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A review by charkar
Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro, Mark Cotta Vaz, Nick Nunziata
2.0
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher. This in no way influenced by thoughts. (I'm aware that this is a very late review for an ARC, but I still felt the need to add this disclaimer.)
Before I even start talking about this book, I want to preface this review with the fact that I've never watched the film Pan's Labyrinth. And even though I've never seen it, I still know that this book doesn't do it any form of justice...
There isn't even much to say about this because it's just... such a nothing book. It's supposedly from 'two of the world's greatest storytellers' and yet nothing is fully described or explained throughout. We're just kind of told what happens, and I think a lot of it relies on your prior knowledge of the film. Which is... fine... But also really lazy. If this could stand on its own two feet it would be amazing. if the fantastical elements were richly described in evocative detail it would be a masterpiece. But as it stands.... Meh.
I obviously can't speak for the film, but this genuinely felt like more of a political military story than the fantasy it's supposed to be. Even with the little scenes offering backstory into the underground world didn't add much whimsy to the book. In fact, they felt more disjointed and out of place than anything. The plot was just zoomed through and I didn't get the chance to connect to Ofelia and her heartbreaking story, because I was constantly being bounced from this happened to Ofelia did that to this is what happened. There was no emotion anywhere, and I can tell from the events that, had this been executed well, it would have been an extremely emotional read. As it stands, I just don't care about anything.
Two stars purely because it's made me want to watch the film (despite how creepy I find the Pale Man).
Before I even start talking about this book, I want to preface this review with the fact that I've never watched the film Pan's Labyrinth. And even though I've never seen it, I still know that this book doesn't do it any form of justice...
There isn't even much to say about this because it's just... such a nothing book. It's supposedly from 'two of the world's greatest storytellers' and yet nothing is fully described or explained throughout. We're just kind of told what happens, and I think a lot of it relies on your prior knowledge of the film. Which is... fine... But also really lazy. If this could stand on its own two feet it would be amazing. if the fantastical elements were richly described in evocative detail it would be a masterpiece. But as it stands.... Meh.
I obviously can't speak for the film, but this genuinely felt like more of a political military story than the fantasy it's supposed to be. Even with the little scenes offering backstory into the underground world didn't add much whimsy to the book. In fact, they felt more disjointed and out of place than anything. The plot was just zoomed through and I didn't get the chance to connect to Ofelia and her heartbreaking story, because I was constantly being bounced from this happened to Ofelia did that to this is what happened. There was no emotion anywhere, and I can tell from the events that, had this been executed well, it would have been an extremely emotional read. As it stands, I just don't care about anything.
Two stars purely because it's made me want to watch the film (despite how creepy I find the Pale Man).