Pan’s Labyrinth

Year: 2006

Grade: C+

Country: Mexico

Director: Del Toro

Review

up for an academy award for its cinematography. del toro is one of those directors who, both for better and worse, isn’t going to ever get widespread acceptance. i see p.t. anderson in a somewhat similar light, though to a much lesser extent and not because they make similar films. del toro has directed hellboy, cronos, blade II, mimic, and the devil’s backbone. i’ve seen all of them, though i haven’t seen hellboy in its entirety. i actually saw cronos in the theater so i must too my own (actually my dad’s, since he chose it) horn a bit.

this film has his signature dark and imaginative visual style. plot-wise i think it resembles the chronicles of narnia more than anything else i can think of. visually it was an interesting film, but i enjoyed the visuals in the fountain (a film that shares some similar characteristics to this one) more, and that one wasn’t even nominated for its cinematography. incidentally, aronofsky is another director who will get work, like del toro, but probably never be widely known and accepted.

see this if you’re in the mood for some fantasy mixed with political commentary (it takes place in fascist spain) and great costumes/effects. it’s a good film, but the story never really compelled me.

Watched in theater