CAREFUL OF REGION 2 DVDs!!!

[Jules]

Be informed that Region 2 is inferior to Region 1!

I live in Malta, Europe and almost all Disney DVDs here are Region 2.

Two years ago I bought "The Fantasia DVD Collection" on Region 2.
This was the European equivalent of "The Fantasia Anthology" in the US.
I was deeply disappointed with it.

It has similair packaging to the Region 1 but neither films (Fantasia/Fantasia 2000) are THX-Certified.

Fantasia 2000 is OK but the picture quality of Fantasia is ATROCIOUS!
Don't think it has a restoration like that of Snow White!

Or rather, Fantasia DOES have a restoration like that of Snow White, but it's exhibited ONLY in the Region 1 DVD!

But not in European Region 2!

Recently Region 2 has improved, but some faults are still present:

-Packaging is not as attractive as Region 1
-In Europe, the Platinum Editions are not called Platinum Editions, but simply 2 Disc Special Editions. Normally they have similair cover art to the Region 1 US edtions (except Bambi and Beuty and the Beast) but the words PLATINUM EDITION will be replaced with 2-Disc Special Edition. And on top you see "Walt Disney Classics" which I think appears only on Region 2 DVDs.

Last point:

Recently I bought Pocahontas 2 Disc Special Edition in Region 2 (Equivalent of 10th Anniversary Edition in US) and (obviously since it is Region 2) it was not THX-Certified. After taking the disc twice out of the box IT STARTED CRACKING AT THE CENTRE!

AND THE CRACK ALMOST REACHED THE DATA AREA OF THE DVD!

This had already happened with my region 2 Lion King 2Disc Special Edition and Region 2 Aladdin Special Edition, But not as severely as this!

However even Lion King and Aladdin were bad and I was angry about them.

In fact, initially, when The Lion King started cracking for me, I managed to get a replacement from the shop, but when months after the replacement ALSO started to crack, I realised that this happens to ALMOST every Region 2 Disney DVD.

Actually, all the Region 2 Discs in my Disney DVD collection are all cracking...

I've managed to collect 19 animated classics so far, over a period of 2 years and a half, and three quarters of them are Region 2!

Disney DVDs are very expensive!

I hope I have helped with my comments.
Thank You

-Julian

[271286]

I dont know how the quality of the R2 fantisia collection is, but I was not impressed by the R1 actually, I dont think the Fantasia got the same restoration as Snow White either actually... That might be why the quality is not that impressive on either R1 og R2...

Yes the R2 dvds often suck compared to the R1s... The covers are sometimes a bit better in R1, at lest when it comes to the packaging, the Platinum line is amazing in R1, and a bit less impressve (packaging-wise) in R2....

When it comes to picture quality, R2 has actually in some cases prooved to be better than the R1 releases... The transfer for The Incredibles is said to be best in the R2 release actually... Also the Bambi transfer, so I think Buena Vista in R2 Countries have actually improved... BV UK I mean... I've had it with BV Nordic never gonna buy one of the crappy DK Disney releases again...

When it comes to bonusmaterial R1 is almost always superior to R2. R2UK often gets the same bonus materials as R1, but not always... Sometimes R2 gets better bonus materials than R1 like the latest Tarzan release... which was a 2-disc release in R2 countries but only 1-disc in R1... But in most cases R1 is superior... Like with the releases of Alice In Wonderland, Brother Bear and probably a lot more that I cant think of now it's too late...

[271286]

BTW Julian - Welcome to the forum...

[Enchantress]

Cracked DVDs? That's pretty scary actually. I don't think any of my DVDs have cracked....hopefully!

[271286]

None of my Disney dvds have "cracked" either... only one but that was because I broke it when puttin it in the stupid keepcase lock...

So I dont know maybe the dvds in Malta are a bad quality comprared to the rest of Europe? Are all your disney R2 dvds produced in Malta? Or maybe it's just becuase of the heat...

[PatrickvD]

All of my region 2 discs are fine. And Fantasia never received the lowry digital restoration like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Bambi and Lady and the Tramp.

[Jules]

No. DVDs in Malta should be the same ones of the UK.

Wow then. So Region 2 is not a bad as I though!?

