Pan's Labyrinth

Release Date: January 19th, 2007

Genre: Drama / Fantasy

Stars: Ivana Baquero, Maribel Verdu, Sergi Lopez

Synopsis: A pregnant woman moves herself and her young daughter in with a military Captain whom she has recently married near a warzone in 1940's Spain where fantasy and reality collide resulting in heart wrenching drama.

AltAss Ratings (On a scale of 1 to 5 asses)  

Plot:                                        

A fantastic and well imagined story that may have been guilty of being slightly over ambitious.

Writing / Production:               

A stunning visual achievement that did not feel the least bit hokie even when dealing with outright fantasy.  The characters and dialogue are believable and effective which makes "Pan's Labyrinth" a delight to watch.

Acting:                                   

Excellent performances resound throughout this film.  Sergi Lopez as the Captain is as cold and unlikeable a villain in any film and Maribel Verdu plays the brave and rebellious Mercedes brilliantly as well.

Originality:                              

The crafting of this sort of fantasy film for an adult audience is certainly a tactic that is rare indeed.

Overall:                                   

It may take more than one viewing of "Pan's Labyrinth" before the film can be fully appreciated (especially if you don't speak Spanish).  Most audiences should be captivated by a film that achieves excellence in multiple categories which adds up to an entertaining ride.

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