Pan’s Labyrinth

This movie will catch you off guard and make you believe that magic lives, at least in a child’s imagination and what could be stronger. What is stronger than the imagination of a child not yet jaded, a child who sees realities of the world but still has a cache of magic to draw power from. What is more magical than when that reality of the world comes crashing down, that the child has this magic to hang on to and that magic is true for this and the next world.

There is no movie to compare this to! Not the Chronicles of Narnia or Alice in Wonderland. They are children’s movies which adults can enjoy.

Pan is not a kid’s movie. It is violent and scary but these are the realities that kids are exposed to. Never mind the Spanish Civil War. Kids everywhere (those who are lucky) are dodging bullets and abuse and being orphans. Think about Kabelo Duiker’s the Hidden Star, or even Thirteen Cents. You don’t really even have to go that far. Open the Cape Times and you will read about what children have to escape on a daily basis.

See this one and vow to be the Mercedes in other children’s lives and pray that you don’t get there before it’s too late.

Enchanted five spoons

Is the romantic comedy dead?

Or is it in intensive care. Do you remember the way that they used to make them? Think, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey, think, When Harry Met Sally, think Moonlight and Valentino, think Chasing Amy, As Good as it Gets. Annie Hall, even Pretty Woman and an Officer and a Gentleman? What (the f) have you seen recently that measures up?!

I rented Music and Lyrics the other day and I started thinking when last did I watch just a feel good romantic comedy. Not Sna/itch with Will Smith spreading non truths, or Jennifer Aniston looking puzzled. I am not talking about 101 ways to lose a guy or stupid David Duchovny trying to woo Mienne Driver who is dying of some other disease. Not Charlize Bloody Theron trying to get Keanu to get his freak on. What the f, has happened to just… ahhhh.

Anybody watch Fever Pitch/Perfect Match with the comically attractive Jimmy Fallon. Now that! Was one in a million! It was great but it is pity that one has to wait so long before you find that oh so funny! fantastic love story like Fever Pitch. One has to go through bloody, Music and Lyrics. Now that was (I thought) a good idea. When I saw the trailer I thought, hhhmmmm maybe that will do it for me.

Stay away from it. It is bad, it is so bad that I wonder about Drew and Hugh. Drew was excellent in Fever Pitch. Love Actually was actually quite good with Hugh and his weird dancing. You also have to give props to Four Weddings and a Funeral and Nottinghill.

But lately I have just been deprived of what could be. Romantic comedies is where I go to when I lose hope, when I think, argh, there is nobody there for me?! I go to the video store and rent somin', somin' and it is all right with the world. But the latest releases just do not measure up.

What is your ultimate romantic movie. What do you rent when you need to restore faith in Cupid? Let me know because I am running out of ideas, as always!