I’m an aspiring filmmaker.  Like every filmmaker out there, I have a lengthy list of films that have inspired me along the way.  This series will examine twelve of the films that changed the way I looked at movies forever.  Films that have greatly influenced the filmmaker I hope to become someday…

Pan’s Labyrinth

How did Pan’s Labyrinth change everything for me?  One word:

Imagination

Guillermo Del Toro has one of the most original and artistic imaginations in the world.  The pic above is a perfect example of this.

Pan’s Labyrinth was one of those movies that looked so amazing that I bought it without having seen it.

I literally left my apartment, purchased it and watched it that night.  Fantastic decision on my part.

Pan’s Labyrinth essentially reignited my love of fairy tale movies.  I was blown away.

It’s such an original and dark story set in essentially TWO worlds I’ve never seen before.  The first being Spain during a civil war and the second being the fairy tale world.

The movie is a perfect balance of the two and overflowing with imaginative characters and imagery.  Above all else, the director ties everything together with incredible characters and a story that has stuck with me every since.

It’s strange saying this but I can never make it through the movie in one sitting.  I mean that as a compliment as I always end up stopping it and writing for a while before returning to finish the film.

I’m extremely thankful of every film that gets me in front of a computer to write.  Especially one with so much originality and imagination.

Pan’s Labyrinth makes me want to be a better writer.  It makes me want to create better characters and stories.  It makes me want to work harder and set my goals higher.

It’s definitely a movie that changed everything.