[chelsea.tone]

New Line Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the critically acclaimed film 'Pan's Labyrinth' to Blu-ray on December 26th. Video will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p, with Spanish 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (with optional English subtitles). Extras include enhanced video commentary and everything from the 2-disc DVD release.

Following a bloody civil war, young Ofelia enters a world of unimaginable cruelty when she moves in with her new stepfather, a tyrannical military officer. 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.

Tony

ALSO AVAILABLE ON HD-DVD !!!!!!

[Noggin1980]

I thought you were concidering yourself nearly neutral these days?

It's on HD DVD on the same date, good to see as expected that only day and date titles are later on HD DVD.

[Sonic67]

Why wait? HD DVD has a local distributer it seems.

http://areahd.dvdtiefpreise.com/?p=109

November 12:
Pan’s Labyrinth (Optimum) [United Kingdom]

http://www.optimumreleasing.com/dvd.php?id=640

Also on Blu-ray:

http://www.optimumreleasing.com/dvd.php?id=641

unknown:
Pan’s Labyrinth (Senator) [Germany, Italy and Spain]

Senator may also release on Blu-ray.

[Noggin1980]

yeah we'll just have to see which looks better, the American version looks feature packed, will have to wait and see what the UK version is like before choseing which to buy.

The film is presented in 1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen with Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 Surround and optional English, English SDH and Spanish subtitles.

Exclusive HD extras are:
Enhanced Visual Commentary: Exclusive high definition feature takes you behind the scenes while viewing the film (BD & HD DVD)
Web Enhanced Features: Additional interactive features available through your HD player’s internet connection (HD DVD only)

Extras carried over from the 2-Disc DVD release and presented in standard definition:
Video prologue by writer / director Guillermo del Toro
Feature audio commentary from director Guillermo del Toro
Marketing Campaign
”The Power of Myth” featurette: A discourse on the use of fairy tale mythology in Pan’s Labyrinth
”Pan and The Fairies (El Fauno y Las Hadas)” featurette: Del Toro unravels the intricate colour and texture coding present in all his work
The Charlie Rose Show featuring filmmakers Del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
DVD Comics: Animated plates present prequel stories for The Giant Toad, The Fairies, Pan and The Pale Man
Director’s Notebook: Interactive menu pages access video pods that feature exclusive interviews with Del Toro – Lost Character: El Hombre de Madera; Torture of The Maquis; The Phases of the Moon; Iconography: Echo…Echo…; The Underground Kingdom: Miniature Construction; The Mill: Set Design
Multi-Angle Storyboard / Thumbnail Compares
VFX Plate Compare: Guillermo del Toro and The Green Fairy
Galleries: Production Design, DDT Creature Design & Production Scrapbook

Looks like the HD DVD has exclusive interactive features using the net.

Unfortunatly I don't think the soundtrack is English and since my wife is dyslexic (sp?) subtitle movies don't really work well for us, so I'm not sure if I'll be buying, it's meant to be a fantastic movie though.

The main thing though is that New line is selling them both on the same date, it was always expected but there has been alot of fud spread about new-line so it's good to put that to bed.

[chelsea.tone]

Lol i will be once i get my player also i have yet to find a good HD-DVD reference site. Not being biased, just trying to inform

Tony

[Sonic67]

Optimium have a few other titles. The Deer Hunter, The Pianist, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Mulholland Drive and Wolf Creek.

http://www.optimumreleasing.com/dvd_division.php?id=1

[Spidey987]

According to DVD Times, both versions are marked as region A. Obviously a mistake on the HD DVD side, so maybe there's some hope for Blu-ray owners.

[Noggin1980]

Originally Posted by chelsea.tone

Lol i will be once i get my player also i have yet to find a good HD-DVD reference site. Not being biased, just trying to inform

Tony

Ok thanks, assumed you deliberatly left it out since the press release and every reasonable site listed it for both, of course blu-ray.com was the exception, glad to see it was just an oversight.

[chelsea.tone]

Yes it was. I would not deliberately omit any useful information. 1 HD-DVD already pre-ordered lol without a player to watch it on Transformers

Tony

[Sonic67]

If you've got HD DVD it's already out. I forgot about this one:

http://areahd.dvdtiefpreise.com/?p=104

No English subtitles though I think.

[Freightliner]

I picked up Pan's Labyrinth on blu ray today in Edinburgh in the recently reopened Fopp on rose Street. This was cool as I didn't expect anywhere to have it until 19th November at the earliest, but even better was the fact that it was priced the same as the Standard DVD at........now wait for it..............£7 I am assuming this has been an error within that particular store but thought I'd post it just in case Fopp are doing a stunning deal and wouldn't want anyone to miss out. however it's more likely I've just been in the right place at the right time to pick up an ultra bargain

[signs]

Originally Posted by Freightliner

I picked up Pan's Labyrinth on blu ray today in Edinburgh in the recently reopened Fopp on rose Street. This was cool as I didn't expect anywhere to have it until 19th November at the earliest, but even better was the fact that it was priced the same as the Standard DVD at........now wait for it..............£7 I am assuming this has been an error within that particular store but thought I'd post it just in case Fopp are doing a stunning deal and wouldn't want anyone to miss out. however it's more likely I've just been in the right place at the right time to pick up an ultra bargain

you lucky bugger

[avbiae]

The english subtitles are burned or you can see the movie without subtitles?

