Great film-making, excessive violence

Rating: 6/10 (8 January 2007)

Pan's Labyrinth is a beautifully made film.
The story lines are well crafted, subplots are expertly woven together, emotions are evoked without it seeming heavy-handed.
The acting is excellent all around, and the film looks gorgeous.
If only there was less gratuitous violence and bloodshed.
After the first scene of cruelty and gore, we get the idea. But Del Toro doesn't stop there. He keeps showing is more and more of the same.
For me, that changed my rating from a 9 or 10 down to a 6.
Without so much violence, this could have been one of favorite movies of all time. With it, I doubt I'll watch it again.