Are there any reasonably priced reputable foreign impor asian bluray sites?

[yoda313]

Ok my reason I'm asking is I'm looking for the Godzilla 1984 bluray. THey released in Japan but not in the US. I know its a region a and my understanding is that all region a discs will play in all American bluray players. I have a ps3 fyi and a pc bdrom.

I have seen Godzilla 1984 for 80.00 at yesasia.com. I've seen it for a 100.00 at one or two other similar websites.

I refuse to pay nearly a 100.00 for any ONE movie. Even StarWars I'm not that fanatical for.

I'm looking in the 30.00 to 40.00 range. I haven't seen this on ebay which is surprising. I think this was released in 2009 not sure though.

I've tried amazon but no luck. Is there any way to get an english translated page of the amazon Japanese web portal? Or for that matter do any Japanese websites cater to Americans looking for Japanese items with english websites?

Again if they are going for anything over say fifty bucks or so its just not worth it. I do have the region 2 dvd of it. However its letterboxed and not a perfect print but better than my aging godzilla 1985 copy on vhs (storebought of course).

Any help is welcomed. Thanks.

Edit - and yes I've read that the godzilla 1984 bluray does not have any english audio nor subtitles. I'm ok with that. I figure I could rip the disc and rip the subtitles off the dvd I do have assuming the length of the movies are the same. I could mux in the subtitles and play it back on my wdtv.

Edit 2 - I wanted to edit the title a bit to show I'm referring to importing asian dvds. I do not want to give the impression I'm thinking all Asian websites aren't reputable. I just want a known site that isn't charging an arm and a leg for a single movie.

[intracube]

Is this it?

translated with Google.

5,338 Yen works out to just under 70 USD.

I found it by searching for ゴジラ 橋本 幸治 (name of the film and Koji Hashimoto in Japanese).

Although it's more than you wanted to pay, it's a starting point for locating a cheaper version.

I've ordered DVDs from Amazon.co.jp. Well, just one actually - the Dr. Strangelove Superbit edition DVD. It was a bit of a challenge ordering through the site, and took a couple of weeks to arrive (from memory).

[yoda313]

@intracube - yep thats the one.

Does that google translate have the ability to translate whole webpages? It appears to.

Is that how you ordered through amazons Japanese website? Or do you know Japanese?

Yeah 70's on the high side of what I'm looking for. 70.00 is what I'm willing to pay for sets not single movies.

But you are right at least its a start.

[intracube]

Does that google translate have the ability to translate whole webpages? It appears to.

Yep. Except text in images, of course.

Is that how you ordered through amazons Japanese website? Or do you know Japanese?

I don't think I used Google Translate during the ordering process in case it affected the transaction in some way. The Japanese site was/is almost identical to the UK one, so I went through it somewhat blindly, with the shapes, colours and locations of buttons being my guide

I was a bit concerned I might end up with 100 Japanese figurines on my doorstep

I've just noticed there's a shop in English link on the front page (top right corner). Either it wasn't there a few years ago, or I missed it.

Yeah 70's on the high side of what I'm looking for. 70.00 is what I'm willing to pay for sets not single movies. But you are right at least its a start.

The only cheaper price I found was HMV:
http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/3654078

But that's only a discount price when two or more items are ordered together, otherwise it's more expensive than Amazon.

[yoda313]

Thanks intracube.

I tried the "used" link but the new to you shop in english link wasn't available. But the google translate worked. They had them for 65.00 - a whole 5.00 off

any other sites similar to hmv? I guess maybe I need to start shopping google.co.jp for more options.

[intracube]

any other sites similar to hmv? I guess maybe I need to start shopping google.co.jp for more options.

Here's a store price comparison.
Tower Records looks to be the cheapest, taking into account shipping costs. Although I don't know if free shipping is available to people outside of Japan.

I've never ordered from them, but Wikipedia says they're the leading CD retailer in Japan.

There might also be 'handling fees' + import taxes into the US.

On the Towers Records site, look at Help - Online Shopping at the bottom of the page, then the Various Fees link.

If you haven't imported DVDs/Bluray from outside the US before, I'd be a good idea to check the relevant government websites on import taxes. I was hit with several additional costs when importing to the UK.

