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(1) General Information
While I made it seem like it is really easy to buy movies online, it can be quite difficult. You have to figure out what region of the world you are for DVDs, or if your Video machine is in PAL format or NTSC (or both). How much money you need in a foreign currency (or maybe not if you live in the US) and you might finally be able to buy a movie!
Notes:
All DVD players sold in Pal countries can also play NTSC discs, but make sure your TV is also NTSC compatible. Also, most Hong Kong movies are Region 0, which means they can be played on any DVD player in the world (but still check just in case!). Make sure the shop you buy from accepts returns, you may get a faulty disc and have to return it.
(2) Region Information
This info is pretty straightfoward, here is the DVD regions:
- Region 0: Everywhere.
- Region 1: Canada, U.S., U.S. Territories.
- Region 2: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegowina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, European Union, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, France, Metropolitan, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Iran (Islamic Republic of) Iraq,Ireland,Israel,Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic, Malta, Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Kingdom (Channel Islands) Vatican City State, Yemen, Yugoslavia.
- Region 3: Southeast Asia, East Asia (including Hong Kong).
- Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, Caribbean.
- Region 5: Former Soviet Union, Indian Subcontinent, Africa (also North Korea, Mongolia).
- Region 6: China.
- Region 7: Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc).
For VHS users:
- PAL VHS: Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, China (Peoples Republic), Christmas Island, Cook Island, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dubai, Easter Island, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, Gambia, Gaza & West Bank, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece (also SECAM), Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Holland, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madeira, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Sardinia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Tristian Da Cunah, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Vatican, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe.
- NTSC VHS: Alaska, American Samoa, Antigua, Antilles (Dutch), Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Burma, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Diego Garcia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Johnston Islands, Korea South, Leeward Islands, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Okinawa, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Surinam, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Virgin Islands.
(3) Questions and answers
What is a Video CD?
A VCD, or Video Compact Disc is simply a movie put onto a CD that you can usually play on a computer or some DVD players. They have no extras and the picture and sound quality is far from DVD quality. I wouldn't really reccommend a VCD over a normal Video, let alone even the worst DVD title.
How do I know if my TVs NTSC compatible?
First, check your TVs manual, it should say in there if it is or not. Secondly, find a way to test the picture in NTSC format before you buy any DVDs. Some TVs are much better than others at displaying the image and some will even be in black and white!
How do I know if the DVDs are good quality?
That is a tough one to answer ... it depends on what you think is 'good quality'. Virtually any DVD is still better quality than VHS titles of the same title. You could search the internet for 'Hong Kong DVD reviews' if you still want to know more about them.
Is ' -insert movie title here- ' on DVD yet?
I don't know, you will have to check for yourself to be sure, but, as far as I know all of Michelle's movies are on DVD.
How do I pay for the movies I buy?
You will need a credit card if you want to buy movies online. If you don't have one maybe you can use someone elses and give them the money, thats what I do.
(4) Online Shops
Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com
· Small Review: This massive online shop has just about every Michelle Yeoh movie ever made on DVD. Can be more expensive then other online shops but very good customer service and range.
· Formats: DVD and VHS
· Regions: Region 0, NTSC
· Rating: 9/10
DDD House - http://www.dddhouse.com.com
· Small Review: The best online shop to buy any Hong Kong related DVD. Wholesale prices on all their movies, fantastic range and great service. Most of the DVDs here are Region 0 NTSC, and the average price is around $5US. There are no catches.
· Formats: DVD and VCD
· Regions: Region 0, NTSC
· Rating: 10/10
Blackstar.co.uk - http://www.blackstar.co.uk
· Small Review: The absolute best option to shop at if you live in the UK and my personal favourite. Great selection of Videos and a not as good, but still great selection of Michelle DVDs. Great customer service and help features.
· Formats: DVD and VHS
· Regions: Region 2 (some region 0), PAL
· Rating: 9/10
Poker Industries - http://www.pokerindustries.com
· Small Review: I'll get right to the point, ALL of there DVDs are region 0! That is the main reason you would shop here, well, that and the fact that (as far as I know) they have every Michelle movie on DVD! I can't really reccommend it though, as I have never shoped there. (Thats not to say I won't in the future! :)
· Formats: DVD, VHS and VCD
· Regions: Region 0, NTSC (some PAL)
· Rating: 7/10
Chinatown Video - http://www.chinatownvideo.com.au
· Small Review: While they only have about 5 Michelle movies on VHS, they are fantastic quality (eg. widescreen format, subtitled, original soundtracks) and I actually bought Police Story 3 from here.
· Formats: VHS
· Regions: PAL
· Rating: 3/10
HK Flix - http://www.hkflix.com
· Small Review: A fantastic range of Michelle Yeoh DVDs and Video CDs, good customer service. I don't know anything bad to say about this site, except that they are very expensive compared to others.
· Formats: DVD and VCD
· Regions: Region 0, NTSC
· Rating: 7/10
YesAsia - http://www.yesasia.com
· Small Review: Don't let the flashy design of this site fool you, its not that great. First I went to buy Police Story 3 on DVD and they were out of stock, and others I wanted weren't even there. Don't let that stop you from visiting though, you might find something you were after.
· Formats: DVD and VCD
· Regions: Region 0, NTSC/PAL
· Rating: 5/10
~ This guide was made by Nicholas Blanch ©2001 ~
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