Amherst Lane

Guillermo Del Toro has been one of my favorite directors for a while. I think it’s his love of horror and darker themes that attracts me to his work. His current masterpiece is Pan’s Labyrinth.
The story centers on a young girl Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) who is uprooted and taken to live with her pregnant mother, and a military captain in the rural countryside. The setting is Spain in 1944, where the captain (Sergi López) is actively hunting down the last resistance to the new fascist regime. Once arriving to their new home, Ofelia begins to have supernatural experiences. She meets a faun who tells her that her true nature is that of a princess from another world. He also explains that by completing three tasks, she can return to her world and regain her throne.

The most interesting aspect about this movie to me, is how brutal it is. Ofelia is living in a war torn conuntryside, fatherless and uprooted from her home. The captain is a sadist who almost revels in his ability to inflict pain. One scene in particular has him beating a man’s face in with a bottle. The act is unprovoked, and Guillermo does not turn the camera away. I feel that although disturbing, these scenes are necessary to setting the backdrop for Ofelia’s visions. She is surrounded by pain and loneliness. The faun represents an escape from the dark world that she lives in.

Interestingly enough the “labyrinth” actually plays a secondary role to the reality of which Ophelia is part of. Anyone expecting an alice in Wonderland will be sadly disappointed. This movie is so much more than a fairy tale, it cuts deeper to what makes us human. Most of the characters are faced with decisions of life and death. Del Toro spends most of the movie exploring the characters and their motivations. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a director become so involved with the mental state of his characters, including The evil and misguided captain.

Pan’s Labyrinth is an exploration of humanity in times of despair. It is neither forced nor contrived. It is a glimpse of one girl’s sliver of hope for a better world. I give this movie a solid “own it when it comes out on DVD”. -Tony

Emo’s is slowly becoming one of my favorite spots in town. Besides the fact that I’ve seen some of my favorite live shows there, there are a lot of hot ladies…a LOT of hot ladies. But, I digress. Except for a couple of bands, I’m usually not a fan of local music. Then I saw Lions and Amplified Heat. My friend Jessica loves these guys and finally guilted me into catching a show. I didn’t regret it.

Lions hit the stage like an electric sledgehammer to the face. These guys have a large local fan base, and it’s clear why. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a local band with this much energy on stage. Lion’s stage presence is just as tight and energetic as their sound. Their music is reminiscent of Fu Manchu, but with a slight Southern twist. Every song had a driving beat, and they never let up on the crowd. I’m a guitar nut, so I really enjoyed the sound these guys got. Lead on a Fender Jaguar, rhythm on an Epiphone of the ES variety, and the bass player on a Rickenbacker. I haven’t seen someone rock the Rickenbacker like this guy, since Cliff Burton. Lions

Afterwards, Amplified Heat hit the stage with just as much fire. Amp Heat turned it up to eleven and laid it down. Similar in sound to Lions, except with a bluesier feel. No ballads, just a wall of sound. It’s no wonder they call themselves Amplified Heat, their sound is warm, frenetic and driving. Amplified Heat

Lions and Amplified Heat definitely compliment each other on the same bill. Festivals like SXSW and ACL may make Austin the live music capital of the world, but it’s bands like these that keep Austin burning 365 days a year. -Tony