Inside Pan's Labyrinth

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2007)

"Pan's Labyrinth" marks the second feature from outside the United States that I've seen within the last two days that I have proudly slapped "10" ratings upon. Without question, "Pan's Labyrinth" is probably one of the most original movies I've seen since the start of the millennium, and I've seen a lot of movies.
My positive response to "Pan's Labyrinth," from Mexican director Guillermo del Toro ("Blade II," "Hellboy") probably comes from the fact that the fantasy genre, like horror and sci-fi, is not a genre that is usually up to par in the area of intelligence. But alas, one of the best visionary talents in the business ventures into a world that is entirely of his own creation and for once, he gets it right.
del Toro made his mark on audiences in 1993 with the acclaimed vampire flick "Cronos," a film I'll admit I have not seen but have heard much about, including the praise for the uniquely original vision of the director and its eight wins at the Ariel Awards in Mexico. He made his American feature-film debut with the horror film "Mimic" (1997), and then returned to Mexico with "The Devil's Backbone" (2001), which I have also not seen. del Toro has won over legions of comic book fans for his work on the aforementioned "Blade II" (2002), an adaptation of the Marvel Comics character and "Hellboy" (2004), which is an adaptation of the Dark Horse comic created by artist Mike Mignola. Now we're at "Pan's Labyrinth."
A film with roots in well-known fairy tales such as "Alice in Wonderland," "Through the Looking Glass," "The Chronicles of Narnia," Roman mythology but sources chiefly from del Toro's own twisted imagination, the Spanish-language "Pan's Labyrinth" is set in post-Civil War Spain in 1944 during World War II. The chaotic Civil War and WWII are only a backdrop for the meat of the story, which centers around 11-year old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), who is driven with her widowed, very-pregnant mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) to the Spanish countryside where her husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez), and his men have been ordered to eliminate the remaining pockets of the Republican Resistance.
One night while sleeping, Ofelia meets a strange insect-like creature (which looks like a combination of a walking stick and praying mantis) that later morphs into a kind of fairy. It later introduces her to Pan (Doug Jones, an American talent in two roles under incredible amounts of makeup), who gives her three tasks to complete to ensure that her "essence remains intact." What this means, is that Pan recognizes Ofelia to be a long-lost princess, and these three tasks are a means for her to re-enter the kingdom where her father, the king, awaits.
But these little tasks of Pan grow to be increasingly dangerous, as Ofelia is also hounded by the realities of her surroundings, including her ailing mother, the Resistance in the woods, and the sadistic Vidal's increasingly brutal methods of dealing with the Resistance. The only other person in her real world who really cares for her is Vidal's faithful servant Mercedes (Maribel Verdu).
"Pan's Labyrinth," despite the fact it's a fairy tale, is certainly not a picture for children. Heed the "R" rating, parents, because you'll be shocked by some of what you see here. Its graphic violence (the most gruesome of which seems to be kept off-screen, for the most part) and disturbing fantasy imagery is what you have to beware of. Beyond that, this is one of the most starkly original fantasy pieces in a long time.
When looking at a picture like this, especially a foreign-language picture, you'll have to cast aside any hesitant thoughts you may have, such as refusing to read subtitles. Really, I watch martial arts movies and Anime' and occasionally I have to deal with reading subtitles; it's not a big deal. It just ensures that you have to pay more attention to what's going on. With that said, I feel that the fact "Pan's Labyrinth" is a Spanish-language feature only adds to its alien appeal, to remind us that we're watching something that is far removed from our reality. That's another plus on the part of del Toro.
The actors are well-chosen (del Toro himself apparently hand-picked many of his principals). The bravest is the 12-year-old Ivana Baquero as young Ofelia. Bookish and seemingly unable (or unwilling) to grasp the harsh realities of the world around her, her escape into the world of Pan's Labyrinth seems almost expected of her by the more thoughtful members of the audience, given her circumstances. The aesthetic appeal of "Pan's Labyrinth" is what has surely gotten this film most of its greatest accolades around the world. From del Toro's own unlimited imagination, a whole new world springs to life almost effortlessly. His camera catches this fantasy universe perfectly, and his story is simply fantastic and otherworldly. As an aspiring author myself, this is what drew me in the most. Like Lewis Carroll or C.S. Lewis and their respective fantasy visions, "Pan's Labyrinth" is all the more likely to join them as cherished classics.
"Pan's Labyrinth" is a dark, uniquely original experience from a great director, Guillermo del Toro. He is truly one of the most original talents working in the film industry today. I can only hope he keeps it up.
10/10