Guillermo Del Toro Collection DVD Feature (2007) Ivana Baquero Amazing Value

Description

A trio of films by acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro. ‘Cronos’ (1992) is a modern-day vampire film that re-works the ancient themes of fear and desire. Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi) is an antique dealer who, with his grandaughter Aurora, discovers a mysterious scarab-like object at the base of an old statue. The statue’s previous owner was a 16th-century alchemist who sought eternal life, and the object turns out to be the Cronos which grants the user eternal life in exchange for blood. Intrigued, Jesus is drawn into the grip of the Cronos and when Dieter and his nephew Angel (who hold the alchemist’s diaries) hound the antique dealer, Aurora tries to save her grandfather – but it isn’t long before she too becomes a part of the thirst for blood. Ghostly goings-on are the order of the day in ‘The Devil’s Backbone’ (2001), an eerie shocker set during the final days of the Spanish Civil War. The film takes place in a remote orphanage haunted by a mysterious ghost child named Santi. The children of the orphanage are terrified of Santi – but when they learn the true circumstances of his death, they begin plotting to help him get his revenge. ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006) is a fantasy story set in the mind’s eye of a lonely young girl. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is a young girl living in a remote area of Spain in 1944 after Franco’s ascension to power. To escape the upheaval and hardship her family face, Ofelia creates a world in her mind. It’s a beautiful place – but not without its dark side. With its mix of CGI and actual character scenes, political and social statement, Pans Labyrinth has been referred to as ‘The Citizen Kane of fantasy films
If you’re after something a bit more magical than the current crop of gory, torturous horror movies, this Guillermo del Toro Collection might be just what you’re looking for. Del Toro weaves together dark fairy tales with bleak reality in each of these three movies, creating films which are clever, beautiful and incredibly haunting. Although del Toro has made more high profile movies–Hellboy and Blade 2, specifically–his Spanish language movies are clearly his real passion. More personal than his superhero movies, each of these films has something to say.
The earliest of the movies is Cronos. Released in 1993, it’s a story of family loyalties as well as alchemy and vampirism. 2001’s The Devil’s Backbone sees a group of orphans battling for survival in a world populated by bullies and ghosts, with war torn Spain providing a stunning background; while Pan’s Labyrinth, released in 2006 to critical acclaim, mingles real life politics and social drama with fantasy and magic to create a masterpiece. Pan’s Labyrinth won three Oscars, though it also deserved the other three it was also nominated for.
With each successive film, Del Toro’s filmmaking has grown ever more mature and powerful, and this boxset perfectly showcases an incredible talent.–Sarah Dobbs