| I'm a George Clooney placid kind of guy (without the | | | | America. What about the rights of the consumer - |
| good looks, sadly), but nothing gets me madder than | | | | why shouldn't you be able to buy what you like and |
| the issue of DVD Region Codes. | | | | bring it home to use here - just like you can with |
| Never heard of them? Let me explain. | | | | music CDs? |
| Just imagine you buy a music CD from another | | | | Well you should. All power to countries like Australia |
| country while on vacation, or maybe order it online. | | | | and New Zealand that argue DVD Region Codes |
| But when you put said disc in your player there's no | | | | violate international free trade rules - and want to |
| sweet music - just a terse message telling you | | | | ban this vile practice. |
| "Wrong Region: North American CDs are coded to | | | | Now, here are the current codes: |
| only play in North America, European CDs will only | | | | REGION 1 -- USA, Canada |
| play in Europe" . . . and so on. | | | | REGION 2 -- Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, |
| You'd feel like smashing a guitar or putting your foot | | | | Greenland |
| through a drum set, right? (Relax, music fans - CDs | | | | REGION 3 -- South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts |
| will play anywhere on the planet). | | | | of South East Asia |
| Not so with DVDs. There really IS a Region Code | | | | REGION 4 -- Australia, New Zealand, Latin America |
| preventing you from playing DVDs acquired from | | | | (including Mexico) |
| other countries. | | | | REGION 5 -- Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa |
| So say you live in the U.S. or Canada and you or your | | | | REGION 6 -- China |
| Uncle Joe just returned from Europe, for instance, | | | | The good news for DVD fans is that you CAN beat |
| with the latest James Bond flick Casino Royale - or a | | | | the Region Code scam - and there isn't a thing |
| fascinating tourist documentary on the Rhine Valley. | | | | Hollywood can do about it! |
| You pop it in the DVD player and get that darned | | | | How? Buy a Region-Free DVD Player. You'll find lots |
| "Wrong Region" message. Ditto if you live in London | | | | of them on sale at leading electronics stores and "big |
| and bought a Grand Canyon tourist DVD on your trip | | | | Box" discount stores and some of them are |
| to the U.S. | | | | astoundingly cheap. For example, I picked up a |
| Hello, that's one expensive Frisbee you just bought! | | | | Norcent player for less than $50 from Wal-Mart and |
| A few small companies issue "Region-free" DVD discs | | | | it lasted three years, happily playing PAL discs from |
| that will play anywhere in the world, but the studio | | | | Europe and NTSC discs from North America. |
| majors don't. | | | | I got an even better deal with my latest region free |
| Let's be blunt: The whole region coding issue (there | | | | model: I picked up an Accura player (made by |
| are six different regions!!) is a gigantic scam | | | | Citizen) in a fire sale at a big box grocery store for |
| perpetrated by the movie industry. The studios want | | | | an amazing $29.99!! |
| to control when DVDs will be released in different | | | | These cheap players will do an excellent job, but if |
| parts of the world and they also want to stop YOU | | | | you are willing to pay more for an upconverting |
| picking up a bargain while on your travels. For | | | | player for superior picture I can also recommend the |
| example I've seen the three Jurassic Park movies in a | | | | LG brand. Some are less than $100. Toshiba, Philips |
| box set for $15 U.S. while visiting England. Citizen | | | | and Daewoo are some of the other companies |
| Kane special edition? $8 U.S. in London. Ditto Bridge | | | | offering Region Free DVD players. |
| on the River Kwai 2-disc edition. The classic Brief | | | | You might not think this Region Code thing is a big |
| Encounter special edition? An astounding $5 in the UK. | | | | deal, but I believe it is. Guaranteed, if you travel you |
| Remember - there's nothing illegal about buying | | | | are going to see must-have DVDs at great prices. |
| whatever DVDs you like from anywhere you like on | | | | I'm watching with interest to see how the movie |
| the planet. Hollywood just doesn't want you to be | | | | industry plans to maintain this Region Code nonsense |
| able to watch them! But it goes beyond getting a | | | | when more of us download movies online, |
| bargain. Some foreign material, like documentaries or | | | | presumably from anywhere in the world. |
| obscure art films will NEVER be available in North | | | | |