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Pan's Labyrinth

 Pan's Labyrinth is a film that leaves you thinking for hours after it's conclusion. There is so much to mentally unpack you may not fully grasp what Del Toro portrays in the film until you really reflect on it. This is in no means a knock on the film. Leaving the viewer with something to think about just expands the impact of the film.

    Another one of Del Toro's signatures that really shows in "Pan's Labyrinth" is his monster creation. This is both through their physical cosmetics and background. In a time dominated by CGI, it's refreshing to see how this lightly older work used a majority of animatronic and costume design. This creates more of a connection between our protagonist, Ophelia, and the creatures because they are actually next to each other. Pan's Labyrinth seemed to borrow a creature design theme from Del Toro's "Hell Boy". In both, the monsters are created to be ugly and uncomfortable to look at, even the monsters on the "good side". In the case of the Faun in Pan's Labyrinth, his weathered body, breath heavy voice and achy movement creates a feeling of distrust. This adds perfectly to the conclusion of the film where Ophelia is to recognize the Faun's test.

    The side-by-side plot line "Pan's Labyrinth" develops in the film really makes it special. Ophelia finds herself part of a fascist camp currently hunting freedom fighter, yet she separates herself from them through the Labyrinth. The Fascist's take part in gruesome torture and murder while Ophelia, completes seemingly harmless quests. Towards the end of the movie the plots begin to bleed together. It's set up by Ophelia's mistake in the Labyrinth leading to the intense death of two of the Faun's fairies. This snowballs into Captain Vidal destroying the root baby, leading into the death of Ophela's mother. Then the freedom fighters are captured and tortured. These collapse Ophelia's fairytale exposing her to her harsh reality. It's important to note while this is happening all the magic Ophelia witnesses is invisible to all other characters. Leaving viewers to question whether she is just hallucinating this fairytale land due to the immense pressure she lives in. 

    Pan's Labyrinth is a movie everyone should experience at some point. The complex plot keeps you engaged in the film while the world creation keeps you entranced in wonder. 



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