Pan's Labyrinth Review - Off The Shelf Reviews 

Although it may seem like it was fake, the director confirmed in an interview that the fantasys events are set to have actually happened in the film. He said he hid 3 clues in the film. The first clue is the door to the basement. Since there is only one door to the Captain's quarters in the basement, and it's locked and possibly guarded by armed men, there is no way she could have gotten in. The chalk door she made actually did create a passageway for her to get her brother out of the basement. The second clue is the flower at the end which sprouts from the dead tree, and the third and biggest clue is when she's running away from the Captain, and the wall opens up for her, and then when he gets to the dead end, no one is there. It wasn't just her imagination, because she actually did travel through the walls of the labyrinth to get away, otherwise she would have been caught and shot much sooner. Though the captain cannot see the faun, this suggests, as Guillermo has said, that the fantasy events are real, but can only be seen by those that are allowed to see it.

This was a beautiful and thoughtful film that explores a young girl’s use of imagination to cope with the horrors of the world she is living in. The ending is heartbreaking. 😢

I Identified solidly with Ofelia having had a rough childhood myself. I too had to use my imagination to escape the depression of my circumstance. I think Pan was a metaphor for the discipline she needed to escape her life. The choice she had to make was between her reality and he destiny. We all have our Pan.

After watching this film more than three times, there are more and more hints that draws a strong connection to Mercedes. In the beginning Ofelia was told she is the princes Moanna and she goes through task giving her a key and a dagger (knife). If you watch Mercedes, she is also going through tasks and has a secret just like Ofelia, she always carries a knife with her and she has the key to the recourse room. Further more Ofelia has asked Mercedes what she thinks of fauns and fairies and she said "she once believed in them" She also knows about a lullaby that is hum at the beginning of the film and at the end. The fact that she doesn't remember the lyrics and doesn't believe in magic anymore, is very similar to what had happened to the Princess Moanna when she came to the world. Mercedes also has a younger brother for whom she would do anything even take her own life to save him, just like Ofelia.

I saw a comment on another you tube vid about this movie "what if the pile of shoes in the pale mans room is ofelias many failed attemps at this task" mindblown

Interesting fact, Del Toro actually had a different idea for the movie in mind, which would have played more on the title of the movie but it was never green lit so he came up with a new story, the Pale man is played by the same actor as the faun, Doug Jones, who also played the fish man in Shape of water, and played Abe Sapien from Hellboy

The narrator at the beginning (and end) is actually the faun. The voice actor who dubbed the faun is the same one who is narrating.

For those believing that the fantasy aspects were a part of Ofelia's imagination. After Ofelia placed the Mandrake root beneath her mother's bed, it's healing properties began to take effect. But once the mother threw it in the fire, all the pain it lifted from her returned full-swing. Furthermore, some believe that children are able to see the supernatural because they are pure of heart. While some of us who live cruelly or out of fear do not see such hidden things. Which may explain to Ofelia supposedly "talking to herself," when the Captain found her at the end of the Labyrinth. But that's just my two cents

Cronos was filmed in Mexico, not in Spain.

This film reminds me of the Lovecraftian "Dreamlands", mixed with WW-grittyness. Just the tone of it. Adult & fantastic at the right level. Very brave of del Toro, love this movie

That's what makes this movie so beautiful. The ending is blatantly not giving you an ending. You do not get the " oooooo, happy fairy tail ending yay! *claps hands*" but it also doesn't give you a sad ending either. You are left not knowing what was real and what wasn't. This movie represents a fairy tail like they are supposed to be represented. Fairy tails aren't happy, magic isn't all rainbows in unicorns, it's creepy. Fairy tails should be bittersweet. A fairy tail can be described well in one way, "so creepy its beautiful'' and that is exactly what pan's labyrinth is.

Great review, thank you. Brought back many memories for me ❤

I don't think you guys have done splice , do it, love yall

Great movie. One of my favourites. I love films with a thought provocing subtext. (SPOILERS) It was hinted throughout the movie that the adults believe to live in a cruel world and that life is suffering. When everything around her is falling apart, Ofelia escapes into a world of fantasy which became very real. Another hint for this is the contrast of the last scene where Ofelia is dying in Mercedes hands. The golden kingdom of her fantasy and the dire, rainy reality. So the moral of the story is that no matter how bad things are going, you can find comfort in your own mind. And we should embrace our fantasy. Our reality is nothing but a picture painted by our minds. It is up to ourselves to add colour to the painting.

