Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OUT OF PRINT

[TenYearLurker]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

I'm sorry - you all can call me a newbie - but I am not dropping coin to get a pricey, region free Bluray set-up and then paying exorbitant international shipping charges to get this movie in my library (especially when I DO still have both the original Anchor Bay Blu and Ultimate Edition DVD sets.)

The only n00b aspect to this is how misinformed you are. Great, reliable region-free options can be found on eBay for $99. I have several region-free players (a few that I've kept sealed for future usage), and never paid more than that for them. And I ordered my copy of the Second Sight DOTD set through Diabolik, who are based in the US, so there goes your "exorbitant international shipping charges". Many import titles can be found on Diabolik, Deep Discount, eBay, and Amazon. And once the international Amazons start shipping to the states again, you'll have even more options.

I had the same reservations as many folks about going region free for a while. But there are just too many movies I love to leave it in the hands of labels and rights holders to come to terms for domestic releases (particularly when said rights holder is a massively unreasonable dongbag like Rubinstein). I finally pulled the trigger a few years ago, literally the day that this UK Dawn of the Dead set was announced. Figured it was pretty damn unlikely we'd be getting a US release any time soon, and Dawn is one of my favorite movies of any genre.

I haven't regretted it for a second--I've been able to swoop up a ton of great UK-only Arrow titles (for significantly less than US Arrow titles tend to run for), that recent Spanish release/bootleg of True Lies, the theatrical cut of Tropic Thunder from Japan, the unrated version of Not Another Teen Movie and longtime favorite Top Secret! from Australia, Strange Days, The Fan, and Four Rooms from Germany, Unlawful Entry from France, and seminal masterpieces Super Mario Bros, Drop Dead Fred, and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot from the UK.

I say all that to say this: region free is the bee's knees, and every film lover owes it to themselves to stop limiting themselves. Hop in--the water's fine!

[Jay H.]

Originally Posted by TenYearLurker

The only n00b aspect to this is how misinformed you are. Great, reliable region-free options can be found on eBay for $99. I have several region-free players (a few that I've kept sealed for future usage), and never paid more than that for them. And I ordered my copy of the Second Sight DOTD set through Diabolik, who are based in the US, so there goes your "exorbitant international shipping charges". Many import titles can be found on Diabolik, Deep Discount, eBay, and Amazon. And once the international Amazons start shipping to the states again, you'll have even more options.

I had the same reservations as many folks about going region free for a while. But there are just too many movies I love to leave it in the hands of labels and rights holders to come to terms for domestic releases (particularly when said rights holder is a massively unreasonable dongbag like Rubinstein). I finally pulled the trigger a few years ago, literally the day that this UK Dawn of the Dead set was announced. Figured it was pretty damn unlikely we'd be getting a US release any time soon, and Dawn is one of my favorite movies of any genre.

I haven't regretted it for a second--I've been able to swoop up a ton of great UK-only Arrow titles (for significantly less than US Arrow titles tend to run for), that recent Spanish release/bootleg of True Lies, the theatrical cut of Tropic Thunder from Japan, the unrated version of Not Another Teen Movie and longtime favorite Top Secret! from Australia, Strange Days, The Fan, and Four Rooms from Germany, Unlawful Entry from France, and seminal masterpieces Super Mario Bros, Drop Dead Fred, and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot from the UK.

I say all that to say this: region free is the bee's knees, and every film lover owes it to themselves to stop limiting themselves. Hop in--the water's fine!

Agreed. Got my first region-free player about 2 years ago and I haven't looked back. They are cheap, reliable, and easy to use.

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

Agreed. Got my first region-free player about 2 years ago and I haven't looked back. They are cheap, reliable, and easy to use.

I got my very first region free player back in 1998 and have never looked back since.

[Monterey Jack]

I remain amazed at how many people will think nothing of dropping $100+ during a Criterion, Scream or Kino sale, yet will balk at paying the same amount of money for a region-free player that will open up a wealth of excellent titles that have had no release in the U.S. (or else an inferior or OOP edition). I spent around $150 for mine maybe six years ago, and comparable, reliable players can be had for maybe half that now.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I remain amazed at how many people will think nothing of dropping $100+ during a Criterion, Scream or Kino sale, yet will balk at paying the same amount of money for a region-free player that will open up a wealth of excellent titles that have had no release in the U.S. (or else an inferior or OOP edition). I spent around $150 for mine maybe six years ago, and comparable, reliable players can be had for maybe half that now.

