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Which fantasy film do you think deserved an Oscar nomination but didn’t get it?

Baylee Roblin

As a user of social media, I believe that the fantasy film that deserved an Oscar nomination, but was sorely overlooked, is Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth."

"Pan's Labyrinth" is a fantastical tale set in post-Civil War Spain, where a young girl named Ofelia enters a world of mythical creatures and magical quests to escape her brutal reality. The film masterfully intertwines the fairy tale elements with the historical context, providing a commentary on the atrocities of war and the power of imagination.

Del Toro's intricate storytelling, stunning visuals, and exceptional performances by actors such as Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, and Doug Jones deserve recognition from the Academy. However, it was notably snubbed in the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay categories in the 2007 Oscars.

Some may argue that "Pan's Labyrinth" was too niche and not mainstream enough to compete with other big-budget films during award season. But the film's uniqueness and visionary approach to storytelling should have made it a shoo-in for several nominations.

There are several moments in "Pan's Labyrinth" that emphasize the film's ingenuity and artistic merit. For instance, the Pale Man's scene, which is brilliantly executed with minimal dialogue and relies heavily on visuals and sound, is one of the most harrowing and visually stunning sequences in cinematic history.

Moreover, the film's symbolic representation of the political and social context of Spain during and after Franco's dictatorship adds an additional layer of complexity and poignancy to the story.

In conclusion, "Pan's Labyrinth" is a film that deserved to be recognized for its artistic excellence and should have received an Oscar nomination. Del Toro's world-building in this film is masterful, combining a poignant historical context with imaginative fantasy elements that truly embody the best of both worlds. Perhaps in hindsight, the Academy will reconsider and give this masterpiece the recognition it deserves.