did!

The actors they picked were pretty good. Take and Yamamoto were spot on! And Nana and Yano were a bit different but they played their roles well and it didn't really bother me that much.

My favorite scene was when Yano is leaving and Nana is left behind on the train station and she gives a little speech in which, in the end, she says "We Were There". That made chills run down my spine. Yano & Nana's love was a beautiful disaster, and I loved going on this journey with them!

Now here are some pictures from the movie:

Mini Book Review~The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games #1

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Pub Date: July 1st 2010

Format: Paperback

Pages: 374

Genre: YA, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction Fantasy, Post Apoalyptic, Thriller

Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Book/Author Site

Synopsis: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Rating: 9/10

Source: Bought

Cover Talk: I love the cover! I love the mockingjay gold pin, and I love the tech font. And it totally goes with the theme of the book.

My Thoughts: Yes, I finally read it! And I really loved it! The story was amazing! It was different, yet showed the today world and I really liked the whole concept, though I found it vague sometimes.

The writing was brilliant. I loved the witticism used and really enjoyed reading Katniss's thoughts and Peeta's remarks.

I loved the characters! Katniss is such a strong character! She's a true role model and I admired her and appreciated her a lot! She difinitely made my list of favorite heroines. Peeta was really nice and sweet and though I did not develop a crush on him, I did like him. I loved all the minor chacters too and out of them Cinna and Haymitch are probably my favorite.

I can't wait to read the next book! I have a feeling It'll be better than the first one. Let's see if I'm right ;)

About The Author:

Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.

While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.
Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles.

Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.
She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.

The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are the Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award.

Extras:

Movie vs Book

There's no competition, the book was definitely better. I think they did a good job picking the cast for the movie, and since I had watched the movie first I couldn't help but imagine the movie actors as the book characters. But I'm not satisfied with how they followed the story. I couldn't understand half of the stuff in the movie until I read the book. It's like the movie was made for people who had already read the book, just to guide them and help them imagine. But it was stll a nice try. I wonder how they would do in the next movie.

Movie Review~Pan's Labyrinth

Title: Pan's Labyrinth (Spanish: El laberinto del fauno, "The Faun's Labyrinth")
Writer & Director: Guillermo del Toro
Main Cast: Ivana Baquero as Ofelia, Ariadna Gil as Carmen and Sergi López as Captain Vidal
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Release Date: October 11, 2006
Running Time: 122 minutes
Language: Spanish
Links: IMDb ~ Wikipedia  ~ Amazon ~ Movie Site
Synopsis: Spain,1944. The end of the Civil War. Recently remarried Carmen moves with her daughter Ofelia  into the house of her new husband, coldly authoritarian Vidal, a captain in Franco's army. Finding her new life hard to bear, the young girl seeks refuge in a mysterious labyrinth she discovers next to the sprawling family house. Pan, the guardian, a magical creature, reveals that she is none other than the longlost princess of a magical kingdom. To discover the truth, Ofelia will have to accomplish three dangerous tasks, tasks which nothing has prepared her to face...
Trailer:

My Rating: 9/10
My Thoughts: I've been watching a lot of movies lately. I've got a lot of free time on my hands and besides studying & reading, I've been watching movies.

I normally watch happy movies with happy endings and all. I especially like romantic comedies. I do watch crime & suspense sometimes, but only when I'm in the mood. These days I've been watching a lot of RomComs.

Well anyway, while looking for movies to watch, I stumbled upon Pan's Labyrinth. Now I don't usually watch these kind of movies but the ratings were high and almost all the reviews said that the movie was great. So I thought why not give it a try. I decided that if the movie didn't appeal to me within ten minutes then I'd watch some other movie.

I was hooked to this movie from the start. Oh my God, this movie was amazing! So definitely not what I usually watch but it was truly amazing! It was.....

Yup, I have no more words... The story was incredible! I've never seen/read anything like it, and I really did like it.

Oh a note here! I watched this movie in Spanish with subs. I don't know Spanish =P

Back to the review (a little warning here: this review contains spoilers): The acting was amazing. The characters were brilliant, truly brilliant. The main character was Ofelia:

This girl really played her part well. She was a strong character. A smart girl with courage. But she really pissed me off when *spoiler alert* she started eating the grapes in the lair. (this wouldn't make sense if you haven't watched the movie =P) I mean

The faun tells you time and again to NOT EAT ANYTHING and you still do!!

Now the mom. She was ok. I was mad at her for marrying such a douchebag (to say the least) but I understand her reasons. It was still sad when *spoiler alert* she died. But I still didn't cry when she did. 'Cause really, if I were in her place, I would've NEVER married that.... that.... oh you'll know what I mean.

Mercedes was my favorite character. I liked her best from the start.

She was so kind and sweet and brave. And what she did to Vidal, after that I loved her even more!

There was also this creature, Pale Man, who looked a lot like Voldemort. Except that he didn't have eyes (actually he had them but they were on his hands)...

There were more creatures but the most important one was the Faun:

The make-up on the Faun was amazing! I mean look at him!

Now comes our last character, Captain Vidal. I knew I would hate him from the moment he said "They're fifteen minutes late." (That's the first time he appeared in the movie.) Just the look on his face and the way he said it gave off the vibes that he was a very evil and bad person. I hadn't read the synopsis or watched the trailer so I had no idea what the story was about and who was the bad guy (I just knew it was a fairytale, mystery) which just goes to show how well the actor played this character. Oh any person would totally hate this... this....

I mean the way he killed that poor man with the bottle, and it wasn't even his fault! I swear I just wanted to grab a bottle and start hitting his face like that!

So when Mercedes cut his mouth, boy was I happy! 

I'm not the violent type, but honestly, he deserved it! Which comes to another part that I wanted to discuss. There were some really gruesome scenes in the movie and I had to cover my eyes because I just couldn't take them. Like the bottle scene & the mouth cutting scene and Vidal beating up people scenes....

I even paused at moments to collect my thoughts and to register what had just happened.....

I'm sssooo glad this movie had a happy ending! I could not have been ok with Vidal living..... Though *spoiler alert* Ofelia did die. And that was the only part of the movie when I cried....

But only when Mercedes starting humming the lullaby.....

All in all it was a great movie! It was full of suspense and adventure and even violence and it was not my usual cup of tea (not that I like tea) but still, I liked this movie. It had me on the edge of my seat and there was a moment when I was holding my breath without even realizing it. I'd highly recommend it to others.