Latest reviews about Pan's Labyrinth

LoveisJoy says "Alice in Wonderland Meets Lord of the Rings" about Pan's Labyrinth

LoveisJoy — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:47:38 GMT

When this movie first came out in theaters, I barely paid attention to the trailers. I thought it would be a popcorn fantasy movie like the Tales of Narnia--which is okay, but nothing I'd rush to see. In some ways, I was correct in that Pan's Labyrinth is a fantasy movie flush with fairy tale creatures, secret quests, and battles between good and evil. What surprised me is how much I genuinely enjoyed the movie's twists, turns, and spectacles.

My husband received the Blu-ray DVD version of Pan's Labyrinth, so one night we sat down together to watch. I was immediately struck by the young actress who plays the film's heroine, Ofelia, as well as by the 1940s setting in Spain. Soon into the movie, we realize that this isn't a zany-but-harmless Wonderland and poor Ofelia is not an innocent Alice. Ofelia's childhood has been ripped apart by extreme cruelty, and the intense violence and bloodshed of war that she witnesses everywhere she turns. Still, there is strength and integrity...

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TheBard says "When the Escape is as Twisted and Horrid as Reality" about Pan's Labyrinth

TheBard — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:46:55 GMT

Bottom-Line: See Pan's Labyrinth!

We all need to escape the bitter entrails of reality from time-to-time, which is one of the reasons we watch movies, read books, etc. Children, with their whimsical natures, sense of adventure and need to explore, find more inventive ways to escape the sometimes harsh world in which they find themselves trapped, oft-times not of their own accord.

Magic and the arcane are still very much a part of their worlds; life has yet to beat the adult view of the things into their souls. But what happens if your form of escapism is on par with the real world, if it is so terrible and ugly, that it offers no real escape from the world in which you already live?

That is just one of themes of Pan's Labyrinth (2006), which on the surface might appear to be a children's story akin to the fairy tales of old, however the many messages the movie conveys are meant for those with considerable age and understanding.

The Story

Written and directed by Mexican-born...

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dixiediane says "I'm not into subtitled films" about Pan's Labyrinth

dixiediane — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:57:14 GMT

I was not at all pleased with this movie as I don't care for movies with sub titiles. I didn't even watch it all the way thru. Too many things get missed.

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newsarafree81 says "Completely amazing" about Pan's Labyrinth

newsarafree81 — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:47:59 GMT

WOW. What can I say. This movie is stunning, it manages to balance such complex storylines, themes, characters, and special effects in a way that completely entranced me. I lost myself in the movie; after fifteen minutes or so I even forgot that I was reading subtitles. The music is memorable, the acting is top-notch, and the stories were very compelling. It left me fully believing in he director's magical world, and I really hope he makes more movies like this. Pan's Labyrinth is a work of art....

ninacochran says "exciting and enchanting" about Pan's Labyrinth

ninacochran — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:03:44 GMT

This movie was an awesome adult version of the original. Its sad ,scary and exciting all at the same time. The way each fantasy charachter was designed was amazing. The Little girl is the main character ,They could NOT have chosen a better actress for this movie. The movie is very touching. Each charchter in this movie did an awesome job.. By the way this is my first written reveiw. I promise they will get better !!:) ...

DonnieDarko says "Deserves every ounce of praise it gets" about Pan's Labyrinth

DonnieDarko — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:31:54 GMT

This is one of the best movie's i've ever seen, period. It should be mentioned that this is an ADULT fairy-tale, made for those mature enough to handle some of the graphic violence that occurs. This isn't an unnecessary element simply added to push it to an extreme, however. It is crucial to the story of how a young girl escapes into a fantasy world to avoid the brutal world she is in.

One of the most enjoyable aspects to this movie is trying to figure out whether or not the fantasy world is real or imagined. It'll have you going back and forth on this up until the last second.

Without any specifics, i have to say that this had perhaps the most perfect ending to one of the most phenomenal movies ever.
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HollywoodVamprella says "Previews were Great.. Subtitles were not mentioned." about Pan's Labyrinth

HollywoodVamprella — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:31:01 GMT

THe movie looked very interesting when we saw the previews. They fail to mention though that the movie is all in subtitles.. ANd some of the content i couldnt allow my children to watch. The special effects were great! But it was hard to keep up with the whole visual aspect of the movie when you are reading subtitles through out the while thing....

jenl74 says "Great movie" about Pan's Labyrinth

jenl74 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:55:49 GMT

When I first wanted to rent this movie, I thought it was a children's fairy tale. Good thing I paid attention to the rating. It's a fairy tale, but not for children. The movie was made in Spain so it has English subtitles, which doesn't bother me. I've found that some foreign films are better than American films. It begins by telling you about a princess who lived underground, but because of wanting to be above ground, she runs away. I don't want to ruin the movie so I will just tell you that the story progresses from there. It has violence and gore, so you don't want kids watching it. I love this movie and it's now one of my all-time favorites. I haven't talked to anyone who didn't like this movie.

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ChiTownShopper says "An absolutely enjoyable and unpretentious cinematic masterpiece" about Pan's Labyrinth

ChiTownShopper — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:26:12 GMT

Guillermo del Toro's beautifully crafted film blends historical facts into a fantasy world in order to tell a coming of age story, which draws parallels between the horrors of the Spanish Civil War (or any other war, for that matter) and its effects on a people who have to endure it.

A truly accomplished storyline and unique attention to details make this overall a cinematic masterpiece that is, unlike many others which claim such distinction, extremely approachable and ultimately a delicacy to be had with all senses!

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cyberhowl says "Fabulous Movie" about Pan's Labyrinth

cyberhowl — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:26:05 GMT

This is a very different and engaging movie. Even though the dialogue is done with subtitles (the original movie was filmed in Spain), the storyline is so absorbing that you don't notice you're reading at all.

The movie is a cross between a war movie and an adult's fairy tale (definitely not for children), with special effects and costuming that will captivate your attention. There is quite a bit of violence, but it fits in well with the storyline.

The storyline is such a unique concept, different from any other film out there, that it really makes a lasting impression on the viewer. I originally saw it at the theater, and have since purchased the DVD so that I may watch it again with others.

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Mr----X says "A wonderful fantasy movie, with some extreme violence." about Pan's Labyrinth

Mr----X — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:09:53 GMT

I was at work one day and my friend phsyically stopped me from working to tell me about this movie. He couldn't get over how graphic the violence was. I thought to myself, "Well this sounds like my kind of movie." After watching it, I'm a little disturbed and surprised at how well this movie flowed.

Plot: In a fascist 1944 Spain, a mother and her young daughter move to a military base to live with her newly wedded husband, a terrible sadistic army officer. When the young girl discovers she's being followed by a sprite (fairy), she's thrust into a spooky, fantasy filled world.

Now, that plot could sound like a kids movie, and that's was my first thought when I'd heard about it. But, about halfway throught the movie, you realize that no child should ever see this movie. For a child actor, Ivana Baquero, who plays the young daughter, Ofelia, does a wonderful job. Child actors are usually hit or miss. Some do amazingly well, and then some just cant handle the pressures of acting. Thankfully...

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