10th Anniversary of Pan's Labyrinth - It's Lasting Appeal - & the Coming (Loaded!) Blu-ray & 'Making Of' Book

Blu-ray Criterion art

On October 11th, 2006, Pan's Labyrinth debuted in Spain. Widely critically acclaimed at the time and now hailed as a modern classic, the movie went on to receive 97 awards, including 3 Oscars. While awards can be impressive, what's even more so, is that the film constantly tops 'best of' lists to this day, including ours.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, and the soon-to-be-released Blu-ray from Criterion, and the 'making of' book, Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth: Inside the Creation of a Modern Fairy Tale, both being released on October 18th (!), we're including some of our newsroom team's favorite alternate posters, some officially commissioned for movie promotion, some fan made. The variety of styles illustrates just how widely appealing this movie is, as each of them represents the movie well.

Aaron Horkey

Jared Wright

But what is it people like about Pan's Labyrinth? Talk to a number of people and you'll likely get many different answers, from how beautiful it is to the layered meanings, many of which can be interpreted differently by different people. Not surprisingly, that's a large part of the appeal.

This article HERE on Moviepilot, made an effort to distill the factors to a small list and, we think, did an admirable job. Here are the main points Moviepilot writer Roselyn listed:

• Appealing to a wide audience
• Our love of fairy tale
• Open to interpretation
• Exceptionally beautiful

We're including a small excerpt of the explanation for each point but recommend you read the whole article yourself):

Stewart Forrest

Appealing to a wide audience - 

Pan’s Labyrinth straddles the boundaries between many genres and masterfully balances each one so that it truly has something to offer everyone. At once a work of gritty historical fiction and a fantastical fairy tale, the movie is both realistic and magical. Yet, these halves do not merely coexist; events in the fantasy world eerily mirror those in the "real" world, providing important clues as to the deeper meanings of the film.

Beniek

Our love of fairy tale - 

 Pan’s Labyrinth is perhaps most importantly a modern reimagining of a fairy tale that is as dark as Grimm’s original tales.Another possible explanation of Pan’s Labyrinth’s popularity is that the film taps into our love of fairy tales. We love fairy tales because they are, in their simplest form, a battle between good and evil... Real life is never that simple, but fairy tales give us hope that things will work out in the end.While some fairy tale elements, such as the rule of three, are left intact,Pan’s Labyrinth also manipulates classical elements to create something new. Rather than a damsel in distress, Ofelia is a heroine. And it is not an evil stepmother, but an evil stepfather who enters her life. As a result, Pan’s Labyrinth is inherently familiar to us, but also innovative in ways that invite us to watch more closely.

Mike Delmundo

Open to interpretation -

Pan’s Labyrinth is completely open for individual interpretation. The movie never provides any concrete answers and you are left to piece together the plot in a way that makes the most sense to you. Morals and lessons are never overtly revealed and how you interpret the more ambiguous parts of the film can create new meanings.Like any great work of film or literature, Pan’s Labyrinth’s strength lies in the fact that it is not constrained to any time or place, but can be interpreted by anyone. Every viewer can bring something new to the discussion and can relate to the movie in their own way.

Edward Julian Moran II

Exceptionally beautiful -

Or perhaps most simply, Pan’s Labyrinth’s popularity has to do with the film’s exceptionally beautiful design. Highly stylized and carefully constructed, there is not a single element out of place. Each scene bursts with details and everything about the design is linked to the central themes of the film.Pan’s Labyrinth creates a world that is vividly real and a plot that is easy to follow in spite of all it’s complexity. Quite simply, Pan’s Labyrinth is a pleasure to watch.

We recommend reading the whole article HERE.

In the meantime, keep a sharp eye out for the coming Blu-ray and the book. Reports are that the Blu-ray is worth every penny and more - not to be missed, and the book is a treasure. Check out the official list of Blu-ray extras below!

• Director's Introduction - this archival video introduction by director-writer-producer Guillermo del Toro was shot in 2007. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 1080i).

