The Mystifying Pan's Labyrinth

When my friend first told me about Pan’s Labyrinth I thought it was going to be a crappy fairytale. Needless to say, I was wrong. Guillermo Del Toro directed the movie. He is also the director of the Hellboy series. The intricate storyline and petrifying creatures of Pan’s Labyrinth’s world give this film an edge over any other fairytale.
Pan’s Labyrinth follows the life of Ofelia (Ivana Banquero) and her mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) after the Spanish civil war. Carmen is pregnant, and is going to see Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez I Ayats) in the deep forests of Spain. Vidal is an officer in the Spanish army and the father of Carmen’s baby. Vidal’s job is to hunt down the rebels that are in the mountains. He uses brutal tactics, such as crushing the cranial contents of an innocent rabbit hunter’s son. A faun reveals itself to Ofelia and tells her that she is the long lost princess of the underworld. She must go through three tasks to prove that she is no mere mortal before she may return to her throne. The tasks are both terrifying and dangerous. The camp they are stationed in has some supporters of the rebels. One of which is Mercedes (Maribel Verdu). She secretly is brings the rebels food, mail, and other necessities without Captain Vidal knowing. The doctor of the camp (Alex Angulo) also helps the rebels with injuries and later puts down a tortured rebel. The tasks Ofelia is given come into conflict with the real world.
The casting of Pan’s Labyrinth was excellently done. My personal favorite choice was Sergi Lopez I Ayats, playing the role of Captain Vidal. Even though he looks like a normal man he is absolutely brutal. His dialogue expresses his disapproval of the actions people take. He makes a fuss over things as little as burnt coffee. Ivana Banquero (Ofelia) pulled off Ofelia’s role well. There wasn’t anything amazing about her performance, but there was not anything bad about it either. Maribel Verdu did an excellent job portraying Mercedes. Mercedes is completely believable throughout the entire movie. She is my second favorite actor in the movie for pulling off her dificult role so well. Doug Jones played the Faun in the movie. He also played a terrifying creature whose eyes are located in its hands. The faun looked evil but friendly at the same time. He has a large pair of horns, designs on his forehead, and magical light blue eyes. He has the ability to appear and vanish whenever he wishes, which proves to be an important aspect of the character. I loved the creatures in the movie because they were completely different than anything else I have seen. They were things you would only see in nightmares or fairytales.
The scenery in Pan’s Labyrinth was beautiful. I do not think it could have been shot in a better place. The old house they were stationed at had a very old look to it. The forest looked pure, natural, and untouched by mankind. The labyrinth had a very large maze surrounding it, and a spiral staircase leading down an ancient statue. At some points in the movie certain colors seem to stand out more than others. The redness of the blood is one of the big ones, and the gold shine of royalty. A catchy seven note tune is constantly being hummed or played in the background. It gives the movie an eerie and mystifying tone. The special effects were also something to marvel at. Fairies and other creatures like the frog have a unique look to them.
Pan’s Labyrinth surpassed my expectations, and actually has become one of my favorite movies. I believe any teenager or adult can enjoy this movie, even if you aren’t one for fantasy. The movie shows how harsh the world can be, but also how there is a brighter side to it.

The New Immortal (988 Words)

