An exceptional movie. I'll definitely buy this.

it's coming up next week folks...
get out your wallets...
im gonna add PAN'S LABYRINTH to my collection..
SINGLE DISC (love that cover) 4 me!!!
2-discs (not as good cover as single) =(
the DVD release i've been waiting for so long it's coming next week...

LLcruize wrote: To be honest, I have sat and watched/listened to many disks with 5.1 and DTS and frankly, any differences have been minimal.  So DTS or no DTS has never been a huge issue with me.

OK, here is a stupid question(s). Is the commentary in Spanish (assumption is yes)? If it is, is it captioned in English?You would think so - these platinum editions are usually pretty good.

To be honest, I have sat and watched/listened to many disks with 5.1 and DTS and frankly, any differences have been minimal.  So DTS or no DTS has never been a huge issue with me.

OK, here is a stupid question(s). Is the commentary in Spanish (assumption is yes)? If it is, is it captioned in English?

The R3 Korean LE has no English subs on the extras making it a non-starter IMO. The UK R2 is nice but the R1 has DTS making it the one for me! I've had it pre-ordered for a while and can't wait. The UK R2 was released in March but I'm happy to wait.

As for THD I wish it would stop before it starts, the idea is absolutely ludicrous. Fine I can see a need to release on both formats but make them separate releases!

Nice menu shots. Too bad it reminded me how horrible the 2 disc artwork is.

Menu screens added...

I've just analysed the Optimum Region 2 Edition more thoroughly.As it is I'm sad to say that Optimum has kind of ruined the sound,more precisely the music of this film.Already in the beginning,Ophelia's theme starts to crack up and the music sounds like it is experiencing "hiccups" or stuttering.This does not represent the original intent of the filmmaker and it is very distracting,annoying even,because it ruins what is a beautiful score and instrumental to this movie(if you change to 2.0-Stereo the problem ceases to exist but you loose the ambience).
Outside of this(Big)problem,the transfer and extras are very good.Still,sometimes I noticed some black crush on some scenes(in the beginning an ending of the movie)that takes the vibrancy out of the picture,but nothing huge.Better wait for region 1-shame on you Optimum!Well,maybe it's just my copie,but doubt it.This could have been such a great edition.In this case the R3 does seem the way to go until region 1 arrives.


Oh,and guys,here's another «offensive»remark:shouldn't we just express our opinion towards the DVD editon and not the films themselves?I mean if you are in this section it means that you liked this particular movie and are interested about what the DVD is going to be like.Coming to a section that belongs to a film you didn't care about and bashing it and the ones that like it seems very pointless and offensive to me.And please don't turn this into a geek war of who is better than who,that is not going to change any sides´point of view,only increase side's A distaste for what the other side(B)is praising instead of what side A thinks should be the one being praised about(got all of it?).Comparissons that diminish a film to heighten another,specially if both are well liked,only achieves the opposite.

Del Toro and Jackson are very similar Directors:for every Gory plasure like Blade II and Mimic there is a Braindead(Dead Alive),Meet the Feebles and Bad Taste.For every fun escapist film like Hellboy there is a Frighteners.And for every Cronos, Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth there is a Heavenly Creatures,Forgotten Silver and Lord of the Rings.They both like each other,they both came from horror and gore,they both were very fat(Gillermo is loosing wait as well),so why fight??Have to say that Heavenly Creatures is one of my favourite films(the original not the dilluted Miramax version)and a big fan of LOTR.Does that mean I'm not allowed to like Del Toro's work???Please grow Up!
Well,let the head bitting begin(I'm referring to me of course).

HagenDarth wrote: But "Frightners" I enjoyed more than "Hellboy."

Cutting to the chase, I just don't it's fair to compare the two: each has their own style, their own way of telling a story.

I think more to the point, some people seem to forget--or are simply ignorant of--the fact that Peter Jackson made films BEFORE LotR. Most of which had little or NO CGI.
Calling Braindead (Dead Alive) a soulless CGI film would obviously be insane, and even setting CGI aside, it's not even remotely heartless. Or Bad Taste. Or Meet the Feebles. Heavenly Creatures. The Frighteners.
If you're going to claim 'soulless' of his films, at least please acknowledge that:
1) It is not all of the films
or
2) you have not seen all of his films
or
3) If you're crazy and maintain they're *ALL* soulless (?!) then at least leave CGI out of it, as it sure makes it sound like you only know his recent work.

Anyway:
Quote: I'm still calling it Pants Labyrinth...
And I'm still calling it El Laberinto del Fauno because it has nothing to do with Pan--even if del Toro has mentioned Pan as inspiration. Don't care! No Pan in this movie! Just a faun!

rebel-scum wrote: I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on what exactly the point was. The girl's quest, that ultimately,(and tragically), went nowhere? If anything, the other story regarding the civil war, was much more weighty, with the fantasy elements tacked on. Once again, I'll mention that the Captain was an absolutely outstanding villain.

