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What's the typical DVD quality found in "exotic" countries?

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What's the typical DVD quality found in "exotic" countries?

Old 12-29-07, 08:14 PM
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What's the typical DVD quality found in "exotic" countries?

I do a lot of traveling and I also love finding new DVD webstores from "exotic" countries, and I'm always curious to see what kind of DVDs they carry and the quality of the DVD itself, if they even have any at all. Can anyone break down the typical quality of a DVD from a country that's not so well-known for having a big DVD industry (basically not from North America, UK, Europe, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, China, India). For example, what's the typical DVD like found in Jamaica, Africa, U.A.E., Saudia Arabia, St. Kitts & Nevis, Albania, Peru, Cuba, Vietnam, Israel, Malta, etc?

I do know that the Philippines and Egypt have similar quality DVDs - usually Full Screen, usually stereo audio, rarely non-anamorphic widescreen, and usually English subtitles.

Has anyone else sampled a DVD from an "exotic" country and is able to sum up what their typical DVD quality is like?
Old 12-30-07, 09:51 AM
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They're usually bootlegs.

And as far as the official releases go...well, the political climate in the countries you've listed usually means you can expect censorship of some degree as well.
Old 12-30-07, 07:14 PM
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"Exotic"??? WTF! Why don't you just come out and say 3rd World? You already excluded Thailand in your initial statement.

I know a lot of places don't have big DVD markets (mostly a cost issue) - you can get Indonesian films on DVD in Indonesia, but the vast majority of the market is still VCD. I have a couple Korean films on Indonesian DVDs with subs - Musa (2 disc "SE") and 2009: LM. I'd have to check the quality again, but I don't recall having any specific complaints at the time.
Old 12-30-07, 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by toddly6666
I do a lot of traveling and I also love finding new DVD webstores from "exotic" countries, and I'm always curious to see what kind of DVDs they carry and the quality of the DVD itself, if they even have any at all. Can anyone break down the typical quality of a DVD from a country that's not so well-known for having a big DVD industry (basically not from North America, UK, Europe, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, China, India). For example, what's the typical DVD like found in Jamaica, Africa, U.A.E., Saudia Arabia, St. Kitts & Nevis, Albania, Peru, Cuba, Vietnam, Israel, Malta, etc?

I do know that the Philippines and Egypt have similar quality DVDs - usually Full Screen, usually stereo audio, rarely non-anamorphic widescreen, and usually English subtitles.

Has anyone else sampled a DVD from an "exotic" country and is able to sum up what their typical DVD quality is like?
I'm from the Philippines and I can say that the DVDs released here are usually anamorphic widescreen, rarely full screen, rarely stereo audio only..

We don't really have a big DVD industry given that we are a third-world country and most people here still prefer VCDs because they're cheaper and they don't know better.. Also, piracy is rampant here..

This past year we've had some excellent releases like the Superman UCE Tin, The Departed Steelbook, the Transformers Steelbooks and Transforming Case, Rome Season One and Season Two Wooden Box Sets and Casino Royale (DTS)..

The problems we encounter here are usually in the packaging side when it comes to regular releases-- ugly amarays, bad cover art-- but the audio and video quality are normally at par with other regions..

We have 4 distributors here.. Warner Philippines distributes Warner Bros. movies and most TV shows like Smallville, Rome, Supernatural and Studio 60.. Magnavision Inc. releases titles from Universal, Paramaount, Dreamworks and Sony and just recently, TV shows like Heroes and House and also Blu-Ray titles.. Viva Video releases titles from Disney/Miramax, Fox and Buena Vista TV shows like Lost, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.. C-Interactive is the 4th distributor, releasing titles from New Line, Dimension and Focus Features..

Of these 4 distributors, Warner and Magnavision usually release quality DVDs.. Viva Video and C-Interactive releases on the other hand suffer from bad packaging and sub-par a/v quality from time to time.. We usually avoid C-Interactive releases here because they are usually DVD-5 and some are full screen.. We sometimes avoid Viva Video releases as well especially if they aren't from Disney/Miramax or Fox..

