[athenix]

I've noticed that a great number of you live in the UK, so perhaps you can help me out with a question I have.

Over 90% of my family lives in the UK (I've never been... my grandmother and an aunt are making a trip back to their home this month, damn them, couldn't they have done it a month earlier when I could have gone along?!? maybe next year...), and whilst talking to my cousin, she was telling me about all of the DVDs she had purchased over the past month ... titles that I couldn't get in the US for another number of years (for example, the latest season of Friends, 24..).

I know a number of the people I know here in the U.S. own region-free DVD players and order their DVDs from amazon.co.uk, and I checked it out myself and it seems feasible. Adam and I have actually been discussing this for a long time - seeing as we're both in film, there are a number of foreign releases that we'd love to see that just don't make it to the U.S. A number of the various TV shows he's worked on also don't have U.S. releases (and may never...) but have U.K. releases. It's always nice to own what he's worked on.

Here's where my question comes in. And here's where I sound like yet another dumb American. The majority of what we'd be buying at this point are various television shows. Are the shows that are broadcast in the U.K. identical (or nearly so) to the U.S. ones? Obviously, a minute or two wouldn't make a difference, but I wouldn't want a drastic difference.

Any other bits of advice? If this were to work out well for us, then I'd love to buy my grandmother a setup for her own use - sadly she hasn't been able to see any of shows that her family watches and hears so much about since she's moved to the U.S. (Kentucky to be exact... so basically, she's screwed in more ways than one!)

Any feedback welcomed ;)

[Hobbit]

Yes, the shows are normally identical.

The main difference (apart from the time difference) is usually the extras available on the DVD. There can be more commentaries and extras on the US versions (though I have seen it reversed - I think Akira has more in the UK than the US, but could be wrong!) and unless there's a special limited edition directors cut (etc etc) the changes if any are usually minor.

Otherwise, no problem, I would have thought especially with TV shows.

Make sure it is a region free machine, though!

We've just finished the first series of 24 here - and very good it was! - with the show being shown on the Sunday night and the DVD coming out the day after! Very surprised at you not having it out in the US... probably in time for series 2?

Hope this helps!

[Solaar]

And I bought 24 as couple of days after it came out - what a series!! It has an alternate ending and a preview of season two.

I didn't actually think that we had any benefits at all because we usually have to wait around six months just to see all the films you guys get in the cinemas.

Solaar
waiting for series 2

[Hobbit]

One of the reasons that the regioning (is that a word? :( ) came about was to stop people being able to get DVD's at the same time (or in some cases before) they were released at the cinema in their region.

People still buy them quite happily though.. the joy of the internet!

Solaar - i think i'm right in saying October in the States, poss. January in the UK for series 2. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!)

There were 3 or 4 alternate endings filmed.

The new series sounds very Tom Clancy to me - something about Palmer and Bauer trying to find a nuclear device... more technothriller?