Best Del Toro film to date

Rating: 10/10 (26 October 2006)

As of last night this movie more than surprised me, not only in content, but acting. The primary actors were just too good to be true. One of Del Toro's earlier projects was El Espinazo del Diablo 'The Devil's Backbone' and I though of it as too good. Del Toro's imagination is macabre to the extreme, but not evil macabre like George Romero. The most sadistic character so far is Sergi Lopez portrayal of Captain Vidal, set in 1944 in which Franco's soldiers were fighting to finally push back any rebels against Franco's evil regime Vidal was one of the most sadistic bastards on screen, ihated him so much for being cruel, twisted and perverse. Other portrayals was a young lady Ivana Baquero, the movie primarily revolves around her and her imagination of fairies and fauns and nasty creatures. Her portrayal of Ofelia was second to none for an actress under 17 and amongst some of the best acting. I will not say the movie was gory, but there are scenes of torture, sick and twisted visual effects, violence involving minors, apathy in the part of Vidal for his wife, and pure casualties of war of both guilty and innocent parties whether directly involved with the revolution or just innocent bystanders. The Faun let's say, will give you a mixed feeling and reaction to his true intents. But the best part of the movies involves a self sacrifice, that will give me a rating of this movie a "10".