For more on releases from the Philippines, check out our forum here and our online store here ..

Last edited by NewaM; 01-02-08 at 03:10 AM.
Old 12-31-07, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by toddly6666
I do know that the Philippines and Egypt have similar quality DVDs - usually Full Screen, usually stereo audio, rarely non-anamorphic widescreen, and usually English subtitles.

Even though bootlegs are rampant in the PI; their legit stuff is up to par with what is available in the U.S. Your just talking out of your ass with blanket statements like that.

https://www.pinoydvd.biz/index.php
Old 12-31-07, 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by mrhan
Even though bootlegs are rampant in the PI; their legit stuff is up to par with what is available in the U.S. Your just talking out of your ass with blanket statements like that.

https://www.pinoydvd.biz/index.php
Just wish more of them had subs -- the legit, official versions that is - such as "Big Time."

Last edited by Tuan Jim; 01-02-08 at 08:01 AM.
Old 01-02-08, 02:24 AM
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A reminder to anyone tempted to post about bootlegs is that Geoff has said that this is off limits. There is no need to debate the point because that was the public ruling and it has not been revoked. Thank you all in advance for your cooperation and understanding.
Old 01-03-08, 05:35 AM
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Tuan Jim, because I didn't mean third world countries - I meant exotic countries when I said exotic countries...I only added Thailand very soon after my original post, because I forgot what great quality DVDs they have. I consider India practically third world, but they have a pretty good DVD industry. Or Israel is not Third World, and I have no idea about their DVDs...South American countries, such as Brazil have pretty good DVDs I hear, I just don't know myself cuz I don't own one DVD from South America.
Old 01-03-08, 05:11 PM
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I just came back from Colombia and I had made a big list of films to check out on DVD. I thought that legit copies would be relatively cheap but when I went to the mall, they were $25 a pop so I only bought 3.

"La Vendedora de Rosas" (1998) and "Rodrigo D. No Futuro" (1990) by Victor Gaviria, and "Sonar No Cuesta Nada" (2006) by Rodrigo Triana.

But they are all still wrapped. Not much technical info on the back though. The first two only mention Idioma: Espanol, Subtitulos: Ingles, duration, year and regions 1 & 4.
The other one has: Menu interactivo, seleccion de escenas, Idioma: Espanol, Subtitulos: Ingles, duration, zone 4, dolby digital 2.0, Detras de Camaras. Nothing about aspect ratio or widescreen/anamorphic.
Old 01-03-08, 06:39 PM
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the majority of DVDs in Saudia Arabia are more like bootlegs.lots of them are censored.except for like Music DVDs and BBC series/movies.bottom line, don't buy anything from there....wait! why even go there?!!?!?!
Old 01-03-08, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Vandelay_Inds
Poor choices, in my opinion. I dislike the work of V. Gaviria.
I'll let you know if I agree with you or not after I watch them.

One aspect in which they're superior to American releases is that they place some foam in the case between the DVD and the insert in order to prevent the disk from becoming dislodged and scratched. Why can't American studios do that!?!
I thought that was a good idea. Except for the lack of consistency. One case had two foam pads, one had one, and the other none.

Also, where did you go that they charged you $25 for those DVDs? The two Gaviria movies you bought are from the collection I mention, and they generally go for $25,000COP, or around $12. Maybe they detected a french accent and charged you double? The other one is currently available at Amazon for $15.
Didn't have time time to shop around. Bought them at a music store in Oviedo mall in Medellin the night before I left. Went there because I remembered seeing some Colombian films (in that 'Lo Mejor Del Cine Colombiano' series) in that store on a prior visit. Also the selection was limited, and few titles had english subs.
Old 01-04-08, 02:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Vandelay_Inds

There is a greater selection at some stores in Bogotá. Better prices too. Though Medellín is the nicest of the two cities.
I was supposed to spend Xmas week with a friend in Bogota (and do my DVD shopping there) but her father was in the hospital and that plan got scratched. I ended up staying 5 weeks in Medellin and had a blast there. Really friendly people and those 'paisas', hmmm...

