Mommy, what’s the Spanish Civil War, and why are the hobbit’s friends there?

Cinema takes on a dual role of entertainer and sage in this parable that uses the Spanish civil war and an underground fantasy world to illustrate lessons about blind faith, unquestioning obedience, and selling out one’s ideals.

The DVD packaging makes this look like a movie for little kids, but it most certainly is not, unless you’re into alternately traumatizing and boring your young offspring, in which case, this is the movie you’ve been waiting for.