Overseas DVD's - Regions, Etc

[superlegitman]

Actually believe it or not, they WILL have the screen copies of very big hits. For example, I bought Lord of the RIngs in china about the same time it came out in the U.S. It was a perfect screening copy. The only problem is every 10 minutes or so, the bottom of the screen would have a message like "This is a screening copy, buying or renting this is ILLEGAL, please call 1-800-XXXXXXX" or something. Others, however are boot-leged. Mostly filmed in the movie theatre itself. You can sometimes here the camera man laughing or see shadows of people getting up and leaving. All the old movies that can be bought on DVD already are probably good versions. And plus, you should bargain. I was able to get DVDs in China for under $1 each.

[Palimax]

I think we can all agree that at a dollar a copy, they're worth grabbing. Don't go too crazy, or you might find yourself having them throw in the garbage can at customs.

DVD screeners, and VHS screeners enter the world at about the same rate in Asia and the US. The only difference is that you can more easily pick up a DVD/VHS screener (and often the VHS screener gets dumped to DVD) on the streets of some asian markets.

I had the same DVD of Lord of the Rings (Fellowship) that you had. The only difference was that mine was in a box that said "For promotional consideration only, do not distribute" and came from a New Line Cinema press-person who wanted oscar votes.

The copies of that are, of course, exact digital copies of the ones being handed to reviewers here in the US; but they aren't getting there any sooner, becuase the mastering companies used aren't overseas. Basicly, they're leaked here just as fast (or slow) as they're leaked in Asia.

They might go mainstream faster in Asia, and they might be easier to find on the streets in Asia, but they're here too at roughly the same rate.

(And yes, I get some movies before, and some movies after places like vcdquality show they're out.)

[Ukerric]

Back to the subject at hand.

Basically, the DVD norm has 6 (if I remember right) so-called "regions" set-up, from 1 to 6 (1 is US, 2 is western europe, dunno about the others). This is a special agreement so that distributors in a specific area don't have to fear early release in other countries eating into their local markets (if, say, Attack of the Clones comes out 2 months earlier in the US, european distributors aren't screwed).

Conversely, all DVD players are set for one of these 6 regions. Commercial agreements exist so that a DVD manufacturer cannot (in theory) sell a DVD player that covers more than one region.

These two facts, together, mean that (in theory), you need to buy your DVDs in the same area you bought your DVD player, and need to buy as many different DVD players as you want areas.

Now, the extras that reality provide:

In addition to the 1-6 areas, there is also a so-called area 0. A DVD coded for area 0 is viewable on any DVD player, regardless of its original region.

Most of these area 0 DVDs are porn DVDs. The porn editors rarely want to restrict their audience, and most of their movies don't have overseas distributors that would want a captive (it's called "segmented" in marketspeak) market.

All DVD players in existence can perfectly read any DVD, regardless of the region. It's just that they refuse to do so with DVD that are not in their region of sale. DVD players manufacturers aren't mad: it costs them a lot less to make a single DVD player model, and "customize" it for a specific area than to make a different DVD software (it's all in the software) for each region.

90% of the DVD players can either be switched between regions, or put in a specific regionless mode where the DVD player will happily play a DVD from any region (and the 0-region ones too, of course). Usually with just your remote control, entering a special kind of "cheat code" (combo of keys/numbers). Do a quick search with a good search engine, and you'll find plenty of sites that list DVD players and models and the codes required to zone them.

The remaining 10% need hardware modification, either by loading a new software into the DVD player eeprom, or by altering the soldering that sets "in hard" which zone the software is supposed to work with.


So, to summarize: yes, regionless DVD exists. Or, if you have only a non-1 DVD, you can probably set your DVD player to read it in 5mn, internet search included (provided you have the right remote control. My own DVD player doesn't have number keys on the supplied remote control, so I had to borrow one to enter the cheat code).

Important note: DVD are also set to show in a specific video format (NTSC, PAL, etc). If your TV doesn't display the right video, your DVD might be useless (my old TV doesn't display NTSC, so if I try to get a zone-1 DVD, I get black-and-white image on 2/3 of the screen with a black area below).

All in all: You get what you pay for

[Scorpvenom]

I really don't like Kazaa and since scour I haven't found anything better. I used to play with MIRC and used cute ftp or something like 7 years ago but don't remember what I did.