[Freightliner]

Originally Posted by avbiae

The english subtitles are burned or you can see the movie without subtitles?

You can switch them on or off in the set up menu.

The PQ on this is top drawer by the way and even though it not uncompressed, I'm still more than happy with the audio.

[Canary_Jules]

What's the region coding on Pan's UK? Will it play on my US PS3 is the question?

[Freightliner]

Originally Posted by Canary_Jules

What's the region coding on Pan's UK? Will it play on my US PS3 is the question?

I can't find anything on my UK copy saying "Region B", but I do know that DTV forum in Australia has the UK release marked as "Locked". Sorry if this isn't really much help to you.

[malkit]

I've seen the Optimum UK release listed as locked to region B.I guess this was dictated by Warner with there upcoming US release. http://bluray.liesinc.net/

[Geesus]

Errr that site says region-free surely?

[Canary_Jules]

You're right, it does seem to say that it's region free. However, scroll down the list and you find two entries for UK Pan's Labyrinth released by Optimum - one is region locked and the other is region free. Very strange.

[Canary_Jules]

I've emailed the guy who runs the listing and he's reported back that it is DEFINITELY region free. He's going to remove the duplicate entry which says that it is region locked.

[Geesus]

Nice one thanks.

[Canary_Jules]

Guys I had a response from Optimum that might help folks make a decision as to which version to buy. I asked:

I have a couple of quick questions as one who is interested in purchasing a copy of your newly released Pan's Labyrinth in high-def. I'm trying (a) to decide whether I want your UK version or the US version on Blu-Ray as I notice this title is being released on Blu-Ray and HD-DVD in the US in December by New Line. Would your release be using a separate encode or is it the same as the New Line version? I'm (b) also trying to decide whether I want this on Blu-Ray at all or on HD-DVD as I own both formats. I notice to this effect that you also have Pan's Labyrinth coming out on HD-DVD in December. Will that be using the same encode as your Blu-Ray version? Also are there any differences in the extras between your Blu-Ray and HD-DVD versions because the US New Line HD-DVD will have several web enabled features that their Blu-Ray version will not have.

So is it the UK Blu-Ray or HD-DVD version of Pan's that I want or the US Blu-Ray or HD-DVD version? It all sounds really complicated! I suppose it is!

Optimum replied:

The UK and US versions will be different as we have created this separately from New Line.

The Blu Ray and the HD DVD are different encodes.

The extra features on both Blu ray and HD DVD are the same on the UK version, including the Easter Egg.

I heard from the guy who runs the Blu-Ray region code site that the bit rate of the Optimum Blu-Ray Pan's Labyrinth is high - he mentioned 38-39 - and that the PQ is reportedly very good indeed. I wonder whether this now makes the UK Pan's Labyrinth the disc of choice as New Line are likely to use the same encode for their US HD-DVD and Blu-Ray release. Would be interested in your comments...

[Geesus]

Well I would have bought the UK BD yesterday if it wasn't £25 in HMV - too rich for my blood

[Freightliner]

Well I can vouch for the Optimum Blu-Ray Pan's Labyrinth PQ as I think it is definitely one of the best I've seen. I was lucky and found my copy sitting on the shelf as cheap as chips but from what I can find the best online price at the moment is £15.89 from Sendit.

[Canary_Jules]

There's a review of the UK BD here. It's not as glowing as I thought it would be, commenting on the PQ that it wasn't particularly sharp. Hmmm... I was about to pull the trigger on this from Sendit.com (cheapest I've found so far). I might just hang on now until reviews of the US version come out and depending on those I might go for the HD-DVD because it has enhanced features that the BD doesn't have.

[7hil]

Originally Posted by Freightliner

Well I can vouch for the Optimum Blu-Ray Pan's Labyrinth PQ as I think it is definitely one of the best I've seen. I was lucky and found my copy sitting on the shelf as cheap as chips but from what I can find the best online price at the moment is £15.89 from Sendit.

DVD Review said the PQ was excellent. Thay also said that the UK Blu-ray had a video commentary and a DTS Lossless soundtrack. Is that right?

[Jakeh1969]

Originally Posted by Geesus

Well I would have bought the UK BD yesterday if it wasn't £25 in HMV - too rich for my blood

Alternatively pop into a branch of Zavvi where it's priced at £20.

[Geesus]

Originally Posted by Jakeh1969

Alternatively pop into a branch of Zavvi where it's priced at £20.

When they build one in my town I will do

Might just get it online and wait a few days. Thanks for the tip though

[Freightliner]

Originally Posted by 7hil

DVD Review said the PQ was excellent. Thay also said that the UK Blu-ray had a video commentary and a DTS Lossless soundtrack. Is that right?

The audio is not DTS but Dolby digital 5:1 (and it is surprisingly good). there is commentary and there is a Video Introduction by Guillermo Del toro and also an Interview with him as well. There's some other extras I haven't checked out yet as well like picture gallery and storyboard etc.

[ggu]

So is the picture quality on this really good? I've seen the film before and thought it was awesome and saw it on play.com for £17 so had to buy it. Just waiting for it now, so I'm hoping the quality is as good as the film itself is.