I forgot the subtitles were there

Rating: 10/10 (30 December 2006)

So excellent was this film I forgot it was subtitled, I was so engrossed. I actually felt the Spanish language sounded so beautiful and perhaps added to the mysticism of it (as I don't speak the language).
All the actors are perfect, the plot is simple yet has many layers, the imagery is one of a kind, the details everywhere are superb. Sometimes the violence is overwhelming, but it should be, it's there to get it's point across, the make bad things seem very real in a fantasy world. It has two wonderfully strong female roles, Ofelia and Mercedes, to juxtapose with the more stereotypical mother figure who knows her place and needs a husband.
The mix of fantasy and reality are there for the viewers interpretation, believe in what you want to believe in. The set design makes everything feel so real, no jarring CGI or graphics that just aren't quite right, this is back to real, believable creatures, fleshed out prefects sounds and score.
I hope this film gets the recognition it deserves and anyone unsure should go and see it for themselves, as it is such an individual and fresh piece of cinema I'm sure people will talking about it for years to come. I await the DVD anxiously!