I'm curious, are you from Colombia and/or did you spend a lot of time there? PM me if you prefer.
Old 01-06-08, 01:47 PM
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I know a good amount of people with Israeli dvds (I might even have one or two). They're fine and not an issue.
Old 01-06-08, 02:18 PM
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jPoD TGN,
they are fine and not an issue? I know that no one wants to talk about it, but it's time for Israeli DVDs and Palestinian DVDs to share the same DVD shelf...


On a side but related note to Israeli DVDs, I've had bad experiences with Jewish DVDs:
1. At an Israeli film festival in NYC, they were selling Israeli/Hebrew DVDs of supposedly well-known Israeli films at the front desk and they were charging at least 50 bucks for cheapest one. I'm jewish, but come on - there's no way that any of their films or DVD quality is worth spending that much.
2. One time I walked into one of those NYC Jewish Hallmark-type bookstores, where you can buy hebrew books and menorahs. I was just curious and I knew I was gonna get a no, but I asked the rabbi-looking salesperson if he's got The Adventures of Rabbi David on DVD there, and he said "we don't carry movies here." I walked further into the store, and found tons of jewish movies/cartoons/comedian-type Jackie Mason DVDs in the back. So the dude was lying and thought I was being anti-semite, when in turn he was being rascist to a jew he thought was not jewish...

Last edited by toddly6666; 01-06-08 at 02:27 PM.
Old 01-06-08, 03:00 PM
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You seem like a real idiot...
Old 01-06-08, 05:21 PM
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jPoD_TGN, wow, u sure are serious! Lighten up!
Old 01-06-08, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by toddly6666
jPoD_TGN, wow, u sure are serious! Lighten up!
No. Nothing you said was remotely funny. It was pretty idiotic, actually.
Old 01-06-08, 05:54 PM
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jPoD_TGN, you got something against Palestinian DVDs?

okay, I'll apologize for not being funny. What was I thinking? Thank you for bringing that up. It's a good thing that we have fellow posters like you to keep people like me in line with calling posters unfunny idiots. I'm glad you left the Porn DVD Talk to come post in here. Bravo! A true hero.
Old 01-06-08, 06:05 PM
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Porn DVD Talk? Are you serious?
Old 01-06-08, 06:07 PM
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"Adult" DVD talk for the children's ears...
Old 01-06-08, 06:08 PM
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If you want to avoid a suspension, both of you knock it off NOW.
Old 01-06-08, 06:20 PM
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Can anyone comment on the quality of Mexican DVDs? I've noticed in smaller DVD stores in USA that they have a pretty generous amount of NTSC Region 1 Mexican movies/soap operas on DVD, but I have no idea about the quality. On the front covers, they sometimes say "Subtitled in English". They are also usually cheaper, usually ranging from 5 to 10 bucks depending on the quality of the film itself (soap operas seem to be more expensive because you end up paying for the many episodes).
Old 01-06-08, 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by benedict
If you want to avoid a suspension, both of you knock it off NOW.
What in the hell have I done? This guy's attacking me for no reason. His comments are completely ridiculous...He destroyed the thread.
Old 01-07-08, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by jPoD_TGN
What in the hell have I done? This guy's attacking me for no reason. His comments are completely ridiculous...He destroyed the thread.
I'm not sure what your problem is but forum rules are that you can not insult another member and you called him an idiot twice. I think the moderator has already mentioned it.

Toddly as for your mexican dvd question, is a mixed bag, some are really good, some average and some are really bad. it really depends on the film and it also depends on the company producing them. I got a few mexican dvds and they go from very good to poor but I've also seen a lot of boots of these films that look almost identical to the legit ones so I rather just get them from a place I know is 100% legit so that means usually not corner stores or mexican supermarkets since there are always a lot of boots around.

In south america, I think brazil has the best with sometimes extras having multilanguage subs or at least english (this is becoming more popular), Argentina is more a mixed bag as well but newer titles are getting better treatment.

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