Ying and Yang

Rating: 9/10 (10 June 2007)

After the overwhelming nominations at the Oscars that Pans Laberyth got, I have to say that I was definitely fascinated with this film and wanted to see what it was about. When it went to rental, I couldn't help but notice the R-Rating, which seemed a little odd. But I now know why, this was definitely one of the darkest fantasy films I have ever seen. That's why I said Ying and Yang, it seemed like it had a very dark side, but also a slightly brighter one where this girl travels into her own fantasy world where she is a princess. This film had fascinating characters, a very interesting story, and was beautifully shot, so I can see where it stands on the top 250 and got the Oscar nods it got.
Ofelia, a little girl, is going with her pregnant mother to a city in Spain, where there is a huge war going on. They are traveling to see the very sadistic and cruel captain of the army, the mother has married him and he is now Ofelia's new father. But Ofelia comes into a world of her own when a fairy brings her to a Labyerth in the garden where she meets a faun and he tells her that he is her servant, and he can help her bring back her thrown to the kingdom by doing a few simple tasks, well, not that simple. But it makes it all the more difficult with the world outside, where her father is murdering others and doesn't care about her mother, only the son she carries inside her.
This was truly an interesting film, in some ways it was a breath of fresh air due to the fact that we don't really have any films like this any more. The cast, the set, the story, the language was so beautiful, I was very impressed. I would recommend this film, not so much to just anyone, it takes a certain type of person I think to fully understand what this film and story is, not judging, just saying I can already name a few people I know who wouldn't enjoy this movie because they wouldn't understand it. But if you are a fan of film, the art of it, I think you'll enjoy this masterpiece.
9/10