Disappointing

Rating: 5/10 (10 February 2007)

I honestly do not understand why this film is receiving rave reviews everywhere. The story is simplistic. The only ambiguity is whether or not the girl is actually seeing fantastical creatures or is simply escaping the harsh realities of fascist Italy via her imagination. The acting is wooden; the characters, largely stereotypes. It is also a brutal film that is far too gory for children. So who is the intended audience? As for the special effects, they were imaginative but relatively infrequent. This was a movie that had lots of potential to which it simply did not live up. Apparently having subtitles and a different "feel" from the typical Hollywood film is enough to get rave reviews these days. Very disappointing.