To be fair, in terms of picture quality, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Alice in Wonderland are all very good even though they're not THX-Certified.


But my DVDs Do crack! Even though I take good care of them. Maybe IT IS the keepcase centre hook that is contributing to the problem... like you said (Mermaid Avatar).

But then it should happen to Region 1 DVDs aswell.

Oh! And I'm surprised that that Fantasia didn't get the restoration.

On the DVD Review on this site, it says that its looks REALLY GOOD, and it is THX-Certified.

I don't know, maybe it looked good 6 years ago....
[/quote]

[271286]

But my DVDs Do crack! Even though I take good care of them. Maybe IT IS the keepcase centre hook that is contributing to the problem...

Exactly... the centerhook for the 2nd disc can make the dvds break in the center... This happened to both my first copies of Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Lion King bonus disc... I think that the cases used for R1 and R2 are diffirent, are they not?

Aslo I think THX refersto the sound of the movie not the picture quality.

[vojna]

Hi there. Im from Prague, the Czech Republic. Here we can buy the same DVD´s like in the UK, cause we are the same region, R2.

In R2 you can buy all the movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 (Robin Hood, So Dear to My Heart etc.). In the US R1 are many movies on DVD in MONO only. That sucks a bit. Im talking about older releases. I dont understand why in Europe we got 5.1 surrouns dound and in the US, where the sound was probably mix, they got only MONO. Thats is really SAD!

But I have to admit that the new R1 releases are just great. I like the Cinderella Collectors Edition Box Set. That just superior. But what has happend with THX Certification. I miss it! There is no THX logo on Cinderella, Bambi 2 or Landy and the Tramp a recently purchased.

And about that cracked DVD´s. I got only one DVD with cracked center. This DVD is from REGION 1 and its special edition of Pirates of the Caribbean. Its cracked because my cousin played that DVD on a portable DVD player. BEWARE OF IT, these machines are really dangerous.

So can anybody tell me where has gone the THX certification from recent DVD releases? THANX

[271286]

So can anybody tell me where has gone the THX certification from recent DVD releases? THANX

For what I know it has been replaced by Disney's own "Disney Enhanced Home Theatre Mix" certification...

[Jordan]

Wow, it's weird... I mean, in france we're Region 2 too and the qaulity of the DVDs is excellent (no crack or anything...). And the picture quality of the 1st Fantisia is the same in both R1 and 2 (Region 2 as in UK and France...).

Plus, picture quality is always a little better in region 2 than in region 1 because of the difference between PAL and NTSC. Film in the PAL system has got more frames per second than the NTSC system and the image look a little better in region 2 (but in general, it's only apparant if you are really careful in the quality and has a rather good home theater equipement).

About THX-certification, let me tell you that it's crap and doesn't mean anything ! It's just a stupid label from Lucas Film Corporation and some movies do not have the certification because of copyright pb with Lucas Film... And, at the end of the day, a non-THX-certifed movie is not diferrent from some THX-certified ones.

And, in Europe, the 2-Disc SE of Pocahontas was THX-certified !...

About the packging, in Region 2 France, we have great and beautiful digipacks so I do not feel concerend about your saying Europe has crappy packagings...

Anyway, you may have the feeling that in Malta, Disney DVDs are crap compared to US's, but please, do not include "European" DVDs, beacuse I don't really do about Malta, but I can assure you than Region 2 DVDs (again, as in UK and France) have really similar DVDs than in the US, and it's not crap.

Of course, all this speech refers to comparisons bewten R1 and R2 DVDs on the same type of releases (meaning, for ex, R1 Special Edition of a movie VS R2 Special Edition of a movie...)

Oh and here's a link that can be helpful to you, it's got comparisons of DVDs by the diferrent regions and tells you the best one for the movie you've chosen: http://www.dvdcompare.net

[Jordan]

So can anybody tell me where has gone the THX certification from recent DVD releases? THANX

For what I know it has been replaced by Disney's own "Disney Enhanced Home Theatre Mix" certification...

Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, as opposed to Lucas Film's THX, is not ONLY a certification, since the DEHTM is a real Dolby Digital sound track "enhanced" by Disney. Whereas THX is not a "track", it's just a crappy certification and at the end only present a standart Dolby Digital track just like in any other movie that is not THX-certified...

