Though BABEL is a flawed film, it is beautifully filmed and well-acted, with several moments of beauty and truth that I was able to connect with. Unfortunately, the string that ties each of the four stories is too thin, and in turn, the film loses focus for it. Another major flaw lies in the lack of character development: I had no real reason to care or concern myself with any of these characters (except for one--I'll get to that in a moment). Pitt and Blanchett were both very good, but not much meat is given to their roles. I did appreciate Adriana Berraza's emotional performance (she's an actress to watch for), but I still don't quite understand how her character's journey connects to everything else that is happening.

The one performance that truly made an impact on me was Rinko Kikuchi as a troubled, deaf-mute teenager, incapable of communicating her pain, except through her sexuality, and incapable of "fitting in." Her scene with the detective was one of the emotional highlights of the film.

All in all, not a bad film per se, but overly ambitious.

What would normally be considered TV-movie-of-the-week melodrama is elevated to a funny, sad, and nail-biting psychological drama thanks to its amazing performances and the darkly funny yet powerful screenplay, adapted by Patrick Marber from the novel. Watching two of the best actresses in the business interact and ultimately collide is an absolute joy, while the direction and pacing are tight, and Phillip Glass' score is mesmerizing. All in all, a fun and involving thriller.

Pan's Labyrinth succeeds as both a darkly wondrous fairy tale, and as a deeply moving story of a young girl caught in a reality that no child should have to face.