One of the best of 06'; truly magical!

Rating: 10/10 (12 February 2007)

I had not heard much about this film before going to see it. Word of mouth was it was fascinating and it was hailed as one of the top films of 2006. I can say that not only is it one of the best, but probably the best.
The film tells the story of a young girl named Ofelia, who goes to live with her pregnant mother in the countryside home of a Spanish Captain, who her mother has recently married. The Captain is a cruel man who wants little to do with Ofelia and her mother, but directs more attention to the unborn child. Going on around them is the fascist rebellion of the 1940s. To cope with her morbid surroundings Ofelia let's her love for fantasy tales and active imagination take her on a journey. In the garden of the home, is a labyrinth which provides Ofelia with the basis for her magical world.
Guillermo del Toro has created a fairytale that is more graphic and darker than normal, hence the R rating. It does show that you can tell a tale of fantasy that doesn't necessarily pertain to children, which is different from the norm being that the main character is an adolescent. The balance between the two worlds is perfectly achieved by del Toro. The special effects are excellent and so is the beautiful cinematography. Ivana Baquero who plays little Ofelia is also a joy.
This film is a delight for those who have maybe lost faith in the magic of movies.