I really don't understand it either. You hardly have to spend a fortune to get a reliable multi-region player. They are probably cheaper right now than ever before, unless you want a 4K UHD capable player as well.

My first Blu-ray player was region-free (as was my very first DVD player too) and I never have to worry about a disc if it's region locked. No problems, no worries.

[DrEricVornoff]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I think your overall point is a fair one, but you should know that a region-free Bluray setup can be had for less than the "Dawn" disc, it's not pricey unless you go high-end...

Originally Posted by jstxanothrxstory

Yep. My region free model was basically $40 USD.

Originally Posted by TenYearLurker

The only n00b aspect to this is how misinformed you are. Great, reliable region-free options can be found on eBay for $99...

I had the same reservations as many folks about going region free for a while. But there are just too many movies I love to leave it in the hands of labels and rights holders to come to terms for domestic releases (particularly when said rights holder is a massively unreasonable dongbag like Rubinstein)...I say all that to say this: region free is the bee's knees, and every film lover owes it to themselves to stop limiting themselves. Hop in--the water's fine!

Originally Posted by Jay H.

Agreed. Got my first region-free player about 2 years ago and I haven't looked back. They are cheap, reliable, and easy to use.

Originally Posted by El_Fez

I got my very first region free player back in 1998 and have never looked back since.

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I remain amazed at how many people will think nothing of dropping $100+ during a Criterion, Scream or Kino sale, yet will balk at paying the same amount of money for a region-free player that will open up a wealth of excellent titles that have had no release in the U.S. (or else an inferior or OOP edition). I spent around $150 for mine maybe six years ago, and comparable, reliable players can be had for maybe half that now.

Originally Posted by Katatonia

I really don't understand it either. You hardly have to spend a fortune to get a reliable multi-region player. They are probably cheaper right now than ever before, unless you want a 4K UHD capable player as well.

My first Blu-ray player was region-free (as was my very first DVD player too) and I never have to worry about a disc if it's region locked. No problems, no worries.

Well, I think you guys all make good valid points. Maybe I will look into it. One things is for sure, whenever I do take the plunge I will probably get you guys to recommend a good reliable one. The last thing I want to do is go in for one and it ends up being piece of crap.

[DrEricVornoff]

Believe it or not - I actually had a region free DVD player some 15 years or so back. It was a Daewoo DVD player (of all things) and I didn't even know it was region free until I tried playing a European disc in it and it worked! It was actually how I first saw the movie Audition way back when it first came out because a buddy of mine had the Japanese DVD (at the time you could only get it in the Japanese region - which I believe was/is Region 3).

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Well, I think you guys all make good valid points. Maybe I will look into it. One things is for sure, whenever I do take the plunge I will probably get you guys to recommend a good reliable one. The last thing I want to do is go in for one and it ends up being piece of crap.

I'd recommend a hardware modified Sony player. They are beasts that will play anything, and can be had for about $100 and up. You also won't have to worry about PAL/NTSC conversion or 50hz content that's on some import discs.

Mine is still fine 6+ years later from heavy use. I'll probably end up buying a newer modified 4K player before it even dies.

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Believe it or not - I actually had a region free DVD player some 15 years or so back. It was a Daewoo DVD player (of all things) and I didn't even know it was region free until I tried playing a European disc in it and it worked! It was actually how I first saw the movie Audition way back when it first came out because a buddy of mine had the Japanese DVD (at the time you could only get it in the Japanese region - which I believe was/is Region 3).

I had one of those like 17 years ago, and it looked like this:



The PAL/NTSC conversion chip on the player was flawed though. If you played a PAL DVD that had in 2.35:1 ratio for instance; it would convert it with heavy cropping on the sides, so it looked nearer to 2.00:1 or something.

[DrEricVornoff]

Originally Posted by Katatonia

I'd recommend a hardware modified Sony player. They are beasts that will play anything, and can be had for about $100 and up. You also won't have to worry about PAL/NTSC conversion or 50hz content that's on some import discs.

Mine is still fine 6+ years later from heavy use. I'll probably end up buying a newer modified 4K player before it even dies.



I had one of those like 17 years ago, and it looked like this:



The PAL/NTSC conversion chip on the player was flawed though. If you played a PAL DVD that had in 2.35:1 ratio for instance; it would convert it with heavy cropping on the sides, so it looked nearer to 2.00:1 or something.

