There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about Guillermo del Toro’s magnificent Pan’s Labyrinth. It is a poetic, often horrific piece of intoxicating storytelling. It is, according to many, cinematic perfection.
Set during the Spanish Civil War this is the story of Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a ten-year-old girl who travels with her mother to live with her new stepfather Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez). Obsessed with fairy tales and magic and aided by a faun (del Toro regular Doug Jones) Ofelia discovers a mystical labyrinth.
From the first DVD release of Pan’s Labyrinth back in 2007 there have been more than ten other versions, all varying in their accompanying extras and picture qualities. Umbrella Entertainment’s new Blu-ray release sits in their Worlds on Film: Beyond Genres series, a collection curated with the intention of highlighting films that break out from the usual genre conventions. Previous releases include Possession (1981) and Crash (1996). There’s exclusive artwork and a reversible sleeve. Which is all very nice indeed, but is it enough?
If you already own a version of Pan’s Labyrinth there’s a strong possibility you possess some of the extras included here, too. They are undeniably extensive, but the fantastic audio commentary from del Toro first appeared on a 2007 edition with the remainder harvested from DVD and Blu-ray releases from that period. There is nothing new here, and for the hardcore fan, there are even some notable omissions, including cast interviews and production diaries.
What we have here is a 5-star film, with 4-star extras. But you likely have them all already. One for the completists.
Pan’s Labyrinth is available on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment
