Just basically, the edition is great. Beautifully packaged, and yes it would have been nice to have the English subtitles on the extras, but I just replaced that DVD with my original special edition DVD.

Also, I just have to say that I am glad this man was chosen to do the Hobbit. He is one of the few that could get it right.

Away from the confusing battlefield of hundreds of customer's reviews concerning feelings and emotions in the New-line cinema edition for this phantasmagorical masterpiece, i would like to express both admiration and respect for Guillermo del Toro for this incredible achievement. The relief i felt after my first watch of this movie, was based on my lost hope to ever find a movie that could make my emotions and basic interests in filmaking, get back in track again in several ways at the same time. After all, look at the "fantasy" or the "horror" movie industry we're facing these days, or even the "war drama" movie industry if there's still any, look at the easy-accomplished style or commercial-digital products in filmaking, designed to warm seats in theaters and sell popcorn with mind bending publicity based on mass hysteria about what's cool. That's why i totally respect people who didn't like this movie: How can someone leave behind or even pass by this "black or white" way of thinking, product of the hypnotic and extreme new cinema, designed for grabbing basic instincts and superficial emotions, throwing'em into a void of nothing?

Considering myself a respectable classic fan of good movies, you can't imagine the amount of rented DVDs and endless theater features i've lost myself into. Despite some great movies i even bought, my emotional viewer persona was dying. Even artistic short-films made me sick, and i was slowly becoming an easy entertainment junkie. Searching refugee in my old classic cinema masterpieces, "Pan's Labyrinth" found me. After "Hellboy", i already said goodbye to my beloved Guillermo Del Toro and his mexican-spanish works like "Cronos" and "The devil's Backbone", but this last work was so helpful and important for me, i will refer to him as a filmaker, trying to explain this phenomenon according to his "double" personality. Enough already about this movie, it's all been said.

-"HOLLYWOOD" DEL TORO: After the succes of his second production, the critical aclaimed awarded "cronos", Del Toro made his debut in Hollywood with "Mimic", a regular but very creepy and original monster film. He made the best of the "Blade" sequels, along with one of the best comic book adaptations, "Hellboy". He still is all about horror, graphic and deep-feeling horror as well. But these movies only show a great talented director, but not the real filmaker.
CONSEQUENCES: Fans of "Hollywood" del Toro found his spanish productions boring, dramatic, absurd, confusing long and dull. Not enough action, not enough horror imagery, not what they expect from the master they know. Dissapointed, they still love him and expect more.

-"FILMAKER" DEL TORO: The real artist emerges in his spanish productions, no doubt about it. He manages to create a masterful, original and extense balance between gruesome horror, tear jerking drama, and spanish culture. His characters are extreme in their roles like the old times, with no moral struggles, redemption issues or search for justice, at all: they are essential, pure, and charismatic. He works with children for the purety and inocence of "Good", and with egomaniac psychopatic villans for the "Evil". Adults, no matter wich side they choose or their intentions, represent the cruel and unavoidable reality of the world. The intense, visceral Drama is based on Pain and Injustice inflicted on the week, and the will to survive in a demented, ilogical world. The fantasy is the way in wich Del Toro expresses is horror fan persona, and he loves horror imagery, conceptual and graphic in both ways with the same passion. He looks for simple and symbolic scenarios in order to achieve identity and purity, not to disturb character development. Long, complicated takes and great use of the camera. So what makes him a genious: BALANCE, pure explicit but simple balance. No specific theme or genre is the real backup or background for the other. Bravo Guillermo, like the old days.
CONSEQUENCES: Some real serious film critics or fans are atracted to Del Toro's artistic side, just to discover some of the must disgusting scenes they never hope to watch, therefore they don't think necesary, too over the top. More disapointment, from a different side.

I think i loved it because of my background in movies: Horror, drama, western, comedy, war movies, cult films, science fiction, etc. Could it be because i'm open to all genres with the same passion and therefore prepared, or just because i love to enjoy a good movie as anyboby?

By the way, this edition i just bought in a local store from an importing order is just spanish all the way. The best region 1 is still the New line 2 disc edition DVD set. Highly recomended, that edition contains all the production works, extra material and interviews that may exist, Guillermo del Toro likes to share every single aspect of his work.

My respects, and good luck.- Maria

Increíble edición de un peliculón como es "El Laberinto del Fauno". No encontraréis semejante calidad de acabado en ningún sitio. La imitación de un libro es perfecta, tanto en el tacto tipo "piel" como en detalles como el lateral imitando las hojas. El libreto de bocetos, precioso y de muy buena calidad.
Respecto a las cualidades técnicas de la edición, comentar que el los subtítulos de los extras son sólo en coreano, pero es un problema menor pues de los 45 minutos de extras que trae (un documental visionable todo de una vez o en cinco temas) el 80% es hablado en español y tan sólo tiene comentarios en inglés por parte de los creadores de los efectos digitales y del actor que hace del Fauno (fácilmente comprensible si entendéis un poco).

La recomiendo 100%. Yo la compré al vendedor supplyer69 de NY, que con el envío estándar me la sirvió en tan sólo 5 días muy bien empaquetada.

Saludos.

A beautifully packaged version of this spectacular film. This limited Korean version of the film has English and Korean subtitles for the movie, but only has Korean subtitles for the extras disc, which is predominantly spoken in Spanish. Other than this minor drawback, I thoroughly recommend this as a purchase for collectors.