The Plague Dogs

Discussion of non-Disney DVD and Blu-ray.
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Siren
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The Plague Dogs

Post by Siren »

I know there is a small circle of people who know of the animated movie, "Plague Dogs" (pretty much, Paka and I). Anyways, I have kept an eye out for the uncut DVD of this movie. In all truth, I don't care if it was bootlegged so long as the quality was good.

The USA VHS version is cut.
But the UK VHS version is not. The UK also released it to DVD, uncut.

I noticed a seller on Ebay has an UNCUT version listed. And it says Region 1, so likely bootlegged. I asked them how long it is and they said 82 minutes. So I caught them before I bidded on it. The uncut version is a little over 90 minutes. Also their feedback is riddled with neg feedback of them being VHS copies, poor quality, bootlegs, and so on. They also didn't answer my questions about cover art. I asked them if it had cover art. The answer I get, "It has DVD menus". I've reported them to ebay 3 times and they are STILL there. It just rips me they get away with it. So anyways, here is the DVD: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 16231&rd=1
If it wasn't for the fact that they would leave ME neg feedback because I would leave them some, I'd buy it just to give them another neg feedback and have them kicked off of ebay. I just hate dishonesty, especially when it comes to something so rare. Anyways, by NO means buy ANYTHING from ebay seller: ama_genia If they are willing to sell a few bad DVDs and not be honest, who knows what else they'll do.
orestes.

Post by orestes. »

I want that on DVD. :) One reason I don't want to use eBay is because of people like him. If I ever used eBay it would be for something other than DVDs.

I wonder why they haven't released it in R1 yet? Fools. :P

Edit: actually I remember reading it is on DVD in R1 but cut of course. I meant uncut. :)
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Post by Siren »

I've bought a lot of stuff and so far, all has been wonderful. Haven't had to leave even neutral feedback. :)

It's a matter of educating yourself. The seller puts up NO pictures, which is a huge gamble on the part of the bidder.

I got all I needed to know about Plague Dogs from here: http://www.plaguedogs.homestead.com/ It will tell you the EXACT differences between the UK and USA versions.

it has not been released in DVD at all, in the USA. So seeing it says Region 1, it is 100% bootleg.

Edit:Since ebay has done NOTHING. I went on their message boards to tell people about the seller and that ebay hadn't done anything. A hour later it's taken down and I get an email for going against their policy....HOW IRONIC!
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Post by deathie mouse »

I'm also interested in getting the uncut version. ;)

:twisted:


I think the uncut length is 103 minutes and in PAL speedup that would be 99 minutes.

I think the UK dvd is the shorter version.





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orestes.

Post by orestes. »

I've seen a version out there that was R1 and that was on the Amazon UK site. This was a little while back so I can't be 100% sure but would that site sell a bootleg?
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Post by Siren »

If Amazon and not a private seller is selling then it is most certainly NOT a bootleg. Amazon.com is too big a corporation to get involved in that.
orestes.

Post by orestes. »

Here's the DVD that I was tlaking about:

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B ... 85-7913934

It's an R1 release of the movie and even though it doesn't say if it is cut or niut I'm guessing it is.

This version can be found on Amazon UK's site as well as their Canadian site. I don't believe the American site has it.
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Post by Siren »

Amazon.com has a site for it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 03-7260739

But only to notify you IF and when it is released :( It brought my hopes up for a moment and everything!

But that's neat to know it's in Canada and thus, Region 1. So I was wrong about that part and happily wrong. I have a bootleg of the DVD, but it's the cut version. And it works perfectly. Probably is a copy of the Canada version then anyways :roll:
Sunset Girl

Post by Sunset Girl »

I actually read about this film years ago and got very interested in seeing it. That was before the days of DVD and I sort of gave up on it.

Now that you've refreshed my memory and provided a link, I'm more interested than ever. But I don't wanna have to put up with an unedited version. :(
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Post by Siren »

I watched the edited version for years. Only heard of the uncut version about 4 years ago and I am obsessed at finding it. But I still like watching the USA version.

Just to warn you, it is a depressing movie. I got one of my friend's to borrow it one day. She said after watching it "It's horrible! Just when you think they might get a break, they don't. (edited out her comments on the ending, which were funny)" All in all, she was disappointed. I like it because it doesn't say ALL animal experimentation is bad. It focuses on those "scientists" who experiment for all the wrong reasons...no reason. For instance, Rowf, the labrodor was born in the labratory. He never knew what it was like to have a master. And what was he born for? So they could drop him into a water tank daily, just to see how long he lasted. After he would drown, and literally die, they would pull him up and bring him back to life and put him in the kennel to rest for the next day to do it all over again.
Sunset Girl

Post by Sunset Girl »

Siren wrote:Just to warn you, it is a depressing movie.
Which is why I'm so interested, I think. I go for that type of movie at times. I already read the script, and it looks like this was created to really make one think.

I'm also a big John Hurt fan and enjoyed the first Watership Down.
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Post by Ballzo »

Ebay is a dirty breeding ground for bootlegs and false advertisements!
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Sunset Girl

Post by Sunset Girl »

Which is why it pays to keep informed of what the official releases look like!
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Post by Ballzo »

Tru Dat!
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orestes.