• Del Toro and Funke - in this brand new video interview, Guillermo del Toro discusses his interest in fairy tales, the manner in which kids and adults approach and decipher them, the impact they had on his films, some of the key conflicts in Pan's Labyrinth and the world in which its protagonists exist, etc. Also participating is novelist Cornelia Funke (Inkheart). The interviews was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2016. In English, not subtitled. (40 min, 1080p).

• Director's Notebook - presented here is an interactive gallery with Guillermo del Toro's notebook of drawings and sketches for Pan's Labyrinth, with short video inserts featuring comments from the director. The notebook was produced by Javier Soto in 2007. In English, not subtitled. (1080i).
  
  1. Del Toro Intro. (1 min).
  2. Gallery - with an interactive interface.

SAE (Real name unknown)

• Documentaries - the four documentaries were produced by Javier Soto in 2007.
  
  1. The Power of Myth - in this featurette, Guillermo del Toro discusses the specific time period that is depicted inPan's Labyrinth, some of the symbolism that is channeled through the main story, and its main protagonists and the dilemmas they face. In English, not subtitled. (15 min, 1080i).
  
  2. Pan and the Fairies - in this this featurette, Guillermo del Toro discusses the many unique characters that appear in Pan's Labyrinth as well as the special effects/costumes that were used in the film. Also included in the featurette are clips from archival interviews with some of the special effects artists that contributed to the film. In English and Spanish, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (31 min, 1080i).
  
  3. The Color and the Shape - in this featurette, Guillermo del Toro discusses the use of color in Pan's Labyrinthand the film's visual style. In English, not subtitled. (5 min, 1080i).
  
  4. The Melody Echoes the Fairy Tale - in this featurette, Guillermo del Toro discusses his initial interactions with composer Javier Navarrete and the soundtrack he created for Pan's Labyrinth. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080i).

Rhys Cooper

• Doug Jones - in this new video interview, actor Doug Jones, who plays the Faun and Pale Man, discusses his contribution to Pan's Labyrinth and Guillermo del Toro's working methods. Included in the interview is plenty of raw archival footage that shows the preparation work that was needed for his transformations before each shooting session. The interviews was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2016. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080p).

Adam Rabalais

• Ivana Baquero Audion - presented here is archival footage from actress Ivana Baquero's audio for the role of Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth which was shot on April 10, 2005. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (3 min, 1080i).

Jock

• Prequel Comics - presented here four animated comic-style stories with original tales for the unique creatures that are seen in Pan's Labyrinth, which were produced by Javier Soto and illustrated by Jason Shawn Alexander, Guy Davis, and Michael Kaluta in 2007. With sound effects.
  
  1. The Giant Toad. (1 min, 1080i).
  2. The Fairies. ( 1 min, 1080i).
  3. The Faun. (1 min, 1080i).
  4. The Pale Man (2 min, 1080i).

Consider Graphics

• Video Comparisons - presented here are three video pieces that offer before-and-after comparisons that highlight the type of work (from concept work to music) that was done during the pre-prodction process. The three pieces were produced in 2007. 
  
  1. Lullaby. (3 min, 1080i).
  2. The Green Fairy. (2 min, 1080i).
  3. Thumbnails/Storyboards. (1080i).
  
  • Del Toro Intro
  • Ofelia Enters the Labyrinth
  • Ofelia and the Giant Toad
  • Death of the Doctor
  • Ofelia's Death

Daniel Serra

• Trailers and TV Spots - presented here is a large collection of original trailers and TV spots for Pan's Labyrinth.
  
  1. Teaser
  2. Trailer
  3. TV Spot: "Deadly"
  4. TV Spot: "Trap"
  5. TV Spot: "Three Tasks"
  6. TV Spot: "Top Critics"
  7. TV Spot: "Nominations"
  8. TV Spot: "Phenomenon"
  9. TV Spot: "Accolades"

Drew Struzan

Bo Moore

• Commentary - this audio commentary by Guillermo del Toro was recorded in 2007 and initially appeared on New Line Cinema's release of Pan's Labyrinth. The director explains in great detail how the idea for the film emerged, where and how various sequences were shot, the film's unique narrative structure and visual style, etc.
  
