Just got a region-free player. What are some of the best DVDs to check out? (1 Viewer)

[Wade K]

Just ordered a Malata N996, mostly for Britcoms and some Australian music releases, but wanted to know what are some of the other "greats" I should know about from around the globe. Thanks.

(oops, my title says "got" instead of ordered. I guess I'm a little excited.)

 

[Gunnar Syren]

Definitely check out Link Removed (UK). Their releases of Hong Kong classics are almost always outstanding.
If you want to sample just one, I'd suggest Police Story with Jackie Chan.

 

[Yee-Ming]

basically, there's a lot of US TV series already available in R2 from UK, e.g. Friends, West Wing. so if you want Friends S7 or first bits of S8 now, you can get them from the UK. and Battlestar Galactica comes out in June in R4.
if you're looking specifically for Brit sitcoms, some classics are Absolutely Fabulous, Men Behaving Badly (7-disc complete set available in R4, not sure about R2), Yes Minister, and a new sitcom Coupling which I find hilarious.
ironically, Blackadder, which is one of my all-time favs, comes in an R1 set which is better than the R2 version... go figure.
R4 also has the Secret Policeman's Ball series of benefit concerts (in support of Amnesty International) which are very entertaining, although the video quality is appalling. have a look at www.michaeldvd.com.au for reviews of R4 discs, or try buying from www.ezydvd.com.au

 

[YANG]

From R4,there are numbers of releases which is not available from R1 releases...such as DTS releases of ENEMY AT THE GATE,DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS,DRIVEN,THIRTEEN DAYS,LITTLE NICKY and others more.
Not all R2 releases are worth persuing for,especially titles that are edited/trimmed down by the BBFC or the distributor.This will cause the same title released in AUSTRALIA be edited too due to the use of same master.More infos can be found at Link Removed
Most R3 releases are in NTSC format,take note.Discs from HONGKONG,most chinese titles are multi-coded.Most foreign films and hollywood productions are R3 coded.More infos can be found at www.asiandvdguide.com

 

[KarenDB]

Glad to hear you are getting the Malata N-966. I tried to get that one and found it had been discontinued so I have their replacement model ordered, the DV-520. Supposed to be identical to the N-966 except in a slimmer chassis. Hopefully it will ship to me from Canada next week.

 

[Chris Xolotl]

Nah get the good stuff R2.

The A-Team, Bionic Woman, Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider!!

Hee.

Also, the Montreaux Jazz Festival w/ B.B. King workshop is awesome. (The back of the box says R2,3,4,5,6). Now that's funny!!

 

[Mark Zimmer]

If you like classic horror, there's a very nice disc of Witchfinder General in R2.

The Prisoner set from R2 is fewer discs & takes up less space and was much cheaper (though the A&E set may be less expensive now)

Queen Margot is an intriguing and dense epic drama in R2.

Ring and Ring 2 are highly disturbing Japanese horror uncut in R2.

If you want a good transfer on Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring, badly botched in the US, R2 is the place to look.

Dario Argento's most recent, Sleepless (Non ho sonno) is available in nice editions in both Italy & the UK--the US version is crap.

South Park was the big trigger for me, but Warner apparently is going to issue that one by seasons here finally (I'll believe it when I see it).

 

[Derek Miner]

My first two non-region 1 perchases were:

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery from Australia - slightly different edit of the film with a few extra scenes and different bonus features.

Family Guy: Season One from the UK - One of the funniest shows (formerly) on TV, but no sign of being released here in the US.

 

[MartEvans]

If you want Britcoms then get the first two series of SPACED or BLACK BOOKS. These two IMO are the best comedies to come out of the UK since Father Ted.

 

[Wade K]

Thanks for the suggestions. Ended up having the N996 cancelled, so I picked up the JVC XVS500BK since it does prog scan as well as PAL->NTSC conversion. Already ordered The Thin Blue Line mostly for Rowan Atkinson. I'll have to check out the others.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

Malata N996 DOES do Progressive Scan

 

[Wade K]

Not cancelled by me, but by the supplier.

 

[Chris Dugger]

The Malata 996 is being replaced with :

MALATA DVD-520
PROGRESSIVE SCAN
DISPLAYS 16X9 PAL DVDS IN WIDESCREN
PLAYS ALL REGION CODES
PAL/NTSC CONVERTER
110 - 240 VOLT

It is basically the same unit but beefed up at tad...

It becomes available on May 28, I believe.

As the proud owner of 2 Malatas... I believe this player will be my 3rd.

Dugger

 

[Marc Alexander]

beefed up how?

 

[Cees Alons]

My multi-region player arrived too (go figure, for someone living in R2!) - the Toshiba SD-2006, problem-less in use since July 1997, now goes to the bedroom.
I chose the Pioneer DV-444-K ("K" for black, there's also an "S" for silver, but this one goes nice with my Pioneer decoder). It's housed in one of those new slim cases.
DVD prices over here are high, so it will still be possible to import mainly from the US. I prefer that in most cases, because of the proper film speed and the generally excellent quality.
But thanks for some good tips in this thread - Yes Minister being one, while The Witchfinder General and Queen Margot being some of my (granted, many) favourites too! (Already received the R2 versions of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources).
Mark, do you know if the American version of The Witchfinder (The Conqueror Worm) also differs in other aspects than the title alone, e.g. have a different cut?
Cees
(Sorry, Wade, I'm not trying to hijack your thread, just believed it would make less sense to start another one.
C.)

 

[Tomoko Noguchi]

I hear Final Countdown in Australia is 16x9. I ordered it. I also ordered The Great Escape.

Another great one from Australia is Blood Oath. I think it is the only place to get that movie.

 

[oscar_merkx]

http://www.dvdzone2.com/cgi-bin/en/O...ch&search=4807
this is the French Apocalypse Now Redux 2 disc set which is supposed to have an audio commentary from the producer, plus footage from Canness 1979 & 2002.
I have just ordered this one and will find out if there is a commentary on this. Can anyone confirm this as well.
Oscar Merkx

 

[Hendrik]

...and... tataaa!... the transfer is... a nice, widescreen-TV-filling 1.85:1 ... if that's indeed the case: no sale (for me! for me!)!
(just MNSHO, of course!)
http://www.dvdfr.com/dvd/fiche.php3?id=5038
. . . . . .

 

[Mark_vdH]

this is the French Apocalypse Now Redux 2 disc set which is supposed to have an audio commentary from the producer, plus footage from Canness 1979 & 2002.

I have this release, and it has no audio commentary!
What they mean, is just the little bit of commentary to the 'Destruction Of Kurtz Compound', which was already on the original Apocalypse Now Release.
And yes, it's in 1:85:1 as well.

 

[oscar_merkx]

Mark / Hendrik

Thanks for the info

what is wrong with 1:85:1 picture ?

I am curious though