NCIS - Season 1 DVD - Region 2 version

Advantages: Fast paced action with liberal doses of humour
Disadvantages: No extras on the region 2 version, boo...

...I first came across the TV series NCIS whilst working abroad. It was, however, being shown dubbed and, as I have yet to progress beyond lesson 2 of my "Teach Yourself German" Cd-rom, I am somewhat limited to ordering a coffee, discussing the tall blonde Helmut with Marlene (if you like that look) and moaning about my mortgage (which, incidentally, I don't have). I was, however, intrigued by the fast paced and stylish action that I saw and so jumped at the chance to buy season 1 on DVD when it was recently released for Region 2. THE SETTING: The show revolves around the activities of a group of special agents and forensics specialists in the 'Navy Criminal Investigative Service' in Washington DC, who investigate all manner of criminal goings on connected to both the Navy and the Marine Corps. THE CHARACTERS AND CAST...

tigswade 31.08.2006 (01.10.2006) · Read review
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Review of N.C.I.S. - Naval Criminal Investigative Service - Series 1 - Complete (Box Set) (DVD)

Region 1 - Well worth working for it

Advantages: more films, quicker, cheaper
Disadvantages: hassle to sort out multiregion capabilities (sometimes)

...If you have got, or are thinking of buying, a DVD player, then no doubt you will have a fair picture of what I am talking about when I mention Region 1 and Region 2. Because of stupid copyright and distribution laws and policies, when a film is released on DVD, it is coded so that it will only work in one of six worldwide regions. The ones that most come into play are Region 1 (USA) and Region 2 (Europe and Asia, including the UK of course). So if you went into a shop and bought a DVD player, you could then only purchase films from Britain, else they simply wouldn't work on your player. To be honest, that isn't strictly true but I will come to that later. First of all, why does it matter? Well if you want to see the latest films quicker (and often cheaper) then you want Region 1. I'll give you two examples. Scary Movie - I...

mattmorrison 11.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of DVD Regional Issues

Josie and the Pussycats - Region 1 DVD

Advantages: Good picture and sound, excellent features.
Disadvantages: Documentary could be a bit more detailed.

...*Region 1 DVD reviewed* (see my separate review for full details of the film itself). This DVD is nicely presented, with plenty of extras, and certainly does the film justice. Let?s get the technical aspects of the disc over with first. The film is presented in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen and looks fantastic. There are lots of gorgeous bright colours throughout and the overall transfer is one of the best I?ve seen. The audio comes in both Dolby Digital 5.1 (English and French) and DTS (English only), and once again is pretty damn good! The many songs throughout the film sound great and you?ll be rushing out to buy the soundtrack as soon as the film has finished. The dialogue can seem a tad quiet in places, but this doesn?t spoil the overall enjoyment of the film. So it?s onto the extras, and there?s quite a nice selection...

sjhawkuk 30.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Josie And The Pussycats (DVD)

Region 1 dvd - do not go down to the cellar

Advantages: loads of extras and an excellent film
Disadvantages: no 5.1 or DTS sound

...make you jump several times! It’s only in Dolby Digital (no 5.1 or DTS) but you’ll still be looking behind you to see who’s there! The soundtrack has creepy music all the way through to add to the atmosphere. The make up for the ghosts has also got to be admired – they really do look….ummm…..dead. The amount of extras on this dvd is also very good. You get the normal commentary, documentarys etc. There’s also a story section which tells you about each ghost and how each person died which is very interesting – watch the film first though or you won’t have a clue what they are on about. If you like horror movies don’t miss this one – they don’t make many good ones and this is one of the best....

annette_tr9 08.04.2002 · Read review
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Review of Thirteen Ghosts (DVD)

The Young Ones DVD - Series 1

Advantages: Awesome episodes - a classic t.v. sitcom produced to be as the original was
Disadvantages: not sharper image, no extras

...leg from the morge where he brought it home from one of his classes to write an essay on it. He decides to strap it to the front of his car instead in the 1st episode! The DVD is a simple set up and plays striaght on to the episodes, you can select play all, or view one by one. It contains the whole of series one of the young ones. The episodes are as follows; 1. Demolition. This is the first one ever and we see an intro duction to all the characters, including the landlord who has various other roles throughout the series. The basic plot appart from setting up and introducing characters is that the guys are living in their accomodation they have done for some time when one day they recieve a letter from the council informing them that their house is to be demolished. Naturally Vyvyan throws a tantrum and decides to beat them to the job...

mints4merlin 22.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Young Ones - Series 1 (DVD)

Widen Your DVD Options

Advantages: Wider choice of discs (and sooner!)
Disadvantages: None so far - who knows what Hollywood will come up with next to screw us

...Most people buying a DVD player from a High St chain store will be most likely kept in the dark over the issue of DVD Regions. This is an industry code which, in theory, prevents disks from the North American arena (Region 1) being used in Europe/Japan (Region 2). This is also designed to make you go the cinema, despite the fact that the movie has come and gone in the USA/Canada and that the DVD version is availible already there. More significantly, it allows for the ripping-off of Europeans compared to their transatlantic brethren, price-wise. It is however possible to get round this. There exists a market for "chipped" or multi-region DVD players, normally outside of the usual High St. Unlike the "chipping" of Play Stations for the illegal use of copied games, this is not a "black" market, and is on the level. It is...

