Bruce

This movie has caused quite a rukus latley, so I coughed up the money to go and see it.

One word: magnificent



Now unlike some of my previous reviews I don't want to spoil the movie for those who are interested..


The background of Pan's Labyrinth is set in Spain in 1944, where a small village of Spainards have to defend themselves from invanders. Which might sound a little "Last of the Mohicans", but it's most certainly not. Pan's Labyrinth takes on creativity of a kind which I can honesty say I have never seen before.

This movie isn't restricted to one genre, it's pretty much a mix of horror, war and fantasy. One of the main stories follows a cold hearted Spanish general (under Francisco Franco) who's determined to bring his wife to their small village in the mountains for the birth of their son. Although his wife had previously been married with another man who had died, but she brings along young Ofelia (a child from the first marriage)



The second part of this story follows Ofelia and "her" fantasy world. The movie does originate from Spain which is perhaps why the fantasy tale is so bloody interesting and even a tad odd. Her mission is to complete a number of tasks for Pan (seen below) On her Journey she comes accross strange and frightening characters.

The movie is not a fairy tale per say, but rather the fairy tale is one person's means of escape from the facist occupation of Spain.




Can't explain anymore without giving the story away, but this movie is fantastic. It's been a long time since I've seen a movie and walked away saying: "that was artwork". That's what Pan's Labyrinth is, it's artwork.




Captivating, interesting, unique, frightening..


I highly recommend this movie if you're looking for something out of the "norm"

10/10 ...


+


Actors
Sets
Clothing
Story
Creatures

You name it!


-

Can't think of anything (honestly)

The Artist

god damn that looks scary..
gotta see it..

Imhotep Evil

Yep...

Imhotep Evil

It's WEIRD.
I loved it but didn't understood it properly.


And it's no KIDS fairy tale, it REALLY HAS SOME HARDCORE VIOLENCE.

Bruce

Oops, I should have mentioned the violence. Could offend some people, so if you've got a weak stomach, don't see it.


Spoilers Below!!




As for the story, the fairy tale is one person's means of escape from the facist occupation of Spain. The creature with the eyes in it's hands in a facist regime, who lays out seductive incentives to capture it's victims. Pan in essence, is the democracy that the rebel groups are seeking to restore.

She actually did die, but in her mind she was set free.

Glad to hear you liked it though.

Imhotep Evil

OK, but ...
The (spanish) communists weren't any better than the fascists. They too comited crimes/atrocities.

Stalin helped the communists while Hitler and Musollini the fascists. Both were
equally criminal.

Bruce

True. Both were evil. However, the girl's story focuses on her (fairy tale) escape from the fascist regime she's thrown in to. It's not a one-sided politically motivated movie. It's more about her reaction and means of coping with oppression.

Imhotep Evil

Agreed.

Osnabrueck

Pan's Labyrinth isn't a political movie, it's a movie about the horrors of war and the wonder our imaginations.

The Communists take the role of "good guys" in the movie because the Facists are the de facto villains of World War 2. In the movie they're portrayed less as followers of a Stalinist agenda and more of resistance fighters to Franco's regime. (I can just hear Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh right now... "Oh, right. Hollywood always portrays the right as bad guys and paints the radical left in a positive light!")

I came into the theatre not nowing that Pan's Labyrinth was a Spanish-language film. However, after 5 minutes or so I forgot all about it and was engrossed. A pleasant surprise and a definite 10/10.

Bruce

Glad to hear that.