Post by orestes. »

Sunset Girl wrote:
Siren wrote:Just to warn you, it is a depressing movie.
Which is why I'm so interested, I think. I go for that type of movie at times. I already read the script, and it looks like this was created to really make one think.

I'm also a big John Hurt fan and enjoyed the first Watership Down.
Ah you mentioned 'Watership Down'! I love that movie. :)
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Post by Paka »

Whee! A Plague Dogs thread! Nice one, Siren! 8)

Oy, do I have a history with this film... heh. I'm actually a very new fan to it - I'd heard and read a lot about it, but never got around to seeing it. Then I spotted it (the cut version, of course... e_e) in Hollywood Video, of all places. That was only this past spring; April 17th, actually - I logged it on a fan page's guestbook. :P I'm so bent on finding a good copy of the uncut edition that I've promised someone I'd marry him if he found me one. :D As was said before, the uncut film clocks in at 99 minutes on a PAL video... so about 103 minutes for an NTSC rate. And the cut U.S. version runs at 86 minutes, including credits. :x

At this excellent PD fan page there's a very detailed listing of which scenes were cut. What I can't figure out, for the life of me, is WHY they were cut. Very few of them are violent - in fact, some of the goriest scenes, and all of the profanity - however light, like "hells" and "damns" - were left intact. I can't think that they'd do it for time purposes, either. The choices for the cuts are so spastic and random... they even cut Rowf's very poignant last words in the film - again, for reasons only gawd knows. The words aren't offensive or controversial in the least... they're in fact very sad, profound, and moving. So why they were cut is absolutely beyond my comprehension.

But yeah - it's a beautiful movie. And it's an incredible anomaly for an animated film. It's mature, unflinching, bleak - and it's about talking animals. You most certainly do not see those kinds of themes in a talking animal cartoon too often... at least not often in "Western" animation! It has some very profound messages, because it's not exactly as cut and dry as a "animals good, people bad" story - it shows the grays more often than not. Dunno if I'd recommend it for a kid to watch, but it's certainly refreshing brain food for adults. Hehe...

Now as for something related to the initial topic... ;) Just last July, I took the dumb chance on getting a bootleg on eBay that was loudly advertized as uncut (the seller had one of those uber-glitzy auction pages... :roll:) - and over 40 bucks later... whaddaya know? It's cut. :evil: So I tried through several email attempts to return the DVD, but the seller was being shady and evasive. To this day I still have that freakin' DVD. When I muster the energy I'd still like to bug the dang seller again until he gives me my 40 bucks back. :lol:

So I think Siren's original message is very clear here, kids - don't bother trying to find bootleg alternate versions of films on eBay. It can only end in pain! ;)
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Post by Siren »

Paka>I knew you'd love this. :)

I also bought a bootleg DVD. I got it at Mega-Con a few years ago. It was one of those sellers that had 2 for $30 and 4 for $50 or something like that. Anyways, it was cheap. And the good thing about getting it in person, they had a tv and dvd player right there. I handed him the DVD and told him to play it. I did so and then gave me the remote so I can go to any scene I liked to make sure it's not just the beginning that looks good. Ironic how a bootlegger prides himself so much on how good his illegal copies are, LOL. I got Song of the South from him too. And WOW, does it look good!! It still has that VHS look to it, as in color and lighting. Like watching my old Sleeping Beauty VHS that is in NEAR MINT condition and then watching the DVD and comparing. For a copy of something never released to DVD as of yet, it's good.

So when it comes to bootleg, go with convention dealers always. But you didn't hear that from me.
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Post by ichabod »

Bump-bump-bumpetty-bump

This seems like the best place as any,

The full uncut version of the Plague Dogs has been passed by the BBFC. There is a new rights holder in the UK, Optimum releasing, the studio that releases the Ghibli stuff here in the UK so they will probably do it justice.

THE PLAGUE DOGS Video Feature
Classified 19 June, 2007 . Run Time 99m 9s
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Post by 2099net »

Siren, just for you, here is the review of the new UK Plague Dogs DVD. It's an incredibly well written analysis of the film.

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=66725

Looks like the Australian release is the one to get though.

I know this was in off-topic, I've moved it to General DVD, but even now, it doesn't really fit (it is about R1 or R2? It starts with an Ebay warning for presumable R0 discs)
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
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Post by Siren »

Great review! Best yet, thanks! The screen shots are pure beauty.

And yes, Australian DVD is the probably the best one to get to see the WHOLE movie as it was originally intended. Most computers with DVD capability can switch regions a few times before it is permanent. However, there are free programs you can get to turn your computer permanently region free. Then if you have a DVD-R, you can burn the movie to a DVD that can play on any DVD player you have :)

About the movie itself, about its ending....

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!
The book ends happily. But the movie is far from that. Some people feel (or want to believe) the dogs make it across the water to an island, to safety. IMO, they both drown, the "island" they see is Heaven and they are forever released from their pain and misery. A bittersweet ending.
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