Pan's Labyrinth - El Labyrintho Del Fauno Movie Review

They just don't make 'em like this in America.

This breathtaking story combines magical elements of fantasy, painful and gritty snapshots of the ravages of war, and the painful, beautiful tale of a little girl - and a princess.

From the start, it is difficult to tell if Pan's Labyrinth is following the whimsical path of a fantasy movie, or if the story is only the imaginings of a twelve year old girl longing to excape the horror of her life. Young Ophelia, our heroine, travels with her mother to join the camp of Captain Vidal, who recieved a prestigious award for his portrayal of a chillingly violent fascist leader. The movie was shocking on many levels, sending chills down the viewers spine as they witness torture, bloodshed, and a spine-tingling battle between the rebels and the fascists.

All of the cold reality of the brutal war is starkly contrasted to Ophelia's escape into her fairy tale world. The fantasy creatures are artful and fascinating, captivating the viewer with forms and features just eerie enough to make you shiver, and at moments, beautiful enough to take your breath away. Nor is director Guillermo del Toro afraid to portray ugliness - his bloated frog and wasted inhuman being are some of the most incredible spine-tingling monsters I have ever seen in any movie.

The story is utterly dramatic, with peaking moments of suspence, violence, and pure art. The viewer is spellbound from beginning to end, unable to tear their eyes away from the scene playing out before them; the intrigue builds until the end, where a breathtaking climax imparts the intoxicating union of joy, beauty, and crushing sorrow.