Bootleg?

[KameHouse]

Like most here I hate bootlegs!

I definately do not want to give my money to bootleggers ect. so I was wondering if you can tell me if these DBZ movie discs are bootlegged or not here is the pic:



These me and my friend would like to order these from an online Anime store, but are unsure if they are legit or not.

Thanks!

*Goes off to make intro thread!*

[laserkid]

Those all look like bootlegs to me. Thankfully Daizenshuu EX has a helpful thing called the DVD guide, which has all the legitimate US DBZ DVD releases. http://www.daizex.com/guides/dvd_guide/

[Tanooki Kuribo]

You know its a bootleg.

[Nyoibo]

Yup, bootleg - I got those when I didn't know anything about DVDs and stuff. Crappy quality and subtitles... stay away. ^_^

[Tsukento]

The easiest ways to tell it's bootleg are as follows.

-Region. If it's Region Free, it's a bootleg. There are no Dragon Ball DVDs from any country that are region free.

-Cover art. The front cover is movie 9's poster with Coola on the front, while the back features the back cover of Pioneer's version of "The World's Strongest." Plus, no DVD from any country mixes all promotional art together for their DVD disc covers in a crude manner.

-Episode/Movie count. Right off the bat you can tell this is fake. How? The only set that contains every movie is the Dragon Box set. So you won't find movies packed into several discs in one set if it's not a Dragon Box. In terms of episodes, most bootleg discs come with around close to four discs for one set of episodes. FUNimation's DVDs come in 3 to 4 episodes per disc and each disc are sold on their own (Dragon Ball is an exclusion, features several episodes on a 2-disc set per saga). Japan's single DVDs of Dragon Ball Z hold upto 6 episodes per disc, as do the Dragon Box sets for DB/DBZ/DBGT.

-Subtitles and Audio. If you see Chinese audio with English subtitles for either Chinese or Japanese audio, you automatically have yourself a bootleg. Especially when it's Region Free. There is an official Hong Kong release in the Region 3 format (I think it was R3), however, it only contains the Chinese and Japanese audio and subtitles in Chinese. Also, subtitles will tend to be VERY laughable due to the translation process going from Japanese to Chinese to English. So the amount of Engrish and mistakes that appear should be an indication that you won't find those on official DVDs.

[JPA82]

Yup, bootleg - I got those when I didn't know anything about DVDs and stuff. Crappy quality and subtitles... stay away. ^_^

Actually I have that set too, and I think it's the next best thing right under the Dragon Boxes. I know, and agree, that the quality doesn't touch the Dragon Box: The Movies set. But where else are you going to find Dragon Ball Z movies #7-#13 in their original widescreen format? FUNimation?? I think not. I can't stand the fullscreen FUNimation versions. That is why I bought this nice DVD set for only $30. The picture quality is better than all the other bootlegs I've come across in the past, and the subtitles are very readable. It was well worth the money in my opinion. I'm glad I bought it. I just wish that movies #1-#6 were in widescreen as well.

[Kula]

It is indeed a bootleg. I also have a copy. The first 6 movies have the Pioneer and Funimation dubs, and the rest are in Japanese only. The video quality is pretty darn good, and the subtitles are good as well. I never thought that it could be a bootleg at first because of the professionally made box.

[KameHouse]

Those all look like bootlegs to me. Thankfully Daizenshuu EX has a helpful thing called the DVD guide, which has all the legitimate US DBZ DVD releases. http://www.daizex.com/guides/dvd_guide/

Thanks, yea I was familiar with the sites DVD Guide, and saw that they werent on there, so that was my first indication. Then my friend who also wants to buy the set suggested it might be from a different English speaking country.

When DBZ first came out, I watched it and was "in the know", but back then was too poor to keep up with the video releases, so know I want to get back into the DBZ scene, and have money this time around to spend (which I definately dont want to waste on bootlegs).