The needle effortlessly slides into my arm and into my vein. Instantly I drop the syringe. It feels as if hydrochloric acid is traveling throughout my body and incinerating everything it comes in contact with. The veins in my neck expose themselves and I groan at the poison in my skin. My stomach clenches and vomit spews from my mouth in random bursts decorating my desk. My body is urgently trying to rid itself of this internal demon. Then there was nothing. I awoke on the floor of my room. There is no melodic thumping sound pulsing in my ears. My computer is still on and I notice that one hour has gone by since the injection. The headline of the website reads “Ingredients for Vampirism”. Holy S***, it actually worked. My parents were still soundly asleep in the next room. They hadn’t heard a thing over my dad’s snoring. I grab a sweatshirt from my closet and creep downstairs. I’m light on my feet even with my heavy skateboard shoes. I slip out the door without a sound and vanish into the neighbor’s yard. I can see everything in perfect detail. My neighbor’s car turns onto my street, so I make a move for the bushes on my right. As I push off towards the side of the road I realize I have made a serious mistake judging my strength. My right foot slides under me and I eat pavement. Blood gushes out from my punctured tongue, but I manage to leap into the bushes before the car reaches me. A large gash above my left eye is leaking blood into my vision. Surprisingly, my tongue doesn’t hurt and I am unable to feel any cuts on it. I reach up and feel the area of my forehead that broke my fall on the pavement and there is no wound. Once I wipe the blood away there is nothing to bother me. The power of regeneration is the only way to explain the rapid healing. I continue down the street at a brisk pace pondering ideas of places to go. Dunkin Donuts is my choice. Some hot chocolate would really hit the spot on this cold night, but I am not cold, just thirsty. I decide to see how fast I can run with these new powers and all. Imagine the fastest you have ever run, and multiply it by 5. Dunkin Donuts is empty except for two employees, a girl and a boy. A glowing red aura surrounded each of them. It seemed to have a life of its own and followed every movement they made. I order a large hot chocolate and set it down on the table. The kid I bought it from had given me some weird looks so I went into the bathroom to see what I looked like. I stare into the mirror and see a pair of red eyes. My face is pale and clammy. No wonder the kid was giving me weird looks. I look like a demon of some sort. I took a piss and grabbed my hot chocolate on the way out. Without thinking I began chugging the hot beverage. As soon as the liquid reached my stomach I hurled. It tasted absolutely putrid. How could I be so stupid? Vampires obviously could not eat or drink anything except blood. I am getting very hungry. People’s auras are beginning to leak out of their cars as they pass. Anger and rage flood my brain and start to take hold of me. I am losing control. I am almost at my street when a car pulls up beside me. A bunch of college kids are inside and the driver rolls down the window. All I can think about is blood. All I want is their blood. He points at me and beckons me over. Rap music is blasting from the subwoofers in the back. I hate rap and it grows louder as I approach. The stench of alcohol becomes more potent as I get closer. I squeeze my fists and bite my lip to hide my anger. Once I get outside his window he spits in my face. I snap. I grab the driver’s side mirror and rip it off in one smooth motion. I whip the thing as hard as I can into the kids face. I don’t know if it was the glass on the mirror braking or his jaw. They started screaming in the back. There were two girls and one guy in the backseat. The other guy was in the passenger seat motionless. I open the driver side door and rip it clean off the hinges. I push the knocked out driver to the side just enough to slide in. The screaming and yelling of obscenities was getting me more excited and worked up. I was not myself. I pull onto a side street and put the car in park. I ravenously leech all of the blood out of the driver’s neck. The more I fed, the more his aura dissipated. The others run away screaming, but I don’t care. I step out of the car and head towards the woods. The anger and rage that had previously taken control of my mind was gone. I looked back at the car and recalled the carnage I had created. I know I should feel guilty and terrible about what I did, but I don’t. I like the power, the rage, and the speed. I am invincible to any common forms of death. The freedom of knowing no one can stop me out weighs the consequences. I knew exactly what was on the line when I injected myself. I was prepared to lose all aspects of my old human life. The cops are probably on their way by now, but I will be long gone before they get here. So begins the life of a vampire.

My Top Dozen Movies

#1. Lord of the Rings- If there is one word to describe the series it would be EPIC. The spectacular scenes panning the mountains of New Zealand and excellent cinematography will amaze you. The choosing of the cast was brilliant. Each character looks as if they belong there. Orcs and Goblins actually look like Orcs and Goblins would. Even though the movies are long it is easy to finish them because they are so good. The CGI and flabbergasting battle scenes will simply stun you.

#2. Star Wars Episode 4,5, and 6- A set of classic George Lucas films beginning in 1977 and ending in 1983. A trilogy that delivers the best special effects of the time. Making lasers, space battles, and creatures from other planets look real. The movies had you rooting for the good guys’ right from the start. Mainly because Vader looked and sounded unbelievably creepy and Stormtroopers were always wearing masks giving them no identity. The intro scene of episode 4 when Stormtroopers invade the rebel ship will lock you into the movie without question.


#3. Children of Men- The storyline and setting is one that could possibly happen sometime in the future. Humans have become infertile and are facing their inevitable extinction. One woman become pregnant through some sort of miracle. In the movie you follow this woman and a man randomly dropped into the situation through chaos and coincidence. Clive Owen is the perfect choice for this role. The way Children of Men is filmed is really what makes this film great rather then just good.

#4. 28 Days Later- If you are a zombie fan you must watch this movie along with its sequel 28 weeks later. People are infected with “rage” so they aren’t true “zombies”. Danny Boyle delivers the remarkable story about a survivor of an epidemic. There are some amazing shots of an abandoned London. Great special effects for the low budget it was given. Filmed digitally giving it a gritty real feeling.

#5. Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl- Easily the best of the 3. One of my favorite movies of all time. You were rooting for the pirates from the start. Johnny Depp played the role of Jack Sparrow perfectly. When pirates stole Aztec gold it unleashed a terrible curse upon them. Making them undead and unable to feel anything. Movie is filled with great humor and some legit fighting scenes.


#6. V for Vendetta- Takes place in London in the near future. A totalitarian government runs the U.K when much of the other world is in chaos. The hero V is mysterious yet appealing. With superhuman abilities like super speed and super strength he crushes his opponents with nothing but his fists and a brutal set of knives. Throughout the movie V’s past is unraveled and exposed to a follower.


#7. District 9- Aliens have landed in Johannesburg and will not leave. Their huge space ship hovers above the city apparently damaged and un-flyable. The CGI in this film is incredible. The “Prawns” or Aliens look like large Bugs that speak in a language of clicks. The special effects and cool weapons in this movie make it stand apart from others like it.

