Astonished

Rating: 10/10 (13 December 2006)

After having seen this last night, I must say I'm still surprised and astonished (in a good sense) about this movie. I truly like it.
My expectations of this movie, before seeing it, was actually that I was going to see a fantasy/fairy tale movie, but found that only to be partly true, with the main plot actually being depiction of a very small fictional (i assume its fictional, but actually don't know) fraction of the war in Spain in 1944.
The way he (Del Toro) blends the fairy tale plot with the historical drama plot is magnificent, and they supplement each other so well.
After seeing this movie, I sit back with a feeling, that Del Toro wanted the two (maybe three) plot lines to be seen in different perspectives. The historical drama plot in an adults way, hence the sometimes very brutal visualization of the plot. The fairy tale plot in a child's way, hence the simplicity of the "tasks" our child is put through. I liked that.
It all sounds so blue, but all I can say is that it's been a while, since I've seen a movie, that both touches me and amazes me.
Thumbs up.