Editing DVD - What's the best route?

[RobFrenzy]

Ok, first post. Kinda suffering from information overload and I hoping someone can streamline this for me.

Here's what I want to do:

I want to copy some commercial dvd's I own to my Macbook Pro. (going overseas for a while and won't have my collection) Space isn't much of an issue, it's be nice to save some space, but I'd like to have it in high quality. I want to have the subtitles, as many of my movies are in other languages, but i'd like to be able to turn it on and off, not burned on the image.

Also, I work with a youth group and like to edit short segments of popular movies to illustrate lessons. I have Final Cut Express 4.

So what I need is a way to rip dvd's onto my laptop into a single, high-quality file that can then be opened by Final Cut Express 4. Whether it's mac the ripper or handbrake or streamclip, could y'all please include the names of the software needed as well as the settings to get the best results?

[pixel zombie]

i use MTR to rip, YADE to extract certain scenes and mpegstreamclip if i have to edit from there..this prevents any unneccesary re-encoding...

[terryj]

The answers to this question vary from user to user.

I use MTR to rip content to your HD,
keeping the DVD Structure intact so
I don't have to hard burn in subs.

However to extract certain scenes,
I prefer iShowU ( if under 10 minutes) to "hijack" straight to DV
to drop into FCE or FCP, for 30 minutes or longer I prefer to use
MpegStreamclip to set in and Out points and then go to DV Stream to
drop into FCE or FCP.

YUMV.

[Frobozz]

MacUpdate currently has a promo for a bunch of applications for $50. Included is RipIt, Multiplex and DVDRemaster Pro. Each may be helpful for your purpose.