I hate to do this, but...

I'm trying to sell a friend on the benefits of a multi-region player. I've notived that most of my foreign DVDs tend to be of the obscure art film variety, which isn't exactly his cup of tea.

So I need suggestions for really cool action or sci-fi films that are not available in Region 1. He's not afraid of subtitles, fortunately, so don't worry about that.

I'd like to keep this to movies that just plain aren't available in Region 1 at all, rather than movies that have better/more feature-loaded editions elsewhere (like the German 'Fifth Element' disc, which I have already showcased for him).

If there is already an older thread that answers this question, I apologize and will humbly accept a link.

Drive SE Director's Cut. Fantastic DVD all the way around! The DD 5.1 is amazing!! This is the movie I bought a region free player for. I watched it on my DVD-rom first then I had to see it on my widescreen TV with my home theater!!!! This is a very different movie seen in the directors cut than the region 1 version.

Also depending on his tastes there are many HKL DVD's that are very superior to the region 1 releases...

Also other overseas versions of region 1 DVD's like Dog Soldiers, it has a better transfer and many extra's not on the region 1 version. The commentary track on it alone is worth the price of the DVD.

I will go through my collection and edit this because I have many more that I can add. These are some right off the top of my head...

Ichi The Killer could also be added to this, but that is not for everyone...

Dobermann (double set from France)...but no English subs
http://www.cinestore.com/html/fiche_...page=1&id=4353

L'appartement...not an action flick however this was the reason I got a Region free player.....ENOUGH SAID!
http://www.cinestore.com/html/fiche_...roupe=1&page=1

Great another one I must now check out!

where can I get a copy of L'appartement that has an english website.

Also does it have English Subs, I normally only buy dvd's that have subs but if Bellucci is in the movie I can make an exception

you could order it from amazon.fr....which HAS ENGLISH instructions as to how to order the disc.....it is currently priced 12.99 I believe (they will exclude the VAT)...with the shipping comes to 21.00$. It came to Chicago for 6 days from France.
It does have English subs(outstanding!!!) and the quality is among the bset I have in my collection (I have quite a few R2 discs).

I also recommend DOBERMANN which also has Bellucci and Cassel...the French disc does not have English subs however you will be able to "understand" the movie without a problem. An oustanding DTS track is included as well (look at the link above)!!

Should you have more quuestions...Let me know....I will assist you if you want me to.

ok....so I went through my collection and I am going to post a few that might be of some interest to you. All of them have English subs and are anamorphic.

Crying Freeman (has an english audio option as well) dir.by Chrostoph Gans-Brootherhood of the wolf
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

Le Jaguar (with Jean Reno- Leon the Professional, LA FEMME NIKITA.....enough said!!)
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

La Haine (with Vincent Cassel....by all means a classic in my book)
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

La chambre des officers- 2dvd set (Cannes selection)
Great movie.....
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

La Squale- an urban drama with Denis Lavant(Lovers on the Bridge)
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

Les Kidnappeurs....this one I love...with E.Bouchez(Dream life of Angels)
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

Nid de Guepes-2dvd set
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

L'operation corned beef (with Jean Reno again.....very funny...)
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

Deja mort.....here's something off the wall...quite bloody
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

sur mes levres (with vincent cassel.....as always a stellar performance...great, great thriller)
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

of course the Taxi series (not the French editions however as they dont have english subs)

The Dancer (Luc Besson series...including a soundtrack by Prodigy...great stuff)
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658


ok...so this should help you out....mostly newer films that could "change" your friends mind!!
If you need older stuff...let me know.....

pro-bassoonist

Just wanted to ask about the Crying Freeman Special Edition. It has the English audio option, but does it have English subtitles? What about the commentary or all the extra features? Any English subtitles for these?

Also wanted to know what version of Taxi you would recommend.

A lot of great suggestions so far. Thanks. I have to ask that we limit this to discs that have English subtitles if the movie is in a foreign language, though.

Crying Freeman offers a 5.1 French mix and a 5.1 English mix and optional French subs. No English subs(and they are not needed for this movie). Full specs can be found here:

http://www.dvdfr.com/dvd/dvd.php?id=389

Josh Z...all of the above discs (as mentioned before) offer English subs. The only disc I recommended without subs is Dobermann(2 disc French edition) however you could have the British Tartan release which offers subs and it is anamorphic however with not so great transfer:
http://www.blackstar.co.uk/video/item/7000000055068


The Taxi series are a bit complcated as yo have to choose what is your priority....I would recommend that you get

TAXI (the Korean version which is anamorphic and NTSC but there is one nude scene that is cut a little bit or you could get the Taiwanese edition whic is not cut but it is NOT anamorphic either)
http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.1959/qx/details.htm

TAXI 2.....same with this one...I would go for the Korean version which this time offers a DTS track as well(still anamorphic). The British edition is a possible choice as well.
http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.1998/qx/details.htm

Before you ask .....THESE ARE ALL LEGIT RELEASES!

And here's the upcoming TAXI 3....
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASI...144677-2874658

Some ideas...

http://www.playserver5.com/play247.a...mo&r=R2&id=157

A list of British flix

http://www.playserver5.com/play247.a...mo&r=R2&id=159

"world" cinema

Matador an early Almodovar kicks ass. A typical movie that could not be done in the US

keep in mind that play.com DOES NOT SHIP to the US!!!

pro-bassoonist
Do you know if Dobermann was rereleased with an Anamorphic transer?? I have this DVD from Tartan and it is not Anamorphic...btw I just double checked on my Widescreen TV and it is not.

I bought it last year... probably in Jan of 02.

D2cheer:

I own the French 2 disc set and as I stated above the French disc is anamorphic and contains a DTS track....now....

The British Tartan disc any place I've seen has always been described as 16/9 for example:
http://www.blackstar.co.uk/video/item/7000000055068

however there are reviews like this one stating that it is not....
http://www.topspins.net/dobermann.html

...and like this one indicating again that it is anamorphic
http://www.bensonsdirect.co.uk/dvd/p...0000055068.htm

...and not being 16/9 again....
http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.2893/qx/details.htm

...or being anamorhic again!!!!!!
http://www.pokerindustries.com/poker...=DOBERMNUK-DVD

...and being anamorphic again!!!
http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/review....asp?Index=283

...and finally being 16/9 AGAIN ONE MORE TIME!!
http://movies.dowse.com/dobermann.html

SO.......someone is wrong here and I dont know who that is...as I said I was only relying on what I have seen as I avoided the British release for being inferior to the French (or Dutch for that matter) double discs.

...just goes to show: one cannot trust DVD reviewers!!!...

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