Japan only has the 2 disc Blade Runner edition. Why?

[iownu]

I wanted to get the 5 disc edition in Japanese because it would add the extra coolness factor plus I use them for studying, but Japan is only releasing Bladerunner in its 2 disc edition. Why would they do that?

I'll get the 5 disc English version if I need to but of course I'd rather not.

Hmm

[lgans316]

Please ask this question to greedy WB who have been a bane to High Defintion. Like you many have voiced dissatisfaction with this kind of stupid move and WB attitude towards Blu-ray in general. Blade Runner is a 2-disc release outside the U.S. I have posted the disc stats in amazon.co.jp. You can import the U.S version for $19.95 excl shipping charges from amazon.com.

[aygie]

Same for the UK mate.

[iownu]

Originally Posted by lgans316

Please ask this question to greedy WB who have been a bane to High Defintion. Like you many have voiced dissatisfaction with this kind of stupid move and WB attitude towards Blu-ray in general. Blade Runner is a 2-disc release outside the U.S. I have posted the disc stats in amazon.co.jp. You can import the U.S version for $19.95 excl shipping charges from amazon.com.

I love Amazon Japan btw. I order my discs, print out my order barcode, pay the invoice at the 7-Eleven across the street and right away I get a paid confirmation from Amazon Japan. What an amazing system. Don't even need any credit cards. And best of all I get delivery the next morning and I don't even have to be home because most newer residences in Japan have digital delivery boxes that the courier can drop my stuff into. I come home, type in my secret code and sit back and watch my new BR

I do this late at night sometimes too but the Amazon system still acknowledges my immediate payment at the 7-Eleven. Amazing but scary banking system lol

[lgans316]

It's nice to hear about these cool stuffs in Japan but also remember you pay double the price for most of the BDs which doesn't

I have pre-ordered Day & Night Watch Box set as it's getting released earlier in Japan and because of the slightly affordable pre-order price.

I have about 70+ Blus averaging $20~22 a piece incl shipping which is a day dream in Japan.

[Cplhicks]

What kind of Japanese are you looking for on the disc? As I recall, the US version has Japanese subs on it, at least, though no dub, I think. It and a few others (Harry Potter comes to mind) have Japanese subs on the US Blu discs. I wish Warner would do it with all of them. I hate how Sony subs 45 languages and leaves Japanese off intentionally...

[jd213]

Yeah, I don't think the Japanese release of Blade Runner has a dub either, it's probably the same disc except for the menus.

Since Japan is the same region and Japan sells enough discs to warrant having a Japanese release for most titles, Sony probably wants to make sure its Japan sales aren't cannibalized by imports that already have Japanese subs or a dub on them. Warner likes to re-use stuff more than Sony, so they probably make as much of their releases the same as they can.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Wow, for once the U.S. gets a better release than Japan. Go figure.

[theprophecy247]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Wow, for once the U.S. gets a better release than Japan. Go figure.

haha so tru

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Wow, for once the U.S. gets a better release than Japan. Go figure.

This is getting interesting. May I know the list of Japanese releases better than the U.S ones ?

[jd213]

There's several Japanese BDs that have lossless audio while the US release only has lossy, such as Face/Off and Happy Feet. The Japanese release of Black Rain has the same AV specs, but more extras.

[lgans316]

I am aware of the titles but they are only a handful. Japan is still miles behind U.S/U.K/E.U when it comes to BD releases. IMO Hong Kong gets the releases earlier than the U.S and they are sometimes cheaper too. Face/Off got lossless audio but zero extras and we have this company GAGA who are releasing titles in wrong aspect ratio. There are only a few BD titles from Japan that sports superior specs. They are Transporter Twin Pack, Danny the Dog, Happy Feet, Babel, Phantom of the Opera (Wrong Aspect Ratio), 16 Blocks, Erin Brokovich, U571 (Wrong Aspect Ratio), Sahara (Wrong Aspect Ratio) and few others.

I strongly suggest the buyers in Japan to check out the blu-ray forums in amazon.co.jp to find out thet type of discussions that are going on. People are extremely upset with pricing and WB.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by lgans316

This is getting interesting. May I know the list of Japanese releases better than the U.S ones ?

I'm not just talking about Blu-Ray.

I'm talking about DVD, video games, etc.

[WickyWoo]

WB is doing the same thing in the US. Blade Runner will be coming in a Digibook with just the 2 discs later in the year.

It's because the Blu was launched there what, 5 months later? And did you look at the DVD prices? It was like 13,000yen($130)+ at HMV for the 5 disc (coool cover though) and 24000 for the suitcase. Typical for Japan but ouch. The clerk was pissed he'd bought one when I told him that I'd just bought the 5-disc on Blu-ray in the US for $24

[iownu]

I can assure you that the Japanese release of Bladerunner will have Japanese audio. Every BD I have has Japanese audio and captions.