  1. An important juxtaposition
  2. References and insects
  3. Camera movement
  4. Stunning single shot
  5. From true accounts
  6. Magical green hues
  7. Frustrating first day
  8. Wipes
  9. Pale Man foreshadowing
  10. Circles and curves
  11. Based on reality
  12. Subtle changes
  13. Noteworthy pattern
  14. Straight out of Goya
  15. The original story
  16. Magical moment
  17. No salaries
  18. Control freak
  19. Hopelessness
  20. Ambiguity of symbols
  21. Willful miscasting
  22. A satisfying scene
  23. "My favorite shot"
  24. Wings of fire
  25. Fairy-tale moment
  26. Immortality
  27. "From the heart"

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Atkinson.

Kelly McKernan

• Book - a 100-page illustrated hardcover book featuring an introduction by author Neil Gaiman and essays by critics Michael Atkinson, Mark Kermode, and Maitland McDonagh, as well as production notes and original sketches by Guillermo del Toro and illustrators Carlos Giménez and Raúl Monge. (Note: The book is available only with the Trilogía de Guillermo del Toro box set).

Do we need to mention the box set is now on our wish list?

Guillermo Del Toro Collection - Cronos / The Devil's Backbone / Pan's Labyrinth [Blu-ray]

"Tale of Tales" Comes to DVD & Blu-ray in the US

I'm always astonished at how much fairy tale news there is to report so, forgive us if we miss the exact release date of things as they happen. We are just back-logged with fairy tale awesome in our newsroom!

This last Tuesday, a movie we have been very much looking forward to seeing, Tale of Tales, was released on DVD and Blu-ray. We still await our copy, so won't be able to review for some time yet, but we have unearthed some additional video footage which will give you a good idea of the tone of the movie, especially if you've been following the promotion we covered as the movie was originally released in Italy.

A quick refresher: this movie was an independent film, though it stars many luminary actors (including Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, and John C. Reilly along with many other familiar faces) and has a well known director, Matteo Garrone. It was a passion project, filmed in remote locations around the director's home country of Italy in English. (No subtitle reading required.) The film is based on the oldest known written collection of fairy tales by Giambattista Basile, Il Pentamerone or The Tale of Tales, Or Entertainment for Little Ones (aka Lo cunto de li cunti overo lo trattenemiento de peccerille or Il racconto dei racconti), focusing on 3 of the tales. And yes, this film, is not for children, though are definitely sections a child would very much enjoy (giant flea anyone?).

Description:

Discover a grim, gorgeous, grown-up fairy tale full of princes and princesses, sorcerers and fairies, and monsters and ogres in the epic fantasy horror film Tale of Tales. Based on three spellbinding stories of magic and the macabre by 17th-century folklorist Giambattista Basile, Tale of Tales unleashes a barrage of mind-bogglingly exquisite and fantastical imagery as it brings to life the misadventures of three kings. 

Starring Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, John C. Reilly, Toby Jones, and Shirley Henderson, this captivating film makes its Blu-ray and DVD debut on September 6, 2016, from Shout! Factory and Sundance Selects. This critically acclaimed film from celebrated director Matteo Garrone also includes the featurette “The Making of Tale of Tales” and the theatrical trailer as bonus features. 

A rich sensory experience featuring exquisite cinematography and a score by Academy Award-winning composer Alexandre Desplat, Tale of Tales interweaves three enchanting sagas about universal themes of life, death, and love. Overflowing with surreal, dazzling surprises, this intoxicating cinematic spectacle is a delirious excursion into the dark heart of fairy tales.

The three new clips available touch on three of the stories in the film:

• the barren queen (and king) find out an unusual way they could finally have a child
• a king obsessed with a giant flea offers the hand of his daughter in an ill-advised way
• a woman is not quite what she seems (which the sex-obsessed, love struck ruler of Strongcliff will rue)

Be intrigued:
#1: "A Life for a Life"

 #2" "The Flea"

#3: "The Flayed Old Lady"

While there is nothing which isn't rated 'G' in the clips, you may be surprised at what is implied, so perhaps view away from any children for a first look.

