Possible End of Region 1 Importing

[hellwithRegion4]

As you may or may not know www.bigskyvideo.com are releasing a local version of Evil Dead. I sent them an email confronting them about the exclusion of the commentary tracks and how people will continue to import regardless of their version. They replied saying that the rights to commentaries were too expensive and most people will find the cost of importing too expensive.

I then directed them to dvdboxoffice.com where they have a DTS, 16:9 Widescreen version with commentaries and docos for a mere $30.00 AUD delivered. Since Bigsky's RRP is $36, they seemed mighty pissed at this and told me that DVDBoxoffice have no right to sell to Australia and will be asking them to "cease and desist". Do they have a case here? I mean none of the big distributors have been able to stop American/Canadian stores selling to Australia, do BigSky have a chance?

Here is the DVDboxoffice Evil Dead DVD:
http://www.dvdboxoffice.com/description.asp?id=CED5FF8C-0191-4050-9AC01D115F87CB87&country=cad&browser=IE4plus&pid=90015868:eek:

[dvd fan]

This made me laugh, of course they dont its like McDonald's telling KFC or Red Rooster not to build a store near them as they want to be the only fast food store in the street

BTW I did a check and it was $33.70 AUD

[dvd_rulez]

Nothing new here, even Ezydvd here export R4 oversea.

Keep buying! :D

[hellwithRegion4]

Actually their currency converter is way out of date. Your Credit Card company will charge you around $30.00.

1 Canadian =(roughly) 1.16 australian dollars.

[dvd fan]

thanks for that ordering now

[MrMacabre]

BigSkyVideo sound like a bunch of crybaby's.

[dvdude]

Tell BigSkyVideo to take on Amazon.com :)
What a bunch of idiots and crybabies :)

[hellwithRegion4]

They seem like nice enough guys. I guess they are naive enough to think they can stop overseas retailers selling to Australia.

Hey, if you don't like commentaries or have no need for a DTS track then their version will do nicely I guess. But $36 is a little steep.

The Evil Dead Journal they mention, is apparently a world exclusive. You should be aware that it is not a doco but a "32 page booklet written by Josh Becker, Evil Dead
crew member, now independent film maker ( a friend of Bruce Campbell and Sam
Raimi). It is his personal account of what went on in the actual shoot of The
Evil Dead and is the most honest, down and dirty account you will ever read - it
is also highly amusing and informative". Then they went onto tell me "In many ways it is better than the
commentaries, although admittedly we would still liked to have included the
commentaries. The Americans control the movie industry and basically dictate
what we see in Australia, especially the extra features on DVD's, but the local
distributors have to experience the complaints from fans about what a lousy job
they're doing". I guess the latter half of the comments have some truth to it, but this booklet must have the ability to hold a conversation or something if it can out do the commentaries.

[dvd fan]

dvdbo dont have any Evil Dead in stock

[danielb]

You know, the other day I was in Harvy Norman and I noticed a whole section of DVD players, and almost all of them were marked as being Multizone. And no I don't mean the boxes I mean thoes cards which have the specs and the prices on them in the plastic stands... I'm wondering, have our Australian laws regarding multizone changed yet?

Also, to "hellwithRegion4" - there are quite a few region 4 releases which are better then any other region. Our DVDs are mainly presented in PAL which is far superior to NTSC, and I don't know why you are so hatful of region 4. Region 4 can't have the best release of every DVD but we the customer have the choice to purchas other region discs.

Infact the bulk of DVDs are practically the same on Region 1 or Region 4. You are whining about nothing.

-Daniel

[hellwithRegion4]

Also, to "hellwithRegion4" - there are quite a few region 4 releases which are better then any other region. Our DVDs are mainly presented in PAL which is far superior to NTSC, and I don't know why you are so hatful of region 4. Region 4 can't have the best release of every DVD but we the customer have the choice to purchas other region discs.

Infact the bulk of DVDs are practically the same on Region 1 or Region 4. You are whining about nothing.

-Daniel [/B]

I prepared to cop a load of abuse for this but to my eyes I really cannot tell the quality difference between Pal and NTSC. Maybe I would change my mind if I saw a side by side comparison. I know PAL has more horizontal lines.

Region 4 Australia/New Zealand is the worst region in the world. We have a piss weak range of titles to choose from, inferior DVDs, and rights issues that will ensure any MGM region 1 release will be bare bones here. Rollerball is set to have all features same as region 1 minus a crappy featurette. But I challenge anyone to sit through that mindless jumble of imagery. One of the worst films I ever seen. Barely sat through it. I have only ever walked out on one film (Supergirl) but this nearly made the list.

We have monstrousl crippling rental windows that will ensure many will line up for the region 1 release as it is pointless in waiting on a retail product that will be likely inferior.

Have you bought stock in Warner Bros Austalia or something, Danielb. Your support for this crappy region amazes me.

</end rant>

[MrMacabre]

Originally posted by hellwithRegion4
I prepared to cop a load of abuse for this but to my eyes I really cannot tell the quality difference between Pal and NTSC.

Same here.

IT's probably one big Urban Myth ;)

[DigitalG]

hahaha... BigSkyvideo can be called the NO FRILLS DVDs probably the worst dvd site (quality wise) ive seen ;)