[yoda313]

@intracube. Thanks for the links.

I haven't thought of the tax implications.

I think I'll hold off for now.

I have just bought the bluray bonus discs for Star Wars.

I also have three AAA games I want to buy in the next few months - Batman Arkham City, Assassins Creed Revelations, and Uncharted 3.

At the moment I'd rather spend 60.00 on one of those titles coming up in October and November.

But I will keep your links in mind. THanks again intracube.

[yoda313]

Well I finally splurged and ahem, "procured" a version with 5.1 on it. It was from, shall I say, an online retailer. It was less then 20.00 for a dvd version. I won't get into the details for various reasons but I think I'll be happy with it.

I could not see myself spending 70.00 or 80.00 for a single movie no matter how much I like it (that was the going rate for the bluray import). Unless it was an ultimate super duper primo version with a billion extras and a figurine or something. Even than I don't think I'd ever do that for a SINGLE movie. A box set for a trilogy or tv show or something is different when you get lots of content for a higher price.

I think I should be happy with this edition I'm getting.

I'll let you know when I get it.

[lordsmurf]

For $70, the DVD better be delivered with a cute hooker.
That's just highway robbery.

[yoda313]

@lordsmurf - actually its 70-80 for the bluray. Its still extreme. THats why I went the alternative route.

Oh and the 70-80 price seemed pretty uniform at the couple of sites I was able to find it so it wasn't just one nut job.

[yoda313]

Well I finally got it today.

Its great! I got a Japanese version of it with a true 5.1 track on it. The dvd picture quality is average to pretty good but the sound was what I was after. The rumble is there! After all this time I finally have the version I wanted.

NO MORE VHS VERSIONS! I won't toss mine away for nostalgia sake but I don't think I'll ever watch it again. FYI I do have another source of the english version on disc so that is another reason i won't be needing the vhs to watch again.


I'm definitely glad I didn't spend 70-80 plus shipping on the bluray version that DOESN'T have english subtitles. The disc I have now DOES have english subtitles.

WOOHOO!

This quest of mine (ok obsession) is finally over.

Now my only obsession left for video collections is to get three more James Bond movies on dvd or bluray to have them all on disc (I have three left on vhs that I don't have on disc and I'm almost there). I have about six or seven on bluray I think including the two Daniel Craig movies. I have the rest on dvd.

[intracube]

I'm definitely glad I didn't spend 70-80 plus shipping on the bluray version that DOESN'T have english subtitles.

I was just thinking, there's no guarantee that the quality of the blu-ray is true HD. It could conceivably be an SD upscale job - which is reportedly what was done for the Farscape blu-ray discs, rather than a proper HD scan of the film negative...

Now my only obsession left for video collections is to get three more James Bond movies on dvd or bluray to have them all on disc

Which three films is that?

[yoda313]

moonraker diamonds are forever and living daylights - I'm not sure on that last one. There are a few bond titles that sound similar enough to where I'm not a 100%.

With all the holiday spending I have to reel it in a bit. I'll get there eventually. I do have them on vhs so its not like I can't watch every bond movie. Its just nice to have them digitally on dvd or bluray.

@intracube - actually my purpose for getting the Godzilla 1985/4 bluray wasn't solely the hd quality. It was for 5.1. Fortunately my dvd acquisition was just what the doctor ordered. - and the picture quality is good and a little better of course with the ps3/tv doing its own upscaling - though obviously not "true hd" but seudo hd you get from a good dvd upscaling job (hardware wise).

Edit - yes it THe Living daylights was the third bond movie I have left on vhs.

[intracube]

moonraker diamonds are forever and living daylights - I'm not sure on that last one. There are a few bond titles that sound similar enough to where I'm not a 100%.

AFAIK there's still a few Bond films that haven't made it to Bluray. The Living Daylights and GoldenEye are two of them. Although these films have been shown ENDLESSLY on HDTV for the last couple of years...

I'm guessing they'll be released on Bluray towards the end of this year - when Bond 23 hits the cinemas.

[yoda313]

Although these films have been shown ENDLESSLY on HDTV for the last couple of years...