I can see how this movie is polarizing viewers - some are a little freaked while others hail it a masterpiece. We guess that we will lean toward the latter, though without a proper viewing we can't say that definitively. However, we are very familiar with the source material so are unlikely to be bothered by any of the aspects that those giving negative reviews focus on.

We are only disappointed that we can't view it on the big screen as it was intended to be seen.

In the meantime, please enjoy these alternate posters, including a couple of foreign language variations. I'm surprised I hadn't seen some of these before - they're quite striking.

We hope to bring you a review in the coming weeks.

UK Trailer for "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" (Coming to UK Theaters in English & Japanese March 20)

What lucky folks our British friends are! The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is coming to theaters on March 20, 2015, and can be seen with either the English dubbing OR in the original Japanese! #slightlyenviousoverhere

The trailer is the first proper English trailer I've seen and is wonderful, and a very different presentation from what we've seen to date. (I don't understand why this didn't get advertised like this in the US - it would have drawn a huge audience.) If you were on the fence about seeing it before this will likely to change your mind to a "yes - gotta see that!".

For the rest of us, we'll have to be content to watch on DVD and Blu-ray, though we still won't have the original Japanese language, with English subtitles option. (Why?)

I'm hoping to have a "home viewing" of the movie myself (finally!) this weekend. And if I do, I will review...

In the meantime, enjoy - and be inspired:

"Into The Woods" Coming to DVD & Blu-ray March 24th

This is on my to-get list. I'm aware of some of the challenges of bringing a musical to screen and how impossible it is to please everyone. Considering the "small" budget (relatively speaking) for this movie and the decision to do as much as possible "in camera", I think this is an overall better-than-we-expected result. The casting was good to great and the music, complete with symphony-sized orchestra, is wonderful. I just wish there was more to this take-it-home package. Considering how beloved a musical it is in general I think they could have easily had a special edition with book and lyrics that included pre-production designs, as well as nods to previously great productions. I would have considered getting it and I know I'm not alone...

Listed below are the special features from the Blu-ray. Disney has a track record of only putting the best features on the Blu-ray, not the DVD, so if you want the behind the scenes extras the Blu-ray is the way to go.

They still haven't put everything currently available to view online on the discs though! (Seems crazy to me.) I wish there was more from Sondheim and Lapine, a comparison to the original screenplay, a shout-out to the original Broadway cast, some development artwork and story research notes... Anyone who is interested in this as a play, who is looking at tropes or as a lyricist is going to feel frustrated (including me).

There is a filmmaker commentary though and Rob Marshall isn't just a technical conductor with regard to his films. He's very involved in the "how" and "why" of each scene and moment, so hopefully there will be some great gems from him on here.

There's also the newly written, then deleted song. Disney released an excerpt of it late Friday as a DVD teaser (it was filmed for the movie, not just recorded and was cut late in editing so it's a fully produced version).

The clip features Meryl Streep as The Witch performing ‘She’ll Be Back,’ an original song written by Stephen Sondheim for the film. In the song, The Witch laments Rapunzel’s decision to leave her and run off with the prince, but she is convinced Rapunzel will return once she comes to her senses. (The) full length of the bonus feature/song (which also features an introduction by director Rob Marshall) is just over 4 1/2 minutes long. (via StitchKingdom)

Take a look:

Additional bonus features are as follows:

• Streep Sings Sondheim – ‘She’ll Be Back’ (4:35) – Meryl Streep performs a compelling new song that sheds a little more light on the Witch’s relationship with Rapunzel. This never-before- seen composition was penned especially for this movie by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, and is seen here exclusively on Blu-ray and EHV. With introduction by Director Rob Marshall.
• There’s Something About the Woods (12:46) – Journey into this mysterious forest to discover how this compelling, new musical was made. Meet Director Rob Marshall and his award-winning team of artists and craftspeople, see how the woods were brought to life…and what they represent to the story… and to all of us.
• The Cast as Good as Gold (9:42) – Emily Blunt. Anna Kendrick. Chris Pine. James Corden. Johnny Depp. Meryl Streep. Meet the remarkable cast of this musical movie, and hear of their affinity for this Broadway classic.
• Deeper Into the Woods – Journey even further into the development of the film in these 4 segments:
• Deeper Into the Woods – From Stage to Screen (8:10)
• Deeper Into the Woods – The Magic of the Woods (7:03)
• Deeper Into the Woods – Designing of the Woods (6:48)
• Deeper Into the Woods – The Costumes of the Woods (6:35)
• Get direct access to the musical song segments from the film, with optional sing-along lyrics.
• Easter Eggs – Meryl Climbs (:21), Witch Riser (:46), Sneakers (:12), Jack and the Bean Stalk Rehearsal (1:30), Bird Attack (:19)
• Into the Woods Audio Commentary with Director Rob Marshall and Producer John Deluca

You can pre-order via Amazon (they've updated with the proper images now) or through the official Into The Woods movie site.

"Song of the Sea" Receives Multiple Annie Awards Nominations, Incl. Best Picture - Now Playing In Select Theaters

Do you remember the selkie movie, Song of the Sea, I've been excited about for some time now, being made by the creators of the Academy Award nominated film, The Secret of Kells? It's finished! And by all reports just as stunning as everyone hoped. It even has MULTIPLE Annie Award nominations (judged by animation peers) including a Best Picture nom as well as Best Director, and is currently playing in select theaters around the US. (Theater details and opening dates can be found HERE).

For other fairy tale people in Los Angeles, it arrives here TOMORROW (which is probably TODAY by the time you all read this, ie. Friday, January 9th.) It also opens in Irvine, CA on January 16th, so two windows of opportunity to see it in LA!

In gorgeous, hand-drawn animation, “Song of the Sea” tells the tale of the last seal-child, Saoirse, and her brother Ben, who must race against time on a journey to awaken Saoirse’s powers and save the magical spirit world.... 

The idea for the film was born during production on “Kells” on the west coast of Ireland, where Moore and his family came across corpses of seals that had been killed by fishermen. A local told Moore that, years ago, the widespread belief that seals were mystical creatures who could contain human souls or transform into humans would have prevented their deaths. 

Selkies aren’t the only characters from Irish folklore to be featured in “Song of the Sea”; the film also has the sea deity Mac Lir, as well as the Great Seanachai, or traditional storyteller, and a host of ancient and mystical creatures.

I've included some stills that have been released so you can get an idea of the style. While it looks simplistic, sort of like Kells did, it's anything but and is already receiving high praise from animation critics globally (it's already had screenings in the UK and throughout Europe and at a number of festivals).

Here's the (wonderful!) official trailer, released in December, for those of you who haven't seen it yet:

PRAISE FOR SONG OF THE SEA

“ONE OF THE MOST BLISSFULLY BEAUTIFUL ANIMATED FILMS EVER MADE!It is a gem beaming with awe-inspiring, heartwarming magic. As if wrapped in a blanket made of
gorgeous dreams, watching Song of the Sea is a spellbinding experience
that captures fantasy in its purest form."
- IndieWire 

“DAZZLING!”
“A marvel to behold!”
- Variety

"WONDROUS! DELIGHTFUL!"
- The Hollywood Reporter

Doesn't it look beautiful? 

And folkloric-ly magical? 

I can't wait to see it!

For those who love Celtic music (like me) the Annie Award nominated soundtrack (yes, for that too!) is already available for download via iTunes and GooglePlay. 

The 2014 Annie Awards will be held January 31st, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA. While Song of the Sea up against heavy hitters like The Lego Movie and How To Train Your Dragon 2, (both popular, "successful"* and extremely excellent movies), having so many nominations (there are quite a handful!) should help people take special notice of this lovely fairy tale film. 

Other fairy tale films in the running for Best Picture at the Annie Awards this year, include The Book of Life and The Tale of Princess Kaguya. 

We are spoiled for wonderful fairy tale-esque viewing choices right now!

