Pan's Labyrinth

I don't usually do movie reviews here, but the movie, Pan's Labyrinth was so amazing that I just have to. The movie delivered every bit of what I hoped for from it, but it's a difficult movie to talk about in usual movie terms because it must be experienced in much the same way a Jackson Pollack must be...you can't describe it later without leaving out what made it truly great.

Still, I'll say this:

Without the use of boring Lucas-esque computer-generated images it contains some of the most powerful, scary, beautiful, vivid imagery I've possibly ever seen in a movie. The eye-less, skin-sagging baby-eater; the insect that transforms into a fairy; the mandrake root becoming infant-like, and of course, glorious Pan himself.

The child actress was luminous and good without being superciliously cute in that way of pageant children. And though there were still some stereotypes--the villain is so villainous, for instance--it is a movie that will transport you, and make you think hard about what it takes for the human psyche to survive trauma and tragedy.

I highly recommend it--there's something in it for everyone, dudes and chicks alike. But don't be misled by the trailers, this is not a movie to bring children to!

See it.