Movies in China (this week)
I haven't observed much different since I posted this about buying movies in China, EXCEPT the recent availability of high-quality DVD's of movies in current release in the states. Usually, if there is a DVD of a new movie, it is one that someone filmed in the theater. You see the flickering screen and the backs of heads, sometimes. This is true in the U.S. as well as China.
Over the weekend we went to buy some DVD's. Among our purchases were Curse of the Golden Flower, Pan's Labyrinth, Smokin' Aces, Letters from Iwo Jima, and Flags of our Fathers. The girl at the shop assured us these were all from DVD's, not the theater. I didn't believe her, really, because I had just seen Golden Flower and Pan's at the movies in the U.S. in the last month. However, when we got home, and I was checking the DVD's, it appeared they were all real DVD quality. The menus were in Russian, and Russian was the primary language for the movie (I had to switch it back to English).
Randy has heard that a lot of DVD's have been coming in fom Russia, even of current releases. The quality is excellent, but the most frequent complaint is that some of them won't switch back to English, and will be only in Russian. Is it possible that these movies are released on DVD in Russia when they are still fresh in the theater? With all the movie piracy problems, and with Russia being a country frequently singled out, I find that hard to believe.
And in addition to the movies listed above, we also bought Over the Hedge, Beowulf and Grendel, Blood Diamond, The Departed, and the entire third season of an HBO TV show I should be ashamed to admit I have watched so I won't say what it is but can I just say Jeremy Piven loves me?
Total bill for all this? 77 RMB.
Over the weekend we went to buy some DVD's. Among our purchases were Curse of the Golden Flower, Pan's Labyrinth, Smokin' Aces, Letters from Iwo Jima, and Flags of our Fathers. The girl at the shop assured us these were all from DVD's, not the theater. I didn't believe her, really, because I had just seen Golden Flower and Pan's at the movies in the U.S. in the last month. However, when we got home, and I was checking the DVD's, it appeared they were all real DVD quality. The menus were in Russian, and Russian was the primary language for the movie (I had to switch it back to English).
Randy has heard that a lot of DVD's have been coming in fom Russia, even of current releases. The quality is excellent, but the most frequent complaint is that some of them won't switch back to English, and will be only in Russian. Is it possible that these movies are released on DVD in Russia when they are still fresh in the theater? With all the movie piracy problems, and with Russia being a country frequently singled out, I find that hard to believe.
And in addition to the movies listed above, we also bought Over the Hedge, Beowulf and Grendel, Blood Diamond, The Departed, and the entire third season of an HBO TV show I should be ashamed to admit I have watched so I won't say what it is but can I just say Jeremy Piven loves me?
Total bill for all this? 77 RMB.
Comments
Just saw HongKong's "Infernal Affairs" (on loan from our PA library system) and I have to rave! Good viewing for Lent, the Buddist Dantesque references n'all. Haven't seen the Hollywood remake "The Departed" - Oscar material, it may be good too.
There's a small but growing channel of two-way trade in culture - don't feel too bad!