DVD'S

[Louie]

I was talking with my gal on the phone, and asked her if she liked American movies, which she answered yes very much, she said she especially likes them with the subtitles, my question is, what format is standard in Russia, I asked her this question and she had no clue, NTSC of PAL. plus I asked her what her favorite type of movie was, of course she said romance  Yuck!!!

[catzenmouse]

Louie,

 They use PAL and we use NTSC. Depending on her DVD player our movies could work there. She'll have to find out if it is region free or at least NTSC compatible.

 Are you really surprised by her movie preference? 

Ken

[Rvrwind]

You can get either one here depending.
Depending that is if it is a pirate copy or not. Pirate copies are generally NTSC but can be had in PAL as well. I have a Home Theater System I bought here that automatically identifies which it is & switches to the right format. If you have the wrong format it will usually play the movie, but only in B&W as my brother in laws does with some of my movies he borrows. They work fine just no color. My system is somewhat newer than his & will play either one, but both can be purchased here.

[Louie]

Thanks Ken, and no I wasn't surprised! I just love to crack wise! And thanks RVR, I know I can get them there, but i like to send her small packages, with some perfume, and I sent her Daughter 3 Harry Potter books Russian translation edition, which she just loves, plus you can get DVDs pretty cheap on eBay!

[aikorob]

Louie,
I have been sending DVDs from here to my girl in Odessa (she has a Nicolas Cage fetish, and uses them to practise American). She is using her computer and PowerDVD software---this bypasses region lock.   If you are roaming around Ebay, look at RJTech players--I have one to play Russian DVDs here--they are cheap,region free and would probably be economical (including cost of voltage adapter) to send to her.

[David1963]

I bought a cheap ($150) portable DVD player from Walmart for my wife.  I brought over a few American DVD's for her and was planning on sending more but she was able to by DVD's for a few dollars there.  The player plays American and Russian DVD's with no problem.  I think the Russian ones are bootlegs with no region code that's why it can play them.

She was watching DVD's of movies that weren't even in the theater yet here.   

[LatinSwede]

I brought back a nice stack of Russian movie DVD's from Odessa.  They play in my cheap Wal-Mart bought player just fine.  By the time I get back, I already got a long shopping list of Russian movies I want.  Has anyone been in those little DVD kiosks? They have the double sided dvd's with multiple movies on them.  Being a sci-fi geek, I got one with the previous 5 Star Wars movies (Episode 3 just came out at the time).  One side played well, and the other side acted funny and jumped around.  I suspect it is a knock off.  The dubbin is one Russian guy talking over the dialogue.  I find it hard to watch, but it's a decent keepsake.

Oh yes!  The "love stories".  Now that she's coming home with me, I have to make sure she's got her special lady shows.

[Rvrwind]

She was watching DVD's of movies that weren't even in the theater yet here.   

Yep, me too, gotta love that!!
I purchase many DVD's that are not even on the shelves in the west yet.

The dubbin is one Russian guy talking over the dialogue.  I find it hard to watch, but it's a decent keepsake.

You can get them with the Russian dubbin & in English if you shop in the right places. Usually the kiosks are not the best. I buy mine from a shop in the mall right across the street for 90 rouble each. The guy who runs the place speaks good English & I just give him a list of what I want & he gets it for me. They are all Russian & English versions. If it doesn't have English, I don't buy it, unless of course it is for the little woman, LOL. I can even trade in the ones I have watched & get another for 20 rouble.

[Louie]

Thank you for all your suggestions

[Manny]

It is my understanding that 90% or more of CD's/DVD's you buy in Russia are knock offs. I just bought some great MP3 CD's feauturing all the albums from each given artist, the discs were professionally screen printed, the inserts were good quality paper & printing, by no means obvious, I find DVD's and CD's in Togliatti for around £2-3 each ($5)

DVD's are often multi/no region or European region, any decent player (which conversely means very expensive or Wal-Mart cheap) will play them.

I read a good article on this subject recently, I think in Passport Magazine.

[dfb]

Louie

In addition to the NTSC and PAL difference, DVD’s regional codes could be an issue (Russia is Region 5):

http://hometheaterinfo.com/dvd3.htm

What I have noticed with playing a PAL DVD on a NTSC DVD Region 1 player is that part of the image is lost (the bottom and a side are cut off).  On a few DVDs, the bottom part cut off includes the subtitles.  Some of my wife’s DVDs were regionally coded, so we use our computer for watching these movies; our computer DVD software plays any regional code, and displays any format PAL/NTSC. 

[Rvrwind]

  I just bought Annapolis & Fast & Furious 3. Annaplois hit the theatres two days after I bought the DVD, thats gotta be some kind of record!!!

[Bruno]

Annaplois hit the theatres two days after I bought the DVD, thats gotta be some kind of record!!!

Annapolis was in theater the 27 january 2006 in USA, mondial premiere... the 28 january, at 1h28, the first torrent was online...

The major part of illegal copy don't come from Russia... the piracy appear in USA first... Russian download, make subtitle ( .srt ) and put it on the market... Why wait the official release in Russia several month after the US release... a worlwide release will certainly reduce piracy !

[jb]

May I recommend: "Òèõèé Äîí", about a 3 hour Russian saga regarding the 1917 Revolution, super good movie.

[S23]

Since many Russian ladies love to cook, some speciality cooking videos like Russian cakes and Pastries:

http://www.cookingondvd.com/cooking/rusPast.html

[LatinSwede]

I gave my Russian kiosk Star Wars DVD a spin again.  The side that as acting funny plays alright now.  Yeah, it's a knock off for sure!  Now I could see the original trilogy (New Hope, Empire, Jedi) with 2 people (male and female) talking over it.  Not only that, it's a lifted German market version of the movie.  When I saw the opening page sequence of Krieg Der Steren, I started laughing.  Maybe I lack a life, but I never get tired of Star Wars.  Seeing it with a bad Russian overdub makes it even more special.  On the birghtside, Yana and I will have something to help her adapt.  She's never seen any of the movies, so this will be our bonding experience.

Attention all sci-fi geeks (me included), I think the original unaltered theatrical release of Star Wars trilogy will be released.  I still love the 1997 enhanced version, but it's going to be nice to see it again in it's original form.  Ever since dad took my 4 year old self  (back in the late 70's) to the theater I've been hooked ever since.  To make myself look more geeky than I am, I will have to get a Russian version Lord of the Rings for her sake.  She's only seen the first one.