Region Free Freedom

[javy]

Just a little over a year ago I purchased, for the first time in my life, an all-region blu-ray player, and have been greatly enjoying the benefits. It's very satisfying that I now no longer have to worry about whether a release is region free or not. When Arrow announced thier new restoration of Fulci's City of the Living Dead, I new it would be mine. When they announced thier new restoration of Heathers, mine. When Studio Canal announced thier new restoration of Last Year at Marienbad, mine. And the upcoming Artificial Eye release of Lars von Trier's The House that Jack Built will indeed be mine.

One of the very first releases I bought when I purchased my region free player was Arrow's release of The 'Burbs. I had always wanted this release, and I did have Universal's U.S. release, but when I got my player I had to have Arrow's release of Dante's classic film, it's a childhood favorite of mine that never gets old. Also, going back and picking up other releases that I've always wanted has been very exciting, such as the Eureka! release of Pickup on South Street and BFI's Classe Tous Risques.

Why did I wait so long to improve my life? I don't know. I've always thought about purchasing a region-free player but I guess I was just to afraid to change my life for the better. That kind of thing happens sometime.

So, with all that said, how have you been enjoying your "region-free-freedom"? What are some of your favorite releases? What releases are you planning on picking up in the future? And if your not currently region-free, are you planning on getting a player?

[RCRochester]

I can’t remember all the titles that are Region B locked but I’ve got a few spaghetti western import from Germany, the Network releases of Robbery and Deadlier than the Male, and Arrow’s release of Shock Treatment. I try to only import movies that have no Region A release. I plan to get the Eureka release of Paper Moon eventually.

[StingingVelvet]

I've been region-free for 4 years or so now and my collection stats on here say I've got 41 locked titles. That's not a huge percentage of 1800 total really, but some of those 41 are pretty essential for me like Germany's The Punisher unrated cut in HD, some Arrow remasters like Heathers and The Fury, plus much better editions of movies I love like Coffy, Foxy Brown and Pan's Labyrinth.

Really though it's kind of amazing how well you can probably get along being A locked. Most of my imports are region-free, and of course now UHD is region-free altogether.

[hanshotfirst1138]

What version of PL is better than the Criterion disc?

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

What version of PL is better than the Criterion disc?

The Criterion edition has terrible encoding and compression issues so pretty much anything is better.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

What version of PL is better than the Criterion disc?

UK disc. Much better compression and theatrically accurate color.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Sigh. My wallet hates you both. The Zavvi version?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

Sigh. My wallet hates you both. The Zavvi version?

I have the basic release, got it on Amazon UK for like $10. There was an issue with the first pressing years and years ago, but no worries there anymore.

[handcraftedbits]

I’ve found that a good use of a region-free player is Disney movies. I’ve been able to buy region B releases of Disney classics that have been “vaulted” on Amazon UK. And in doing so, it really puts into perspective how much Disney likes to wallet-rape its US customers. Disney classic Blus are like $25 here and roughly $10 or so in the UK.

[Grethiwha]

I've had a region-free player for about 4 years... I still keep my truly B-locked titles segregated, at least in my collection page on here. And unless there are dramatic advantages to the region B version, I still favour buying the region A versions of movies when available (because I can play them on any player).

My region B blu-rays are mostly Japanese (and lately some Hong Kong) movies, titles from the likes of Third Window and Eureka, that simply aren't available and are very unlikely to ever become available domestically (much less, in the wonderful editions these labels put out). Most other things I care about come out in the US (or Korea), but as an Asian/Japanese film fan, being region free is essential, because there's a lot.

[Cremildo]

Going region free was liberating, indeed. And sort of a necessity, as a collector. I think little less than half of my DVDs are imports, while the overwhelming majority of my Blu-ray discs are from overseas (mostly the USA and the UK, plus one from France and two from Spain). The latter format didn't really catch on here in Brazil. If I hadn't gone region free, my collection would be considerably smaller. I can't imagine not owning Criterion, MoC, SecondRun, Arrow, StudioCanal releases. It'd be too limiting.

[postmodel]

I've been region free for a few years now. Despite that, i still try to pick up Region A releases when I have the option. I haven't picked up Heathers yet cause I feel like I'll get Hellraiser'd or Donnie Darko'd. Like I said, though I'm Region Free, I still prefer popping Region A discs into my 4K player.

The title that made me go RF, or at least start planning, was Arrow's Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. I would just stare at pictures of it until one day I just bought it. I think i bought one or two others, until my wife got me a player for Christmas one year. It's been great. I was able to enjoy Arrow's Elvira the other week cause of it.

In conclusion, it's really nice to have a choice. No US release? No problem!

[Win Slow]

I am on my second region free player and both have been well worth it. Otherwise i would have never gotten to see the Incredible Hulk TV Series in glorious hi def, as well as a few other releases like Toy Soldiers & Terminator 2 3D. No question these players are worth the extra cash.

[sandman slim]

Originally Posted by handcraftedbits

I’ve found that a good use of a region-free player is Disney movies. I’ve been able to buy region B releases of Disney classics that have been “vaulted” on Amazon UK. And in doing so, it really puts into perspective how much Disney likes to wallet-rape its US customers. Disney classic Blus are like $25 here and roughly $10 or so in the UK.

Disney titles are all region-free. I have an A-locked Sony, and own many of the UK Disney releases, all of which play with no problems.

[Batman90]

Where can I find any cheap region free players?

[drush9999]

If you love movies going region free is essential. I have 107 region A locked titles I otherwise wouldn't be able to enjoy being in region B land.

[BerryTheMusicMan]

Originally Posted by Batman90

Where can I find any cheap region free players?

eBay has some great deals .

[Zarak]

Originally Posted by Batman90

Where can I find any cheap region free players?

I got mine on Amazon for $89 and it's been working like a charm for 3+ years.

You can also find inexpensive players that are either hackable or have unadvertised multi-region capability. Quite a bit of information about that is available online.

[Batman90]

Originally Posted by Zarak

I got mine on Amazon for $89 and it's been working like a charm for 3+ years.

You can also find inexpensive players that are either hackable or have unadvertised multi-region capability. Quite a bit of information about that is available online.

What model do you have?

[javy]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I've been region-free for 4 years or so now and my collection stats on here say I've got 41 locked titles.

According to my stats I too have 41 locked titles in my collection.

Originally Posted by Cremildo

I can't imagine not owning Criterion, MoC, SecondRun, Arrow, StudioCanal releases. It'd be too limiting.

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