Pan's Labyrinth [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray] [2006]

This movie would have been really great if it were dubbed. Reading subtitles throughout the entire film distracted the viewer from the scenery and special effects. Now – this movie is NOT for children! I see many people complaining that it was too violent for kids. It’s rated R for a reason. And as an adult who loves fantasy movies, this movie was good. But I wouldn’t watch it against because of the subtitles. Such a visual film should have been dubbed because you lose a lot from it. I say the movie is good, not great, because it is really overrated. From all the promotion it received, it seemed like it was going to be a fantastical fairy-tale. They even compared it to Lord of the Rings, which is a far superior film. There’s only a small supernatural element to Pan’s Labyrinth. I want more Pan! I want more fairies! What you get is a lot of scenes with soldiers and servants. And at the end of the movie, it seems like you’re suppose to decide on your own if the fantasy world was real or imaginary. But watching the extras should set you straight. There were wonderful gross-out scenes in here! Such scenes are sawing off a soldier’s leg, the Captain stitching his mouth back together (then drinking booze), and this skinny creature with eyes in his hands that ate children! There’s actually a lot to this movie, so you will find it beneficial to watch the extras afterwards. Of course, that may not be a good thing if you HAVE to watch the extras. But you could always not watch them, and then leave the plot of the movie to your own imagination. And throughout the movie, I was very suspicious of the faun. Ofelia broke the rules, yet he gives her a second chance? That seems fishy…. But they just drop it! Ah! Some writers will do anything just to move the story along! I guess he ran out of ideas on how to get Ofelia out of trouble. That’s okay. It’s just one weak point in the film. So overall, it’s a good film. You’re sure to enjoy it. Though, it still needs more fantasy to it.

Pans Labrynth “El Laberinto del Fauno” is a political statement on the absurdities of war, and demonstrates the possibilities of innocent fantasies even during these tumultuous times. Or maybe it’s other way round. It’s a fantasy tale showcasing the beauty of innocence over mature prudence (as we know it). Never the less, a treat to watch!! Director “Guillermo del Toro” hits a homerun in allowing viewers to see the post-civil war spain through the eyes of Ofelia, a young girl who reads fairy tales, lives under the terror of her stepfather, and is trying to complete three tasks (before full moon ) given by a “faun” so she could prove her essence is intact. Thereby, reunite in spirit with the king and queen of underworld as princess “Moanna”. Whether story is a kid’s fantasy or something more, is left open to viewer’s interpretation in a way that could only be done by del Toro. Hats off to a masterpiece!!

Pan's Labywrinth is an adult fantasy which revolves around the life of an adolescent girl in Spain as their Civil War is coming to an end. Her existence is pure misery as a result of her step-father's unbearable cruelty to anything human. But she has a very active imagination, or so we are led to believe through superb story telling and direction. The line between what is real and what is not is so vague that you really cannot tell where one ends and the other begins. This film will grab you from the get-go, take you for an emotional roller coaster of a ride and dump you in the end well worn and with crushed heart. It is so engrossing you will hardly have noted the film is in Spanish with English subtitles. If you are not in tears at the end of this movie then you need to examine your own psyche! And I don't care how tough you think you are.!!

When my husband first saw this he thought it would be a really cool case compared to the original. When we got it this is not what we expected at all. This is one of his favorite films so the film itself is no problem. By the way this film is in Spanish but with English subtitles. You can't change it that is how the film was intended. The case however is in a clear DVD like case. Still same height next to a blu ray but all that's different is the cover art and the box clear case shape it comes in. If you don't have this film then it will be a good purchase otherwise nothing special to me about it. Maybe if it had a digital copy added or something but we didn't need this second copy at all.

Buyer be ware! This movie is NOT on the same bar as Lord of the Rings. Nor is it worth the 3 awards it was given. This movie is more on the same bar as "The Secret Garden" with excerpts from "Harry Potter". Although the story wasn't a bad one, it still does not have the depth of the great master works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, or any of the other great masters of the fantasy realm. Instead it is more of a war story with a touch of a little girls' fantasy of how she's going to escape this horrible world that she has been forced to live in. Sound familiar? Just another take on an old story. Very disappointed that this movie did not live up to the hype. Unnecessary gore, the side story was way more developed than the main premise, and of course, if I were to watch something so poor, I sure wouldn't want to watch it in Spanish!

This is a fantastic movie! It's like a fairy tale for adults, my wife and I loved it. Some people classify this as horror, I'd say it's more of a fantasy. My wife and I's only complaint, and the reason I gave it four stars instead of five, is because it's in spanish, it's not even English dubbed. And don't tell me it's because he's spanish, He11boy 1 & 2 were in English, so what's the problem. I can understand Asian horrors designed for Asians, and then it makes it's way to us. But, he makes them in spanish, and then puts it out in America. It doesn't make sense and makes a great movie less enjoyable! However, I still recommend this movie, if you don't mind reading. Also, some other great films by Guillermo Del Taco, that are in spanish (for some dumb reason), are The Orphanage and Devil's Backbone.

I bought Pans Labyrinth when best buy had it listed as one of the choices for 2 for $30. I had seen the previews to the movie when it came out in theaters but was not too interested in watching a fairy tale movie. I played the movie the day I bought it and have got to say that it was fantastic! Definitely not a fairy tale for children but a must see for any adult who enjoys fantasy movies! The only drawback to the movie is that it is in Spanish and English subtitled (though there is probably an english dubbed version as one of the features, not sure though). Aside from that it has a gripping story unlike any movie I have seen before! The visuals are superb and are only made that much better watching it in 1080p. This has got to be director Guillermo del Toro's best work!

If you are an ADULT fan of fantasy then don't let this film go under your radar simply because it is subtitled. Many a supposed "movie-lover" have passed on films just because they have to read the sub-titles. Don't do it - trust me. This is an ADULT fairy-tale filled with magic and meanness. Inhuman creatures and human monsters. And a little girl who realizes she needs to escape the harsh world she is in and return to the land where she is princess. This movie WILL NOT let you down. The Special Edition DVD is filled with so many behind the scenes extras that you can remain in the world Pan's Labyrinth creates long after the movie itself is over. Extra tidbit: This movie was made as a companion piece to an earlier Guillermo del Toro movie The Devil's Backbone.