BNibbles 10.05.2001 (14.05.2001) · Read review
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Review of DVD Regional Issues

The Mighty Boosh Season 1 DVD

Advantages: Randomly Funny
Disadvantages: May not suit all comedy tastes

...Availability: in most good DVD stores e.g. HMV Cost: £8-£15 approx. Age Certificate: 15 Length: 240 minutes approx. Languages: English Subtitles: English About The Mighty Boosh season 1 DVD is a comedy produced for the BBC. Starring comedians Julian Barratt (who plays Howard Moon) and Noel Fielding (who plays Vince Noir) the comedy duo go on wild mystical and totally random adventures and come across some very strange and wonderful charactors including 'The Hitcher' a cockney geezer, 'Killeroo' a boxing kangaroo and many others. The series is set in a Zoo where characters Howard and Vince are employed to look after the animals. The series also stars Bob Fossil the zoo owner played by Rich Fulcher, Bollo the Ape played by Dave Brown and Naboo the Enigma played by Michael Fielding. The episode listing on this DVD is...

lorrainek90 20.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Mighty Boosh - Series 1 (DVD)

UPDATED 110101-Extras on Region 1

Advantages: great movie, great plot, all the greatness!
Disadvantages: none

...'ve seen so far. On top of that, you get all these special features that you can watch again, and again, and again:(it never bore you, this I can guarantee!): 1. HBO first look special: Making the Matrix 2. Follow the White Rabbit and Take the Red Pills for more mysterious, mind bending effects 3. Filmographies 4. Scene Access 5. all the standard features of a DVD It also boost a lot of extras in terms of its DVD-ROM contents. But, apparently, the region 1 packs an extra footage of some scenes that are too violent for the region 2 viewers. It's really not a big deal, but, if you really are The Matrix fan, then I'd recommend you to buy the Region 1 version. Get it at www.dvdboxoffice.com for cheaper price, or read my other opinions to learn more about that site.. Again, are you the one?...

pakalang 07.12.2000 (27.01.2001) · Read review
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Review of The Matrix (DVD)

Family Guy Season 1 DVD

Advantages: Hilarious
Disadvantages: Can be offensive to some!

...Family Guy is an un politically correct adult cartoon show made by 20th Century Fox, it is aired on Channel 4 and Sky 1 and is now available on DVD, with uncut scenes and everything that TV couldnt show. Family Guy is available from all good high street DVD and music stores and all decent online ones such as Amazon, Play and CDWOW for around £15 but also try eBay. The DVD comes in a single box and consists of 2 discs, with 14 episodes in the series. The show does not seem to be as well known as it should be but the DVDs sell well and have been out of stock on several occasions when Ive gone to buy a series - of which there are currently three, with talk of a movie and one final series. The show is about the strange daily life of the Griffin family, who live in Quahog in Rhode Island. Their antics are bizarre, hilarious...

NataliePhelan 20.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Family Guy - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

Mr Bean - The Animated Series - Vol. 1 DVD

Advantages: distracts the children
Disadvantages: not funny, humour very simple and mostly slapstick or toilet houmour.

...and has ruined the image of Mr Bean for me. At first I was curious and quite excited - I had hoped the comedy would be on the same lines as the original but I was wrong. The soundtrack is mostly orchestral with symbols, drums and flutes to emphasise dramtic turn arounds and Beans thoughts. The vocals, as the televised original series is basically mumbles and whimpers with the odd 'ooooo' sound. Another thing that irritates me is the fact that they have tried to modernise him and have given him a girl friend, not that that ever get together, lord no, what would happen to teddy, where would he sleep!? Irma Gobb is more a romantic interst whom Bean tries to impress, but rarely suceeds. In this single DVD volume you get 8 episodes, each lasting about 15minutes in length and include; 'In The Wild', 'Missing Teddy', 'No Parking', 'Bean's Bounty...

mints4merlin 27.11.2006 · Read review
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Review of Mr Bean - The Animated Series Vol.1 (DVD)