Originally Posted by amazon.jp

言語 英語, フランス語 English and French audio ** But this remains to be seen as many times the Japanese isn't listed on Amazon. This happened with many of my BDs such as I Am Legend.

字幕: 英語, フランス語, 韓国語, 中国語, スペイン語, 日本語, ポルトガル語 Japanese captions

Igans316< where are you getting your BDs for $20-@22? I could see that with older movies but not the new blockbusters. Kakaku, BicCamera, Yodobashi, Yamadadenki, Tsutaya are all more expensive.
Cheapest I can find [new retail] BDs for in Japan is around $35 USD which would be at Amazon Japan.

To me the Japanese packaging and audio and captions are well worth the extra money. Especially since I use them for studying as well. A whole movie's worth of Japanese dialogue and captions for only an extra $10 or so.

I'm blown away sometimes by the quality of the dubbing performances and new sound design. Everything from the exact amount of reverb, delay, and foley is amazing. Most of the original foley is used of course but there are cases where new foley was substituted and they do an amazing job in Japan or where ever it is they're doing it.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Wow, for once the U.S. gets a better release than Japan. Go figure.

Yeah, I want to get the 2 disc version from Japan for about $30 rather than the 5 disc version from the US for $20

[jd213]

Originally Posted by iownu

I can assure you that the Japanese release of Bladerunner will have Japanese audio. Every BD I have has Japanese audio and captions.

Old movies and/or director's cuts are often exceptions, however. See for yourself, there's no Japanese dub listed for Blade Runner on whv.jp:

http://www.whv.jp/database/database.cgi?cmd=dp&num=7586

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by iownu

I can assure you that the Japanese release of Bladerunner will have Japanese audio. Every BD I have has Japanese audio and captions.

I don't think the Japanese release of Blade Runner on Blu-ray features Japanese audio. Please double check on whv.jp site.

Even our friend CHOBI seems to have imported BR from U.S

http://choppytan777.blog113.fc2.com/?q=blade+runner

Originally Posted by iownu

Igans316< where are you getting your BDs for $20-@22? I could see that with older movies but not the new blockbusters. Kakaku, BicCamera, Yodobashi, Yamadadenki, Tsutaya are all more expensive.
Cheapest I can find [new retail] BDs for in Japan is around $35 USD which would be at Amazon Japan.

Aforementioned I seldom buy Blu-rays from Japan. I import them from amazon.com, mjentertainment.net, dvdempire.com and dvdpacific.com.

Originally Posted by iownu

To me the Japanese packaging and audio and captions are well worth the extra money. Especially since I use them for studying as well. A whole movie's worth of Japanese dialogue and captions for only an extra $10 or so.

I'm blown away sometimes by the quality of the dubbing performances and new sound design. Everything from the exact amount of reverb, delay, and foley is amazing. Most of the original foley is used of course but there are cases where new foley was substituted and they do an amazing job in Japan or where ever it is they're doing it.

This is a personal preference and I cannot enforce my opinion. To me I simply cannot afford to spend more than $25 per BD with favorite titles being an exception.

On top of this Japanese customs seem to be friendly as they don't charge 5% duty if the declared value is below $200.

All I can say is spend your hard earned money wisely. Just because the cover art and packaging looks cool doesn't mean the actual BD is good. Please remember that 90% of the Disney releases outside the U.S have downgraded audio.

[iownu]

As I stated above I don't buy because of the Japanese cover art only. I buy Japanese movies because I live in Japan and they help with my Japanese studies.

I also quoted Amazon BD details above and as you can see I posted that Bladerunner does have Japanese captions but only English and French audio. No Japanese audio. I will still buy it though for the Japanese captions. For me, they are invaluable.

You really have to read previous posts.

Anyway Igans316 those links you provided for BD retail are not Japanese BDs so that's why you are only paying about $25 USD for your BDs.

Most Japanese BDs are over $35 USD even here in Japan.

[AlexBC]

Originally Posted by lgans316

This is getting interesting. May I know the list of Japanese releases better than the U.S ones ?

lgans,

beside what's already listed, there's Casino Royale and Ultraviolet, both uncut in Japan.

Scary Movie 4, Breaking And Entering are still exclusives and I bet they'll be better than the US versions. Scary Movie 4 Unrated (owned by Weinstein) version absolutely sucks, they ruined the timing for most of the jokes, and the new ones are worhtless.

Starship Troopers and Air Force One are still exclusives too, but in this case I bet the Sony US releases will be superior.