Movie evaluation: Pan labyrinth - Essay Example

Movie evaluation: Pan labyrinth Introduction The creation of films in the twentieth century was based on several issues that affect the society. Thecrucial issue depicted in the film was the creation of the crime movies with the depiction of human behavior as complex and not easy to be comprehended. The post war films reduced the use of cinematic scenes and increased use of reality approach in film. However, the films handled issues affecting the society in a conclusive and elaborate way. Many script writers developed films based on crime and other social evils. The major focus of the films of the era was on violence with the depiction of the society as the major casualty in the process (Brathwaite 45). The development of the films was a way of confronting the traditional moral values with the hope of elaborating or discrediting them. The major role of the films in the era was to establish new values in the society. The vital value depicted by the films was the need for peace and coexistence. The use of cinematic scenes has been used lately in Sci-fiction movies (Wierzbicki 59). The movie Pan labyrinth is a science fiction movie that contains various language uses that can be used to distinguish the roles of the characters. Movie summary The movie Pan’s Labyrinth is directed by Guillermo Del Toro and released in 2006. The film is based on a Spanish forest at a time of awakening of the rest of Europe. The story combines the political fable with a guise of a fairy tale. The focus of the story is on ethical issues affecting the society. The storyline is written by Guillermo Del Toro but borrows from several fairy tales. The geographical location of the movie is Spain, and it focuses on an 11-year old girl whose is life is at a crossroads after her father’s death, she lives with the stepfather (Toro). The young lady is called Ophelia and is cast is Ivana Baquero. Other casts in the movie include Sergi Lopez as Captain Vidal, an officer in the Franco army while the Ofelia’s mother is Ariadna Gil. The story line of the movie is uncluttered with the focus being on the magic and two worlds the real and the unreal world. Movie analysis Language, lighting, dialogue, and symbolism are employed in the film to achieve clarity and fascination. The director uses dialogue and lighting to develop the story line. The director uses steely-blue lighting illustrates the gloomy atmosphere used especially when bringing the village settings. Blue tones are set every time the scene moves to the village. Symbols used in the movies are beneficial because they bring out the fascinating features of the movie (Elsaesser and Buckland 12). Clocks are used in the movie, to illustrate orders and time lapse. The blue lights events in reality and illustrates the cold and unjust society. The clocks are used to illustrate that the time is running out and everything lead to a big event. The state of the uniform worn by Vidal is indicative of the events of the movie. Consequently, Lighting is a serious factor in the film because it brings out the necessary image of life in the film setup. The director of the film has a reputation of using different stylistic device especially lighting and symbolism to influence the interest and participation of the audience during the screenplay of the movie. This movie uses light as the main scene changer of the movie is with the focus of the whole lighting process being to distinguish the reality and the fairy part of the movie (Hornberger and Mckay 63). Lighting in the movie helps the audience to know the different scene setting of the movie. Language use in the movie Language use in the movie is diverse, but complex covering the vital issues including the depiction of the nature and character in the movie. The success of language use is vital in the development of the plot (Lerner 101). The film is based on the Spanish and Greek fable with focus being in the two world’s one with oppression and the other a world of peace and development. The background and middle ground communicate about the issues that surround the movies, because they are abstract and create a feeling of uncertainty in activities that will take place in the hotel. The characters of the movie cover the center of the frame with the focus on the activities by conducted by the characters (Elsaesser and Buckland 23). The roles of the characters are clearly defined by the actions, and it does have the ability create suspense in the movie making the movie fascinating to watch. In addition, the language used by the main character captain Vidal depicts his character. The communication between the captain and the wife is very poor. In fact, the captain belittles his wife. In the movie, the depiction of the nature of the relationship is illustrated by the communication and treatment of the Vidal’s wife. In fact, Vidal is depicted as a person whose character is aggressive and uses vulgar language (Reay 90). The language used by Vidal indicates the reasons for his marriage. The marriage is based on the need to be married because of the child and not because of love. The child is the central issues in the story and must be treated ell as compared to the half-sister and the mother. When asked by the soldiers how his wife is doing, Vidal responds in a way that illustrates the not caring attitude (Wierzbicki 54). The combination of the Spanish use in the play makes the story interesting due to the development of the character of Vidal. As a captain of the army, he develops his personal character through communication. As the stepfather of Ophelia, he does not handle the young girl well. She is mistreated and never appreciated. When found in the maze structure with her half-brother, Vidal shoots the young girl after questioning the motive of taking the baby. The ability to not reason despite communication indicates the character and behavior of the use of short answers mostly monosyllabic answers indicates the power of his position while also depicting the level of community of the person. Language use in the movies is a device employed in depicting the behavior of Captain Vidal. Vidal communicates with the staff by use of monosyllabic answers. In addition, he uses foul language even to the helpful doctor. Conclusion Lighting in the film has helped in shaping of the scenes. The use of blue light is vital because it distinguished the two worlds in the movie perfectly. Consequently, it depicts the nature of the two worlds with the utopian world having the scope of miracles while the real world is full of oppression. The language variation in the various conversations that took place is significant. The age, relationship and nature of conversation changes the language used. For official conversation, the use of a higher degree of politeness and well-structured sentences are vital. However, the communication of Vidal does not factor in the various language requirements on different levels (Lerner 56). For instance, he harasses the daughter all the time without understanding the age of the child. Younger children are prone to mistakes but must be corrected using the right tone and language. However, the character of insensitivity is brought out, but clearly in the process by illustrating the behavior of Vidal. The behavior of Vidal further strengthens the language use in the film making it possible for the audience to understand the plot of the movie. Language use between the two worlds depicted in the movie is completely different. In the utopian world visited by Ophelia in the movie, the language use depends on the character. The success of language use is dependent on the area of application. The success of the film is a testament of the basic impact of language. Language is accompanied with voice intonation and the word use which ensures communication is maintained and handled perfectly. The success of the whole process is dependent on the scene arrangement of the media industry. However, the film industry does allow diversity in language use with the film being produced in two main languages such as Spanish and English subtitle. The intonation used in the film varies depending on the language use accepted a designed by the producer. For pan Labyrinth, the focus of the movie is on the development of the two worlds both as part of the film as well as depicting the differences in the mode of operation of the movies. The work of Guillermo illustrates the power of language coupled with the use of other films inputs. In conclusion, the film depicts the power of language in the whole process. Works Cited Brathwaite, Kamau. History of the voice: the development of nation language in Anglophone Caribbean poetry. Michigan: New Beacon Books, 1984. Elsaesser, Thomas and Warren Buckland. Studying Contemporary American Film: A Guide to Movie Analysis. Chicago: Arnold, 2002. Hornberger, H, Nancy and Sandra, Lee Mckay. Sociolinguistics and Language Education. London: Short Run press, 2010. Houwer, Annick De. "Two or More Languages in Early Childhood: Some General Points and Practical Recommendations." 1 July 1999. Center for Applied Linguistics. 27 April 2013. . Larsen, Peter. Film Music. Washington: Reaktion Books, 2008. Lerner, Neil William. Music in the Horror Film: Listening to Fear. London: Taylor & Francis, 2010. Pan's Labyrinth. Dir. Guillermo del Toro. 2006. Reay, Pauline. Music in Film: Soundtracks and Synergy. New York: Wallflower Press, 2004. Wierzbicki, Jame. Film Music: A History. London: Taylor & Francis, 2008. Read More