Unless its OAR and 5.1 its not worth it. AMC and TMC are the only ones that reliably show OAR as far as I can tell (on the normal cable channels that is not the premium ones). Also 5.1 is hit or miss. I think when Spike shows Star Wars all the time I think its always stereo.

when Bond 23 hits the cinemas.

Thats set for this year? I didn't know they were that far along. I know it was held up in production for a long time because of the MGM bankruptcy or whatever mess they were in. So they must be in post then if they are releasing this year I guess. Wow didn't know.

I don't even know what the name of it is.

Is there one of those annoying 30 second super teaser trailers that only show the gun barrel logo and a title? I hate it when they put out those types of super short teasers going "WERE COMING IN 20xx". Its like you almost would rather not see that bit of tease just because you would want more knowing it'll be a few months before they release anything substantial.


Edit - also I'm not necessarily looking for those last three on bluray. I'm more than happy with dvd. I won't be upgrading all my bond movies to bluray for sure. I don't watch them that often to want the best for each (aside from the ones I already have on bluray that is). Dvd would be just fine.

----------------

One other gripe - Have you noticed they never release them chronologically in those volume sets they put out? They have sets with a Connery, Moore, and Brosnan in the same set. WTF? I mean I understand putting the actors in there own sets. That makes sense like they put a Connery dvd set out. I get that. But whats up with those dvd and bluray sets that have a jumble of movies in them?

Edit 2 - Ok its SKYFALL is the name for the next Bond movie. They did have a trailer posted on youtube but I'm not sure its the real one. I looked it up on the youtube app on the xbox 360. I'll check out the official website to see if the quick trailer I saw is the "real" one or some hack job a fan did...

[intracube]

Although these films have been shown ENDLESSLY on HDTV for the last couple of years...

Unless its OAR and 5.1 its not worth it.

For movies shot anamorphic, I'd completely agree. ITV do particularly poor pan scan versions of these. For movies shot S35... I have to admit, I like the full height 16:9 versions they show - as long as the re-formatting is done well, and by the film studio. The 2.39:1 version is still the definitive version though.

A comparison of QoS:

2.39:1 version is from a YT trailer, which I believe is the same framing as on DVD/Bluray.

Sound; Unfortunately ITV have the rights to the films in the UK and AFAIK they're still broadcasting 2 channel audio. I don't have surround sound though.

Yep, Bond 23 = Skyfall. I haven't spotted any official trailers online yet. It's due in Oct.

[yoda313]

Well I finally completed my james bond disc collection. I say disc collection and not bluray or dvd collection because I have both.

I have that up and down feeling you get when completing a set of something. That instant gratification of completing it and the let down knowing you don't have anything left to get for the set. But I am happy its complete now. It turns out I didn't realize I still needed to get You Only Live Twice. I did not even have that on VHS. But I did get that and the Living Daylights and just yesterday Diamonds are Forever to complete the collection.

I don't need the few vhs tapes that I have left as they are all now strictly digital. I've been giving the vhs tapes to my local library. They have a little section where they sell used books and movies people bring in or over-stock that they have. That way somebody else can enjoy them. (and yes these are the commercial hollywood tapes not broadcast recordings so they won't get in to any trouble reselling them).

It turns out this year they are releasing a 50th anniversary bluray box set with ALL of the James Bond movies on bluray. However I already have abut five or six bond movies on bluray and the rest on dvd.

I have generally taken the approach that I don't rebuy movies on bluray that I already have on dvd. There are some exceptions and only generally if there are new bonus features and stuff. Especially if I have a dvd edition without any bonuses than I might be tempted to upgrade to the bluray.

One exception was awhile ago I did buy the Star Trek movies on bluray (all of them including the Chris Pike version - albeit that was an individual purchase obviously). I actually didn't have four and five on dvd so it was partially to complete a set and also to get the new bonus disc and some of the new commentary that I didn't have. Some of my tng discs were first edition releases that had practically no bonus materials and the annoying feature of having dolby surround track one instead of dolby 5.1 track one so you always had to switch the audio. And a couple - I think Generations and First Contact - were letterbox not anamorphic.