As was noted earlier, IGN contacted GoFish and was notified of another version of GITS 2: Innocense that claimed to fix the problem. Those new editions have "V4" printed (I assume in white letters) on the spine of the dvd case. It should be noted that no retailer will have the V4 editions of Innocense until the regular editions are sold out. However, that same IGN reviewer has since received his V4 edition only to find that it does NOT solve the problems in the original disc.

That's very unfortunate and means I won't be purchasing GITS 2 in the near future.

The GITS SE, to me, doesn't have many worthwhile extras to necessitate a double dip. I would certainly recommend it to first-timers, but for those who already have the original version I'd say that's good enough. Unless you're like, an uber-fan of that overall series.

As for the topic of subtitles, I see subtitles the same way I see OAR. If I'm watching a tv show or movie or whatever, I want to view it AS THE DIRECTOR INTENDED. For example, I don't like when songs are replaced in tv shows, I don't like when aspect ratios are changed in dvd releases, and I absolutely can not tolerate Pan n Scan in any dvd. This ideal extends to subtitles, which, though not always a perfect translation, are often better than dubs since dubs change the actual text in order to fit lip movement. Moreover, it's my opinion that the original actors capture the atmosphere and emotions of the scene better than dub actors who aren't nearly as related to the project. So, do I hate dubs? Not at all. In fact some dubs are very well done, the best of them (imo) including Cowboy Bebop, Golden Boy, and The Big O. And in some rare cases, English is actually the dominant language of the film to begin with (as in Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust), making the Japanese track the dub. But overall, I think those who attribute the Japanese tracks with "screaming" must have a severely limited experience with anime or a stereotypical view of Japanese acting.

Look at the code in the inner ring of the disc, if it has "V4" near the end of it, you got a corrected disc. If it has "V2", you got the glitched disc.

So the only way to tell beforehand when buying would be to buy like a used one from Blockbuster and ask to inspect the disc, though it's likely they'll only have copies from the first wave, and no replacements. Just a thought.

Richard perhaps I was not clear in my posting. What I meant was that the english subs are more in line with the story bearing in mind that I don't understand Japanese. I post this thread when I was half way thru the DvD and have now completed viewing
and all this english subs make sense in the story telling. Yes the subs are actually for
the hearing impaired.

Eau will take up your suggestion to check for the V4 on the disc to verify but I am
sure I 've the correct DvD coz all the english subs makes sense.

All this aside the GITS DvD is sure one awesome piece of audio demo disc.

The translation has never been a problem with the subtitles on this movie. The problem has always been that the subtitles include descriptions of sound effects for the hearing impaired, which is fine if you're hearing impaired but really friggin' annoying if you're not.

Well you win some loose some. We are the fortunate ones but some aren't so we have
to bear with it right?

I've certainly got nothing against closed-captioning - given the small amount of disc space that subs require, I wish it was always included - but I think a proper English-sub track should also be included, particularly for a foreign-language film where the entire English speaking audience (not just the hearing impaired) will need a translation.

As for the translation itself, while this was never the subject of the "fixed" version, there's been some speculation that the English subs have dumbed-down the discourse. Not being a Japanese speaker, I can't say... just that I certainly hope this isn't true.

Your post made it perfectly clear that you do not have the fixed disc, and also that you have completely misunderstood what the problem is that everyone has been complaing about.

...This being the problem, of course.

EDIT: Why did I write this post more than 12 hours after the poster I was replying to had already responded to someone else making the same point? o_O The mind boggles.

In any case, Dreamworks meant to include a regular subtitle track on the DVD (in addition to the hearing impared track) but it got left out. This is an acknowledged mistake, and they have been issuing fixed versions of the DVD. It has nothing to do with us having to "bear with it" because "we are the fortunate ones" - the disc was intended to cater to both hearing impaired people <i>and</i> the rest of us, but someone screwed up.

It probably is...until the GITS: Innonence Music Anthology comes out later this year ;)

the corrected disc (mine is a mialer) has "D191757V4" on the inner ring on the readable side of the disc... it is laser etched, and difficult to read. but that wont help you to chose the correct one in the store.

thorn

Ah well, have checked the inner ring and it has D191757V2 etched on. I've got the
'everyone is complaining about' disc but what the hell I still enjoyed it very much.

Ignorance is a bliss ;)

It's not ignorance but I got no choice because I am not residing in the US
and getting an exchange is impossible. Will Dreamworks entertain overseas
replacement ? I doubt very much, so it ain't that blissful for me but 'to bear with it'

it may be in the thread or somewhere else, but has anyone a specific email address to write to in order to ask for my replacement...? thanks...

http://www.gofishpictures.com/GITS2/main.html

Go to section "The DVD" and click on "Questions About Your DVD".

Good luck. I tried 3 times and they never sent me a mailer envelope.

thanks, but thats the form for getting an envelope : they have my disc, have had for months. no replacement recieved though. i am in the uk and my supplier passed the disc along, they confirmed it was recieved (they sent cheque for cost of postage to me directly from the dvd company) but nothing since...

hey there. i email the discussion group editor for the film today and said it had been ages.... just got an email from my retailer in the states, and they got my replacement today - so its on its way! things changing or happening anywhere else...!?

Update:

I hadn't received my disk in 8 weeks and after receiving generic responses of "you should receive your disc in 2-3 weeks" I actually got a phone message today from them. It sounds like they did mail it out like 5-6 weeks ago, but I never received it. They confirmed my address (it was correct) and were resending it. Hopefully patience will pay off here....

i got my replacement (V4) disc a couple of days ago here in the UK. from what i did and the response, i would suggest emailing the official message board administrator at the forum for the film and just say "i havent got mine, cant find an email address to contact" - the day after i did this, mine was confirmed as being on its way.

havent checked the disc yet, but the clear plastic ring in the centre of the disc shows its the right version...

