twisted and beautiful

Rating: 9/10 (5 June 2007)

So I've met a lot of people who have complained that this movie utilizes clichés, like it's raining whenever something bad is going to happen. And I really can't stand this because first and foremost, this movie is essentially a fairy tale, and fairy tales use devices like this. It's also definitely not a children's movie at all. The R rating should be a clue.
I loved this movie. The effects were amazing, and luckily, used in moderation. They were also some of the most imaginative I've seen in a long time. It was at once incredibly beautiful and incredibly terrifying. I saw this in theaters and spent a good deal hiding in my boyfriend's jacket. If any movie can capture the wonder as well as the darkness of childhood, it's this one. It does not shy away from the fact that children are not all silliness and smiles--Ofelia is from the start a deeply tragic child, telling her unborn brother the saddest of fairy tales. I guess that was sort of one of the other themes of the movie--that children are just as affected, if not more so, by their surroundings than adults are, even though many adults don't realize it. Ofelia's mother, for example, is always telling Ofelia to smile, to tell happy stories, even though it is quite clear that Ofelia doesn't have much to be happy about.
My only issue was the villainous nature of Captain Vidal, who seemed almost cartoonish in his brutality. But, then again, I suppose that goes with the fairy-tale quality of the film. (Interestingly, it's a wicked stepfather instead of a stepmother)In this tale, he is a fascist bloated with victory after the Spanish Civil War, and so the movie takes a slightly political turn as well.
I would not recommend this movie for the weak of heart, or for those looking for something life-affirming and cheery. But if you're looking to have your breath taken away, see it.