Pan's Labyrinth
Our modern day masterpiece series continues today, as we look at the wonderful Pan's Labyrinth.
If you haven't seen Pan's Labyrinth yet, then you really are missing a treat as Guillermo del Toro has delivered a dark yet beautiful movie.
Set in the fascist Spain of 1944, the movie follows Ofelia, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer, who escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.
Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. With Fascism at its height, Ofelia must come to terms with her world through a fable of her own creation.
Pan's Labyrinth hit the big screen back in 2006, and I haven't seen a fantasy film that is as intriguing and beautiful as this.
Del Toro parallels the two worlds, Ofelia's imagination, and the realities of Fascist Spain, while telling the same story in both: worlds of violence, tyranny, resistance ain the timeless struggle between good and evil.
This is a dark and violent fairytale, which is fully deserving of the praise and acclaim that has come its way over the years: it really does remain del Toro's greatest directorial work.
The visual/aesthetic ambition of this film is nothing short of breathtaking - the director really has pushed the boat out when creating the palette for the two different worlds.
Del Toro seamlessly blends the fantasy and fantastic with the cold and gritty harshness of reality with a range of strange and beautiful characters and sets that delve into a child's wild imagination.
Ofelia and Captain Vidal are two very contrasting characters: the young girl is driven by her imagination, while Vidal is only interested in the real world.
Ivana Baquero and Sergi Lopez both give stunning performances. Baquero manages to strike the perfect balance between childlike wonder, fear, and incredible strength. While Lopez's performance as the brutal Vidal is truly chilling.
Doug Jones is also wonderful throughout, as he brings to life some of the film's most memorable characters, in the form of the Faun and the Pale Man: the Pale Man is a character that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
I really cannot praise this movie enough, as del Toro has delivered nothing short of a masterpiece.
From start to finish, this movie will captivate, entertain, thrill, and chill, and is a much see for all fans of this genre. It is bold and original and is just perfection.