USER REVIEWS:
peter213 9SUPERB! And do i detect some narrative nods to video games? Some of the mini adventures feel it, although i do not want to spoil for anyone by going into detail.
Oracle 9"Pans Labyrinth", a remarkable film from the inconsistent director Guillermo Del Toro, is an intertwined tale of adulterated fantasy, a very accurate assessment on nefarious and fascist government, and most of all, a superlative accomplishment in the genre of fantasy. Del Toro has proven more than his hidden facade of indispensable magic; he has created a world to escape to. For the first, and maybe the only time this year, the viewer is in a world of cinema that is unpredictable from the start.
Receiving a strong ovation (22 minutes) at Cannes was the film first draw of attention; after learning this, I immediately realized that a great film was on its way. Then all of a sudden, it ranks closing night at the 44th New York Film Festival. Although the premise of the film was a difficult one to execute, especially after its previous works spanning from the mediocre "Hellboy" to the excellent "The Devil's Backbone", the inspired Mexican director did exactly as planned. Mastering the simple rules of mysterious narrative, "Pan's Labyrinth" has finally found its home. Even though it has been showing at very few select theaters in New York City, it will eventually find its way out of the busy streets and crowded movie theaters to the masses - where real people will uncover its magic.
A towering work of narrative obscurity, "Pan's Labyrinth" portrays the life of Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a genuine little girl who believes in magic. Her mother, Carmen, is pregnant, and they are on their way to the mothers' husbands’ home in 1944. Her husband Captain Vidal) is a hardcore Franquista (Franco supporter, the dictator who ruled Spain from 1939 until 1975 when he died of natural causes) who is merciless at all costs. As they arrive, the young and fearsome Ofelia offers her left hand to the Captain. "The Other hand", he says, and squeezes her hand as if it were a sponge. It's quite noticeable that the Captain is a hard core fascist; his eyes are more than enough evidence. Through out the film, a magical sense of self-reflexive wonder strengthens it to its fullest. The first instance of magic occurs at the beginning of the film, when Ofelia finds a grasshopper-mutant angel/fairy in the beauty of the Spanish forest. She later will follow it to its main habitat: the labyrinth itself. There she meets the compassionate faun (Doug Jones who relies heavily on the vosotros form when speaking) who assigns her three tasks before she is to be "announced" queen. These tasks, as mentioned above by the other critic, seem a bit deliberate and familiar, but nothing other than this makes it non-unique.
Even though this is indeed familiar, the film's magical structure ignores its details, thus making it completely different from any other fantasy film. As Ofelia has her fun, the Captain has a war to fight: this war has been going on between a group of Republican rebels and the ultra conservative right wing fascists. Sergí Lopez, who plays the Captain, is magnificent. He is clearly a highlight of the film itself. As the rebels try to defeat the nefarious Franquistas, a keen incident occurs between Ofelia and a monster (during the completion of the second task). Ofelia is specifically told not to eat any of the food at the table where the monster is sitting at, but lo and behold, she does, in a very awkward manner. Unlike most other scenes in the film, the young and for the most part good actress brushes away the angels that were helping her. But what the viewer perceives is more of a lazy and very deliberate action. Ivana Baquero may have overdone it only so slightly, but nevertheless, it is almost in unrecognizable flaw.
Del Toro does not distinguish a good from a bad ending, and quite frankly it hardly even matters. What the viewer perceives is more than just a remarkable story. It's an illustrious work of magic made for a must-viewing. And in the end, after Ofelia's last task is accomplished, and the masterful musical score lay in the background, one can't help but think: Could the film be meant for something else? Of course it is, for it is a clear and thought out political allegory. But even by viewing the film at diverse standpoints, in the end it really comes down to the real truth: "Pan's Labyrinth" is nothing short of a true and simple work of art.
-Oracle
r0der1k 4I'm thinking people must be desperate for a good fantasy film, because this is absurdly overrated. I'll agree that it's beautifully shot and that the fantastical creatures (in the relatively brief time they appear on screen) are mostly intriguing. But, oh, how terribly executed the rest of it is. The writing is often poor, resulting in cardboard characters and revealing only minor insight into the potentially more interesting aspects of their selves. The direction and acting -- ha! Seriously, both are schlocky, at best. You might be thinking (as I did), "Pefect -- an artfully crafted, independent historical-fantasy," but nothing in this film can disguise its mainstream Hollywood aspirations or its prototypical mainstream Hollywood shortcomings.
Let's be real: Guillermo del Toro has produced no film to date that suggests he be taken seriously as an artist. Is our current cinematic well really so dry that something of this quality can be confidently bandied about as a "remarkable" or "glorious" achievement? What is the press smoking? You should feel safe drifting in and out of this one on free cable down the road, but don't let its eye candy and unexplainable buzz tempt you to see it in the theaters or rent it. Save your money for something more accomplished.
Good-O 10Come last year's end and come this film, on of the greatest films to come to screen, both in poignancy and mastery. If you don't manage to cry at the end then god help you. I really can't find an excuse not to love "Laberinto." r0der1k? Bad writing? Don't think so.
madmitch 9Not at all what I expected and I'm glad. Spooky and fantastic and sad and beautiful.
vandycutie 8great visual. nice story. not living up to the hypes though.
This movie is available on DVD/Video