#8. The Matrix- “Mr. Anderson”… A line known by probably almost every boy my age. Hugo Weaving played the Mr. Smith role extremely well. The Matrix has one of the most intricate and interesting story lines I have ever heard of. It would take forever to explain the plot. There are some insane fight scenes and gunfights. Not to mention the ability of dodging bullets. The storyline of the Matrix is a good enough reason to watch it.

#9. Terminator 2 Judgment Day- Arnold Schwarzenegger is now a “good” Terminator. He plays the role perfectly and remains just as bad ass as he was in the first one. When I was little I thought that hanging out with a terminator would be the coolest thing ever, who wouldn’t? With a great selection of corny one liners, great special effects, and epic explosions it is a must see.

#10. Harry Potter- The books and movies of my generation. J.K Rowling makes magic come alive in the books which are then made into films. Supposedly a secret magic world exists in Britain hidden from “Muggles” (non magic people). The movie follows the lives of 3 kids living in a magical castle called Hogwarts. If you like magic and odd creatures they are movies to look into.

#11. Jurassic Park- One of my favorite movies as a kid. What kid wasn’t into dinosaurs at one point in their life? You felt the fear of the characters when they were nearly being eaten by a T-Rex. Plus Samuel L. Jackson is in it which obviously makes it a great movie.


#12. War of the Worlds- Although I’m not a huge fan of Tom Cruise I have to give him props for this movie. Very cool story involving aliens landing on earth hell bent on harvesting and annihilating the human race. Dramatic and suspenseful scenes of destruction will keep you focused on the film.

Setting Exercise

Dried seaweed clings to the dry sides of the beached submarine. Like remoras to a shark that are just along for the ride. It smells of dead fish and sour milk as I approach vessel. Half of the sub is still in the water, meaning this sub has been landed intentionally. I climb to the top of the submarine and a blast of salty humid air hits me. The seas are tranquil and wave less, a storm is coming. I try the hatch and to my surprise is already opened slightly. The smell of death and decay shoots up my nose as I open the hatch fully. Humid air chokes me as it escapes from its trap. A blood trail leads down the 10 step ladder. I unholster my berretta and proceed into the darkness. The hatch slams shot and sends a loud crack throughout the entire submarine. The device to open it from the inside has been ripped off. The flickering lights give a strobe light effect. Pupils’ dilating and constricting with no rhythm. I take out my flashlight and scan the next room, obviously the kitchen. No blood, no stench, just the faint taste of metal and dust. The table is littered with papers and a half eaten egg sandwich. I enter the sleeping quarters, what I see confuses me. All of the beds have been stacked in a circle in the back of the room, as high as the ceiling. I sit and listen for any signs of movement. Nothing except the steady increase in my breathing. The adrenaline beginning to kick in. I move towards the right side of the mattresses. My muscles begin to tense. I move without a sound. My eyes focus, my grip tightens around my weapon. The mattresses fall with one heavy kick. There is nothing inside, just an empty corner. The mattresses fall over one by one like dominos. I scan the next room which appeared to be an exit hatch area. Wet suits and scuba gear hang from the walls. I took some of the gear and headed to the exit hatch. The clicking of one button released me from the confines of my iron death trap. I swim out of the hatch and to the side of the sub. I take a moment to watch the sun rays hitting the water before getting beaten back by the darkness. In the corner of my eye I see flash of metal being hit with sunlight on the hull of the sub. I hesitantly swim towards it. An easy victim of human curiosity. I get close enough to see what the object is. I gasp and send bubbles out of my mask and choke on the sudden decrease of air. A watch on an officer’s arm, tied to the ship is the object. I shuttle around the perimeter of the ship and find that the crue had been tied to the hull of the sub. How this was done I don’t know. Another apocalyptic creature mutated by the fallout in the region? I need equipment for the coming winter and I thought a submarine would be a viable source. The tide urges me on as I head back to shore. I feel the waves gently wash over my back. I forget how many months of have gone by since the blasts. I’m amazed I have made it this long.

Why are We so Fascinated by Vampires??

Vampires have some kind of existence in almost every culture making them a universal creature. They have superhuman abilities which make us admire them and their power. They drink blood which is completely out of the social norms of society. The key fact is that they are immortal, they will never get old as we do. We give reasons to why we never see them, they only come out at night when its dark so we can never see them clearly. If they go out during the day the are burned to death by the sun. Through books and movies there are many different kinds of vampires. For instance, "good" vampires who dont kill for blood. I think this is stupid and that it ruins the idea of vampires. And the normal vampire who hunts down humans and drinks their blood for more power.Vampires can supposedly transform into various animals such as bats giving them the ability to "dissapear" when in danger. Vampires have sharp teeth and are pale, I think that we have created the way they look to make them look as scary as possible. All in all anything that has different abilities or features that humans dont have themselves interests and fascinates them through curiosity. That is why the myth of vampires is still talked about today.