She sacrificed herself for the well being of other (her brother), what else is there? It is just difficult to find a film as 'magical' as this one this days. But the civil war story was just an accesory, even without war, you could've had the Captain.

"What's the point of making an overrated blockbuster? Did that help 'epics' such as Troy or Alexander, or even Poseidon?"
 
I don't think the directors of "Troy" or "Alexander" intended them to be overrated.  "Poseidon" was a more "commercially made" movie, decided to be made by the studio. It would be interesting to see a "King Kong" directed by Del Toro, but that would not happen - at least until he has the kind of success (commercially) that Jackson or Spielberg had.

"but it will never have the heart and story Pan has"
They are two entirely different stories.  Remember, LOTR came from books, which were considered "unfilmable." Again, to each his own opinion, but I haven't seen "Pan" yet so storywise I can't compare them.  But "Frightners" I enjoyed more than "Hellboy."

Cutting to the chase, I just don't it's fair to compare the two: each has their own style, their own way of telling a story.

That art is apparently a comic-con teaser, at least according to the R2 DVD (which I still need to review).

i havent seen it but im a big fan of Del Toro's work...im definatly checking this one.

A little film... Blue-Kal-El wrote: rebel-scum wrote: Blue-Kal-El wrote: rebel-scum wrote: Pan was a crushing bore, and ultimately had no point whatsoever. A bit like this post. Can't all like it, can we?

Besides free speech, what was the point of your post? You won't find a more mystical, entertaining and wonderful story last year (in years) as this one. Obviously you must prefer movies such as Open Water 2, or Dukes of Hazard the Beginning...

Um, no. You don't get out much, do you? Moron. If I remember correctly, there was a little film called Children Of Men which came out last year. Urinates all over this mess. Captain Vidal on YOUR ass!!

Which by the way, I also saw. However, even though both are fantasy films, Pan outsmarts Children. As a Mexican, I found hard for Cuaron to direct Children (no newborns?)...Children was a good film, I specially was fascinated by the action scenes, but it just wasn't as good as Pan; Pan has a heart, a fantasy tale that was beautifully made...and um, no, it didn't urinate under any mess.

i'm mexican too...though i don't know what that has to do with anything, besides the fact that both filmmakers are as well. i thought "children of men" was by far the best picture of last year, but i enjoyed "pan's labyrinth" as well. just because someone doesn't like a film that was generally well recieved doesn't mean that they automatically like bad movies.

A little film... rebel-scum wrote: Blue-Kal-El wrote: rebel-scum wrote: Pan was a crushing bore, and ultimately had no point whatsoever. A bit like this post. Can't all like it, can we?

Besides free speech, what was the point of your post? You won't find a more mystical, entertaining and wonderful story last year (in years) as this one. Obviously you must prefer movies such as Open Water 2, or Dukes of Hazard the Beginning...

Um, no. You don't get out much, do you? Moron. If I remember correctly, there was a little film called Children Of Men which came out last year. Urinates all over this mess. Captain Vidal on YOUR ass!!

Which by the way, I also saw. However, even though both are fantasy films, Pan outsmarts Children. As a Mexican, I found hard for Cuaron to direct Children (no newborns?)...Children was a good film, I specially was fascinated by the action scenes, but it just wasn't as good as Pan; Pan has a heart, a fantasy tale that was beautifully made...and um, no, it didn't urinate under any mess.

Kyle Mertes wrote: No, I definitely like the single disc art and plan on buying that one.  No 2-disc for me.  

As for everybody else, yea they'll grumble about how the single disc art is better, but they will buy the 2-discer.  Same happened with Batman Begins.  The single disc art was better, but most, like me, bought the double disc.  
Unless you got the silly Best Buy lenticular cover--it was best of all!

Blue-Kal-El wrote: rebel-scum wrote: Pan was a crushing bore, and ultimately had no point whatsoever. A bit like this post. Can't all like it, can we?

Besides free speech, what was the point of your post? You won't find a more mystical, entertaining and wonderful story last year (in years) as this one. Obviously you must prefer movies such as Open Water 2, or Dukes of Hazard the Beginning...

Um, no. You don't get out much, do you? Moron. If I remember correctly, there was a little film called Children Of Men which came out last year. Urinates all over this mess. Captain Vidal on YOUR ass!!

Just ordered R3 Korean LE

May be one more for R1 2-Disc, looks for a digipak release perhaps?

Pan was a phenomenal film. But neither cover does it justice.

