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For those who know me, I am notoriously bad at even being able sit through a movie, let alone one that isn't in English. But every so often a movie comes around that touches me in ways other movies can't. Guillermo del Toro's Pans Labyrinth is such a movie. A burgeoning director, Del Toro's previous efforts like Hell Boy simply don't prepare you for the awe inspiring experience this movie dishes up. Del Toro weaves a tale of sacrifice, heart break, desperation, and magic. Throughout this wondrous two hour movie, Del Toro reminds us that no matter how bleak your circumstances you always have the ability to resist or make choices.

I knew I was in for a treat when I entered the theatre early to witness adults walking out with tears in their eyes. The story takes place during 1944 during Spain's brutal civil war, in which a young girl, Ofelia is taken from the city way out to the country with her mother to meet her cold, calculating, and brutal stepfather, a Spanish army captain, whose knack for torture and violence are displayed unflinchingly. The violence in this movie, though a bit much for me to stomach in certain scenes, is never glorified, or presented like a protracted bloodfest ala Mel Gibson, but serves rather as an ultra real presentation of a desperation which is so lifelike that you can taste and smell it, appreciating how it contrasts beautifully with Ofelia's escape in the world of the labyrinth.

This is not to say that the mythical world Ofelia finds herself in serves as mere escapism. In many ways, the mythical world mirrors the horrors that his poor young girl faces in her real life. Beautifully rendered creatures, stark for their imagination as well as ferocity in certain scenes, often forces the audience to actually feel relieved when she escapes back into her "real" surroundings.

But at the heart of this story are the characters and complex interwoven themes. The menacing step father, the maid Mercedes who serves as a spy for the rebels, the doctor who assist Mercedes, and the wonderful performance by the 11 year old girl who plays Ofelia, all serve to hook you in and keep you under their spell. The actors and actresses each deliver their lines with stark clarity but never making you feel as if you're being lectured. When the one of the characters tells the wicked captain that the difference between the two of them is that he has a choice, and that he chooses to resist, my heart practically ached knowing it was a personal stand he would be punished for. But Del Toro isn't seeking to tell you to not make those choices based upon principle. Rather, he is stating that fascism in the world is very real. That it is very brutal (hence the violence in the movie), but no matter how desperate things are, you always have the choice to resist it. You always have the ability to make a difference, even if it costs you dearly.

I can't really go much more into the story without giving it away, but I can say that it is simply one of the best films I have ever seen. EVER. Not since Forest Gump, Ghandi, and Graffiti Bridge has a movie stirred so many emotions in me. I certainly will be looking for future works of Del Toro, though I hope he doesn't keep escalating the violence in his movies, as that would kind of suck ass.




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[Edited 2/19/07 8:11am]

Your summary is better than the movie.

I can't wait to see this!

I knowwww you don't expect me to read all that! Please Dan, please!

great review! thanks. I'm gonna see it now.

SPOILER----




I hated, absolutely hated the ending. And parts of it were sooooo aesthetically awful, just plain disgusting, that I simply couldn't watch. I'm turning pollyanna in my old age, but I don't like paying money to feel like shit after and hour an a half and call that entertainment.
That said, I can still agree it's a good movie. There are parts I found simply gorgeous as well. I think it's just not for me.

Yeah, Hell Boy sucked an incredible amount. I had no idea he directed that piece of crap.

But Pan's Labyrinth is a beautiful work... I loved it!

CarrieMpls said:

There is a difference between entertainment and 'art', though. 'Art' is a little more interesting to me (as with this film) because "feeling good" isn't necessarily the point -- so long as you were significantly moved cerebrally or emotionally. But that's an issue for the lecture podium more than this message board!

Imago said:

Just what the org needs...

...another lurker

mrdespues said:

I know it's not the point. But more and more art for art's sake just seems like BS to me. If I can't identify, I simply can't care about it. Do I think that makes it bad art? No. But as I said before, it's simply not for me.

CarrieMpls said:

despite my artistic pretentions, i usually fall into the same camp. i mostly wanna dance while i've still got the chance.

mrdespues said:

Does anyone get the feeling CarrieMPLS goes to art museums just to check out pretty pictures.

As for Muse:

Imago said:

oh shut UP!



I think I'm rebelling from my dark and dreary almost-goth days. I'm not all sunshine and rainbows, you know. I think it's just, I can feel bad enough on my own. I don't need "art" to make me feel bad too.

this thread weirds me out.

I love the name Mercedes.

CarrieMpls said:

And for this movie in particular, I couldn't take the violence. I really can't stomach it anywhere, but when this had the potential of being such a beautiful story, I didn't need to see what I did. The fairytale scariness was enough, thanks.

CarrieMpls said:

I liked the movie simply because it was different and very beautiful and yes disturbing, haunting even. But I thought the ending didn't match the rest of the movie in manyways and I didn't care for the ending either.

OK, here, I'll give you guys an anternate ending. Tell me what you think?




FINAL SCENES:

Ofelia runs into the labyrinth to get away from her stefather who finally trips while he is staggering and knocked unconscious. Ofelia runs down the steps to the room where she is meets the faun who's name it is finally revealed is...is...Mr. Tumnus. Tumnus is taken to a castle in which a wicked witch rules. She turned the the land that ofelia finds into a place where it is always winter and never Christmas. On the way, she befriends a lion who helps her defeat the witch, and free the Faun, and the live happily ever after.

Oh, and the father realizes his evil ways, and all the people of hooville, a nearby town in which he tried to stop Christmas as well once, rejoice.

I love the name Mercedes.

Imago said:

convoluted

Imago said:

You forgot to add the part where the little girl gets run over by a car and The Kid realizes she was an angel so he decides to make friends with Morris and they hug awkwardly while Mavis Staples and George Clinton look on, all misty eyed and slightly aroused.

Sweeny79 said:

What if I threw in a large green Ogre with an Irish accent and a talking donkey?

Anx said:

There ya go! That's way better!!!

Anx said:

We're trying to make the movie better .

Imago said:

there is only one movie with a plot twist more ingenious than the end of graffiti bridge, and the name of that movie is THE CRYING GAME.

Anx said:

I'm sorry, but when he/she/whatever revealed his bits-n-pieces to the dumb Irish dude, I wasn't the least bit surprised. I just kind of thought his junk would be a bit larger.

Actually the fact that he was circumcized was odd too. I mean, for England.




circumcized edit
[Edited 2/19/07 6:19am]

Imago said:

okay, so ingrid chavez isn't everyone's cup of tea - but what did you think of 'the crying game'?

Anx said:

idiot!


I didn't care for the movie. It felt like a crime drama mixed with Pretty in Pink.