Movie Review
Pan’s Labyrinth
Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on January 19, 2007
Never trust a faun. They’re always out to trick you. Also, never trust film reviewers when it comes to foreign films that take you to a dreamworld of magic. Pan’s Labyrinth has received a ton of praise, and I hate to be a naysayer, but it is not as good as I was lead to believe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very enjoyable film, though somewhat predictable and deceivingly light on fantasy.
Yes, there is a giant faun (Pan) and a giant toad and that creepy no eyes thing. But all of the fantasy elements happen very quickly. Not quite a dreamworld of magic, more like a dream neighborhood.
The story follows a young girl, Ofelia, who has lost her father. Her mother is remarrying an army Captain who serves occupied Spain during the second World War. That basically means he’s a Spanish Nazi. The plot is actually quite good. There is the evil Captain. The resistance fighters. The magic. Ofelia must complete a series of tasks to take her place as a Princess in the magical world. The resistance fighters must defeat and obtain supplies from the evil Captain.
The effects are mostly practical, and as such, are very good. The acting is good, the directing good. It’s all good. It’s just not as good as I wanted it to be. I was expecting a fantastic masterpiece. What I got was a great movie with a sad heart. So it depends what you’re going in for. Me, personally, I was hoping for more adventure, more fantasy. So I found a different movie.
That being said, if you go in knowing what you’re going in for, which with the influx of reviews you now can, you’ll probably be much more impressed with it. So by no means avoid this film, in fact, I recommend it. Though I would say see Children of Men instead. But this is a great little film that will touch you, maybe shock you. But it won’t make you happy.
In conclusion, this is a very well made film that deserves being called great. It is not, however, the most fun movie or the best movie of 2006. It’s good though. I expected more, however, hence my slight more negative tone. Ah well. It should probably still win Best Foreign Film, which I think it will, deservedly. It’s odd, it’s a good movie, I just don’t love it right now.
Read more articles by Robert Fure
4 Comments
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I was directed to this review from another website, and I’ve gotta say, this has got to be the worst review I’ve ever read.
First off, what kind of critic reviews a movie on its comparison to what he THOUGHT it would be about? It wasn’t the adventure movie you had been led to believe, so you weren’t that pleased with it? So, if I go into The Godfather expecting a sci-fi thriller about robots in civil war, then The Godfather should be docked a few points, apparently.
Secondly, can there be a bit more elaboration besides everything being “good?” What were the themes? Were they articulated well? Were they well served by the plot? The cinematography?
A review should at least give a basis for the critic’s opinion. As it is, this review sounds like what some stoned guy says to his friends while sitting around an IHOP. If this is the kind of writing the “best film critics you’ve never heard of” do, I’m sticking to the ones I know.
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:15 am
Zhubin,
Thanks for the comment. On this site we live and die (or at least our writing lives and dies; no critics are harmed in the making of this site) by the feedback we get from our readers (those precious few). This is a forum for writers, most of whom have little or no professional experience, to hone their skills and grow as journalists. Without feedback, we never improve. So I would encourage you to continue to come back to our site, read more of our work and by all means keep the feedback coming.
As far as Robert’s review goes, you have a point. It could use some more elaboration in some points. But don’t hate the man for comparing the film to his expectations - which were most likely created by the way the film was marketed. He expected one thing, and got another. You’ve never had that happen?
Enough preaching… Thanks for reading.
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:28 am
[...] Guillermo del Toro for Pan’s Labyrinth. One of the year’s finest films, helmed by a director fulfilling his potential. I have always been a fan of his work, but often it has been at a level lower than what we have found here. His work has generally risen above similar works in the genre, always hinting at what he could do. This is a film that is magical, it is dark, it has hope, it has violence, and you are not safe. Amazing film from a director at the top of his game. [...]
August 12th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I agree with the reviewer. This movie was a disappointment.