This is the gorgeous picture awaiting you when you go to the official film website. (I had to grab a screen-cap to entice you!)

Sources: HeroComplex , Song Of the Sea Official Facebook Page and the official film website.

* "Successful" read the Studios are happy with their box office performance/ $$.

"Maleficent" Release Day (Will She Re-Awaken Fairy Tale Films for Disney?)

So, today is the big day and yes, I am looking forward to seeing the movie. What I'm really interested in, however, is that in the ramp up to this movie I've seen more than the average amount of "delving into Sleeping Beauty's  - the literary fairy tale - history", and from a much wider variety of sources as well, than for any other fairy tale movie remade, retold or sent to the "dark side". People are being sent back to their libraries, searching google for this "Perrault" guy, buying up vintage fairy tale volumes with Sleeping Beauty (the extended version) and learning about it would really be like to have an ogre-ish mother-in-law.

Case in point, seen in Entertainment Weekly this week, a timeline spanning Perrault's tale and it's retellings and remakes till today (literary, the movie being released today, Maleficent). Please click on the image to see the double page scan full size.

While we're on the topic:

 Disney has announced the release of “Maleficent”: The Official Multi-Touch Book.  The book,which you can get for free exclusively through iBooks. 

It explores both the legacy of Disney’s classic animated film, “Sleeping Beauty”—which first introduced the iconic villainess Maleficent—and the making of the all-new live-action film, “Maleficent.” 

The books include a interactive timeline of the origins of the timeless “Sleeping Beauty” tale, with rare content from the Disney archives; rich and explorable environments, filled with fantastic creatures from the world of “Maleficent”—waiting to be discovered at your fingertips; interviews with Angelina Jolie and the cast and crew responsible for bringing the reimagined story to the big screen; an afterword by director Robert Stromberg, two-time Academy Award, winner for production design on “Alice in Wonderland” and “Avatar”; exclusive behind-the-scenes photo galleries and video featurettes; never-before-seen concept art, storyboards and sketches from pre-production; fun facts from the set; and profiles of the characters from the film, all created by Apple’s digital book creation app, iBooks Author. The “Maleficent” book is available for free, exclusively on iBooks HERE.

Maleficent is a family movie and not only the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, but also the idea of a more traditional (to fairy tales) "faerie world" are a big factor in this one, as are some other mythic elements. I'm really curious to see, not only if it's a good movie, but what impact it will have on fairy tale movies in the future, on people's perception of fairy tales and faerie and if it will mark yet another significant change in the approach Disney has been having to fairy tale properties.

So far the reviews are ridiculously good and rather gushy so I'm not at all certain if I'm seeing a proper cross section or just a certain demographic but I'm on the optimistic side. I get the feeling the naysayers on WallStreet are going to be a little red-faced after this weekend...

I have many more thoughts on this but am planning on taking my family to see it this weekend so, between the actual movie, and the book properties which I am quickly getting up to speed on, I should have some better - and more informed - comments to offer on the topic soon...

By the way, the trailer, reportedly being shown in front of Maleficent is for the upcoming animated family film, The Book Of Life, based on the traditions, superstitions and mythology surrounding the Mexican Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. It looks kind of adorable. The adorable dead. (It was going to happen.)

The Book of Life: Produced by Guillermo Del Toro and directed by Jorge Gutierrez, the film revolves around three childhood friends—Manolo (Diego Luna), Maria (Zoe Saldana), and Joaquin (Channing Tatum)—who find themselves in a love triangle as the gods wager on who will win Maria’s heart.  Manolo is the central character of the story, as he dreams of breaking his family tradition of bullfighting to become a guitar player.  Over the course of the fantastical story, audiences are taken to The Land of the Living, the Land of the Remembered, and the Land of the Forgotten as Manolo seeks to live a complete and fulfilling life that is remembered by the living.  

You can see more on the upcoming film HERE (stills and more).

I do find it interesting that nowhere have I seen anyone make the connection between a journey through the lands of the dead and a sleeping tale, or of deferred dreams. Looks like there's another theme emerging from the social subconscious...

