Movie Review - “Pan’s Labyrinth”
**** STARS
Every now and then a movie comes along that reminds me of why I am such a huge fan of fantasy films and horror movies. This movie is probably the prettiest horror movie/period piece/fantasy fairy tale ever filmed. Those are some big words! And Guillermo del Toro has crafted a special piece of art that is timeless and striking in its beauty. I have enjoyed del Toro’s previous work; “Cronos”, “Mimic” and “Hellboy”. They were all fun rides and you can that tell he enjoys making kid films, for adults.
The movie opens up like your average little kid’s fairy tale, but we soon see the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War is not for kids. There are many, many scenes that are gory and at times gross, but the dramatic over the top realism doesn’t steal the magic away from this well crafted tale. Our hero Ofelia is innocent and curious much like the characters in “Alice In Wonderland” and “Little Red Riding Hood”. She is fearless and trusting of the fantastical characters she meets on her journey, but is weary of adults.
Ofelia is forced into a world of warfare when her mother marries a famous general towards the end of the Spanish Civil War. Her childhood spins out of control as well as her imagination. At times we cannot distinguish between what is really happening and what is only in Ofelia’s mind. This transition is handled so delicately and is the main reason why this fairy tale transcends into an adult film with gorgeous results.
The special effects are subtle and haunting, highlighting a fabulous and deep storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. What many action packed fantasy movies are lacking these days is a good story. And this movie reminds me that you do not need a huge budget, big name actors or directors to create a masterpiece of unimaginable depth.
The backdrop of this movie is the Spanish Civil War and you would think that the gritty, realistic portrayal of this grim moment in time would take away from the magical fantasy world that Ofelia creates. But in actuality it only enhances the already adult feel of this film. Ofelia creates a beautiful never before seen world of her own to bare the heavy weight of the trauma she witnesses and your heart and emotions are along for the ride. I was in a state of awe throughout this whole film. It was as if Ofelia’s imagination was driving my own. An experience like this is rare for a fantasy film, and this is definitely a timeless adult fairy tale for modern times.
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