I waited so long to be rewarded with disappointment

Rating: 1/10 (15 May 2007)

I have read the wonderful reviews, waited in anticipation (could not make it to see it at the movies), and attempted to watch Pan's Labyrinth tonight. What a horrible disappointment. I was expecting more of the magic of 'The Devil's Backbone," but what I was rewarded with was a torture-fest that looked like it was directed by Mel Gibson. Much like 'The Passion of the Christ' took a holy subject and degraded it by turning into one of Mel's studies in male homophobic S&M themes, this movie was often tauted as an adult fairy tale. Only if we as adults have decomposed our standards so that torture and suffering constitute fairy tales. Fool me once, shame on you...I will not make any future efforts to see this director's works. Only a small percentage of the movie is dedicated to the fairy tale theme of Pan's Labyrinth, the rest is a poor version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets Passion of the Christ meets Apocalypse Now. Save your money.