Finally started playing in my backwoods, so I got a chance to see it. Of course, there was one jackass in the audience who had to exclaim loudly at the start: "Oh no! Don't tell me this isn't in English!" On the other end of the spectrum, I overheard one woman after the end, struggling with some tissues: "I saw it was about children and fairies and labyrinth's and thought it was going to be a HAPPY movie."

Thought it was great ... one of those special movies (for me) that I get swept up in and really connects on an emotional level. Deserves its place in top ten lists. One thing didn't sit right with me:

I'm seeing this in a couple hours and I'm really excited for it. A metascore of 98 - earned, unlike some other high scores, from a full compliment of ~40 reviews - is hard to ignore. I'll definately let you all know what I thought.

The answer is obvious:



I can't believe Mercedes was played by Maribel Verdu, who was smokin' hot in "Y tu mama tambien", but not so in this film.

I've just returned from it, and wow. What an enchanting and beautiful film. Del Toro visualises his ideas like a painter would. The storytelling is compelling, the fantasy aspects filled with wonder, the violence a forceful and brutal counterpoint. I loved how he stiched together scenes - not anything new or revolutionary - but it gave the film a certain aspect of fluidity totally befitting the fairytale nature of the story. And the ending was a masterfully accomplished emotional gut-punch, the kind I haven't experienced since I sat through the devastating final 10 minutes of United 93. An easy 5 stars from me, and absolutely among the best pictures of the year.

Did the Captain remind anybody else of the Amon Goeth character from Schindler's List?

Holy shit, I didnt even realize this, but wow!

Anyways, finally saw this yesterday and I liked it. Not as much say as the Fountain, but a bit better than Children of Men ( I only use those 2, as it seems these 3 films seem to have some kind of connection, although Im not sure what). I was disappointed that there wasnt more of the "fantasy element" in it, but I actually found the war story a bit better and I like how he connected them together at the end. I would have like to here more about her father and how the captain and mom met, but those were just minor issues to me.

Top per screen average of any movie in the top 10 box office this weekend It's great to see offbeat quality movies get support from the audience.

I saw this at the Hollywood 20 in Greenville, SC last night (an hour away from home), and it was outstanding. It's one of those films, in my opinion, that is so multi-layered, it's hard to really give an exact review of it, while diving into the different meanings and such, so soon after I've seen it. I'll let it sink in, then maybe write a review for it. I will say that it's one of the best movies that I've seen in the past ten years.

I was very pleased to not see any walkouts after the subtitles showed up. I've never been to a foreign language film where that wasn't the case. I was also very pleased to see that the theater was a packed house. It wasn't totally full, but it was so packed that it was hard to find two seats together. I could tell that the crowd I saw it with really enjoyed it also, just for the reactions.

It was a great time, that's for sure. I love seeing movies like this actually being enjoyed by so many different people.

The faun reminded me of the Jigsaw's puppet in the Saw franchise.

Saw this last night. Great movie but I agree with some other posters here. It didn't have enough fantasy elements to it. The war story was gripping enough and could have been it's own movie. While the Labryinth part could have been it's own movie. I wish there were more "challenges" to Ofelia's quest. You pretty much see all the cool creatures in the trailer. I was expecting more of them.

Really enjoyed this movie. It would have been great if she had done one more 'task' IMO, but it was still good. My favorite part was the monster with no eyes.

Six academy award nominations:

Best foreign language film of the year
Original screenplay
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
Achievement in makeup
Achievement in cinematography
Achievement in art direction

I can't wait for this to come out on DVD so that I can see it.

By the way, Volver was only nominated for one award (Performance by an actress in a leading role (Penelope Cruz)).

there was a great interview/segment on XM's Cinemagic station with Del Toro, and featuring some of the wonderful music. (gotta run over to Borders and actually buy the soundtrack).

Damn! I guess I’ve gotta see "Y tu mama tambien" because I thought she was gorgeous in this.
I can’t believe that it wasn’t nominated for That part gets more righteous with every viewing! I love seeing that part with first time viewers.
I hope Clint Eastwood, at his acceptance speech, says, “Well. I really wish Pan’s Labyrinth had gotten this one*”



*BFLF

It's been about a week since I saw it, so I could be wrong, but

And I agree that there should have been more fantasy, but next to Children of Men, I'd say this was the best film of the year. (Though I haven't seen The Fountain yet)

Saw this the other night and thought it was a mixture of Labyrinth and Commando. There were a few "you DUMB ass" moments that kind of spoiled the movie for me.

I'm hoping that all of the major awards are split and Pan's clean's up so the headlines the next day have to at least acknowledge the film and get it in front of people's eyes.

I saw it a second time this past weekend and I loved it even more. It had been in my top 3 of 2006, but after seeing it again, I can say its my top film of 2006.

I think it's almost a lock for Foriegn Film, and has a good shot at Score, Makeup, and Art Direction. Screenplay is either Sunshine or The Queen's to lose and Cinematography should go to Children Of Men.

i went today and I agree with you, Its not a bad movie but didnt work for me some of the creatures were cool though.

I did see it once more, but I only bumped up my grade to a B-. To me, the real and the fantasy aspects just come across like trying to mix water and oil together, it's slick, but neither components ever become a cohesive whole. del Toro had a great idea, but somehow in the execution, it just didn't quite come together for me, even on a second viewing. Don't get me wrong, it's worth seeing, but I'm still not sure it's worth all the hype.

I can see where you're coming from, but I still feel that it was mostly plus I was just really, really entertained by it.

It's funny how that works, Patman. The films two worlds aren't even something one can seperate if you ask me. While they could each work on their own, together they make for a more compelling story that achieves a much greater depth.

Let's face it, fairytales can be pretty shallow. They are usually highly symbolic or didactic stories that have one-dimensional characters, who barely go through any change. Pan's Labyrinth goes well beyond a typical fairytale, and gives us real characters, while still allowing for incredible fantasy.

Yet, stories don't always work for everyone as we can see. It's not anything tangible either so it can't really be explained.

i had the exact same thought and was a little put off by it. 'jdpatri''s explanation was just what i needed to get past it in my head.

what a wonderfully magical movie. it was done so well and will fester within me for sometime. i was gonna see this or 'CoM' and went with this. great, great film.

Loved this movie. I want to see it again. Its a dark fairly tail but not just that. Sleepy Hollow would be a pure dark fairy tail. This on the other hand is different. It has a lot more of the real world in it.Event though we see wonders we never go to far from reality.

To sum it up in one word, escape. The girl escapes to her world and the view escape to movie.

Just saw this today as it opened locally just yesterday. I really enjoyed it and it is definitely in my top 3 of the year. Probably top 2. I need to see it again to really decide if it is better than Children of Men though.



I can't imagine why someone would bring children to this film without doing a bit of research first.