Beautifully realized fairy tale- for adults

Rating: 9/10 (1 September 2011)

Pan's Labyrinth, or El Laberinto del Fauno, is a film that will amaze you. Both delicate and brutal, del Toro created what he perfectly described as a fairy tale for adults. The film follows Ofelia, stepdaughter to a fascist Spanish Captain, as she uses her imagination to cope with life in the country, in a mill occupied by fascists headed by her stepfather. It also follows the rebels as they try to take the mill. They're very well interwoven, bouncing off each other.
In the prologue by del Toro on the Blu Ray (the film looks breathtaking in HD), he tells of how he put much love into making the film, and it's absolutely true. The shots are gorgeous. The lighting notably sets the mood, starting off bright but becoming darker. The sets are grand, especially the fantasy ones. The orchestral score accompanies throughout, quietly affecting your emotions. The visual effects are stunning, and the make-up is scary in some scenes. No corners were cut making this film.
Ofelia meets a faun, and is informed she is a princess who must complete 3 tasks to return to her old realm. She meets creatures, which are cool (Faun), gross (toad) and the iconic Pale Man, in the best scene in the film for many reasons. These creatures look wonderful.
Other creatures, like Ofelia's stepfather Vidal, are not wonderful. Pan's Labyrinth make look childish, but it is R-Rated. A man's face is effectively destroyed. A leg is severed. Stitches are graphically shown. While not as explicit as shock movies, the contrast with innocent Ofelia makes the violence hard to watch.
Lots of thought has been put into Pan's Labyrinth. Themes and motifs are layered deep, and wrapped up in a package of sensitivity. You can interpret it how you like. The ending is bittersweet, and very fitting to the atmosphere and aura of the film. Pan's Labyrinth is a top- notch film, and most certainly one of the best ever. It offers you a reason to think. 8.7/10