Pan's Labyrinth

Apparently, I haven't been following previews very closely! I saw that this film got nominated for awards, and buzz was, it was a very good film. For some reason, I thought this was a children's movie. Why didn't someone warn me??

This film is rated R, and with good reason. Set during the reign of Francisco Franco in Spain, this movie revolves around Capitan Vidal, a sadistic army captain, his stepdaughter Ofelia (Ivana Baquero, impressive as a child actor), and a magical world which Ofelia escapes to, called Pan's Labyrinth. Netflix described this as an 'adult fairytale.' Indeed! Another film that I thought would be light and fun, comments on death (see 'Stranger Than Fiction').

The visuals were the reason I rented this movie. I was disappointed, in the end, because most of the film takes place in the real world, a world full of war, death, and harsh realities. And even when Ofelia goes to the fantasy world, it seems like a fantasy that a horror master dreamed up, not something kids might enjoy. I was horrified at the scene where Ofelia enters a room with a long table full of fruit, and must retrieve a blade of some sort. At the end of this long table sits a creature straight out of nightmare: thin, pale, non-human, this creature sits with its eyes on a plate. Drawings on the walls depict this thing massacre-ing children. And when Ofelia eats some of the forbidden fruit (symbolism intended, I'm sure), this thing puts its eyes in its hands and comes after the poor girl. It reminded me of 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' with the long table in a dark, creepy room. But the creature..dear Lord! It reminded me of a reject from 'Lord of the Rings.' Except more horrible-looking. I wasn't expecting that. Nothing about the magical world is pretty, as I expected it to be. The faun looked like ram on crack. And the faieries, who I was glad to see (nods to Tori), looked like hideous bugs that needed a shoe to the head. haha I hate bugs. Note to the filmmaker: Faeries and fauns are supposed to be CUTE!

Ofelia must go through several 'tests' to claim her 'kingdom.' Apparently, she is the reincarnation of a child from the underworld (not Hell, but a magical place under the Earth), who can go back there, if only she can pass these tests. In the end, her final test is to spill her little baby brother's blood, which she refuses to do. I won't spoil the ending, but it left me very sad. Ofelia's life is devastating: Her father, and in course of the movie, her mother, die, and she must live in a war-torn country, with very little positive support. Her only hope is to get to this magical world, which turns out to be something other than she thought.

It was kind of like Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', come to think of it, with the melancholy take on life, and the 'death is inevitable' theme. There was a lot of political commentary, as the Capitan tortures rebels, rebels fight back, and war itself provides a commentary on how we battle each other.

If you're looking for a rather dark 'fairy tale,' this film's for you. Bean slept through it all, and said she'd rather see 'Bridge to Terabithia.' haha I generally like dark themes, but this one surprised me. And I love fairy tales, but again, this was the most nightmarish fairy tale I've ever seen. As a horror buff, I liked the dark tone and horror elements (they were to ME, anyway). The melancholy didn't fit my mood, though. I guess I was hoping for something uplifting, but I can't call this film uplifting at all. It just struck me as sad, and realistic, and a bit scary with the horrible fairy tale creatures instead of light, cute, cheery fairy tale creatures. I guess maybe they were a manifestation of the time this was set in, and of war itself. Or maybe, the Spanish have some twisted imaginations.

haha

Grade: B+

In other news, I'm off for a short vacation: Headed to Hershey Park with the family, and then to see The Police in concert with my brothers. Should be fun!

Have a great week.