It is indeed a bootleg. I also have a copy. The first 6 movies have the Pioneer and Funimation dubs, and the rest are in Japanese only. The video quality is pretty darn good, and the subtitles are good as well. I never thought that it could be a bootleg at first because of the professionally made box.

Yes that is what my friend was trying to convince me of, professional box, I mean I too like that box art. But I wont buy it now, I suppose he will as it doesnt matter to him (no matter how many times I try to convert him).

But where else are you going to find Dragon Ball Z movies #7-#13 in their original widescreen format? FUNimation?? I think not. I can't stand the fullscreen FUNimation versions. That is why I

That was another cool feature I like about this set.

Thanks too everyone else who rang in with a bootleg answer appreciate it.

-KameHouse-

[Jerseymilk]

Yup, bootleg - I got those when I didn't know anything about DVDs and stuff. Crappy quality and subtitles... stay away. ^_^

Actually I have that set too, and I think it's the next best thing right under the Dragon Boxes. I know, and agree, that the quality doesn't touch the Dragon Box: The Movies set. But where else are you going to find Dragon Ball Z movies #7-#13 in their original widescreen format? FUNimation?? I think not. I can't stand the fullscreen FUNimation versions. That is why I bought this nice DVD set for only $30. The picture quality is better than all the other bootlegs I've come across in the past, and the subtitles are very readable. It was well worth the money in my opinion. I'm glad I bought it. I just wish that movies #1-#6 were in widescreen as well.

The movies were originally full screen. Toei actually cut off the top of the films so they appeared wide screen. Funi simply restored them back the way they were supposed to be. So there is no such thing as "original widescreen format" DBZ movies.

The fact that some of the movies also have the dubs is an illustration of the latest trend in Hong Kong bootlegs. Now the pirating groups are not only stealing the original Japanese versions, but also ripping the North American dubs and putting them on their bootleg copies.

[tarsonis]

Yup, bootleg - I got those when I didn't know anything about DVDs and stuff. Crappy quality and subtitles... stay away. ^_^

Actually I have that set too, and I think it's the next best thing right under the Dragon Boxes. I know, and agree, that the quality doesn't touch the Dragon Box: The Movies set. But where else are you going to find Dragon Ball Z movies #7-#13 in their original widescreen format? FUNimation?? I think not. I can't stand the fullscreen FUNimation versions. That is why I bought this nice DVD set for only $30. The picture quality is better than all the other bootlegs I've come across in the past, and the subtitles are very readable. It was well worth the money in my opinion. I'm glad I bought it. I just wish that movies #1-#6 were in widescreen as well.

The movies were originally full screen. Toei actually cut off the top of the films so they appeared wide screen. Funi simply restored them back the way they were supposed to be. So there is no such thing as "original widescreen format" DBZ movies.

JPA82, see this link: http://www.daizex.com/guides/rumors/mov ... ials.shtml

Yes, there is a site too.

[Jerseymilk]

Thanks Tarsonis, I was just about to go hunt that link down. I couldn't remember if it was in the "Rumour Guide" or the "Movie Guide" though. Hence my delay.

[Xyex]

Yup, bootleg - I got those when I didn't know anything about DVDs and stuff. Crappy quality and subtitles... stay away. ^_^

Actually I have that set too, and I think it's the next best thing right under the Dragon Boxes. I know, and agree, that the quality doesn't touch the Dragon Box: The Movies set. But where else are you going to find Dragon Ball Z movies #7-#13 in their original widescreen format? FUNimation?? I think not. I can't stand the fullscreen FUNimation versions. That is why I bought this nice DVD set for only $30. The picture quality is better than all the other bootlegs I've come across in the past, and the subtitles are very readable. It was well worth the money in my opinion. I'm glad I bought it. I just wish that movies #1-#6 were in widescreen as well.

The movies were originally full screen. Toei actually cut off the top of the films so they appeared wide screen. Funi simply restored them back the way they were supposed to be. So there is no such thing as "original widescreen format" DBZ movies.

The fact that some of the movies also have the dubs is an illustration of the latest trend in Hong Kong bootlegs. Now the pirating groups are not only stealing the original Japanese versions, but also ripping the North American dubs and putting them on their bootleg copies.

