David, you really should make Hellboy II part of your summer viewing right along with Tree’s Lounge. It’s up there with Pan’s Labyrinth as far as being “essential” del Toro. It sucks that you didn’t like Pacific Rim; hopefully I will get to disagree with you on that once I see it. But he has said that his next film, Crimson Peak, will be more like his Spanish-language films, so you have that to look forward to (plus it stars Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch).
I don’t know if anyone is going to read this more than a month after this episode aired, but I’d like to comment on del Toro’s attachment to Spain.
As he’s said in some interviews, the spanish civil war was very important during his learning years. Mexico was very friendly to exiled republicans, and a huge colony established comfortably there, including noted intelectuals that ended up contributing to mexican culture (e.g. L. Buñuel). There’s still a warm regard between Mexico and the more republican-leaning Spain, and I’m sure del Toro wants to honor it.
Furthermore, the Spanish civil war and post war periods provide the perfect environment for his dark tales since in this particular conflict “the bad ones” prevailed. Take this as you want, but this is hardly “just” a political opinion: Franco, dictatorship, 40 years, censorship… (and in any case, del Toro’s distaste for them is quite clear). That’s the kind of reality the girl from Pan’s Labyrinth is trying to escape from, and the menace floating over devil’s backbone.
Finally, let me add that, as Republican myself, I cannot thank del Toro enough for his election and approach.
Apologies for any language atrocity, I’m Spanish and my English is not very bueno. Salut!
David, you really should make Hellboy II part of your summer viewing right along with Tree’s Lounge. It’s up there with Pan’s Labyrinth as far as being “essential” del Toro. It sucks that you didn’t like Pacific Rim; hopefully I will get to disagree with you on that once I see it. But he has said that his next film, Crimson Peak, will be more like his Spanish-language films, so you have that to look forward to (plus it stars Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch).
I am already excited for Crimson Peak now, thanks. Mia Wasikowska is the best thing going.
– David
Hi crew,
I don’t know if anyone is going to read this more than a month after this episode aired, but I’d like to comment on del Toro’s attachment to Spain.
As he’s said in some interviews, the spanish civil war was very important during his learning years. Mexico was very friendly to exiled republicans, and a huge colony established comfortably there, including noted intelectuals that ended up contributing to mexican culture (e.g. L. Buñuel). There’s still a warm regard between Mexico and the more republican-leaning Spain, and I’m sure del Toro wants to honor it.
Furthermore, the Spanish civil war and post war periods provide the perfect environment for his dark tales since in this particular conflict “the bad ones” prevailed. Take this as you want, but this is hardly “just” a political opinion: Franco, dictatorship, 40 years, censorship… (and in any case, del Toro’s distaste for them is quite clear). That’s the kind of reality the girl from Pan’s Labyrinth is trying to escape from, and the menace floating over devil’s backbone.
Finally, let me add that, as Republican myself, I cannot thank del Toro enough for his election and approach.
Apologies for any language atrocity, I’m Spanish and my English is not very bueno. Salut!