Sounds like a good time to pull out Heidi's wonderful collection on Sleeping Beauties again (SurLaLune Fairy Tale Series book).

'La Belle et La Bête' 2014: First Reviews, More Concept Art & a Lovely Color Script

Gans' La Belle et La Bête is in theaters in France - and so far, it's doing very well. While there are bound to be some criticisms the overall response has been excellent, with many saying it's a tribute to French filmmaking. People seem to agree that the visuals are stunning throughout and it definitely has a fairy tale feel separate from Cocteau's La Belle et La Bête. I've yet to read much on the story execution though...

By the way, I'm peppering this post with more newly released concept art from the official concept artist for the film, Francois Baranger, and after the jump I'll put the color scripts, in case you are worried about spoilers (they're minimal but still...).

I'm using a lot of excerpts from a French review so you get a good overview but without spoilers (translated - not by me - so expect some rather flowery use of language). While you might assume the article was favorable, you have to admit, this headline is pretty impressive; perhaps even sensational:

Cocteau can rest in peace...
If taken as a whole, the film Christophe Gans certainly can not be reduced to a pile of moviegoers references and aesthetic refinement. This is especially respectful and deeply attached to sensations cinephile, images and details that diffusely print in indelible ink on the mind, like fragments that will act transcribe as narrative and not as parts winks (Gans is not Tarantino).  

For a filmmaker like Gans, hardcore cinephile before he was a journalist for the magazine Starfix, filmmaking is not a machine to satisfy the ego or tool without any commercial value: it is an area that it is to preserve, beautify and share. The idea of a new version of "Beauty and the Beast" was no more crazy than any another. No less than five different adaptations (including the studio of Uncle Walt) have emerged since the release of the masterpiece by Jean Cocteau in 1946, and the base material remained even more conducive to eternal variations on the subject that origins of this "fairy-like" are still vague (version 1757 written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, is now considered the basis of adaptations that followed).   

The content of the story, namely the meeting of a beautiful young woman and a terrifying beast, immediately reveals two levels of reading: the distinction between physical and moral ugliness ugliness, but also the ability to perceive purity of feelings behind the vilest appearances. True to this reading, Christophe Gans therefore seized the original material to thicken the scenario already very close to that written by Cocteau, another narrative layer, based on the taming mainly visual, symbolic and purely aesthetic a universe, which was already the case with his previous films. Beyond a plot that respects each letter of agreement fairy tale and initiatory journey, Gans focuses all its efforts on the staging of wanted a credible and conducive to world wonder purest. His staging favors immersion through a dazzling musical score and always moving camera, wedding every moment emotional variations of the two characters (the perfect symbiosis being reached at the time of their common dance scene), the appropriate integration of flashbacks perfectly brought by staging tricks which comes all the lexical field of "passing on the other side of the mirror" (nice reference to cinema Cocteau) and revealing a spectrum of emotions so vast that all public the young and old, will not have to strain to renew the imagination.  

Those who want to dazzle the eyes have plenty to see, and it will be the same for those who like to draw a darker tone and adult in a universe tale. Actors, far from being reduced to puppets meant to serve soup to huge sets, are of great accuracy in their partition, never forcing or overplaying (Léa Seydoux and Vincent Cassel show here a simple and natural game). Just may do you wince on the characterization of the Dussollier family, especially the two sisters (played by Audrey Lamy and Sara Giraudeau), reduced to caricatures pipelettes incarnations. But again, hard to see a real default as the cruelty of evil played by Eduardo Noriega, this kind of detail Manichean is fully within the archetypal tale for children.  