Probably the most influential movies of the early to late 2000s

10:23 you’re really missing the point Gary. It’s a happy ending however you look at it. Either her fantasies are real and she becomes a princess in the underworld. Or.... it’s not real and she finds some comfort in her last moments believing it is real. It’s actually a wonderfully beautiful ending. I love this channel and agree with most things you say. But in this case when talking about the ending I couldn’t disagree more. It’s of course sad, but it’s a beautiful sad.

As great as this movie is, it's not for everyone, people are used to watch mindless action or fast hasting scenes like "The Avengers" or "Taken" were i'm not saying they're bad movies, but this kinda movie requires you to think, and be patient, pay attention to the characters, people don't want to spend all this effort, they want everything to have a happy ending and be delivered to them with out having to think, not that it's bad, just not for everyone.

true horror isn't its blood and gore but facing fear and sorrow and worst the sadness if you accept the ending and the prior fantasy to a young girl's coping mechanism.

actually he start doing some tv in mexico with his friends Alejandro Gonzalez inarritu and Alfonso Cuaron, eventhough hes first recognized movies are from spain.

I think up to the point where Ofelia made her final choice on the final test is the point where the fantasy end and the real world consequence begins, and so she dies. Because how else would she be able to get the mandragora on the first place...

Gorgeous film.

You guys have done the best review on this movie I wish they bought it out again but in English version.

I absolutely love this movie!! Great review guys 👍

thanks for the review! i was searching for a lightweight movie to watch tonight and thought "hm why not watch a beautiful fairytale?" yeah.... i am a wimp when it comes to creepy movies (especially when i'm alone) so thanks for saving me from nighmares! :)

P.S. I also meant to mention,say I also wish the film didn't have nearly as much sub titles as it in fact does. As a whole The Film Pan's Labyrinth is okay good over all. And I do love The Pale Man and The Fawn along with The Insect & Toad. However that all being said again! I do wish that it didn't have nearly as much having to be sub titled. Along with in some parts it not dray so much to Me at least.

You guys are awesome, keep it up!

I love The Palm Man & Fawn. I also really like The Insect. I must say some of this film kind of drags however over all I enjoyed it. In- fact I made a one of a kind for Myself prop of the insect. The same length size scale all the way around. And I cant wait to get My hands on the pop vinyls of two of them from the film The Pale man & The fawn. Along with The two new action figures of The Pale Man and The Fawn in the very near future. I also liked,like rather The Toad,or Frog? My one of a kind custom figure of The insect came out perfect in fact all the way around Love! IT! Another enjoyable film review Guys Peace OUT!

Such a good movie, and I know this is a few years after...but have you seen The Orphanage? Another brutal, sad, but fantastic movie. One worth seeing.

thanx.. great movie. ! but as u mentioned it...man, is it sad.

I think the world is apparently real and this is not only her imagination because her chalk door actually worked in real at least once.

Can you do a review of Legend from 1985

Yes! The film does have very sad parts Agree!

Nice review! Subscribed :)

It's a masterpiece

great job

I think the fairy tail was true because the plant healed her mother.

You want to know whether it's fantasy or real? It's simple: Watch the pieces of chalk.

loren is lovely

How did she got out of her room in the end?:) Why was her mother getting better with the root in the milk? How did she walked through the walls in the end at the Labyrinth? I tend to believe this was a fantasy too but then again it's far from clear or certain. PS: excellent spoiler warnings guys not

But ofelia does not follow orders from the faun at the end , she refuses to hurt her brother

you're awesome.

This is the only Guillermo del Toro film I like. The Devil's Backbone is okay, but not as solid as Pan's Labyrinth.

Loren is super cute

Interesting movie and brilliant review. But: the movie is too harsh for me on one hand....and too much involved in that typical phantasy-fairytale stuff (what is the reason I don't like Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings). But interesting to hear about it, though. May I dare to put some little tip / critics at your reviews here? Your reviews are pretty good and you know that I am a fan.....but your reviews are containing always spoilers. Maybe the spoiler-warning and the warning for showing harsh scenes should be a more explicit part of your reviews. Anyway: Thumbs up! :) Greetings Mega

Wow, you guys look so refreshed. Did you quit smoking fertilizer?!

Are you sure that the toad was CGI?

there was no mystery to me,once you've seen any earlier Guillermo del Toro movies, i.e. mimic..you will always remember del Toro kills children in his movies, I knew that little girl was good as dead...Gary is right also...depressing...brutal ,no redeeming value to only get 20 minutes of the fantasy that the title promises! I've seen saving private ryan...why am I watching people be tortured???

det skewi

vak pans lebyruns

It is a film about what the right wing have and still try to inflict upon humanity.

This is the worst film ever made by a human.