Pan’s Labyrinth
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Brian Wortz on June 12th, 2007
Over the last decade or so, few fantasy films have been widely accepted by the mainstream audience. That’s probably because the genre was overdone in the 80’s with mostly lackluster results. Fantasy and fairy tale films have been considered something for kids and/or weirdoes who dress up like elves. It wasn’t until films like The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Star Wars prequels had great success (deservedly or not) that we trolls, dwarves, and Sith Lords could come out in public again. Therefore, I must give respect to those films for opening up the doors in Hollywood so that a true masterpiece like Pan’s Labyrinth can exist. However, please don’t expect this movie to be another Lord of the Rings, or Narnia. It is something much different, and maybe much more.
Pan’s Labyrinth is Spanish language film by Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy). Yes, it is all in Spanish, and no, there is no English dub. English dubs of foreign films are for folks who like their movies in fullscreen and who probably wouldn’t appreciate this anyway. Sorry if that sounds elitist, but I firmly believe films should be preserved as the director intended. I digress….
Ofelia is a young girl who is fascinated with fairy tales. She lives in Spain in the mid 1940s during the last days of the civil war. She and her very pregnant mother are going to live with her new stepfather, the Captain, who is defending an outpost from a group of rebels. As the ruthless Captain is busy fighting his war, and her mother is sick with a difficult pregnancy, Ofelia is left with her own thoughts. Rather than focusing on the pain and death around her, she becomes entwined in her own fairy tale.
From the beginning, it is clear that Ofelia is looking for some escapism from what surrounds her. What is not clear is whether or not her fairy tale, composed of creatures and quests, is her reality or just her escapism. While you will get to know other characters such as the guerilla rebels and the faun who leads Ofelia on her quest, the real depth of the story lies in your own thoughts about Ofelia’s world. Is the fantastical real or not, who is good and who is evil, or does it really even matter? This is achieved through a perfect blend of fantasy, horror, action, and intrigue. I strongly urge you, fullscreen folks, ignore the black bars, read along with the subtitles, and you may just learn to appreciate a film of this caliber.
Video
Pan’s Labyrinth is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. The colors tend to be muted, which is perfect for recreating the historical setting, and move into warmer tones during the fantasy sequences. The visuals are a treat throughout the film and are well represented on this DVD. I really don’t have any gripes with the transfer, the picture is sharp and clear with no major artifacts (at least not enough to detract from the viewing experience). As good as this picture is in standard definition, this is a film that screams to be released in high-def and now sits on the top of my high-def wish list. (There have been rumors of a foreign HD-DVD release as part of a box set, we’ll see…)
Audio
The Spanish DTS-ES 6.1 track is a knock-out. The LFE is nice and dialog is pronounced. It’s really a great surround mix. The audio atmosphere is nothing short of perfect. There’s not much more to say than it is all completely effective, we just need that high-def lossless track (C’mon New Line!). Subtitles are available in English and Spanish.
Special Features
The 2 Disc set is pretty much packed with great features. These include:
- The Power of Myth
- The Faun and the Fairies
- The Color and The Shape
- The Charlie Rose Show featuring director Guillermo Del Toro
- The Director’s Notebook Production sketches
- Storyboard video prologue by Guillermo Del Toro
- Storyboard/thumbnail comparesons
- Theatrical teaser and trailer, TV spots
The real highlight of all the features though has to be the commentary track by Guillermo Del Toro. Even if you’re not one for commentaries, do yourself a favor and listen to him. He explains many of the nuances of the audio and the visuals, and gives us an even greater appreciation of an already amazing film.
Final Thoughts
Pan’s Labyrinth is far from your typical fantasy fare. In fact, it can’t really be pigeon-holed into one genre of film. It is creative, unique, and thought-provoking all at once. I cannot recommend this film enough. If it doesn’t sound like your thing, at least give it a rent. If you have any interest in film as an art form, or if you are a fan of the fantastical, Pan’s Labyrinth is a must own.
Special Features List
- The Power of Myth
- Storyboard video prologue by Guillermo del Toro
- The Faun and the Fairies
- Storyboard/thumbnail compares
- The Color and The Shape
- Theatrical teaser and trailer, TV spots
- The Charlie Rose Show featuring director Guillermo Del Toro
- Production sketches
- The Director’s Notebook
