Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno)

Links

Homepage: http://www.panslabyrinth.com/
See Also: http://imdb.com/title/tt0457430/

Tags

Reviews (2)

Filled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointEmpty Star - Denotes No Point by slowman on 07 Jan 2007

FILM: Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno)
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Guillermo Del Toro

Well made, and well shot, and well acted, but brutally and pretty much relentlessly violent. In close up lingering graphic technicolour.

The trailers I saw make much of the fantasy element, but this is a bit misleading in terms of the realism-to-fantasy balance film, I'd say. Maybe I was just tuning into the fantasy element side of things, but this was definitely the draw for me.

Unfortunately the fantasy element is pretty comfortless in itself, being dark and disturbing (as I guess all the best fairy tales are) and offering scant relief from the horrific real-world fascist sadist spectacle that makes up most of the film! I certainly didn't realise that it was weighted so much in that direction.

Our local cinema say certificate 15 which I found amazing! I would have defintely rated it 18. I must be getting old. Don't go expecting a Lord Of The Rings style fanstasy epic with good-triumphs-over-evil messages, or to come out feeling good, happy, or optimistic.

But if you want a sad, violent, depressing reflection on how unspeakably afwul human beings can be, and the desperate lengths brutalised children will go to to escape physical and mental anguish, then this is the film for you!!

Filled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointFilled Star - Denotes One PointEmpty Star - Denotes No Point by Kake on 19 Jun 2007

It is quite depressing; but I didn't feel it really deserves the tag of "horror". I _hate_ horror films because they stick in my mind and give me nightmares, but I didn't get that from this.

Lovely characterisation, and a pretty gripping story.

What do you think of Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno)? Write Your Own Review...