Info and forum posts by 'MikeS'

Classic (my opinion) Sci-Fi missing from DVD

What is it with the studios? ($$$$) With huge back catalogues to extract from there seams a tendency recently for re-issuing DVDs in varying different collector's editions etc. I would rather have some old classics than (not in all cases) constantly rehashed editions which include extras not worth having (HBO specials for one thing!). There are still some great classic (my opinion - ones I enjoy) which have still to be released on DVD. Here`s a list of the ones I`m after:-


Robinson Crusoe on Mars ( I believe this is on the way)
Incredible Shrinking Man
This Island Earth
Crack in the World
Colossus: The Forbin Project (not sure about this one - long time no see)


Anyone else got any others they would like to see?

Michael.

This item was edited on Saturday, 19th March 2005, 22:14

Good, Bad and the Ugly R2 - audio problems

Has anyone else recently purchased the above 2-disc title? Video and extras are fine it's just the poor audio in places. Central vocals are a little quite but if anyone is off camera talking its almost in audio able. You end up increasing the volume and getting blasted by the next scene which has gunfire. Considering the restoration which has been done on this film I believe it can only be an authoring problem with the disc.

RE: PLAY - Where is my Matrix Reloaded? Ordered 3 weeks ago...

I had a R1 box set go missing in June and had Play send me another. Order something else several months later and received a note about customes charges on it. When I visited the sorting office to pay, the guy found two more packages needing customers charges. One of which was the box set from June. I had not received notes for either parcel. In the end the guy took the single payment and gave me all the parcels saying `Its not my money. Just take them`. Fine I thought. So I did.

I think its an idea to check your local sorting office as they may have your missing disc.

Michael.

RE: Box Sets and Customs - Straw Poll

Received several box sets recently - all from Play.com.

Cathrine Cookson (23 seperate discs) - R2 - No customs
StarGate SG1 Series 2 - R1 - No customs
StarGate SG1 Series 3 - R1 - No customs
Babylon 5 series 2 - R2 - No customs

I think that`s enough money spent for one year. By the way the Cathrine Cookson box set is a gift; as its something I would not normally buy.

Michael.

Star Trek : OS

Does anyone know whether Paramount UK will be releaseing the original Star Trek series on DVD over here?

MikeS

Play.com`s Biggest Customer??

I saw in one of the threads that some had 10 pages of order history with Play. I`ve just checked mine and its frightening - 34 pages. Anybody else?

Sad thread, I know!

MikeS

RE: Play247.com - Second Hand DVD`s

I have never had any second DVD`s before. The only damaged ones I`ve had are scratched because the discs have come off the centre clip. This happens during postage. Been using Play since end of 1998 and had not many probs at all. Any I have had have been sorted quickly. Noticed the slow shipping but its only been in the last month or two. This may be due to xmas and all the sales they`ve been running lately. No plans on changing though.

Michael.

RE: Buying from play.com - question

Pete,

You shouldn`t get charged customs or VAT on Region 2. I`ve ordered no end of R2 box sets priced £25 and up and have never been hit by customs on any R2 discs (round about 150 discs) in the last 3 years. The only charges I`ve had have been with R1 discs over £18. Recently myself, both my sisters and dad have received BTTF Box Set R2 without charges. Though both Spiderman Box Set R1, E.T. Box Set R1 and LOTR Box Set R1 had charges. I had some details on obtaining stuff from Jersey but cannot put my hand on it.

Michael

RE: Buying from play.com - question

Charges only effect Region 1 discs (US) only. If you order loads of Region 2 there`s no porb.

Michael.

Babylon 5 (R2) Series One

I`ve just received my copy of B5 series one. Had a quick look at it last night. Menus aren`t to bad, animated but basic. There`s 4 episodes per disc which must have been very tight. The first episode I viewed seemed to show signs, now and again, of what appeared to be scratches or something. I didn`t think this was done on film or prehaps it was transferred after production for TV viewing ? A part from this slight problem the picture was good. Its a big improvement over the VHS versions I had. We also have all the episodes in widescreen at long last. As I`ve sold my videos I cannot confirm if this is a true widescreen or matted version.

Anyway all I need now is time to watch 22 episodes. Specially with Spider-man, Red Dwarf, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings on their way. I shall be bankrupt this month and next.

Michael.

RE: Laputa the flying island

I`ve just found this on DVD in Japan. Its widescreen and has a English audio track. Check out the link below. It will cost about 37 GBP and that includes postage.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VWDZ-8014

Michael.

Play.com New Screens????

Is it me or does anyone else think that Play`s new screen layout has go downhill. Most of the site is good but the My Account pages have less info. The order history is no longer in delivery date order, instead its order placed dates. This makes looking for a shipped date on a pre-order placed 3 months ago a right pain. You have to page through several screens. Also the Outstanding Orders page no longer carries a release date. Again this is a pain when trying to work out how many pre-orders you have per money. Makes budgeting time consuming have to select each title to check realease date.

What does everybody else thinking. I know my Mum, Dad & Sister don`t like the layout.

Mike.

Babylon 5 R2 in 4:3?

Does anyone have more info on the R2 Babylon 5 Series One box set. According to Play.com the disc is 4:3, no audio mentioned. R1 is Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic and Dolby Digital (5.1).

Michael.

RE: Multi Region Hacks for Panasonic XV 10

I`ve just had my players firmware upgraded. It now auto switches to the required region. Works on RCE discs to. No more handset combinations. Just play the disc and it works.

