Pan's Labyrinth

This is perhaps the first time that I've had problems with Blogger, as magically my previous review of Pan's Labyrinth has disappeared. Here is a shorter review that hopefully captures most of the content of the original.

Pan's Labyrinth is one of those films that comes close to being a classic but fails due to a few glaring flaws. The story involves Ofelia, a girl caught up in a civil war in 1940s Spain during the height of fascism. Ofelia's stepfather is a ruthless captain sent to crush a resistance hiding in a countryside area. Caught up in the middle, Ofelia fails to understand what goes on around her, and instead delves in some magical pursuits, where she is the main character.

The coloring in the movie tends to be very dark, resembling much of the plot. The only colors I can recall are gray and the crimson red of blood, used rather liberally in the movie. As the story progresses, the characters start to gain stature, as the individual motivations become apparent. Most commendable is the dialogue, which is given with great suggestive tones that set the mood quite well. For those understanding Spanish, this movie will be a treat. For everyone else (including me), the subtitles will have to do.

Like a short story, Pan's is short on focus and depth. The characters undergo little development (besides Ofelia's dive into the fantastical) and the plot is fairly generic in nature. The segment covered is very short, and the anti-climatic ending truly destroys whatever suspense and excitement has built up in the hour before.

A constant question Pan's poses is whether magic exists. There is evidence that suggests both sides. I had decided in the first five minutes that magic did not exist in the world. However, I kept noticing the little signs that suggest otherwise, and I almost hate the movie for making me question this belief as the film progressed. But, that is the beauty of Pan's. It shakes things up.

Pros: Hopefully the first of many Spanish imports; gets one thinking
Cons: Doesn't live up to potential or hype; fairly cliche approach
Conclusion: This is one that is going to be whispered for a while, so you may as well watch it now.
Score: 3/5