want the best Avalon dvd (heard that the orig version is Polish) by the Japanese anim (1 Viewer)

[VincentY]

would like to know where to get the best Avalon dvd, the Polish language film by the japanese anime director.

tried to find it. don't know which version is the best.

i was told it is one of the most beautiful dvds they've ever seen!

many thanks.

my direct email is: [email protected]

 

[Krzysztof Z]

Hi,

there is a regular japanese (R2/NTSC) version:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=BCBJ-867

a japanese (R2/NTSC) special limited edition:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=BCBJ-866

a korean R3/NTSC special edition:

http://www.koreandvds.com/dvddetail.html?id=8259

and an R0/NTSC Hong Kong version (propably with no extras):

http://www.dddhouse.com/cms/dddhouse...productID=1929

There is also a polish R2/PAL release but WITHOUT english subtitles and no extras.

I hope this helps.

 

[VincentY]

Krzysztof:

thanks!

do you think, considering the cost, that the regular japanese version is the "best" version to get?

the HK version doesn't sound like it is anamorphic. the regular japanese version at US$40 sounds ok, the special limited edition sounds expensive since i've never seen it before. if i were to fall in love with it, then i'd regret not getting all the extras. don't even know if the extras have subtitles!

 

[Krzysztof Z]

I think that the korean SE and the japanese special edition are identical by the extras.
It seems however that on the korean SE the polish original track is missing. There is only the korean dubbing.
I would prefer the japanese CE (look at my location ) because of the original track. You could buy it also at amazon.co.jp for the same price as cd.japan.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/...369353-6029149

 

[Krzysztof Z]

I've now read that the japanese CE has NO subs on the bonus disc. However, you could ask about the korean.
I think that's the socond best choice (dts, anamorph. and extras).

 

[VincentY]

Krzysztof:

i'm confused about your use of CE vs SE. is SE special edition? what is CE?

thanks.

 

[Hendrik]

CE = Collector's Edition (?)

. . . . . .

 

[Jeff Kleist]

The Japanese disc has no English subs on the extras disc, nor does the Korean I believe

The HK disc is non-anamophic with 0 extras

It is indeed a LOVELY disc, gorgeous transfer!

I hope when Miramax puts it out (supposedly it's goint to be on cable, undoubtedly dubbed sometime this year) they don't butcher it and include OSL (*snort* who are we kidding here?)

Krzysztof: I haven't watched enough Eastern European cinema, but how is the acting in Avalon in your opinion? I felt it was decent, but I haven't watched enough to gauge subtleties

 

[Chris Xolotl]

IF YOU DONT CARE about 16:9 then get the HK version. On my 4:3 interlace, I compared the Japanese R2 with it, and PQ difference was minimal if noticeable.

 

[VincentY]

thanks for the various comments.

my requirements are the following (hopefully similar to some others):

- must have english subtitles

- must be as good a transfer as possible, that is, must be widescreen, must be anamorphic (if not anamorphic, then something else must be great about that particular version)

- the soundtrack: has the korean version changed any of the sound effects? is the original polish version superior in terms of the sound effects? i speak neither polish nor korean nor japanese, so the language is less important (english subtitles is essential, obviously), but the sound effects and how natural the soundtrack sounds is probably quite important. yes? no?

- i obviously prefer a region 0 or 1 version (in the USA here, using NTSC-only sony 60xbr800 tv), but since the HK version is NON widescreen or non anamorphic (quite unacceptable for such a specially beautiful dvd), then only the others are "in the running" or worthwhile to be considered. i'll have to purchase a region free dvd player (like many many others have) in order to play this dvd and others.

which version do you guys think is the best with all those parameters above?

many thanks.

 

[Krzysztof Z]

Jeff Kleist:

Sorry, but I don't have seen this movie nor I have the DVD. I've only read about it. I could imagine that the actress Malgorzata Foremniak did a good job because I know her playing from a popular polish TV series. She also appeared in this Poland/USA cooproduction Link Removed with Haley Joel Osment.

If you want to know the best polish actors, than "Dekalog" from Krzysztof Kieslowski is a must see. http://us.imdb.com/Title?0092337
There are 10 short films (each approx. 55 min.) about the 10 commandments. Watch out for Krystyna Janda, Janusz Gajos and Zbigniew Zamachowski to name but a view.
Also worth seeing is "Czlowiek z Marmuru" http://us.imdb.com/Title?0075902 and "Czlowiek z Zelaza" http://us.imdb.com/Title?0082222 both from Andrzej Wajda, the "Three Colour" trilogy from Krzysztof Kieslowski
Link Removed
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0111495
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0111507.
A special film is "Przesluchanie" from Ryszard Bugajski http://us.imdb.com/Title?0084548. There is an excellent playing from Krystyna Janda, Janusz Gajos and Agnieszka Holland (who was later a director).

The most recent great polish films were
"Czesc Tereska" http://us.imdb.com/Title?0288491,
"Meska Sprawa" http://us.imdb.com/Title?0304394 (nominated for an Oscar)
and "Edi" http://us.imdb.com/Title?0338949.

There were also some polish actors in Spielberg's "Schindlers List" and Roman Polanski's "The Pianist" (I hope it gets a few Oscars).

 

[Jeff Kleist]

- the soundtrack: has the korean version changed any of the sound effects? is the original polish version superior in terms of the sound effects? i speak neither polish nor korean nor japanese, so the language is less important (english subtitles is essential, obviously), but the sound effects and how natural the soundtrack sounds is probably quite important. yes? no?

No, you should see the film in OSL. Oshii made it in Polish for a reason. I checked the Japanese dub track on my disc and it suffers from the same poor "studio sound" as virtually every other dub track and poor mixing. I don't imagine the Korean track is much better

Checking e-tailers, the Korean disc does not have a Korean dub, and DOES have the polish track in DD and DTS. Unknown if the extras are subbed, but I'll guess not

 

[LennyP]

Ok, blah blah blah, best version to buy is the Japanese R2 1disc edition. It has trailers, DTS and DD5.1 of Polish and Japanese, that's it.
No need to waste money on a second disc which is a good long hour+ documentary without subtitles.
There are lots of bootlegs, and those without original language track, just get it from Japan and forget about it.