Mike

We Were Soliders

Noticed Play.com are processing We Were Soliders. This is no due for another week or so.

Michael.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 7th August 2002, 14:23

RE: Whats the story with Play.com

Just found this info on another site.

......I know a few of you are reading wondering about PLAY.COM. For those that aren`t too sure what I`m talking about, let me bring you up to speed. At some point last week, Play stopped advertising Region 1, and effectively relegated it to a secondary item. Many people were up in arms about this, but guys, I`m sorry, the simple answer is economics. In dealing with the major labels, (the BUENA VISTA`S, PARAMOUNTS and WARNER BROS of this world) Play was finding itself in a unique and contradictory position. It was asking these labels for the best deals on their titles, while importing the same title 6 months earlier from the states. Obviously, the labels don`t want importation of DVD period, so, as I understand it, they were asked not to import, and Play, I believe have accepted these terms. BUT, fear not, I can`t say exactly, because you never know who is reading, (probably no-one) but Play and Region 1 DVD are a long way from finishing...................

Michael.

RE: Selling VHS videos in bulk?

Try Car Boot sales. Managed to get rid of 100 titles for £2. Also posted on our company Intranet at work and sold another 40.

MichaelS

Teac DVD-1000

Does anyone know if there is a remote hack for the Teac DVD-1000. I think there might be one but can`t remeber.

Thanks
Michael.

RE: Die Hard Ultimate Collection - anyone else get a £6.99 customs charge :(

Received my Box set this morning with a £9.84 charge. This works out as follows:-

Import Duty - £1.40
VAT - £7.24 (this comes from £39.99 + £1.40)
Clearance Fee - £1.20

Can they charge VAT on import duty? My sister only had to pay £6.99 they didn`t charge her Import Duty or Clearance Fee.

Michael.

This item was edited on Saturday, 14th July 2001, 14:19

RE: Who out there has the most DVDs?

I like my films and have always been a big collector. Had a betmax recorder and would go round the rental stores paying £1-£4 when the format was fading out. Now I wouldn`t touch a tape of any description. Once you have seen a film presented as it should be VHS and Betmax are pants.

Started my collection in Aug 98 and now have 188 titles; 35% R2 and 65% R1. Also 5 on preorder. I don`t have SKY or cable, so if its a film I enjoy watching then I will buy it.

Michael.

RE: Problems with Disney`s Dinosaur R1

No problem on the Wharfdale 750S. Played both discs no probs.

Michael.

RE: play247 GONE??

I ordered two discs on the 28th Dec and they turned up a few days later. But I still have a disc processing which was ordered on 29th Dec. They still haven`t dispatched Hollow Man either.

Flooding of the warehouse would explain why my two discs wrapers were slightly gritty. Disc fine inside though.

Michael.

RE: First Generation Wharfedale 750 and the Tesco upgrade (NOT 750S)

Hi Robin,

There have been no problems with my 750S and R1 discs. The jittery picture is down to the play not being set to the correct TV system. I had the jitters on my player till I changed it to PAL60. As for the chip, the 750S has a completely different chipset to 750.

Sorry I can`t help anymore.

Michael.

Under Siege R2 Problem

Had Under Siege R2 for xmas but the disc will not play. Has anyone had the same probs. Tested on the following:-

Wharfedale - Player freezes
Encore PC-DVD - Crashs PC
Panasonic A350 - Get message "Can not play discs of this type" ????
Pioneer ??? - Cannot read the disc.

Me thinks there is something wrong with the disc. Can not see any surface defects.

Michael.

This item was edited on Friday, 5th January 2001, 19:47

RE: Wharfedale 750S - Hack appears not to work

No problems with my 750S. Plays all my region 1 & 2 discs (all 150) without a problem. Played the whole of Toy Story Box Set R1 had no probs. X-Men fine too. Picture as good as a Panasonic.

Michael.

RE: Wharfedale 750 - should I keep it?

I have a 750S (first gen.) its a great little player. I have had no problems with any of my discs (over 100 R1). The picture quality is great. Can not comment on sound as I do not have a proper set-up.

Michael.

RE: Wharfedale 750s(Early Model) and the X-Men region 1 DVD

Have you checked your players settings. Is it set to PAL60, PAL60R or Auto. When I had my 750S for the first time the picture jumped all through the menus and start of film. I checked the settings and found it was set to PAL. You have to stop the disc a press the TV System button on your remote then start playing the disc again. Player will keep your adjustment.

Michael.

RE: warfdale750s 1st/2nd/3rd? gen

My 750S is a 1st gen, I also gave my brother-in-law a 2nd gen for Xmas. Have had no problems at all. Plays all my discs.

Michael.

RE: Should I buy a Wharfedale 750(s)?

Yes.

750S is a great little player. Plays all my R1 discs with no problems. As for features it has all you need to play a disc. How many times do you need all the fancy stuff (window dressing).

Michael.

This item was edited on Thursday, 28th December 2000, 10:32

RE: Panasonic A350 or Wharfedale 750s??

My dad has the A350 and I`ve got the 750S. Not much differences in picture. I cannot comment on sound as I don`t have a proper set-up. There are less features on the 750S, but you can change the region by remote. If you`ve got a widescreen tv the A350 sends a signal to switch the set to 16:9, the 750S does not; I have to switch manually on the tv. My dad had his chipped which cost around 60 pounds. Is your friend selling a modified player?

I`m very happy with my 750S it plays all my 100 R1 discs and 40 R2 discs.

Michael.