Simple, yet complicated

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2007)

From the oppening, to the end, I found this movie to be engrossing. The cinematography for one was incredible, all from the lighting choices, the edditng and the way they cut from one scene to the next showed a lot of creativity and was done in such a way as I have not seen in anything close to the likes of in a film recently.
If you are looking for just a pretty picture, of a story which is easy to understand, then this may not be the best choice for you to go and see. However, if you are looking to see and discover a whole new world (and when I state this I am not just talking about the magical world and it's elements in the film, I am also talking about the period in the Spanish civil war in which this film takes place), then this will be a film you will probably enjoy and which you'll probably buy a DVD of, that you will have around for the next 15 years.
It's not a history piece, it's not about history and facts, nor is it a war movie, or even a children's' movie for that matter. It is a story about people. It is a story about people in difficult circumstances, going through hard times...never the less, the film goes on to prove that we are all here for a reason, and ultimately, out of our own choice.
The film is also fantasy, though I wouldn't actually think of it as that. Because for one, it focuses more on the story and what is actually going on rather then the fact that magical things are happening. Which I actually kind of enjoyed. Sometimes I see a film that's fantasy (which I love fantasy), but really they took no time to develop the plot or characters.
It wasn't what I would call genius in every sense of the word (like Lord of the Rings). But it didn't breach it's limits of what it could do, and it certainly brought to the screen enough captivating story, and skill to keep an audience interested. But this movie, it has a life of it's own! And I think it has personality more then all of the other fantasies or movies starring children made in recent years (not to mention some wonderful acting!). And I do believe it deserved and got the 20 minute standing ovation it did from the crowd at the Cannes film festival!