Mine wasn't as nice as that one - it didn't have all of the bells and whistles. It basically just had an eject button and a power button.



I don't know where my old man (God rest his soul) bought it - it was probably a cheapie from Walmart or Best Buy (online ordering in those days was reserved to the ultra-hip - those were the days of CDnow, Music Boulevard, Lycos searches, and this up and coming online bookstore called Amazon Book Store )

But cheapie or not, it allowed me to see a region 3 copy of Audition and a region 2 copy of this unknown Exorcist-knockoff called L'Ossessa which I would years later come to know as Eerie Midnight Horror Show. Ahh, those were the days!

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Well, I think you guys all make good valid points. Maybe I will look into it. One things is for sure, whenever I do take the plunge I will probably get you guys to recommend a good reliable one. The last thing I want to do is go in for one and it ends up being piece of crap.

I'll go so far as to say you may even find a region-free player cheaper and easier than a regular one. I've been searching high and low for an inexpensive BD player for my bedroom and have had no luck. I know a couple of manufacturers have stopped making BD players but what about the rest? I may look into picking up a second region-free player if I can't find a regular one.

[DrEricVornoff]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I'll go so far as to say you may even find a region-free player cheaper and easier than a regular one. I've been searching high and low for an inexpensive BD player for my bedroom and have had no luck. I know a couple of manufacturers have stopped making BD players but what about the rest? I may look into picking up a second region-free player if I can't find a regular one.

Yeah I gotta be honest...that scares me a little. About a month or two ago (out of shear curiosity) I went online to check out what current BD player options Samsung (that's long been my brand of choice) had and it was almost nil! At least 4K players continue to support regular BD and DVD which does calm my fears.

I have a feeling my next purchase of a player will be 4K. I do already have the UHD 4K TV. I am just super slow at adopting new technology...hell I didn't get into the blu ray game until 2010 or 2011 as it was .

I do know that 4K is region free - but is there a good 4K UHD player that is region free for regular BD and DVD??

[DrEricVornoff]

Hey by the way...I just went on DiabolikDVD to look for the second sight set and it's no where to be found. Did it sell out already?

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Anchor Bay was a class act when DVD's were new. The classiest. Their work was impeccable.

Never forget when Blue Underground took the BBFC to court for cutting The Last House on the Left. Then Anchor Bay included the censored footage on the UK DVD regardless, still by still.

Iconic.

[DrEricVornoff]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Hey by the way...I just went on DiabolikDVD to look for the second sight set and it's no where to be found. Did it sell out already?

Never mind...I just read on Reddit that Diabolik only had it available for pre-order for 2 days. SHEESH!

Well, I don't have the region free player yet anyhow so it's kind of moot.

[Boggle]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Never mind...I just read on Reddit that Diabolik only had it available for pre-order for 2 days. SHEESH!

Well, I don't have the region free player yet anyhow so it's kind of moot.

They should have more copies available later upon release. It was just an extremely narrow window of time for the pre-order.

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Never mind...I just read on Reddit that Diabolik only had it available for pre-order for 2 days. SHEESH!

Yeah, they didnt want to accidently sell more than they had coming. I seem to recall that once they get a solid number (or get the stock on hand), they'll offer the set again.

On the other hand, I think Zavvi still has them for sale. You might give them a go.

[AFFanAttic]

Just an update since I brought this up yesterday. The Living Dead novel is apparently already on store shelves. Got from B&N today. It's so thicc at about 650 pages. I can't guarantee I'll rush to read it to give any reviews.

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[DenOfEarth]

The UHD 4K BD from the UK should be awesome and should make the movie look better than ever.

[BDrischBDemented]

So since the topic is coming up, does anyone have any recommendations for an inexpensive region-free Blu-ray player? I’ve been doing a little research of my own, but I’d like to hear any firsthand accounts from the posters here so I can watch this once it gets shipped to me.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by BDrischBDemented

So since the topic is coming up, does anyone have any recommendations for an inexpensive region-free Blu-ray player? I’ve been doing a little research of my own, but I’d like to hear any firsthand accounts from the posters here so I can watch this once it gets shipped to me.

I posted above, but any of the Hardware modified Sony players from Bombay or 220-Electronics will play virtually any Blu-rays you throw at them. Whether it's region locked discs, PAL or 50hz content on the discs.

I'd go against getting an ultra cheap budget off-brand player that is region-free out of the box. They're often junk and don't last or work too well.