Movies!

Watched The Queen after school at cine and it gives us a rather interesting and insightful outlook of the British Royal Family, especially Queen Elizabeth II. The show focuses on the differing opinions between the public & Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Queen Elizabeth II on the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. QEII believes that the whole matter should not be blown up to mass proportions and the funeral should be kept private but the public wants the Royal Family to address the nation regarding the matter and deliver the condolences publicly.

The power contests between Tony Blair and QEII begin with each forming their own sides and the monarchy losing the battle with the dated and old-fashioned way of handling crises. The character study is multi-layered featuring an exceptionally good performance by Helen Mirren. Michael Sheen depicts the young and bright Tony Blair with fevour and thirst to satisfy and free the nation from the erupting controversies. The film picks up pace from the middle of the movie when QEII faces an onslaught of media attacks which accuse the institution of being cold-hearted and emotionless after the tragedy. This film explains the actions taken by the Royal Family as well as the dignified, animal-loving, people-loving, yet old-fashioned Queen Elizabeth II.
***1/2

Met up with Edwin at The Cathay afterward to watch Pan's Labyrinth. It is a dark fantasy thriller for adults. Children won't like this movie as it's violent, filled with super ugly monsters, bleak and dark. This Spanish film is set towards the end of World War II with rebels still hiding in the woods, waiting for the chance to regain their country. Concurrently, a fantasy tale unravels around Ofelia, the daughter of a pregnant woman who has just remarried to a captain holding ground and repelling offensive fire from the rebels.

The insects and fairies recognise Ofelia as Princess Moana, a long-lost daughter of the king of the underworld, and bring her to complete several tasks to prove her throne as the princess. The director Guillermo Del Toro effectively and successfully blends drama, fantasy, and elements of war into this film. The result is an interesting, dark and thrilling take on the post-war syndromes and fears of the people. Reality is fused with fantasy and we get the best of both worlds as the real world is riddled with cruelty, betrayal, and violence while the fantasy world is archaic, mysterious, fascinating yet dangerous.

The storytelling is superb and the movie gets more and more intruiging as it progresses. Spies are hidden within the residence of the captain while a mystifying potion is concocted to prevent the pregnant mother from becoming sick. It is definitely a wildly imaginative thrill ride with rich meanings that lay embedded with the dialogue and progression.
****