Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, Jorge Luis Borges, and Guillermo del Toro’s own unlimited imagination, Pan’s Labyrinth is a fairytale for adults. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) may only be 12, but the worlds she inhabits, both above and below ground, are dark as anything del Toro has conjured. Set in rural Spain, circa 1944, Ofelia and her widowed mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil, Belle Epoque), have just moved into an abandoned mill with Carmen’s new husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi López, With a Friend like Harry). Carmen is pregnant with his son. Other than her sickly mother and kindly housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdú, Y Tu Mamá También), the dreamy Ofelia is on her own. Vidal, an exceedingly cruel man, couldn’t be bothered. He has informers to torture. Ofelia soon finds that an entire universe exists below the mill. Her guide is the persuasive Faun (Doug Jones, Mimic). As her mother grows weaker, Ofelia spends more and more time in the satyr’s labyrinth. He offers to help her out of her predicament if she’ll complete three treacherous tasks. Ofelia is willing to try, but does this alternate reality really exist or is it all in her head? Del Toro leaves that up to the viewer to decide in a beautiful, yet brutal twin to The Devil’s Backbone, which was also haunted by the ghost of Franco. Though it lacks the humor of Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth represents Guillermo Del Toro at the top of his considerable game. –Kathleen C. Fennessy

Newline Pan’s Labyrinth (Blu-ray) From acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro (”Blade 2″, “Hellboy”) comes a dark supernatural epic about the ultimate battle between good and evil. When young Ofelia and her mother go to live with her new step-father on a rural military outpost, she finds herself in a world of unimaginable cruelty. Soon Ofelia finds the creatures of her imagination in which she used to escape have become a reality and she must battle them to save both her mother and herself. In the terrifying battle that ensues, Ofelia soon learns that innocence has a power that evil cannot imagine.

“Pan’s Labyrinth” was written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, and made its debut at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. It has been very highly regarded since its release, and the awards it has won include three Oscars and three BAFTAs

“Pan’s Labyrinth” opens in 1944, and is set in Spain. Five years have passed since the Spanish Civil War “officially” finished, although there is still a Resistance fighting against the Franco’s Falangists. As part of the state’s solution, military outposts have been established to deal with the “problem.” The film’s main character is Ofelia, a young girl who is devoted to reading. As the film opens, she is travelling with her heavily pregnant mother to at one of these military outposts. Captain Vidal, the outpost’s commanding officer, is Ofelia’s stepfather and the outpost will become her new home. Vidal is as cruel, vindictive and selfish as you’d expect from a Fascist and Ofelia (unsurprisingly) grows to hate him. With her mother desperate to please him and provide a `safe’ home, Ofelia’s only real ally is Mercedes, the housekeeper. Mercedes, however, is anything but a collaborator : her brother is in the Maquis, and she helps them in any way she can.

Luckily, there is the chance of an escape. A long time ago in a wonderful underground kingdom, a young princess dreamt of blue skies and bright sunshine. One day, she managed to escape her guardians and found a way to the human world “up above”. Unfortunately, the brightness of the sun blinded her and wiped her memory. She suffered pain and sickness and, in time, she died. Her father, however, knew her soul would return at another time and in another place and he would wait for her return. When Ofelia follows a fairy into the labyrinth close to her new home, she meets a faun…who tells her she is the princess returned. Unfortunately, she must first complete three tasks before she’s allowed to return to her former home. However, from the film’s opening scene, you know things are not going to be easy for Ofelia.

Despite the fairytales and mythical creatures, I wouldn’t really say “Pan’s Labyrinth” it a movie for children – it is quite dark and a couple of scenes are really very unpleasant. In fact, despite the fantasy element, the film’s biggest monster is Vidal : poisonous, nasty, vicious and brutal, he barely tolerates Ofelia and views her mother as little more than a walking womb. Mercedes, on the other hand, is everything Vidal isn’t – protective, honourable, loving and kind. However, it is an excellent movie overall and – so long as you don’t mind subtitles – is totally recommended.

Where to buy cheap prices? -Pan’s Labyrinth [Blu-ray] $15.93



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