Further Update:

After they suppossedly sent out a couple discs to my home address, which I never seem to have received, they finally sent one to my work address and I received it today. Patience and persistance pays off.

I've tried twice over the past 4 months, and no envelope. This after waiting 8 months to buy what I'd hoped was corrected stock (but, of course, ending up with the close-captioned version).

I guess I'll fill it out again, but now I'm worried about sending my disc in!

This reminds me of the number of times I've had to return a Criterion disc for certain first pressing defects (the Hulot titles with incorrect 16x9 flags, "Last Temptation" for subs I think, and at least one or two others). In each case, I received a personal reply from Jon Mulvaney and the replacement disc within a week. No runaround, no waiting, no problem. The very opposite of my experience here.

There is a number you can call to get ahold of the people handling the returns, that was how I was able to my issue resolved. If you want, I can try to dig up the post-it note I had with the number on it.

It didn't do me any good the first time, but if people are having success (finally!) then post it please.

Okay, I dug through my notes and found it: 972-293-5903

Give that a shot.

Hey, it only took six months .... maybe I can finally change my signature?

Thank you for returning your <<Ghost in the Shell: 2>> DVD to us. You can expect
to receive your replacement disc within two to three weeks. We hope that you
will enjoy this and future DreamWorks releases.
Sincerely,

DreamWorks Home Entertainment

Just wanted to update everyone that the Ghost in the Shell 2 dvd that's coming out at the end of the month in region 2 will have a brand new English track from the cast of Stand Alone Complex. No more having to read (poorly done) subtitles and miss the gorgeous visuals.

They also get a much better cover:

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P...2.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Great .. another double dip .. actually triple if I dive into this one. Though I already have the Dreamworks R1 reissue (corrected subbing) and R2 Japanese First Pressing limited tin (I love the movie, what can I say).

The only thing that will hold me back from purchasing this would be the DTS track. Is it subbed? The Japanese version that I own has a DTS track but it's unsubbed :(.

I'm not sure if this UK R2 has DTS, but it is a 2-disc set, so it'll at least have some English-friendly extras. And I'm sure it'll have the original track with subs.

Just to put a capper on this, I did finally get my replacement from Dreamworks (long ago at this point), and with the non-CC subs it's a fantastic presentation of the film.

Some of you may remember questions regarding the sub translations, whether they truly expressed the full scope and complexity of the dialog. Having seen it a few more times - and not speaking Japanese - I don't perceive any "dumbing down" of the discourse. Of course, not speaking Japanese I don't know for sure, but as certain words are recognizable (references to Milton, etc.) one can at least sorta follow. And though I've put my mind at rest regarding this aspect, it would be interesting to compare the subs from the R2 release. Or, I suppose, the dub-track, though those are typically altered in all manner of annoying ways. At any rate, translation is especially important in a film that traffics in such complex ideas, so I think it's at least worth looking at.

New disc : Blu-ray version
 

http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/.../ironpcchef-22
http://www.movies.co.jp/blu-ray/

On sale : 20061206
Sub : 2004ver / jp / en / fr / kr / tw
Extra contents :
1. Audio commentary ( Mamoru Oshii X Toshihiko Nishikubo )　
2. Music video `` Innocence-no_Joukei ''　
3. Making movie
4. Mamoru Oshii X Mitsuhisa Ishikawa `` Did Innocence over the nationality ? ''　
5. Trailers ( for Japan and other countries )

All the Blu Ray Japanese discs will carry a retail price of 4700Yen,
but Innocence will be 7800Yen. What is up with that......

It's clearly 66% better than regular movies.

Authoring of Blu-ray version
 

Compressionist Murai the expert adjusts the parameter .

The head of Sony Pictures Entertainment as the novice or buisiness person
thinks 18M bps MPEG2 for Blu-ray is enough .
But Mr. Murai belongs to Sony PCL .
Innocence will be encoded at 37.5M bps .

Is is too bad , MPEG4 AVC/H.264 is not supported for this release .
But Mr. Murai and one of the creator of Innocence meant
`` I am satisfied for this quality of The MPEG2 for the art of Innocence '' .

http://www.google.com/search?num=100...83g&lr=lang_ja

I have a question about this movie... has anyone bought it recently from a store and received the proper version, or is the only way to get one with the correct english track to buy the messed up one and then send for a replacement? I'm talking the standard version, not HD.

I want to get Ghost in the Shell SAC and would love to have this as well, but have never bought it due to this subbing problem.

I would think at this point that if you buy from any major retailer, especially online, that they'd have gone through a restock on this once or twice, and would have the corrected version. I know that Best Buy, at one point, pulled all of theirs and put out new ones (from what a Media Dept. Manager told me). Hold off no longer!

Sorry for bringing back an ancient thread, but I didn't see any other related ones recently...

Does anyone know if there's a way to still to exchange one of the closed captioned DVDs for a corrected one? I recently bought one used and unfortunately it was the old version.

Everything I've found on the net points to the old webpage for the exchange program which is no longer there...

Thanks!

what a ******.

That was useful, thank you!!

---

Reggie .. you might want to try the aftermarket at this point. It appears that the corrected version is no longer being honored by Dreamworks, but hey, I'd be interested to find out myself.

There are quite a few copies of the film out there (on the cheap); amazon marketplace, half.com, ebay, wherever. You might want to make an attempt at contacting some of the sellers before considering a buy.

The only two stipulations that I would suggest going that route would be 1) make sure they respond specifically about the gofish exchange program and 2) that they themselves will accept a refund if it turns out not to be the one with the corrected subtitling.

Good luck ..