OT: DVD Purchases

[dean]

Ok, so my dad is heading off to the states next month, and has asked me if I wanted anything, and I had a thought.

Even though the dvds are roughly the same price over there anyways, there's a whole stack of releases that we just don't get down here in Australia, such as certain rare-ish films, indie/low budget films or some special box sets.

One example is Killer Klowns from Outer Space, or the Forbidden Zone.  I haven't been able to find a single copy of either of those films here, so I actually ordered Forbidden Zone from ebay.  Is Killer Klowns an easy one to find in the US?

If so it's going on the list.

Another example is the V for Vendetta special edition I think Skaboi mentioned, which came with a Guy Fawkes mask or something?  I have been holding out on getting a copy here mainly because no fancy editions were released, just a rather boring 'widescreen edition.'

On top of that, despite Sin City being release here, the UNCUT version hasn't been, but a friend bought it when he was there earlier in the year, so I've got a copy now.

But it's kind of frustrating looking for certain films, especially as a B-movie lover, and not be able to get them due to our lack of importance at times, distribution-wise.

So anyways, without knowing which ones are or aren't available here; are there any special sets or unusual, but reasonably rare films I should ask him to keep an eye out for?  Tough to figure out, I know, but it certainly is frustrating sometimes when we only get some lobotomised versions of certain dvds, whereas the special versions [such as Evil Dead Collectors edition with Necrominicon skin, or some of those 50 movie megapacks] are reserved for the 'special import' section!

hmmm... tricky trying to figure out, but anyways.  I'll also probably just get him to pick up some films that I want to see, but either aren't released at either the cinemas or dvd here yet, just to beat ball buster to the punch for once.

[The Burgomaster]

Killer Klowns is fairly easy to find.  BEST BUY and CIRCUIT CITY usually have copies.

[Mr_Vindictive]

I'm with Burgo about Killer Klowns.  That one can be found at most large chain stores for about 10.00 American.

As for the V For Vendetta set, I'm not sure abou the availability of that one.  I had seen it on Best Buy's website, but I'm not sure if they still carry it, much less in their brick and mortar stores.  I would recommend throwing down the Evil Dead 1 and 2 Necrinomicon sets (which you mentioned) as they look very very very cool on a DVD shelf.

[Scott]

KILLER KLOWNS will be easy to find.

Save your money on THE FORBIDDEN ZONE. Maybe I'm missing something, but I just couldn't get anything from this film. Normally I can find something I like about most films, but not this one. If your father can find it for under $5 bucks then it might be worth your curiousity.

[dean]

Oh I've already bought Forbidden Zone, and have it on my shelf [ordered it off ebay].  I bought it solely for the fact that it was utterly insane.

Hmm... looks like I'll have to have a look around online to see what there is out there that I could pick up that isn't readily available here.  It's tough because of the fact that I'm especially looking for that b-movie range, and I'm sure there's some gems in the US that just aren't around here, but it's really impossible to figure it out properly.  I guess I'll just have a look-see at some of the chain store websites and see if anything strikes my fancy! Thanks for the help though, it saves him running around searching for something that is tough to find.

[Yaddo 42]

Do you mean like unrated version of recent horror movies? Or B-movie classics and older stuff? Do you get the films released by Blue Underground there? Lots of cultish horror, exploitation, spaghetti westerns, Jess Franco, etc. from them.

Did you get the deluxe wooden box edition of "The Wicker Man" there? Probably hard to find here in stores now, but it could certainly be ordered. Contains the 100+ minute version of the film. The regular edition goes for under $10 US, but is only 88 minutes.

The 50 movie packs and other sets of cheap old movies should be easy to find in any Best Buy or other electronics store that sells music and movies like Circuit City. But there is a lot of duplication of titles. You can find some fun stuff cheap at the various dollar/clearance/bargain price stores we have here: Dollar Tree, Deals, Big Lots, Family Dollar, Dollar General, etc. but the selection varies and it is mostly public domain and gray area stuff. Even Wal-Mart is having anohter round of $1 DVDs lately, but the selection is spotty: Hercules films, some horror, some old TV movies and dramas, and a lot of cartoons and forgotten kid show anime that looks to be of 70 and 80s vintage. If your dad doesn't know exactly what you want it may not be worth the effort.

Do you have the Fleisher Brothers produced Superman cartoons from the 30s and 40s for sale there? Those can usually be found cheap, some great classic animation that inspired lots of animators and filmmakers for very little money.

[dean]

Cheers Yaddo.  I'm not sure about the Blue Underground films, but I'll look em up and see.

I wasn't looking for Unrated cuts, since they're all available here fine anyways, but more along the lines of some b-movies and rare-ish versions of films that are harder to find here.

As far as I know, we didn't get the Wooden Box Wicker man here, so that would be the perfect dvd that I'm looking for.

As for the Fleisher Bros Superman cartoons, I bought a couple for my dad one fathers day, and they're great stuff.  I love the animation and alot of the character designs really have a great retro feel.

[Ash]

One thing to remember dean...
Make sure your dad gets the right region DVD's.
If he buys Region 1, which is the standard here in the U.S....you won't be able to play them on your DVD player.

You guys use Region 4 in OZ.

We use the NTSC format...you guys use PAL.
As far as I know, DVD's aren't available in the PAL or Region 4 format here.
Not 100% on that though.

[Ash]

Here's more info on DVD Regions

[dean]

Oh that's not a problem at all Ash, but thanks for the thought anyways.  What kind of cinephile would I be if I hadn't already stockpiled some region 1 treasures without a proper player for them?