One of the best lines from last years films came from Thank You For Smoking. When super movie agent Jeff is trying to explain how cigarettes can be smoked in an all-oxygen environment, he says "It's an easy fix, one line of dialogue - 'Thank God we invented the... you know, whatever, device'". Hollywood moviemakers love to create their own rules, often disregarding actual physics, biology, etc., and, if it's entertaining enough, we look past it and enjoy the movie.But freakin' fantasy films - man, they p*** me off. They can make their own folklore to get out of any situation - cast this spell, call on that powerful demon, bring those people back from the dead (my most hated plot twist - The Princess Bride, amongst others). What does this have to do with Pan's Labyrinth? So many people treated this movie as if it was Citizen Kane, so I was slightly disappointed not to get a masterpiece. It revolves around a little girl who, in the last days of the Spanish Civil war, discovers a fantastic world, into which she can escape the violence surrounding her. It's a good four-star movie, visually stunning, and with the best screen villain since Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York. Just don't get sucked in by those who think it's the best thing ever - it's still just a run-of-the-mill fantasy movie.(And next time, I promise to actually review the movie, rather than being self-indulgent!)'

You might be wondering if the film is a supernatural fantasy of some kind - and after you see it, you will still be wondering. Like many other films by this director-and-writer pair, it will leave you thinking: "Its gorgeous, but what exactly is it about?". It's because the answer to this question is so elusive that the film is so magical.'