amyz214 I have become a big fan of Guillermo del Toro ever since watching Pan's Labyrinth and Shape of Water. Where Guillermo lacks plot-line, he makes up for in style and cinematic beauty. I dont think the story line of Pan's Labyrinth is fantastic per say, it definitely felt very loosely written, and I did not expect the film to be so heavily based around the war and so little on the actual labyrinth. But regardless, Guillermo's cinematic style is absolutely astounding. The fantastic creatures, the art, and the mood in each scene captivates how magical Ophelia's fantasy world was. I will forever love Guillermo's 40's-50's vibe in his films

Osmosis Iron A fairy tale that's more like the original Brothers Grimm stories, before Disney cleaned them up for children. Fantastic looking creatures and the evils of war play off each other perfectly to create an amazing story. Truly amazing creature designs and effects create the dark and beautiful landscape for this story to blossom in. Every component of this masterpiece is just great.

crossfiregr1 It tries to blend the cruelty of war with the mystical of magic and it mostly succeeds in doing so. The story is sad and dark and makes for a fairytale not for kids. Leaves you with a bittersweet aftertaste but that is the point. Great movie.

Pjtaylor-96-138044 Guillermo Del Toro's dark fairy-tale is at it's best when it delves into its own twisted fantasy and our young protagonist comes face to face with some of the most unique creations within the genre, and yet the civil war backdrop plays just as important a role in shaping the overall story. 'Pan's Labyrinth (2006)' provides a surprisingly brutal stark contrast to the sense of wide-eyed wonder we feel whenever the lead steps into her newfound world of fawns and fairies, a world which isn't actually all that much safer. The tangibility of both these aspects is commendable considering one was created from scratch and the other was recreated from a war-torn era over fifty years ago. It is the believability of the world that makes the stakes seem all the more real, considering that danger is almost constantly present even in the places where the protagonist goes to escape - or seek a remedy for - her real-life woes. A layered, magical and mature piece that almost demands dissection. 7/10