January 26, 2007 \ The Clarion
ARTS & LIFE
Page 7
Pan’s Labyrinth gives due credit to cinema
by Aaron Palmer
Managing Editor
Guillermo del Toro’s most re
cent film. Pan s Labyrinth, is gen
erating much controversy, but not
for typical reasons. The film has
generated lots of hype based off
of its trailers, has won numerous
awards, made every critic’s top ten
list and, despite its late release.
could be in the running for the
Oscars. The controversy stems
from people’s concerns that a
movie filmed entirely in Spanish,
with English subtitles, is finding
itself at number 1.
Yields 4-6 servings.
Ingredients:
1 -2 lbs of stew meat, like
lean beef
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup of chopped celery
1 cup of peas (optional)
Small bag of baby carrots
5-8 potatoes (depending on
size)
V2-1 Cup Beef Broth (may
be from bullion)
1-2 cups Apple juice or
wine
1-2 bay leaves (optional)
Small a mount of flour
Salt, Pepper, onion powder,
garlic powder
I was lucky enough to fmd it
playing in one theatre since it re
cently broke though to mainstream
cinema and was astounded by its
creative story, dark overtones and
brilliant visual effects. The film
portrays a young girl who follows
her pregnant mother to live with
her new husband in Northern
Spain in 1944. The Spanish Civil
War is on the fritz, but the area is
still dominated by repressed fas
cism led by the unruly father The
story shows the injustice of such
a time and they ways the young
girl copes with it all. She creates a
fantasy world to escape into after
GERMAN BEEF
Brown meat with olive oil in
a stew pot, adding a little
flour to thicken. Add celery
and onion and saute until
translucent. Next, add
enough beef broth to just
cover the meat. Add
potatoes, carrots, peas, bay
leaves and the secret
ingredient to German
Stew—apple juice. You
may substitute with 1 cup of
wine, but this will yield a
less authentic taste.
being led by Pan (who is nine feet
tall and could be mistaken for the
devil) through various tasks and
confronts various horrific charac
ters.
The two stories parallel each
other well and each gets more thrill
ing as the film progresses. Though
not for the faint of heart, the story
comes together like a fairy tale,
just not one for kids. Through its
development, del Toro creates a
few of the most unnerving scenes
in a war or a horror film. One
scene in particular, you want to
scream at the girl not to “eat the
fruit,” for you can see what is
about to awaken behind her
It’s refreshing to see a cre
ative film with stunning visuals hit
the big screen without having to
rely on a star to carry or ruin it.
Hopefully this will bring more at
tention to foreign and independent
cinema, which seems to be where
all the creativity is these days.
Though fantasy may not be your
cup of tea, this is something that
has a little more depth to it and
still looks better than most CGI
crap coming out of Hollywood.
Put this on your list, because I’m
sure you will hear more about it
soon.
STEW
Simmer on the stove for 1-2
hours, stirring often. Take
care not to let it burn.
Serve with hot biscuits,
salad, and even a side of
red cabbage seasoned with
vinegar and apple cider.
Follow with hot apple pie or
apple strudel with ice cream
and you will have a robust
German meal. This
foolproof recipe is perfect
for a winter day.
HOROSCOPE
Aries: Saturn is sucking up all
your funny and the oracle does
not like this. We recommend you
take some vitamins. Lucky Color:
Judgment Garnet
Taurus: Well your bird is gone
now and it's back to the grind.
Never fear, there are plenty of
Land Ursula's to make fun of.
Lucky Color: Commie Red
Gemini: IMissing something?Of
course you are, you an absent
minded freak. Get a planner. Lucy
Color: Rawhide
Cancer: Success is your forte
today. Get all those looming
boring assignments done and go
have y our self a stiff drink to
celebrate. Lucky Color: Gin.
Leo: Boss giving you a hard
time? Sue them! And then run
your ambitious claws through the
gold. Lucky Color: Dough
Virgo: Tired and bored huh? Go
to Java City and spend your lack
of food dollars and then you may
be a lil' more perky. Lucky Color:
Old Coffee Grounds
Libra: Heart felt notes may be
found in your mail box—the
oracle doesn't know or care
whether it's the electronic of
physical versions, just look. Lucky
Color: Manila.
Scorpio: Boys boys boys or girls
girls girls—or whatever it is you
like. Better run after them or
you'll be left in some serious
emotional dust. Lucky Color:
Rotten kiwi green.
Sagittarius: SO you survived
the canning people? Congrats—
that's your lucky bits for the
week. Lucky Color: Aluminum
Capricorn: Ever wonder why
you're a fish and a goat? Ask
Neptune, 'cause the oracle ain't
know. Lucky Color: Cod Scale.
Aquarius: Teeth and diseases
are out of your mind now
because you've seen the doctor.
Celebrate because you're the
birthday month and that means
stuff! Lucky Color: Birthday Cake
Blue.
Pisces: Stay away from old
loves because they will suck your
soul into oblivion or into nasty
apartment beds. Lucky Color:
Dirty Hotel Sheet.
Cooking with Tex