What is the best thing for getting movies early? I have a good connection, so I can do a lot of sharing and uploading to others if that is required.

[WarderX]

Originally posted by Ukerric
Back to the subject at hand.

I assume your talking about TV DVD players.
Another way around this is to just buy DVD players fro 1998 and 1999. They will almost all be reigonless.

Usually they will work fine and will only be 2x-16x.

There is absolutly no reason to go above 5x with DVD players unless your using them to make DivX'es

[Scorpvenom]

I downloaded a crystal clear version of Murder by Numbers in two parts, each about 700 megs. Picture is perfect but I'm getting no sound which probably means I'm missing a codec. I have divx 5.02 bundle on my comp, latest window media upgrade, etc. The file name is: Murder.by.numbers.(2002).CD1.AC3.DVL.Sharereactor
Do you know where I can get a codec for this video? I'm guessing sharereactor is probably a pretty big name so maybe someone knows.

[aychamo_aycono]

.

[aychamo_aycono]

Back to my original post/topic

I got the DVD last night, finally. It works fine on my DVD-Player.

I was actually surprised, it came with a case, and the little graphical insert under the plastic of the case, and a sticker thing on the DVD itself, I mean, obviously trying to look like a real DVD.

It had a menu system in it, to pick the language you wanted subtitles in (none, thanks!).

It played the movie fine, it wasn't what you would expect for DVD quality, obviously, but for me its fine. It doesn't look like it was filmed, I was expecting something like what Kramer filmed in that episode of Seinfeld (Deathblow!). But this really came out great.

And you can't beat it, they ended up getting it for only a few dollars. Like $2.50 or something. I can't see how they can even produce them for that little. I mean, DVD, case, insert-printout, and the DVD-Label-sticker thing. Wow -- Wish I would have knonw they would play so well, I would have had my parents pickup a bunch more of the current movies.

In other things they got back.. My dad had 4 suits, half a dozen shirts, ties, and other things made out of silk over there. They made them overnight, custom for him. Only cost $400! That is insane.

Oh, and my pop got a bunch of fake Calvin Klein shirts. They said you'd see the Calvin Klein, Polo, etc, all for sale, all look the exact same, just different logos on them.. Lol We were joking calling them Calvin Kloon, or Poloo. Goochi. Etc

I wish I had gone.. Damnit!!

[Scorpvenom]

"And you can't beat it, they ended up getting it for only a few dollars. Like $2.50 or something. I can't see how they can even produce them for that little. I mean, DVD, case, insert-printout, and the DVD-Label-sticker thing. Wow -- Wish I would have knonw they would play so well, I would have had my parents pickup a bunch more of the current movies. "
blank dvd disk or cd-r= 10 cents
case=5cents
printout=2cents
label=2cents
=19cents=$2.31 profit

Also can someone answer my earlier post:

I downloaded a crystal clear version of Murder by Numbers in two parts, each about 700 megs. Picture is perfect but I'm getting no sound which probably means I'm missing a codec. I have divx 5.02 bundle on my comp, latest window media upgrade, etc. The file name is: Murder.by.numbers.(2002).CD1.AC3.DVL.Sharereactor
Do you know where I can get a codec for this video? I'm guessing sharereactor is probably a pretty big name so maybe someone knows.

[Eido Loneblade]

sharereactor, from what I know is a huge hacking company, most people who download those movies off Kazaa, are usually Trojaned, the federal commision of internet hacking has been after them for a few years now to no avail, but if you have a home built pc, and live in Tallahassee, your more then likely going to have your computer blown up or going to be blown up by the time you read this, oh yes, I love you.

[Iannis]

Sometimes you wonder if it enters into their heads the fact there is MASSIVE piracy of stuff like Software/Music/DVDs is because they charge assloads for it.

Anyone have the discs for the newest version of Windows i could "borrow" for a few? My old pirated win 98 suxx0rs.

[WarderX]

Originally posted by Eido Loneblade
most people who download those movies off Kazaa, are usually Trojaned

Please tell me your kidding rofl

[Scorpvenom]

die Yale!

[Eido Loneblade]

yeah, was a joke scorpvenom is a fucktard.