Pans Labyrunth Movie Review

The Meaning of Simplicity
Pans Labyrinth is the epitome of a dark fantasy movie. Fauns, fairies and giant toads, oh my! The Spaniards have finally broken through with this one. The film attracts individuals, of all ages, looking for an adaptation that relates to modern preferences and a strong fantasy showing. The movie is so simple by nature that the key themes are almost overlooked, only if looking in the right spots will they be found.
Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is a young girl who is very intrigued by fantasy stories. During the Spanish Civil War, her father is killed, and her mother has married Captain Vidal (Sergi López). Captain Vidal is stationed in the woods where he has trapped the Rebels. He demands that Ofelia and her mother come to where he is, so he can witness the birth of his son. But the Rebels have retreated to the hills, and the Fascists struggle to corner and trap them. Even though their supplies are cut off by the Fascists, they receive some with a little inside help. Little does he know that inside help comes from his personal assistant, Mercedes (Maribel Verdú), and the doctor. One day Ofelia stumbles upon a magical labyrinth where a faun resides. The faun calls her princess Moana. He tells her of an underground kingdom, and gives her the book of Crossroads and tells her that in order to reach to kingdom she must complete three tasks before the full moon. She must hurry and complete these tasks before time runs out or she may never reach the end of her fairytale and be immortalized in the Underground Kingdom.
Director Guillermo del Toro does a wonderful job at hiding the many themes in what he calls a simple film. There is the usual fantasy theme such as the use of three. Then there is a complicated one such as the progression/maturity process of a female. Del Toro doesn’t put it in your face you have to find it. For example the shape of the tree which the toad lived in, the fauns head and the scene where the book of crossroads turns all bloody and resemble a similar shape. The shape happens to be the uterus, the sign of a woman. Foreshadowing is also hidden throughout the movie. Mercedes tells Ofelia not to trust a faun, yet she goes and disobeys. The figure of the faun is all over the screen, the head rest on the bed, and on hall banister. Del Toro makes what seems like a simple movie from the outside very complicated and intricate on the inside.
Not only do the themes shed light on the film, but the mood and music do too. The lighting is very different in the many scenes. Notice how whenever the mood is somber and usually involves Ofelia the weather is always sunny, and there are no shadows, but whenever there is a hint of darkness or evil, the lighting starts to go dark and shadows form. That soft lullaby is also very important in the movie. The lullaby is played often when the mood is very sad, and something terrible has happened. Del Toro skillfully hides all the secrets to his movie in the places that often go overlooked.
Del Toro seems to enjoy hiding his themes and mood where only the keenest of eyes could point them out. Del Toro gives Pans Labyrinth simplicity that relates to most fantasy movies, but the viewer has to really look deep to uncover the movies secret meanings.