Beautiful! That’s the only word that comes to mind when I think about how unbelievable Pan’s Labyrinth is. I’m honestly in shock of the fact that this film did not bring home the Oscar for best foreign film. Granted it did bring home a few awards but I honestly think the film got robbed in a lot of categories. Just my opinion. However Pan’s Labyrinth is a true cinematic gem.
Guillermo del Toro is a director who I have always had respect for; he is a man who has a great eye for the camera and know what he wants when it comes to making the perfect movie. His eye for the images and shots he wanted to get for this film are what define him as one of best director around. Nothing but some of the finest directing went into this film and that also goes for the writing as well.
The script for Pan’s Labyrinth is one of complexity and brilliance. The script has so much to offer in all of the little stories that help bring this plot together that it can be somewhat confusing at times, however each individual part of the plot all equals up into the climax of the movie and ties the films plot into one big great film.
Pan’s Labyrinth follows a little girl named Ofelia whom is moving with her pregnant mother to the country side to be with her new husband; the captain of the Spanish army who is at war with a group of rebels that live in the forest surrounding the country side mansion. The Captain is a brutal man who will kill anyone and do anything to get his way. When they get to the mansion Ofelia follows a large bug into a secret labyrinth in the mansion garden, there she realizes that the bug she followed is actually a fairy that has lead her to the center of the labyrinth to meet a fawn who has many names but is simply stated to be Pan. He tell Ofelia that she is the lost princess of the underworld and that she needs to complete three tasks in order to return. Ofelia agree to complete the tasks and she goes on an adventure to retrieve items needed to return to the world from which she is the princess of. However the captain, and his army get in the way of many things and Ofelia is forced to not only try and retrieve certain items by the next full moon, but to also protect her mother and her unborn brother from the captain and the army.
The acting in this film is very good, I specifically think del Toro did a great job directing the young actress who played Ofelia; Ivana Baquero. she is the star of this film, and what a wonderful actress she is. She makes the film what it is with her great expressions and very well spoken dialogue. Sergi López was also great as the sinister Captain Vidal, his performance is one of menacing proportions and is sure to be one of the most hated villains in cinema history. The rest of the actors were very good as well, del Toro shows his greatness as a director by how well he was able to help his cast make the script come to life.
Arguably the best thing overall that Pan’s Labyrinth has is it’s visual effects. The overall production value is nothing but top notch. I was very astonished at how well the make-up effects were in this film as well as the CGI. Some the characters in this film looks out of this world especially Pan and the Pale Man. The sets in this film were also great and the overall look that each visual gave this film as a whole made it that much better.
Overall Pan’s Labyrinth is probably one of the best fantasy films ever made. I rank it right up there with the likes of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Harry Potter series. An overall wonderful piece of cinema, and one of the best films I’ve seen so far this year.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
