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Pan's Labyrinth [2006] | ![Pan's Labyrinth [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51d0R92o1YL._SL75_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Actors: Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdú, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil
Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £4.47
You Save: £11.52 (72%)
New (22) Used (13) from £3.88
Avg. Customer Rating:  227 reviews
Sales Rank: 297
Format: Anamorphic, Pal
Language: Spanish (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 119
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.6
EAN: 5060034579618
ASIN: B000PY527C
Theatrical Release Date: February 22, 2007
Release Date: May 21, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Excellent Condition, Immediate Dispatch, Securely Packaged, Sent via Royal Mail First Class
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, Jorge Luis Borges, and Guillermo del Toro's own unlimited imagination, Pan's Labyrinth is a fairytale for adults. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) may only be 12, but the worlds she inhabits, both above and below ground, are dark as anything del Toro has conjured. Set in rural Spain, circa 1944, Ofelia and her widowed mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil, Belle Epoque), have just moved into an abandoned mill with Carmen's new husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez, With a Friend like Harry). Carmen is pregnant with his son. Other than her sickly mother and kindly housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdú, Y Tu Mama También), the dreamy Ofelia is on her own. Vidal, an exceedingly cruel man, couldn't be bothered. He has informers to torture. Ofelia soon finds that an entire universe exists below the mill. Her guide is the persuasive Faun (Doug Jones, Mimic). As her mother grows weaker, Ofelia spends more and more time in the satyr's labyrinth. He offers to help her out of her predicament if she'll complete three treacherous tasks. Ofelia is willing to try, but does this alternate reality really exist or is it all in her head? Del Toro leaves that up to the viewer to decide in a beautiful, yet brutal twin to The Devil's Backbone, which was also haunted by the ghost of Franco. Though it lacks the humour of Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth represents Guillermo Del Toro at the top of his considerable game. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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| Customer Reviews: Read 222 more reviews...
 Spanish fantasy July 20, 2008
This is a superb film from director Guillermo del Toro. Set in 1944 when a last band of rebels are still holding out after the Spanish Civil war has long since finished. Ofelia is a young girl who brought by her mother to see her stepfather a Captain in the army with a sadistic streak. He is leading the fight against the rebels.
All this is interesting and mapped out from the start. However within a short space of time the film takes a huge turn into the world of fantasy. Ofelia is taken by a fairy to a fantasy world under the maze of the films title. On a simple level this is just a young girls escape from the nightmare happening around her, and if you just accept it as that you will still see a great movie.
However Toro uses the fantasy world as a chance to make a movie that works on another level. There are clear references to the holocaust in the film (piles of shoes for one) and the Captain/Stepfather is remarkably similiar to the camp commandant in Schindlers List, both because of his brutal actions, and even visually Toro has picked an actor who looks like Ralph Fiennes. This may be pure coincidence...
This isn't a film I could recommend for small children. Firstly it has some quite unpleasant violence, which in context is completly justified. Secondly some of the imagery is a little too disturbing for youngsters in my view. But at the right age (and I wouldn't like to say what age that should be) its a film for everyone.
Unlike many Hollywood films this is resolved without the need for tons of overt sentimentality, people cheering etc. Indeed I thought the ending got the balance just about right. Its a film I shall be watching again. Hopefully next time in HiDef as I imagine this would be a stunning film to see in that format.
Absolutely Amazing June 23, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying that this film is quite possibly one of the best films I have seen in a long time, and if you haven't watched it yet then where have you been?
From the off set we are transported into a little girls mind during WW2 Spain. With a heavily pregnant mother and an evil stepfather the girl escapes into the pages of her treasured fairy tales.
With the promise of becoming a princess and escaping her tragic life, the girl embarks on her fairy tale adventures, some of which you may remember from your own childhood.
I don't want to give too much away, as ruining this film for even one individual would be unforgivable, and of course we have all read the synopsis.
All I can say is that this is a truly touching tale, with amazing acting and sensational visuals. If you haven't already seen this film then I suggest you buy it now.
Were the asking price doubled it would still be worth every penny.
Film making at its best June 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a dark but thoroughly entertaining and gripping tale that will have you rivited. I won't spoil the ending and therefore will say no more about this other than it shows a dark and sinister side of a small conflict within the Spanish Civil war and the consequences for those involved. It is told through the eyes of a child as she experiences it as a modern fairy tale. See it and marvel at film making at its best. You will need a hanky.
Incredible June 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Many films you hear described as masterpieces. Very few actually are. This film IS a masterpeice. Words cannot do it justice. Watch it and be mesmerized.
In your hands is your destiny June 15, 2008
Director Guillermo del Toro out did himself and created a film beyond any previous presentation. Although he purposely applied many layers both technologically and psychologically, the actual finished product is deeper and has many more facets. This could be the results of leaving loose ends and just implications. What looks like two stories is really one story where one reality intertwines with another reality until they both merge.
It is 1944 Spain, five years after the Civil War, ten year old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is going to meet her new stepfather Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez.) Vidal is a fascist pro-Franco officer. She is about to meet more than that as she encounters possible friends from another world. We also see how touchier and fantasy are juxtaposed. One of the major questions to answer is, is the magical creatures real and can only be seen because you have to have the right gaze or are they figments?
You will need to watch the movie several times to get the nuances and see the surrounding environments that you miss when concentrating on the dialog. See how the two world parallels in furniture. See out the two works hold similar tasks as both containing a key and a knife. And there are always more surprises waiting.
The acting is superb especially Ofelia's death scene. Ivana Baquero Won, Imagen Award Best Actress, Premio ACE Best New Actress, Newcomer Award Female (Categoria Femenina), Turia Award New Best Actress, and Nominated, Young Artist Award Best Performance in an International Feature Film - Leading Young Actor or Actress.
The Blu-ray version I watched ad English subtitles as option but I found them to be a tad inaccurate and wanting of some of the background conversations. However the director's voice over option helped point out the obvious that was not obvious until he pointed it out. As pointed out by the director the violence was not for violence sake in the story and they did not have cowboy type breakable props.
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