My evaluation of Pan's Labyrinth

Pan’s Labyrinth is perhaps one of the best foreign films ever made because it was viewed by many college universities including Gallaudet University for academic works. Great authors make great films and great films have influence on the society in some ways. Del Toro presented hidden meanings in Pan’s Labyrinth and they were symbols of Del Toro’s beliefs and values. College universities had college students to watch the movie and write about the hidden meanings they found in the movie.

Indeed, Pan’s Labyrinth is perhaps one of the best foreign films ever made. Why so? Well, let’s see here. Pan’s Labyrinth won three academy awards; Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup and you would know why if you watched it. Though, the awards would not happen if the movie didn’t attract lot of movie-goers. I often wonders, “what made Pan’s Labyrinth an excellent movie and how?” The answer lies in the movie. When people were watching Pan’s Labyrinth, they probably were into the movie or disliked it so far because of the slow start it had. Now, at some point they probably felt there was something different or as you prefer a better term, odd with the movie as it progresses on. Perhaps that’s why some people liked the movie because it was different from normal fairy tales.

Pan’s Labyrinth was unconventional as just as Del Toro wanted it. Why was it different? Well, in the movie, the cinematic lights and the mood remained the same from the very start to the end. Also, it’s quite dark for a fairy tale and did not have a happy ending unlike an original fairy tale would have. I could list more reasons to why the movie was unconventional when compared to many other fairy tale movies. To put it in layman’s terms, Del Toro was showing his sense or value of disobedience in the movie.

Also, Pan’s Labyrinth was well known for its unoriginal ways that college universities had their students to analyze the movie and find the hidden meanings behind it. Like myself, I was assigned to analyze the movie and find the hidden meanings and why was it significant. Del Toro wanted us to recognize them and realize the significance of it. For instance, there were many signs of disobedience in this movie such as the doctor’s obvious disobedience toward Captain Vidal when he put the beaten prisoner to sleep against his orders. As for hidden disobedience, you can say that Ofelia’s mother was somewhat disobedient toward Captain Vidal as well when she said, “I would not be more disappointed than Captain Vidal,” to Ofelia when Ofelia arrived late for dinner. There were religious parallels in this movie as well like the significance of Jesus’ crucifix on the hands and the pale old man with eyes on his hands.

Pan’s Labyrinth was filled with so many hidden meanings that it was quite enjoying for intellectual people. Pan’s Labyrinth stood out among the movies because it was completely different and considered unconventional when compared to other fairy tale movies. Perhaps, that’s why it was a great movie. As for me, I just enjoyed it because it was the opposite and I enjoyed analyzing the meanings behind the scenes in the movie.