Page 1 of `Apollo 13` UK Region 2 DVD - 6 minutes shorter than Region 1?

Not without some difficulty, I recently managed to track down a UK Region 2 copy of `Apollo 13` (the feature film starring Tom Hanks) - incidentally, I`m puzzled as to why such a good film seems to be deleted on DVD when there is so much poorer material still available in the format?

On receiving the DVD, I was intrigued to find that the total running time is 134 minutes (confirmed on playback), whereas the Region 1 release appears to be timed at 140 minutes if US reviews are to be believed. Has anyone any idea why 6 minutes should have been cut from the UK version? - it`s hardly a film which would be censored for sex and violence! If my memory from last seeing the film on TV some while ago is correct, the post-party scene early on in the film where the Lovells are on loungers in the garden goes on a bit longer; and I seem to recall that the leadup to the scene where Lovell tells Mattingly he is dropped from the mission also had more dialogue.

Comments anyone?

This item was edited on Wednesday, 14th July 2004, 15:36

PAL video is 4% faster than NTSC so R2 films are roughly 4% shorter than R1.

Gareth - the sums check out, so you could well be right!

Gareth is indeed correct - Pal Video is faster. I noticed it way back when I first got Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves on U.S Vid. Despite only a slight cut in the UK version, the film was 6 minutes shorter over here.

I have friends in the business and they confirm that our films go faster on video due to the information in the lines - they are coded differently thus runtime is shorter. I lived in the US for a few years and watched all the old movies and regularly feel their pace is off somewhat. Maybe that`s the knowledge.

as ever,

This item was edited on Wednesday, 14th July 2004, 16:08

All R1 DVD movies are in fact running at the correct speed and are the same length as they were in the cinemas both in the US and the UK. R2 DVD`s as already explained run approximately 4% quicker than R1 and therefore are quicker than they played in the cinema. The pace of R1 movies is therefore not off as the previous post states, they are in fact running at the correct speed and should really be viewed this way. Another reason why I find R1 superior.