Pan's Labyrinth Reflection Questions

Choose two questions to answer:

Is this a typical Hollywood movie? Discuss.

It's not a typical Hollywood movie, although there are movies like Pan's Labyrinth we rarely see movies like this. Pan's Labyrinth is first of all in spanish and usually a lot of hollywood movies would be english with the occasional talking in other  languages featured in the film. This style of film is unique to the director of the film, Guillermo del Toro Gómez. If you look into his other films such as; The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and more they all usually have something in common. In his films he usually uses sfx makeup to convey a character or thing. Although hollywood films use sfx makeup, Guillermo uses things in a connection to stories to tie in these characters and add to the film itself and not having in these makeups just to be in the film. In addition to these characters real historical events are added to the story, so in a way it's whimsical while also being a dark story along the way as events unfold. With the use of mythology in the film it creates this fairytale in this dark time.

Discuss the concepts of “control,” “rebellion,” and “choice,” and see how it links characters?

In the film with these concepts of control, rebellion and choice they all seem to connect to a character. With the concept of control it connects to the general/Ophelia's stepfather. He constantly wants to show that he is in control and he's adamant getting anything that is against him out of his way and destroyed. He is the commanding figure and he wants everything to be controlled by him, and him only. The form of rebellion is shown in Mercedes the maid, her brother is commanding a rebel group against the general. She is helping her brother and his group along with the doctor. She does this even though she could be killed, she still goes against the general and helps the rebel group. The decision of choice ties in with Ophelia, she has to make a choice in completing the three tasks and ultimately making a choice at the end that determines her fate. Ophelia is only a girl but through the connection with the faun she's so much more, and he gives her the choice to complete these tasks and become herself again.