2008 Woodie Awards
Movie Review: Pan's Labyrinth
It just didn't pan out
Paul Davis
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 2 next >
First, the literal translation is "Labyrinth of the Faun." Sure, there is a satyr who looks like he is living wood, but he was by no means Pan, the jolly little satyr from mythology who enjoyed mischief, song, and sex. He was actually a very angry and bitter faun for most of the movie. By most of the movie, I mean the few times he does show up.
The movie is about a little girl in fascist Spain during the 1940s. There is a labyrinth behind a mill where her step-father, a high ranking official, is stationed. She is trying to put up with the rigors of espionage and full out battles through a fantasy world. The implications of what I had read, along with the title, would suggest that there was a fantasy world with glimpses of historical fiction. I was so wrong.
If you want a historical fiction, this movie is not half bad. Mind you, I'm no historian and I don't buy movie tickets to historical fiction generally. All I know is it seemed dramatic with spies and what not. There was a lot of blood, stabbing, and shooting. There is a great display of Spanish fascist cruelty through interrogation at one point, if you like propaganda speaking out against fascist Spain. If there was the threat of a regime uprising, this movie might have had more of a valid point.
The girl, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), didn't end up seeing half of the incidents that truly make war stand out in the mind. However, the movie goer gets to. The story was more about the workings of a mill near a rebel camp than the fantasy world in her mind.
As long as the possible movie goer understands this is a story of war with a dash of fantasy, instead of fantasy with a dash of war, this movie was decent. It was dramatic. The faun (Doug Jones), not to be confused with Pan, looks incredible. His movements are slow and contemplative, reflective of the wood his body is made of. He has these cute little fairies that look really neat as well.
The dangers of the fantasy world, when we were privileged enough to see the fantasy world, left me on the edge of my seat. They were gripping and horrifying creations at the same time, both the creatures and the environments. The story that she has to embark on were well thought out and written. She has three tasks, which include bravery, self-restraint, and other lessons.
The movie is about a little girl in fascist Spain during the 1940s. There is a labyrinth behind a mill where her step-father, a high ranking official, is stationed. She is trying to put up with the rigors of espionage and full out battles through a fantasy world. The implications of what I had read, along with the title, would suggest that there was a fantasy world with glimpses of historical fiction. I was so wrong.
If you want a historical fiction, this movie is not half bad. Mind you, I'm no historian and I don't buy movie tickets to historical fiction generally. All I know is it seemed dramatic with spies and what not. There was a lot of blood, stabbing, and shooting. There is a great display of Spanish fascist cruelty through interrogation at one point, if you like propaganda speaking out against fascist Spain. If there was the threat of a regime uprising, this movie might have had more of a valid point.
The girl, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), didn't end up seeing half of the incidents that truly make war stand out in the mind. However, the movie goer gets to. The story was more about the workings of a mill near a rebel camp than the fantasy world in her mind.
As long as the possible movie goer understands this is a story of war with a dash of fantasy, instead of fantasy with a dash of war, this movie was decent. It was dramatic. The faun (Doug Jones), not to be confused with Pan, looks incredible. His movements are slow and contemplative, reflective of the wood his body is made of. He has these cute little fairies that look really neat as well.
The dangers of the fantasy world, when we were privileged enough to see the fantasy world, left me on the edge of my seat. They were gripping and horrifying creations at the same time, both the creatures and the environments. The story that she has to embark on were well thought out and written. She has three tasks, which include bravery, self-restraint, and other lessons.
Be the first to comment on this story