Sophisticated, beautiful, and profoundly sad

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2006)

Like most people who had heard the rumours about how good this film was and had seen the trailer I anticipated an extremely good film. However I had my doubts about the story, and whether it would prove to be too complex or confusing but also whether Del Toro would be able to sow fantasy and reality together enough for me to believe it. Based on some of the reviews I have read on here there are a few doubters, but personally and speaking as a fan of magical realism, fantasy, myth, and faerie story I can say that my fears were unfounded and my senses were mesmerised. This film is what cinema is all about because it brings to life a very well written script before your eyes and will leave you thinking and feeling the film for a great deal of time after it is finished. The effects shots in particular are incredible with an array of monsters and shadowy sets that leave the viewer breathless before even a word is uttered. I have not until this point considered watching many of the films of Del Toro, but following this I feel compelled to look at his career with closer scrutiny.