Slightly over rated but decently directed epic

Rating: 8/10 (4 June 2007)

I fully expected to be one of Pan's fans that jumped on the 'greatest fantasy of the year' band wagon so when I finally got around to seeing the critically acclaimed Pan's Labyrinth I must admit I felt a little let down. I am not saying that the film isn't stunning with it's special effects and it's brilliant, dark, gritty story but I was just taken aback by the content. First of all it is hard to call this film a fantasy and even consider it on the same level as Lord Of The Rings, or Chronicles of Narnia because the actual fantasy content is barely a blip in the film. There might be perhaps 1/4 of the film that features this magical land she journeys to. Now that 1/4 truly has some brilliant, almost disturbing and magical effects that are spell binding and the outside world content is so dark and violent. I honestly believed Pan's Labyrinth was a child's movie when it was originally released and it's the FURTHEST thing from it. Pan's Labyrinth is an adult film through and through and deserves an R-Rating with some brutally violent death scenes. Still the film moved a little slowly for my liking and just didn't capture me the way I had hoped. I want to love it, I still want to see it again to see if I can find some more appreciation for it because it IS so beautiful but I have to stick with my first impressions and it just wasn't perfect. But there is so much to love about it and it's still an absolute must see.
First and foremost the young star Ivana Baquero who plays Ofelia is absolutely brilliant. She deserves every award she was nominated for. Her breath taking and emotional performance holds this film together and makes it all the more better for having her there. Bravo to the young actress!! Equally impressive is the performance by Sergi López who plays the despicably evil Capitán Vidal who is like an in house dictator who kills indiscriminately to protect what he believes to be right. While he never hurts Ofelia directly his behavior is one that will sour you on him. López is just brilliant as this villain that by the time he meets his just end it's almost a relief to the viewer as much as it is to the people in the film. Maribel Verdú is very good as the house servant who is working to help the rebels including her brother. She is like a surrogate savior to the rebels, her brother, and to Ofelia following her mother's death. Doug Jones won't be remembered by his real face. Jones has been portraying some of the greatest monsters, beasts, and general weird looking creatures for many years. He still haunts me as The Gentlmen from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He turns in a terrific performance as the pale beast or Pan presumably (although never established.) Who is the pale beast?? That is I think one of the most interesting questions from the film.
Does Pan's Labyrinth have some amazing moments?? Absolutely!! I won't soon forget the creature at the dinner table who chases Ofelia with the eyes in his hands. I won't soon forget the moment Capitán Vidal beats an innocent man's head in (literally) and drops him to die. The direction by Guillermo del Toro is truly inspirational with the dark gray overtone of the film and contrasting it to the brilliance of the other world, and the deep bright red of Ofelia's blood. I make no sincere negative comments about this film except to say that as good as it was it just didn't quite hit the right chords to be perfection and I so wanted it to be perfection. I wanted this to be one of my favorite films. Still I would see it again and I would recommend it to any adult that loves a good strong story. The subtitles are done perfectly and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Make your own judgment about Pan's Labyrinth because either way you won't want to miss out on it. 8.5/10