'Pan's Labyrinth' Review

A blend of Alice in Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood, 'Pan's Labyrinth' is a fairy tale story for adults. Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, this film is more of a visual and allegorical spectacle than a memorable piece of fiction.

'Pan's Labyrinth' is a fantastic artistic achievement, to say the absolute least, but the world that is created by the direction of del Toro is so much deeper and symbolic than a casual viewing would yield. The film sends a message that is somewhere in between 'the only reality is the one in which we chose to believe' and  'truth only exists for people who know where to look.' This strong moral meaning only strengthens the films' motivations, symbols and themes, and gives 'PL' an emotional and rewarding ending.

Ofelia in Wonderland

Guillermo del Toro creates a world so fantastically beautiful and yet so hauntingly surreal that it becomes a pleasure to watch the main character, Ofelia, navigate it and attach herself to this parallel reality. What is great about this other world is how violently it clashes with 'reality.' The film colors 'reality' in blue's, and grey's, while Ofelia's world is in red's and gold's. However, even with this clear seperation, as the plot progresses the two worlds become more and more interconnected until finally something has to give.

Because the film is Spanish, and I do not speak the language, I was better able to pick up on the film's terrific acting rather than focusing on dialogue (which, it should be noted, is the correct way to view a film- in visuals not sounds) and I was blown away by the performances. Before there was Hailee Steinfield and another 'True Grit,' there was Ivana Baquero, the misunderstood, disobedient, loner who finds a world where she truly belongs. If she was great, very emotional and vulnerable, than (who I think is) the films main antagonist is even better. Captain Vidal, played by Sergi Lopez, is evil personified. He hurts and kills people with no just cause, he has major daddy issues and yet, on the outside, is so gentlemanly and perfect- otherwise known as character depth.

For all of its greatness I found the film to have 1 main flaw. For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds it, the film is only a slight re-imagining of the classic Alice in Wonderland. To me the film would have had a bigger impact had it constructed its own identity and not borrowed one from a classic story that virtually everyone knows. It is certainly not plagiarized but there are far too many allusions between the two for me to consider this an 'original screenplay.'

This film is not as good as advertised, but it is exciting, it is disturbing and it will blend the lines between fantasy and reality (much like 'Inception' did for audiences this past year). A highly worthwhile viewing experience although it is possible one might feel as if they have been there before.