A high schoolers review of Pan's Labyrinth

Rating: 8/10 (13 May 2019)

Pan's labyrinth is a foreign movie that came out in an odd time in cinema. If you ask someone what movie they remember from 2006 chances are it will be an animated movie like cars, or ice age but there was some memorable live action movies like 300 and the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Not exactly a year where cinema tried to do anything different but continue franchises and start new ones. Pans Labyrinth wasn't about starting or continuing a franchise it was Guillermo del toro wanting to make a great movie and he did. Pan's Labyrinth received over 34 awards and made over $83.3 million in the box office.
The initial idea for this movie was based on many fairy tales and fables that inspired the design of many creatures and how the story progressed. The tone of the movie starts out bright and hopeful as it follows a story that the main character Ofelia reads to herself; but the tone changes as she's reminded of her new life the captain as her father living under his jurisdiction. She escapes this reality when she sees the fairy and fawn but we learn towards the end that what she is seeing and experiencing are all in her head.
Aside from the tone the movie presents the movies score composed by Javier Navarrete has some memorable tracks especially Ofelia's lullaby. Sound design in the movie does a phenomenal job of making every movement from a soldiers foot step to the fairies wings fluttering sound great on the ears.
While Pan's labyrinth has many memorable parts to it such as the soundtrack, the special effects, and cinematography its characters aren't one of them. Aside from Ofelia and the Captain many of the other characters don't go through any major changes or revelations to stand out. ....
Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth is an interesting take on fairy tales and how fantasy stories can play out. It's a great watch and another success from the works of Guillermo del toro.