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In a
time where mediocrity seems to be ruling cinema, I began to
forget what it was like to see a truly magical film, one that
leaves you dreaming about it when you sleep, thinking about it
at work the next day and obsessing over it on the Internet. It
has been a long time, a very long time - so long in fact I
forgot what this feeling was like! After Guillermo del Toro
astonished me with DEVIL'S BACKBONE years ago, I was
constantly disappointed with his other films (MIMIC, BLADE 2,
HELLBOY) and was left wondering if Hollywood had drained all
of the magic out of his soul. It appears to me that Hollywood
was hindering his abilities because PAN'S LABYRINTH is a
masterpiece, an ultimate classic film that will forever
embraced as one of the greatest cinematic fantasies ever told.
PAN'S
LABYRINTH is a fanciful and chilling story set against the
backdrop of a fascist regime in 1944 rural Spain. The film
centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her
mother and adoptive father; a military officer tasked with
ridding the area of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates
a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret
destinies. With post-war repression at its height, Ofelia must
come to terms with her world through a fable of her own
creation.
What
makes this film work so well is the reflection between
Ofelia's world and real life. Ofelia makes mistakes, and pays
for them, but she also succeeds by breaking some of the rules.
Her world is created to escape the harsh reality of it all,
and even within the world she is learning lessons. This fairy
tale is grim as much as it is mystifying and we see both of
these worlds through Ofelia's eyes.
The
real world portrays Fascism as the real terror, which is why
this film truly is a horror film. There's nothing more
terrifying than real-life terror, such as the news or
historical moments like World War II. The Spanish Civil War
might not have been as catastrophic, but nearly a million
people were killed during the war. Watching what some of these
evil men were like makes you sick to your stomach- they are
worse than the devil himself. Ofelia's world, which is
extremely gothic and dark, is one of the most wonderful,
extraordinary and fascinating creations I have ever seen. What
you'll see are some of the most imaginative creations to ever
grace the big screen - fans of LABYRINTH might just have to
throw the movie away after getting PAN'S on DVD. But don't let
the fantasy throw you off, there are lessons to be learned and
you really should take the time to let them touch you.
PAN'S LABYRINTH is timeless, touching, moving,
stunning, shocking, appalling, violent and superb in every way
shape and form. Del Toro has delivered perfection, which is a
rare treat in this half-assed world of filmmaking and studio
designed features. If there was ever a fairy tale for adults,
this is it and I don’t see anything better coming along for a
few decades. Treasure your first viewing experience because
it'll never feel quite as amazing as it does the first time
around. |