Indeed. As Jersey pointed out the movies were created in Full Screen. TOEI then 'chopped' off the tops and bottoms for their release at the festivals in Japan. FUNi, however, is releasing them in full. So, in fact, you're getting more movie with the FUNi releases than the Dragon Box releases.

[Jerseymilk]

I wouldn't care so much if JPA82 had purchased the DB Movie Box. It's the fact that he "justified" the bootleg in question with a reason that isn't even true instead of doing reserch to find out the truth before he purchased it.

[JPA82]

Oh, so all the movies were originally in fullscreen huh? I thought that was true only for the first 3 movies. I learned something new today. Thanks.

But, you've got to admit that they look much better in widescreen then in fullscreen, which most of you who now own the Dragon Box: The Movies set should agree with. Am I right?

And by the way, there wasn't any need for me to find out the truth about the movies before I bought the set. I knew they were in widescreen before hand, and I knew the audio would be in stereo, unlike FUNi's crappy mono. I prefer the widescreen versions over the fullscreen versions anyday.

[VegettoEX]

and I knew the audio would be in stereo, unlike FUNi's crappy mono.

This doesn't even make any fucking sense. The audio's NOT stereo. The movies were released in mono.



There's absolutely *no* justification to be had for bootlegs on this forum, and I'll promptly take care of things should it further head in that direction.

[tarsonis]

Oh, so all the movies were originally in fullscreen huh? I thought that was true only for the first 3 movies. I learned something new today. Thanks.

But, you've got to admit that they look much better in widescreen then in fullscreen, which most of you who now own the Dragon Box: The Movies set should agree with. Am I right?

And by the way, there wasn't any need for me to find out the truth about the movies before I bought the set. I knew they were in widescreen before hand, and I knew the audio would be in stereo, unlike FUNi's crappy mono. I prefer the widescreen versions over the fullscreen versions anyday.

They might have a more movie-like feel, but I wouldn't say they look better. I'd prefer to see them full screen since it's how they were originally animated, whereas this "widescreen" format is actually just chopping off the top and bottom. It's nothing like widescreen in terms of most live action movies, because in those cases you're talking about it being made that way to begin with, and so you get the whole thing. It all comes down to whichever format gives you more picture.

[KameHouse]

There's absolutely *no* justification to be had for bootlegs on this forum, and I'll promptly take care of things should it further head in that direction.

Thanks VegettoEX for allowing my question to be asked and answered.

As they are clearly bootlegs and I will not be purchasing them, I think and if you agree that this thread can be closed.

Thanks,
-KameHouse-

[Castor Troy]

This is the funniest bootleg I've ever seen.

[Deus ex Machina]

The cover art looks professional enough, and it's not like legitimate dubs haven't mixed movie promotional art, using characters that never even appear in that film and the like. If I hadn't seen this I might not have realized it was bootleg either.

Despite whatever grievances people may have with Funimation, their movies are still the best copies of the show you'll find, next to the Japanese release of course. No bootleg can match them for film, sound, and translation quality.

[Jerseymilk]

And by the way, there wasn't any need for me to find out the truth about the movies before I bought the set. I knew they were in widescreen before hand, and I knew the audio would be in stereo, unlike FUNi's crappy mono. I prefer the widescreen versions over the fullscreen versions anyday.

Okay, clearly you don't understand what widescreen is. They aren't true widescreen versions. They're fullscreen movies where the tops were cut off. Did you even read the link that Tarsonis provided? It doesn't look like it from what you've said. There *was* a need to find out the truth simply because any sane person wouldn't want a bootleg dvd that doesn't even have the proper format for the movies. If you knew that bootleg had the movies in widescreen beforehand then that means you could have found out that they weren't originally made that way. So basically you say you prefer a version that has part of the footage missing and is a fake widescreen? Right. I think you're just trying to save face and convince yourself still that purchasing that bootleg was a wise decision.