"Spanish"

2006 · Guillermo del Toro · 118 min · Dark Fantasy / War Drama

Pan's Labyrinth is one of the finest fantasy films ever made, and it achieves that status by refusing to be safe. Guillermo del Toro built a fairy tale that is beautiful and brutal in equal measure, using a child's imagination as the lens through which the horrors of fascism become unbearable. The violence will push some viewers away, and the dual narrative doesn't satisfy everyone equally. But for those who connect with it, this is the kind of film that redefines what fantasy storytelling can accomplish. It won three Academy Awards and deserved every one of them.

2017 · 5 Parts · Netflix · Crime / Thriller

Money Heist starts as one of the smartest, most addictive heist stories ever put on television. The Professor's plan, the city-named robbers, the red jumpsuits, and the constant chess match with police create an atmosphere of controlled chaos that's impossible to stop watching. The first two parts are close to perfect television. The trouble is that the show kept going past its natural ending point, and the later parts increasingly rely on melodrama, coincidence, and escalation that strains credibility. Watch it for the brilliant setup and stay for the characters you'll grow attached to along the way. Just know that the ride gets bumpier the longer it goes.