What makes this a good movie?

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2006)

This is one of the most commonly asked questions we find ourselves posed to answer and defend. The simplest answer I can provide is based in an abstract concept which is if I'm already thinking about seeing it again before the movie has even reached the end credits. That was definitely the case with Pan's Labyrinth. This film breaks the mold in the way that we are given a taste of the supernatural in conjunction with the harsh reality of how brutal human beings can be. The movie is just as much reality as it is fantasy, and that fantasy aspect is just as cold as the reality of it; which seems to have caused both love of the film as well as criticisms. I would implore anyone to go into this film with an openness to being left without any warm fuzzy feelings because they will not be found here. This film demands a lot of its viewers but mostly it asks them to leave behind thinking that the supernatural and fantastical depicted in a film has to be overflowing with computer generated effects, lathered in a rich coating of Hollywood sheer and shine to make a worthwhile film. The storytelling is enthralling to a degree that many otherwise entertaining films lose underneath their slick veneer. The characters are enchanting without losing the real sense of the human element. It's been less than twenty-four hours since I saw the film for the first time, and I'm having a hard time thinking about much else. I found it transcendent and encapsulating. For anyone resistant to seeing it due to the subtitles, I can say honestly by the midpoint of the film, the language no longer seemed something I didn't understand; and the voice of the Faun (Pan) is so mesmerizing that it would have lost something dubbed in English. Is it brutal? Yes. Is it disturbing? Yes. Is it a fairy tale? Absolutely; A true fairy tale in every respect. It certainly is not for everyone, but I truly think many people that are unsure of seeing it would find that they really love it. In summation then; if you are looking for the next Hollywood blockbuster with a skyrocketed budget loaded with breath taking special effects; skip this one. However, if you want a disturbing little trip down the rabbit hole of those things on the fringes of reality, go see this film.