Seems like the general opinion here is that this movie rocks and the Single disc art is better but everyone will be getting the 2 Disc.

Hopefully we'll (R1) get something as nice as the R3!!!

My R3 looks great- and the cover is the best of them all-

http://www.dvdasian.com/cgi-bin/dvdasian/23949....

Cost me about $30 direct from Korea
And DTS to boot.
Plus no cheezy quotes from reviews on the cover.

HagenDarth wrote: mikey mike wrote: Del Toro is the filmmaker Peter Jackson wishes he could be
And this is based on...what? Mimic? Blade II? the half-cheesy Hellboy? those films would most likely be made with or without Del Toro (haven't gotten around to see "Labyrnith" yet).  If it weren't for Jackson, I highly doubt they'd be a LOTR trilogy with its 17 Academy awawrds, phenomenal worldwide success and renewed interest in Tolkein. So no, I don't think Jackson wishes he were Del Toro, and vice versa.  Of course, the simplest thing would be to ask Jackson himself...

"Hellboy" was great. Tongue in cheek? Sure, at times. But there was nothing cheesy about. It was a high quality production all around. "Blade II" now....very cheesy. "The Devil's Backbone" was a classy and smart film. Like "Pan's Labyrinth".

Good. They added a slipcase to the DVD. Now all they need to do is change that god-awful cover. They should make the 2-disc's cover the poster and then give the other c**ppy one to the one-disc cover.

Bonus material looks almost identical to the UK release. R1 gets the Charlie Rose thing, whereas we go an interview hosted by Mark Kermode instead. Everything else looks the same.

YES! Can't wait to squeeze this ont the shelf next to hellboy, and devil's backbone.

the 2 disk cover looks better to me now that there's a bigger picture.

Press Release:

Quote: LOS ANGELES, CA (March 12, 2007) – Journey into a world of extravagant imagination as a dark fable comes to life in the fantasy thriller Pan’s Labyrinth. Winner of three Academy Awards®, Pan’s Labyrinth will be available in a two-disc edition DVD on May 15, 2007, from New Line Home Entertainment. Directed by award-winning writer and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Blade II), the film traces the fate of an innocent child as she seeks refuge from fear, loneliness and the violence of war – in both her real and imagined existence – through an elaborate and magical fantasy world. Unlock the enchanting secrets of the labyrinth with DVD bonus features including audio and video commentary from Guillermo del Toro, never-before-seen featurettes and filmmaker interviews.

The fully loaded, two-disc DVD will be available at a $34.99 SRP. Additionally, a single-disc DVD will also be available at a $28.98 SRP. Both editions have an April 10, 2007, order due date.

Winner of three Academy Awards® for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Makeup, Pan’s Labyrinth was nominated for a total of six awards including Best Foreign Language Film, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score. To date, the film has also been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association/The Golden Globes, and won Picture of the Year from the National Society of Film Critics and Best Foreign Language Film at The Washington DC Film Critics Association, The San Francisco Film Critics Circle and the New York Film Critics Online. The film has been named one of the top ten films of 2006 by more then 130 critics at outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune and Entertainment Weekly.  

When young Ofelia and her mother go to live with her new stepfather on a rural military outpost, she finds herself caught in a world of unimaginable cruelty. 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 ferocious battle between good and evil.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*

Two-Disc Edition Content
• Video prologue from director Guillermo del Toro
• Feature audio commentary from director Guillermo del Toro
• “The Power of Myth” featurette on mythology and the origin of the characters
• “DVD Comics: Giant Toad, The Pale Man, The Fairies and Pan” comic book artists’ interpretations of characters from the film
• “The Faun and the Fairies” featurette on visual effects
• “The Color and the Shape” featurette on the colors and textures in del Toro’s films
• “The Lullaby” 2 featurettes on the film’s musical theme
• The Charlie Rose Show interview featuring filmmakers del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men) and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)
• Interactive Director’s notes and sketches, including a video prologue by del Toro
• Storyboard/Thumbnail Comparisons
• Galleries
o DDT creature design/Production design/Production sc**pbook
• VFX plate comparison: GDT and the Green Fairy
• Animated menus
• Theatrical teaser (US)
• Theatrical trailer (US)
• TV spots (US)
• DVD-ROM content with Spanish & English screenplays, synchronized storyboards and photo galleries
• Sneak peeks
• 16x9 widescreen (1.85:1) version of the film
• Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1-EX and Spanish Stereo Surround 2.0
• Spanish 6.1 DTS-ES
• English & Spanish subtitles
• Closed captions

Single-Disc Edition Content
• Video prologue from director Guillermo del Toro
• Feature audio commentary from director Guillermo del Toro
• Animated menus
• Theatrical and teaser trailers
• DVD-ROM content with Spanish & English Screenplays, synchronized storyboards and photo galleries
• Sneak Peeks
• 16x9 widescreen (1.85:1) version of the film
• Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1-EX and Spanish Stereo Surround 2.0
• Spanish 6.1 DTS-ES
• English & Spanish subtitles
• Closed captions

I am so glad that I bought the R3 DVD.  I am bilingual, so I don't have any issues with the lack of subtitles of the extras.

yes please.

cool the "Faun" is on the 2-disk artwork.

i like the ART for the single disc...
but i'd like to own the 2 discs!!

