Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This dark fairy tale for adults is hauntingly beautiful. Pan's Labyrinth is visually stunning and creates memorable characters and unforgettable horrors.

I don't see very many Mexican movies which I think are great.Though I would never own Pan's Labyrinth, I do think this is a great one, deserving all the recognition that it got, and I'm very impressed, and even proud that the movie is Mexican.The story is very simple, yet it embraces several different themes with class, and style.It is, essentially, a children's story set in Spain during World War ll, and centering around Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a lonely little girl who's mother is carrying the child of a fascist named Captain Vidal.Vidal could care less about his new wife and stepdaughter, and focuses solely on the child whom, he is certain will be a boy.Because it is a difficult pregnancy, the mother is forced to stay bedridden, and Ofelia is placed in the care of Mercedes (Maribel Verdu), a caring woman who quietly despises Vidal, and has been secretly plotting against him.Then, one night, Ofelia follows a fairy into a labyrinth on her stepfather's estate.There she meets a Fawn (Doug Jones) who tells her she is a Princess, the daughter of a great King in an underground land, and that she must pass three tests if she is to return to her Kingdom, and be reunited with her true family...Ofelia agrees, but trouble looms on the horizon, as rebels that have gone against the Nazi regime, unite against Vidal, and the three tests (which seem to Ofelia to be simple) could ultimately destroy her.This movie is enchanting, and strangely soothing.It's a fairy tale with depth, told from several points of view, and which comes up for air every once in a while to reflect on tyranny of the Nazi regime. Ofelia's mother, who's probably going to die in childbirth. Mercedes, who would like nothing better than to see Vidal dead. And Vidal himself, who's determined that his legacy should live on through his son.A really, really terrific movie. A masterpiece, I dare say, by Guillermo del Toro. Quiet, thoughtful, and mesmerizing.Originally, Review #67

A fairy tale that's more like the original Brothers Grimm stories, before Disney cleaned them up for children. Fantastic looking creatures and the evils of war play off each other perfectly to create an amazing story. Truly amazing creature designs and effects create the dark and beautiful landscape for this story to blossom in. Every component of this masterpiece is just great.

Guillermo del Toro is one of my favorite directors and he spun together history, politics and fantasy so seamlessly I was left in awe. I originally didn't want to watch this movie because of the subtitles but I was drawn in so completely to the plot and the characters that within mere minutes I didn't notice. The movie is brilliantly layered with plot, content, history, politics, brutality, fantasy and metaphors. A young girl finds an escape from her abysmal existence and I was mesmerized from beginning to end. Must watch.