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2 comments
3 comments
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on 6/21/2010
Pan's Labyrinth should of won the Oscar here!
on 8/7/2010
ahem, NO IT SHOULDN"T HAVE. The Lives of Others was a FANTASTIC film, miles ahead of Pan's Labyrinth in storytelling and plot, and also much better acting. Fascinating subjects, heartbreaking scenes, and an amazing 3rd act all add up to one of the best films of the year. I was STUNNED at how good a movie The Lives of Others was...Pan's Labyrinth was fun to look at, but added up to, what exactly? I still am not sure.
The Lives of Others had a plot that was so much more intriguing. I could not wait to watch it again. Pan's Labyrinth wasn't bad, but after I had seen it once I felt like I didn't need to see it again.
on 5/3/2012
everyone says that the lives of others has a great plot, is emotionally resonant, great moral dilemmas etc etc. this film is criminally overrated. the story is hollywoodized, the morals are basic and not deep. this type of story arc has been tackled before. it is not original. its just like the salem witch trials in the crucible or mccarthyism during the 50's. if this was an english language film, it would be critically panned. the film is not complex, both morally and on a narrative level. the film thinks its smarter than it actually is. how it won such praise, who knows.....pan's labyrinth on the other hand is incredibly original. its a beautiful fantasy.its not a perfect film but it does have flourishes of brilliance. lives of others never approaches great heights. its a quiet film and critics say its quietly powerful. no it is not. it is quiet and that is all. acting is good, the directors attention to detail is good but everything else is pretty much monotonous
on 5/4/2012
Both these movies are extremely solid. I was incensed when Pan's Labyrinth didn't win the Oscar, but when I caught up with Lives of Others a few months later (damn release schedules), it impressed me pretty mightily as well. I still like Pan's better - its combination of harsh fantasy and reality is right in my cinematic sweet spot, but if it had to lose the Oscar, I'm glad it lost to as great a film as The Lives of Others.
on 7/15/2012
Pan's is better, Lives is still really good but Pan's has more depth, resonance and heart
