The Best DVD Site For Movie Lovers Out There

February 17, 2003 4:23 PM

If you like movies, and you like to watch them on DVD, and appreciate in-depth, thoughtful analysis of various features on a particular DVD, then you need The DVD Journal. And nothing else.
posted by WolfDaddy (22 comments total)

You know what I don't like about DVD? Those pauses that happen about once per film during a scene change. Those really cheese me off. Can you tech guys let us know when you come up with a serious video distribution medium? Thanks.

Good link btw. Bookmarked.
posted by ODiV at 4:38 PM on February 17, 2003

ODiV, I've noticed that problem on several models of DVD player, going from the top to the bottom of the line. It never happens when I watch a DVD on my 'puter, nor does it happen on my Apex DVD player, but it *does* happen on my roomie's Apex, which is a later model than mine. Fonky.

If there's an explanation about this problem, I'd love to hear it, though the most often-quoted explanation I hear is either a cheap player, or cheap media.
posted by WolfDaddy at 4:49 PM on February 17, 2003

Yep, thanks for the link WolfDaddy, I have bookmarked it too. The Digital Bits is good, but lately it hasn't really been doing it for me. Hopefully the two sites together will satisfy my modest needs.
posted by Hildago at 4:49 PM on February 17, 2003

Thanks, WolfDaddy. (I don't get those pauses on my Sony, btw.)
posted by languagehat at 5:01 PM on February 17, 2003

this is just what i was looking for, thanks wolfdaddy...! hildago too, thanks. i'm new to dvds having just bought my first player, a panasonic (as is my tv), and a dvd drive for my puter. i've not noticed any pauses when viewing a movie like odiv has...
posted by t r a c y at 5:16 PM on February 17, 2003

The pauses you're talking about are where the DVD's layer change is. The data on a DVD can be encoded on two layers and the DVD player has to switch from reading one layer to the other all while streaming the movie to you in real time. Some DVD's don't have this problem because they aren't long enough to have to span the movie across 2 layers, other times you have a DVD player that handles it more gracefully and it's not noticeable.

The DVD creators normally try to put the layer change at a place in the movie where it won't be noticed as much, but they're not always successful.
posted by freshgroundpepper at 5:30 PM on February 17, 2003

That's my favorite also, but I wouldn't stop there. There's DVDTalk independant, decent forum , DVDFile a bit more "Hollywood", and DVDReview some diamonds in the rough

For more than just US releases: DVDReviewer, DVDDebate and DVDAnswers.

Some region free DVDs can be found in Brazil before you can find them anywhere else. Try DVDVersatil.

For price comparison I also check out DVDPriceSearch.


No pauses on either of my Panasonic players.
posted by ?! at 5:31 PM on February 17, 2003

Ctrl+D, Ctrl+D, aaand Ctrl+D
my older toshiba pauses too...
oops missed one Ctrl+D
thanx
posted by Big_B at 5:45 PM on February 17, 2003

Metafilter: Ctrl+D, Ctrl+D, aaand Ctrl+D

I like it. A lot.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:59 PM on February 17, 2003

No review of Kung Pow: Enter the Fist. For shame.
posted by frenetic at 6:25 PM on February 17, 2003

That's a great web site. Thanks for the heads up.

Also, their front page review of One Hour Photo has convinced me to watch that movie, even though I normally avoid any film with Robin Williams in it.
posted by Beholder at 6:38 PM on February 17, 2003

frenetic: au contraire!

here and for good measure here
posted by ?! at 6:48 PM on February 17, 2003

So long as you're compromising your principles, Beholder, you might wanna check out the Insomnia remake with him and Pacino. Although rent it, don't buy the DVD.
posted by Hildago at 6:58 PM on February 17, 2003

For a more pure home theater geek experience, there's also the AVS Forum and Home Theater Forum.

I tend to like the DVD area of the HTF (or, as they call it, the "Home Theater Software" forum), where the main reviewer makes no pretense of knowing how to judge the quality of a film itself -- he mostly focuses in great detail on the quality of the video, audio and extras.
posted by Dirjy at 7:02 PM on February 17, 2003

Ahhh DVDJournal, i've been using that site for about a year. Great link. Their statsheet is eminently useful for getting all your basic information in one fell swoop.
posted by quin at 7:19 PM on February 17, 2003

Can you tech guys let us know when you come up with a serious video distribution medium?

It's not the medium, it's the players. It's a problem that could be easily fixed with a larger read-ahead buffer, but that costs money. It's also why computer players don't generally have the same problem.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 8:20 PM on February 17, 2003

Thanks, ?!. After that positive review of Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, I now think very highly of DVDJournal.com and commend it without reservation.
posted by frenetic at 8:54 PM on February 17, 2003

For all my homies in the R4 there's Michael D's DVD info page.
posted by X-00 at 8:59 PM on February 17, 2003

One hour photo was beautiful. Unfortunately I didn't think as much of the story.
posted by ODiV at 9:01 PM on February 17, 2003

AnimeOnDVD
posted by SPrintF at 9:51 PM on February 17, 2003

It's not a big site like DVD Journal or DVD Talk, but I like to keep an eye on filmref.com's release/watch list, especially since it includes Region 2 items.
posted by gluechunk at 11:43 PM on February 17, 2003

I would love to hear other peoples links for foriegn and independent film releases. I have found foriegn films to be good, but there are tons of good movies out there, many that pass even the best art house theatres. C'mon folks cough it up.
posted by CoolHandPuke at 5:07 AM on February 18, 2003