Chris Gould wrote: I'm curious, did you see the film that won Best Foreign Film?

No I did not, and I know I shouldn't judge and I usually don't. However, even though I heard great things about "The Lives of Others"(I'm pretty sure that's the title), once I saw Pan it was like magic. It was spellbinding and stunning, and I'm going to be bold and say that Pan will surely out last "The Lives of Others", and I'm sure that I am not the only one who believes that.

I'm curious, did you see the film that won Best Foreign Film?

Can't wait to pick up this one - my favorite film of 2006 hands down. Waiting until May 15th might just kill me.

I prefer the single-disc art, but I'll definitely be buying the two-disc.

iamawesomeo wrote: No HD or BD?

New Line is going to release it through the THD format which has both BD and HD-DVD in one. However, I don't know when they will start to release their films in THD

I disagree with ramalho's opinion of the R3 DVD image not looking as good as the Spanish and U.K. editions of this film. I've been lucky enough to have seen all 3 versions, and ultimately bought the R3 DVD because I thought that had the best image and audio quality. I compared them on my 65' inch HDTV with an upscaling 981 Oppo DVD player hooked to it. I feel the R3 DVD has a slightly sharper image and more vibrant colors with the slightest bit of edge-enhancement compared to the others. All three editions look pretty great on DVD, though. The only real problem found on all three editions are compression artifacts on some of the shadows and often whenever the film fades to black. As for sound, the R3's DTS track is great as well. However, it is only 5.1 DTS while the U.S. DVD will have 6.1 DTS-ES.

I'm just glad I have a gift card to get the U.S. R1 DVD so I won't feel guilty about having already purchased the R3 DVD. I will just throw away the horrible cover art on the U.S. DVD and place the discs inside the beautiful R3 package. The best of both worlds, right there.      

No HD or BD?

According to other sources it does have DTS. Not that I care but I know some of you guys do.

Interesting, I actually prefer the cover of the single disc.  I'll still be buying the two-disc edition though.

I have heard nothing but good things about this one. I Guess I will pick up the 2 Disc.

Amazing movie, also one of the saddest ones I've seen this year. Can't wait to see what Guillermo del Toro comes up with next.

saydenie wrote: Actually it should have been nominated and won Best Picture.

No movie stood a chance to win Best Picture at the Oscars this year because The Departed was gonna win all along since the Academy voters could not finally give Martin Scorsese a well earned Best Director Oscar and not a Best Picture Oscar to go along with it. This year was even more disgraceful than last year when Crash won, everybody knows why Crash won over Brokeback Mountain. Pans Labyrinth, Little Miss Sunshine, Babel, The Queen, United 93, Children Of Men, all better movies IMO than The Departed. I enjoyed The Departed but it's nothing that has not been done before in it's own genre.

It might still include DTS - hasn't been confirmed either way yet. I should have the full details tomorrow hopefully.

Definitely the 2-disc edition. But that SRP is so high!

RentFreak610 wrote: No slipcase on the 2-disc?

That is surprising.  However, I usually discard the slipcases when they're practically identical to the regular coverart.  The only time I keep them is if they chromey or something really special.  Most of the time, they're just a waste of card stock.

2 disc edition's cover is horrible, ohh well i gotta live with it. Single disc cover should have been 2-disc edition.

Outstanding movie by the way, i loved it.

Why is DTS-ES not being mentioned?

Yeah, from what i understand the other releases seem to have more extras than the R3 LE. I Have that one too and  haven't found any commentary for example. I kind of like the 2-disc artwork. Still think the artwork used for the soundtrack CD is the best though.

I thought you said it would have DTS,guess you were wrong.You might as well get the UK or the Spanish edition.The r3 is the one with the nicest presentation in terms of the cover,but the image quality is not as good as the others(but still pretty good)and the extras aren't subtitled-still...it looks great on your shelf.  

Oh,dont like the covers for region 1,specially the 2 disc one that makes the film look like a cheap horror movie

This movie was amazing!  One of the best uses of fairy tales I have ever seen in a film.  I'll definitely get the 2-Disc, although I like the 1 Disc cover art much better.

This should have won Best Foreign Language Picture.  Actually it should have been nominated and won Best Picture.