Review of Pan's Labyrinth (2006) by Stevenm. — 13 Jan 2007
One of the best films of the year if not the best. It's a grown-up, unrelenting version of a child's fairy tale. The key difference -- we don't get the happy, joyful ending that children need.
It's grand mix of the realities of war, and the fantasies of a child stuck in its middle. The violence is grisly, unrelenting, but that's the point. War is hell, life can be hell, and to not show the gore, the blood, the terrible deaths, is coddling to the viewer.
One viewer says the violence is "entirely gratuitous" -- how lucky she is to have never seen anyone shot or killed. Heartbreaking? Yes. Shocking? Yep. But hopeful, too. And not easily forgotten.
This review of Pan's Labyrinth (2006) was written by Stevenm. on 13 Jan 2007.
Pan's Labyrinth has generally received very positive reviews.
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