Anyway, my point is: THX is just marketing and NOT a sound quality proof !

[Jules]

Anyway, my point is: THX is just marketing and NOT a sound quality proof!

Wow I'm shocked. I would have though Lucasfilm were more serious.

And yes I noticed that Cinderella has no THX-certificate and I remember thinking that however it looks as good as all the other Platinum Editions.

PS: I managed to aquire Cinderella in Region 1 from 'Exotique'. A DVD store in Valletta. I'm so lucky I came across it! All my other Platinums our Region 2.

And, in Europe, the 2-Disc SE of Pocahontas was THX-certified !...

But Jordan, my Pocahontas is Region 2, I've looked all over the box and scrutinized everywhere and searched the DVD files and it still is not THX-Certified!

[/quote]

[2099net]

THX just means that the audio and visuals of the presentation is the best possible from the sources used. It's important to read that statement carefully, as a THX approved presentation does not mean a restoration or even a remastering of the source materials has been done. All it means is that given a transfer, the DVD/Theater/Video etc, matches the given transfer as close as is possible.

This has led to transfers such as the legendary poor original Highlander II transfer being THX accredited, even though it was a slip-shot grain covered out of focus mess.

Basically, if a technician is handed a transfer taken from reels of film which have been rubbed on the floor, trodden on, and then attacked by sandpaper, the resultant mess could be THX approved, as long as the final DVD matched the source as close as possible. I'm not even sure about this, because the R1 Phantom Menace suffered from excessive image sharpening, but was still granted a THX certificate. (Incidently, the R2 version has much less sharpening).

This is done because THX don't certify the source, they certify the equipment used to create the DVD (and possibly the settings too - I'm not sure about that). Basically, you can have the best digital equipment in the world, but if you're handed a dog's dinner, the final DVD will be a dog's dinner.

http://www.thx.com/mod/services/digitalWorks.html

I think, on the whole, its a useless seal - just read reviews and see what they say about the audio/visual quality.

[2099net]

But Jordan, my Pocahontas is Region 2, I've looked all over the box and scrutinized everywhere and searched the DVD files and it still is not THX-Certified!

The French release is



Even though it uses the same transfer as the UK one. So it just shows how pointless the THX label is.

[Jules]

Wow! The French release is lovely.

Mine looks like this:




But it's not THX certified. But it's good if you say the picture is like the french release.

[ichabod]

I feel it should be noted that the version of Fantasia released to DVD outside R1 is not the same transfer as the R1.

The version on R2 is the same transfer that was used for the 1990 VHS release, you can tell this because during the Pastoral symphony sequence during the 1990 version the scenes with the black centaurette rolling out the carpet was zoomed in on rather than being digitally altered as with the R1 DVD version.

[Jules]

I feel it should be noted that the version of Fantasia released to DVD outside R1 is not the same transfer as the R1.

The version on R2 is the same transfer that was used for the 1990 VHS release

So that's why my Fantasia looks so BAD (to put it lightly)!!

NO WONDER!!

[Frozone]

I normally choose R2UK instead of R1, except for just a couple of releases, namely Brother Bear and the Fantasia Anthology. BB for the OAR, and Fantasia for the DTS-tracks (considering how important the aural presentation is in these films, only the best is good enough), and most of the time I'm perfectly happy about the R2's, and I've NEVER cracked one of my Disney discs...

You shouldn't worry too much about the THX-certification though as it doesn't mean shit! I've seen horrible transfers that are THX-certified (Die Hard with a Vengeance 2-Disc on R1, anyone? Edge enhancement from hell!), and Disney DVD's in general look great, at least the special editions, the single discs can be so-so. I try to only buy special editions and therefore there are still a bunch of films I've yet to buy as I'm awaiting S.E.-treatment, or at least a remastered reissue.

[271286]

Does someone else also find that BVUK seemed to care more about putting out great collectors items in the aerly dvd days, both cover-wise and when it comes to the releases in general... Im talking about releases like Sleeping Beauty, BaTB, Snow White, Monsters Inc., Atlantis and The Emperors's New Groove Collectors Edtions... I liked that BVUK did an kiddie and an adult dvd of most films back then... Miss those days... - Petition anyone?