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​Pan’s Labyrinth 4K Ultra

                      review by Bobby Blakey

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Even before taking on The Shape of Water and Pacific Rim director Guillermo del Toro was offering up some of the most unique visions on film. In 2006 he took audiences to an all-new world with Pan’s Labyrinth starring Serio Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Alex Angulo, narrated by Pablo Adan and one of Doug Jones most memorable performances as he takes on two roles. Now Warner Bros. is bringing the dark fairytale home on 4K Ultra for the first time ever.

Pan’s Labyrinth follows young Ofelia who enters a world of unimaginable cruelty when she moves in with her new stepfather, a tyrannical military officer following a bloody civil war.  Armed with only her imagination, Ofelia discovers a mysterious labyrinth and meets a faun who sets her on a path to saving herself and her ailing mother.  But soon, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and before Ofelia can turn back, she finds herself at the center of a ferocious battle between good and evil.

I remember being drawn to the images of the creatures in this trailer and blown away by the unexpected nature of the overall film. I have not watched it again until now and while I still love it, there are elements that felt more drawn out than needed. Don’t get me wrong the movie still holds up to perfection, but I think knowing where it is all going makes you want to get to the fantastical elements faster. Doug Jones is amazing here in his dual roles with his performance as Fauno being beautiful to watch. His take on the Pale Man is just as beautifully but in a more horrific way that delivers everything it should.

The dark story is impactful and works great as it walks the line between the brutal reality and fantastical fantasy worlds. Outside of the Jones the rest of the cast are excellent as well with each of them having to bring a range of emotions involving power, pain and loss. It’s during these scenes where I think it could have used some trimming, but also still understand the visual tone it was going for.

I do still love this film and the 4K remastering looks great. This release not only offers up the 4K version of the film but also bonus content including commentary, galleries, video prologue by Guillermo del Toro, and so much more. Grab your copy of Pan’s Labryinth on 4K Ultra available now from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

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