Left a bad taste...

Rating: 5/10 (22 May 2007)

I think my main complaint upon this movie is the hype versus the actual package. I watched previews and explored a website that promised a beautifully surreal fantasy world which one young girl would escape her horrid reality to find. I was thoroughly disappointed when rather than living up to this promise at all, the film turned out to be a two-hour drudge through a sad, sadistic world full of horrific and extreme violence that just frankly could have been toned down to much greater effect in my opinion.
I'm not going to go into great detail on why I did or did not like this movie. I've said enough in summary that it simply was too great a ratio of horrible violence and sadness to the previously expected wondrous fantasy.
What I will say for the prospective viewer is this: This film is NOT for the weak hearted or weak stomached. If you made it through "The Hills Have Eyes" (which I did not...) then you may be alright. If you enjoy that kind of movie, you may really love this one. But for those seeking a beautiful fantasy world coupled with a touching story along the lines of "Mirrormask" or the classic "The Labyrinth", look elsewhere as this movie will likely leaving you sadly wanting and possibly even a touch sad inside. That's how it left me... Wishing that humanity was not so much more entertained by the horrible truth than by the beauty of imagination. The amount of each in this movie wasn't enough to make the promise worth the pain. At least, not for me.