Movie: Pan's Labyrinth
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Rating 10/10
Simply put, this was one of the best movies I have seen for a long time. If you are familiar with other movies by this director (ex The Devils Backbone) , you will know that he likes to blend reality with supernatural portraits of the subconscious/archetypal/mystical elements of humanity.
It is hard to explain why this movie is so good. The setting is Spain in 1944 during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The outer plot consists of a war between some communist rebels and the troop of Captain Vidal, but serves only as a backdrop to the secret and magical world that is experienced by Ofelia, the stepdaughter of the Captain. This world compels her on a spiritual journey that must also protect her from the outer world.
I won't give too much away. Be warned, this is not a kids movie. There are scenes that are some of the most brutal and shocking that I have ever seen. The fantastical part of the movie serves to remind adults of the myths and fairytales that haunt and inform us underneath the surface of our lives.
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