Among his influences in the design of the graphic film, Gans fond of quoting movies Hayao Miyazaki. Risky compared by a French filmmaker who does still not the genius of Japanese filmmaker, but not so trivial that the work of Miyazaki on creating a rich magical world of legends and mythologies can now be regarded as a clear benchmark for filmmakers. At first glance, references are embedded here and there in small steps.For example, the path of his father, lost in a snowstorm and arrived suddenly in the enchanted domain of the Beast, quite inevitably refers to a key scene of "My Neighbor Totoro", where the little girl away from her habitat and fell into an enchanted cave where she found Totoro. Similarly, small "Tadums" that haunt the corners of the castle of the Beast evoke in many aspects of the benevolent kami "Princess Mononoke". And what about this vision of the sacred animal, whose murder by the prince will be the catalyst of an imbalance between nature and man, reducing it to the status of Beast ravaged by suffering? The situation of the beast and his possible return to normal thanks to Belle join the final statement of "Howl's Moving Castle" : regardless of age or appearance, it is the truth of our feelings that reveals our own inner truth.  

After two hours of projection, the total success of the project is the result of a rather unexpected explosion, especially in a French industry less focused on the desire to open the imagination of its audience and stimulate the desire for adventure in all generations. By deploying an unprecedented visual richness in the French cinema and successfully married the poetic work of Cocteau to the magic of the Disney cartoon, Christophe Gans has completely won his bet a large popular movie, quick to reconcile all public and all sensitivities.

! The writer recognized multiple homages to Miyazaki and Cocteau, the former regarding specific movies, the latter regarding filmic sensibilities!

OK, wait. You probably have no real idea why that's exciting, apart from being favorably compared to Miyazaki (and Cocteau) being an all-round excellent thing. Although the reviewer may be a Gans' fan and aware of his film goals, the fact is, to be able to point those out must be making the Director feel very good right about now. Let me quote Gans talking to Variety so you understand what I mean by 'film goals':

" My secret dream is that, visually, Beauty and the Beast is like no other magical film. But if I have to admit affiliation, it will be poetic about ... Before you even begin to write a line in the script, my co-writer Sandra Vohan and I asked ourselves a simple question: what are the works that we believe embody the more force the notion of magic today The answer did not take two seconds: cartoons 's Hayao Miyazaki ! Because they are built on a system of human values, ecological civilization, the Japanese master works have transcended cultural barriers pose to international public quintessential magical feeling. Modestly, we have written Beauty and the Beast in the shadow of this giant (Miyazaki)"!

Even a review that is more critical (and not as exuberant) still comes across positively overall. I like the perspective and context this reviewer adds:

Gans’ film is more likely to suffer from direct comparisons (to Cocteau's Beauty & the Beast), though, simply because it’s French. Cocteau’s version of the tale isn’t just a Criterion-worthy classic and triumph of the film-maker’s art – it’s nothing less than a national monument, cobbled together on minimal resources while the country was still reeling from the bitter legacy of the Second World War and the Nazi occupation, a shining vision amidst the post-war gloom and deprivation. 

It’s not surprising, therefore, that the further the new film strays from Cocteau’s scenario, the more fun it becomes, though the fun is not necessarily of the high-tone kind. This is fine; Gans is not known for art movies... 

...there’s little point in setting out a blow-by-blow comparison to Cocteau’s film. The new version is a different beast entirely, so let us try to approach it on its own terms...

I won't add any more because it's very specific regarding scenes and details. Although the writer says they're not spoilery, I would consider them to be partially so (aka, "yes, they are!"). If you are still interested to read it (note: there is a bulleted list at the end of likes and dislikes which might taint you in one direction or another, so consider yourself warned), you can read it HERE.

UPDATE 8pm, Thursday 2-13-14: 

I found another French review on the opposite end of the scale - ie. thumbs down! It only gave the film one star (out of five) BUT it made multiple (mostly favorable) comparisons to Guillermo del Toro's Labyrinth, which the reviewer clearly considers a filmic masterpiece (though it said it lacked del Toro's mastery of story and ability to say something in film) and said it was undeniably beautiful throughout. Basically it came down to: stunning and interesting but without much soul; beautiful images and wonderful scenes but not much to say with regard to the complexities of the story and couple. So maybe, "ooh pretty", but unsatisfying and shallow?  

Ack. I don't care. I admit it: the marketing has won me over (apart from the weirdly big-eyed puppy-pokemons, which I find off-putting). I still want to see this!

And now for the color scripts, which might also be considered partially spoilery, which is why they're after the jump... >>>>>

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