Few films seamlessly combine fantasy and reality to create unique viewing experiences, yet "Pan's Labyrinth" accomplishes this task with such ease. Set in 1944 after the Spanish civil war, the film follows Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a young girl who travels with her pregnant mother to the military outpost of her new stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez). Vidal plans to wipe out any Republican guerillas still living in the surrounding forests and allow his new wife to give birth to a healthy son and heir. Vidal views Ofelia as a nuisance, and she begins taking refuge from this bland world in her vivid imagination. As Vidal struggles to wipe out the guerillas, who are being assisted by his housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdu), Ofelia struggles to complete the magical tasks assigned to her by a magical faun (Doug Jones)and help her mother stay healthy.

"Pan's Labyrinth" moves deftly between the brutal realities of war and the fantastic world of the labyrinth without ever missing a beat. Director Guillermo del Toro has created a testament to the power of imagination in the face of evil. Sergi Lopez is a memorable villain as Captain Vidal, and Ivana Baquero injects Ofelia with the perfect combination of innocence and strength. It's a magical film that ranks as one of the year's best.

War Canoe Grade: A