‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype
“Pan’s Labyrinth” is the story of young girl suffering through the Spanish Civil War, as well as enduring a cruel, over-bearing stepfather.
Guillermo Del Torro’s dark, adult fairy-tale has been declared a smash hit by critics across the board, scoring an average rating of 93 out of 100 on moviefone.com.
The New York Post hails “Pan’s Labyrinth” as both “utterly original” and “seamlessly effective,” while the Boston Globe declares the film “a transcendent work of art. ”
Despite the endless critical acclaim, those expecting to see a fantastic, mind-blowing experience filled with all sorts of imaginative creatures may want to pass on this movie.
The first disappointment some may face with this film is the fact it is entirely in Spanish with English subtitles. Some may be angry about reading as a part of their cinematic experience.
Aside from any language barriers viewers may face, the film is surprisingly slow-paced in the beginning and takes a fair amount of time to pick up.
Even when the film does pick up, it never really diverges from its dark, slow style.
The other aspect of this movie that may take many by surprise is amount of blood and gore. Whether it’s noses being smashed beyond recognition or a man sewing his own cheek together after a nasty knife slash, “Pan’s Labyrinth” shows everything in gruesome detail.
Despite the numerous flaws critics passed over, “Pan’s Labyrinth” does have its redeeming qualities.
The film style and screen transitions are amazing. The protagonist’s struggle also makes for a good film at times.
There is also a lot of symbolism and hidden meanings throughout the movie, which some will appreciate.
To sum it all up, “Pan’s Labyrinth” will definitely get a lot of critical acclaim, especially in the art world.
However, those looking for simply an easy movie-going experience shouldn’t bother.
Grade: C